Boater Brett Hortman of Natchitoches, Louisiana, earned the win at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine event at Lake of the Pines Saturday after bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 26 pounds, 11 ounces. For his victory, Hortman earned $4,315.
The tournament was the fourth of five events in the Cowboy Division presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
“I was mid-lake, fishing secondary points,” says Hortman, who earned the first tournament win of his FLW career. “I was mainly fishing around 10 feet of water, throwing a 5/16-ounce magnum shaky head-rig with a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm (red bug).
“The key was my Humminbird electronics,” Hortman continues. “I hadn’t been on this lake before, but I put in a lot of windshield time during practice. I pretty much idled the whole lake and the shade mapping allowed me to idle right at that depth for two days and find a couple of good schools.”
The top 10 boaters:
1st: Brett Hortman of Natchitoches, La., five bass, 26-11, $4,315
2nd: Shane Gibson of Kilgore, Texas, five bass, 24-7, $2,157
3rd: James Ware of Longview, Texas, five bass, 22-12, $1,939
4th: Lamonte Loyd of Pittsburg, Texas, five bass, 21-6, $1,007
5th: Brad Smith of Longview, Texas, five bass, 19-1, $863
6th: Kevin Lasyone of Dry Prong, La., five bass, 18-8, $791
7th: Blake Istre of Orange, Texas, five bass, 18-7, $719
8th: Wyatt Frankens of Corrigan, Texas, five bass, 18-4, $611
8th: Kyle Dragulski of Lufkin, Texas, five bass, 18-4, $1,221
10th: Andrew Harp of Linden, Texas, five bass, 17-11, $503
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Dragulski claimed the day’s Boater Big Bass Award of $610 after bringing a 7-pound, 10-ounce largemouth to the scale.
Ware took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing FLW PHOENIX BONUS member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the FLW PHOENIX BONUS contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Roach wins co-angler title
Austin Roach of Big Sandy, Texas, won the Co-angler Division and $2,1577 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers:
1st: Austin Roach of Big Sandy, Texas, five bass, 20-6, $2,157
2nd: Clarence Schwarz of Irving, Texas, five bass, 17-2, $1,079
3rd: Ron Aulds of Choudrant, La., five bass, 16-13, $717
3rd: Julio Garza of Houston, Texas, five bass, 15-14, $503
5th: Chris Morris of Forest Hill, La., five bass, 15-5, $431
6th: James Moore Jr. of Lampasas, Texas, five bass, 14-14, $396
6th: Jake Inderman of Allen, Texas, five bass, 14-9, $360
8th: Ty Haymon of Oakdale, La., five bass, 14-8, $324
9th: Larry Davis of Gladewater, Texas, five bass, 14-1, $288
10th: David Cox of Silsbee, Texas, five bass, 13-12, $252
Alford Cherry of Monroe, Louisiana, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Co-angler Big Bass award of $305.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the Cowboy Division presented by A.R.E. based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 22-24 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, hosted by Explore Branson. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new 18-foot Phoenix bass boat with a 200-horsepower outboard.