LAKE FORK, Texas, April 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The first annual Toyota Texas Bass Classic presented by Enterprise Rent-A-Car, held April 13 - 15 at Lake Fork in East Texas, successfully wrapped up on Sunday evening, awarding a combined total of $1 million in prize money and contributing to the community as well as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
The first-of-its-kind bass fishing tournament grouped 160 Professional Anglers into teams of four. The event combined the conservation aspects of the Lake Fork's slot limits with certified observers and on-the-water scales, allowing anglers to weigh fish normally not allowed on a slot-limit lake. The TPWD Inland Fisheries Division provided technical support and the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) oversaw tournament regulations and operations.
"Through the support and hard work of multiple organizations, this tournament has reinvented the bass fishing tournament format and reinvigorated the sport for many," said PAA executive director Gene Ellison.
"Planned as an annual event, the tournament both showcased the great bass fishing that Texas has to offer and raised funds to help support the TPWD and its mission of increasing access to the outdoors and developing outdoor opportunities for all," said co-founders of the tournament and TPWD Commissioners Dan Friedkin and Donato Ramos.
At the conclusion of the tournament, lead sponsor Toyota presented a check for $250,000 to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Phil Durocher, TPWD director of inland fisheries was very pleased, commenting, "This generous gift will contribute to the growth and success of our youth programs and strengthen the department's urban fishing program throughout the state."
The tournament included many family-friendly activities and musical performances by country music stars Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence. An estimated 27,500 people attended the events at Lake Fork over the course of the Pro-Am and TTBC tournaments, including the 1000-plus on-site support staff members.
Terry Scroggins' team captured the top prize of $250,000 and included anglers Chris Daves, James Niggemeyer and Frank Ippoliti.
"It's awesome," Scroggins said. "We had 160 of the best anglers in the world here, from both FLW and BASS, and to go out and beat all those guys is pretty cool."
The Lucchese Big Bass Award went to angler John Sappington for his largest tournament catch, weighing in at 11 pounds 2 ounces. The big catch earned him a custom pair of Lucchese Boots, Stetson hat and a Lucchese edition Toyota Tundra truck.
CBS is scheduled to broadcast an hour-long TTBC segment on Mother's Day, Sunday May 13, at 2 p.m. EDT.
Toyota Texas Bass Classic Day 3 - Final Standings:
Standings below are cumulative from days 1, 2 and 3 and are official. The first five winning teams from days one and two qualified for day three.
Place Team # Team Capt. City/St Day One #Fish/Weight Day Two #Fish/Weight
Day Three #Fish/Weight Team Total #Fish/Weight Total Purse Per Team
1 40 Terry Scroggins Palatka, FL 17 68-12 29 125-12 54 244-12 54 244-12
$ 250,000
2 4 Alton Jones Waco, TX 16 82-0 30 140-12 49 209-0 49 209-0 $ 88,000
3 20 David Walker Seveirville, TN 18 81-8 28 117-12 46 198-12 46 198-12
$ 70,000
4 28 Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 13 52-8 27 112-4 47 194-0 47
194-0 $ 60,000
5 17 Randy Howell Springville, AL 14 46-8 33 108-8 44 142-4 44 142-4
$ 44,000
6 36 Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 14 62-0 26 103-4 N/A 26 103-4 $ 36,000
7 32 Kelly Jordan Mineola, TX 11 49-4 21 101-12 N/A 21 101-12 $ 32,000
8 26 Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 13 40-8 29 101-12 N/A 29 101-12
$ 28,000
9 16 Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 18 50-4 31 100-0 N/A 31 100-0 $ 24,000
10 27 Luke Clausen Dayton, TN 12 56-12 24 98-12 N/A 24 98-12 $ 20,000
11 3 Charlie Hartley Grove City, OK 12 43-0 25 98-12 N/A 25 98-12
$ 14,000
12 13 Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 14 42-4 30 98-8 N/A 30 98-8 $ 14,000
13 25 Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 16 50-8 29 96-12 N/A 29 96-12 $ 14,000
14 30 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 12 31-0 31 96-0 N/A 31 96-0 $ 14,000
15 11 Jay Yelas Tyler, TX 15 46-12 30 93-12 N/A 30 93-12 $ 14,000
16 18 Andy Morgan Dayton, TN 14 50-0 25 93-8 N/A 25 93-8 $ 14,000
17 7 Peter Thliveros Jacksonville, FL 12 49-12 21 91-12 N/A 21 91-12
$ 14,000
18 33 Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 16 35-4 34 91-8 N/A 34 91-8 $ 14,000
19 15 Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AR 16 48-8 30 88-0 N/A 30 88-0
$ 14,000
20 24 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 12 50-8 23 85-4 N/A 23 85-4 $ 14,000
21 22 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 12 42-12 24 81-12 N/A 24 81-12 $ 8,000
22 19 Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 13 28-0 27 80-4 N/A 27 80-4 $ 8,000
23 14 ChrisBaumgardner Gastonia, NC 18 55-8 28 80-4 N/A 28 80-4 $ 8,000
24 2 Mike Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 13 29-8 26 80-0 N/A 26 80-0 $ 8,000
25 10 Morizo Shimizu Matsugaka Suita, Osaka, Japan 12 50-12 19 79-12 N/A
19 79-12 $ 8,000
26 21 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 11 31-4 24 74-12 N/A 24 74-12 $ 8,000
27 37 Art Ferguson III St. Clair Shores, MI 9 30-12 22 74-8 N/A 22 74-8
$ 8,000
28 23 Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 12 46-0 20 74-0 N/A 20 74-0 $ 8,000
29 9 Lee Bailey Jr. Boaz, AL 7 16-0 18 70-12 N/A 18 70-12 $ 8,000
30 34 John Crews Jr. Salem, VA 12 32-12 22 69-4 N/A 22 69-4 $ 8,000
31 29 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 11 54-0 14 66-0 N/A 14 66-0 $ 8,000
32 12 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 11 39-4 19 66-0 N/A 19 66-0 $ 8,000
33 6 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 11 28-0 23 65-12 N/A 23 65-12 $ 8,000
34 5 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 9 29-0 16 60-0 N/A 16 60-0 $ 8,000
35 1 Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 13 33-12 22 56-4 N/A 22 56-4 $ 8,000
36 8 Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 6 13-8 16 55-8 N/A 16 55-8 $ 8,000
37 35 Guy Eaker Sr. Cherryville, NC 11 29-0 17 54-4 N/A 17 54-4 $ 8,000
38 31 Brian Snowden Reed Springs, MO 11 21-12 20 49-4 N/A 20 49-4
$ 8,000
39 39 Jason Quinn York, NC 7 15-12 18 44-0 N/A 18 44-0 $ 8,000
40 38 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 7 20-4 16 42-14 N/A 16 42-14
$ 8,000
TTBC Total Final Round Tournament Catches: 93
TTBC Total Final Round Tournament Weight: 988-12
TTBC Total Tournament Catches: 1,060
TTBC Total Tournament Weight: 4358-2
Pro/Am Results:
The top three teams in Thursday's Pro-Am were:
1. Team #1- Kelly Jordon, Rex Whiteside, Ryan Friedkin - 32 lbs 7 oz
2. Team #45- Dan Morehead, Ben Maki, Bob McNally - 30 lbs 9 oz
3. Team #91- Peter Thliveros, Jason Reaves, Stan Brown - 25 lbs 14 oz
The Big Fish of the Pro-Am was 11 lb 1 oz, caught by Dan Morehead.
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