POTTSBORO, Texas – Lake Texoma will host up to 400 of the state’s best bass anglers Saturday as they cast for a share of $205,000 in the Texas Tournament Trail’s third event of 2002.
Last month, Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Jasper, Texas, was the site of the trail’s second tournament where Randy Qualls of Streetman, Texas, won $10,000 cash and a new Ranger 518 DVX bass boat with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces.
In February, Jim Criswell of Del Rio, Texas, won $35,000 cash and a new Ranger 518 DVX bass boat with five bass weighing 20 pounds in the trail’s opening event on Lake Amistad near Del Rio, Texas.
Qualls and Criswell will be among the Pro Division anglers looking for victory on Lake Texoma when the one-day tournament kicks off at Highport Marina. Two hundred pros will fish for a top award of up to $30,000 cash plus a Ranger 518 DVX bass boat while 200 co-anglers take a shot at winning up to $4,000 cash and a Ranger 195 bass boat.
Additionally, Ranger Boats will award $5,000 cash to the highest-finishing pro participating in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
The Texas Tournament Trail weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at Highport Marina.
Directed by FLW Outdoors, the nation’s leading marketer of competitive fishing tournaments, the Texas Tournament Trail features four one-day qualifying events and a two-day, no-entry-fee championship presented by Pepsi and Frito-Lay. The Texas Tournament Trail Championship on Lake Belton near Killeen, Texas, Oct. 19-20 will feature the trail’s top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers who will be competing for a share of $195,000 in cash and prizes.
The Texas Tournament Trail’s format is designed to accommodate anglers of various skill levels. Pros supply boats and control boat movement, while 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 are $350 for pros and $100 for co-anglers. Contact FLW Outdoors at 270-362-4880 to enter the Texas Tournament Trail or visit www.FLWOutdoors.com for additional information.
Sponsor of the 2002 Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail are Wal-Mart, Castrol, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Frito Lay, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Ranger, Snickers and Yamaha. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat Sunglasses.