NORMAN, Okla. (May 5, 2014) – Kevin Mason, of Coldsprings, Texas, and Randy Dearman, of Onalaska, Texas, brought 19.93 pounds of bass to the scales to win the 2014 Texas Team Trail (TXTT) tournament at Lake Livingston on May 3. With their victory, the winners took home a new, fully rigged Stratos 189VLO powered by an Evinrude 150 HO, valued at $30,000.
The anglers ran 15 miles to the southwest side of Livingston, flipping jigs and creature baits. Despite higher-than-expected winds and muddy water, the team felt they did well.
“It couldn’t have worked out better. Everything went as planned.” Mason said.
The anglers added $1,755 in Anglers Advantage cash for a total of $31,755 in cash and prizes.
Second-place finishers Jeff Rood, of Livingston, Texas, and Jedidiah Holt, of San Marcos, Texas, weighed a five-fish limit of 17.55 pounds. The anglers didn’t expect the higher winds but didn’t let it change their attitudes.
“We had bluebird skies with high winds,” said Moore. “We didn’t let the winds affect us. We just went with it and got a few of the right bites.”
The anglers made a short run to Rock Creek, fishing poppers early for big bass before moving on to flipping creature baits to fill their limit. Although the team lost two four-pounders at the boat, they were happy for a day on the water.
“It was awesome. We worked together great,” said Rood. “We missed a couple of good fish late, but that’s how it goes sometimes. We were happy to be out here.”
Along with the $4,800 second-place prize, the team added $1,287 in Anglers Advantage cash, $960 for the Big Bass award and a $250 Ranger Boat bonus for a total of $7,297.
Harold Moore and Vincent Neal, both of Caldwell, Texas, brought in 17.06 pounds to the scales. With the addition of $1,170 in Anglers Advantage cash the team took home a total of $4,050.
The next stop for the Texas Team Trail is the two-day championship event at Toledo Bend on June 7-8. Anglers should visit www.texasteamtrail.com to confirm they’ve qualified. Competitors who register by midnight of Wednesday, June 4, will be allowed to pre-fish on Thursday, June 5 and Friday, June 6 and will be entered into a drawing for Mustang Survival PFD’s. Qualified anglers can call 210-788-4143 to register.
Along with title-sponsor Cabela’s, Texas Team Trail has also welcomed Lucas Oil®, Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats, Triton Boats, Evinrude®, Minn Kota®, Talon, RAM Trucks, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Amphibia, iON, Garmin, General Tire, SuperClean, Valley Fashion, Mustang Survival, Artic Ice and Protect the Harvest as official partners.