DENISON, Texas (May 21, 2007) - Pro Johnny Thompson of Calera, Okla., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 7 ounces to win $65,000 in cash and prizes, including a 519VX Ranger boat powered by a 200-horsepower Yamaha or Evinrude outboard, Sunday at the final regular season Texas Tournament Trail event event on Lake Texoma. A field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers competed in the event, which featured a $226,500 purse.
Thompson caught his bass on a combination of spinnerbaits and jigs that he was throwing around shallow cover in the north end of the lake.
Rounding out the top five pros are Brian Clark of Haltom City (10 bass, 23-10, $7,493); Landan Ware of Jewett (10 bass, 22-1, $5,620 plus $4,000 bonus); Stephen Johnston of Hemphill (nine bass, 21-11, $4,027 plus $3,000 bonus); and Keith Combs of Temple (10 bass, 20-13, $2,998 plus $2,500 bonus).
Bonuses are awarded to registered Ranger boat owners. Pros must also fish out of the eligible Ranger boat during the tournament to qualify for contingency awards. Ware's winnings also included a $5,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Dan Wilson of Pilot Point won the co-angler division title with 10 bass weighing 15 pounds, 12 ounces. He earned $4,000. He was throwing a Strike King spinnerbait around submerged bushes and other shallow cover.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Claude Rabb of Vidalia, La. (seven bass, 14-11, $2,801); Sisto Salinas of Troy (eight bass, 13-15, $1,867 plus $1,000 bonus); Scott West of Forney (four bass, 12-13, $934); and Ronnie Bickham of New Boston (four bass, 12-00, $747 plus $850 bonus).