LAGRANGE, Calif, (Nov. 1, 1999) – Taylor Hutchings of Phoenix, Ariz., won the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Western Regional Bass Championship Saturday on Lake McClure with a two-day catch of five bass weighing 20 pounds, 13 ounces.
The victory earns Hutchings a new Ranger bass boat equipped with a 200 hp Johnson outboard motor, Humminbird fishfinders, and Energizer marine batteries. Hutchings also receives a berth in the prestigious Red Man All-American Bass Championship May 8-13, 2000, on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., where he’ll take a shot at winning the $100,000 first place award.
Also qualifying for the Red Man All-American are second, third and fourth place finishers Mark Tyler of Pleasanton, Calf., five bass, 20 pounds, 10 ounces; Michael Bunch of Lake Elsinore, Calif., five bass, 19 pounds, 8 ounces; and Nicolas Sakata of Manteca, Calif., five bass, 19 pounds, 1 ounce.
During the first day of competition, Hutchings hauled in 10 pounds, 11 ounces of bass to lead the tournament. On day two, he used a Carolina rig around rocks in Borretts Cove to catch 10 pounds, 2 ounces of bass and finish atop the field of 47 anglers from the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Colorado River and Western divisions.
The Red Man Tournament Trail consists of six one-day weekend qualifying events in each of 22 divisions; five regional championships, each covering four divisions; the Lake McClure (western) regional, covering two divisions; and two Chevy Wild Card regional tournaments. The top four finishers from the Lake McClure regional and the top three finishers from each of the Chevy Wild Card events advance to the Red Man All-American along with the top eight finishers from each of the five regional tournaments.
Founded 20 years ago on the principle that working anglers should be able to fish competitively without interfering with jobs and family, the Red Man Tournament Trail has grown into the nation’s largest competitive bass fishing series.
Sponsors of the 1999 Red Man Tournament Trail are: Evinrude Outboards, Evinrude Electrics, CITGO Petroleum, Ranger Boats, Humminbird Fishfinders, Stren Fishing Lines, Abu Garcia Rods and Reels, Chevy Trucks, Energizer Marine Batteries, Old Milwaukee NA, Black & Decker, David Seeds, Coleman Products, Land O’Lakes, BC Powder, Eveready, Wheaties, Chex Mix, Hamburger Helper, Wrangler, US Bank-VISA, Powerbait and Frenzy.