Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail to visit Toledo Bend for championship
HEMPHILL, Texas – Toledo Bend Reservoir will host the top 51 pros and top 51 co-anglers from the 2001 Texas Tournament Trail Oct. 20-21 as they cast for a share of $195,000 in the inaugural Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship presented by Pepsi and Frito-Lay.
“The response we’ve had to the Texas Tournament Trail this season has been tremendous,” said Bill Taylor, tournament director for the new series. “In one short year, the Texas Tournament Trail has become the premier bass fishing circuit in Texas. People will have an opportunity to see some of the sports top competitors at the championship.”
The Texas Tournament Trail season kicked off Feb. 3 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Brookeland, Texas. Carl Svebek III of Sam Rayburn won the event and $70,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger boat. O.H. Ivie Reservoir near Leaday, Texas, produced a memorable moment for Mike Hastings of Austin, Texas, March 17 when he landed $45,000 in cash and prizes with a victory at the trail’s second stop. David Hogge of Nolanville, Texas, reeled in a $45,000 victory at the third qualifying event April 21 on Lake Travis near Jonestown, Texas. And Jim Behnken of Garden Ridge, Texas, received $72,250 for his victory on Richland Chambers Reservoir near Corsicana, Texas, May 12 in the fourth and final qualifying event of 2001.
Hastings, Hogge and Behnken are among the Pro Division qualifiers who will be looking for a $70,000 victory on Toledo Bend when the two-day Texas Tournament Trail Championship kicks off at 6:30 a.m. Oct. 20 from Pendleton Harbor Marina. Co-angler Division qualifiers will be casting for a top award of $40,000. Weigh-ins Oct. 20-21 will start at 3:30 p.m. at the Many, La., Wal-Mart.
Run by Operation Bass, the nation’s premier bass tournament organization, the Texas Tournament Trail features four one-day qualifying events and a two-day, no-entry-fee championship. The trail’s format is designed to accommodate anglers of various skill levels. While pros supply the boats and control their movement, co-anglers fish from the back of the boats. Each person is fishing independently and competing against anglers in his or her own division.
Entry fees for qualifying events are $350 for pros and $100 for co-anglers. To enter the Texas Tournament Trail or for additional information click here or contact Operation Bass at (270) 362-4880.