South Central Regional Championship on Sam Rayburn-Day 2 Results: Nov 1, 2008
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FISHERS OF MEN 2008 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Michael James and Andy Nuyen Win the Sam Rayburn South Central Regional Championship Tournament
By: Frank Evans, Senior Writer
(Nov. 1, 2008 – Lufkin TX)... The fifth event of the 2008 Fishers of Men Regional Championship Series came to a close today as Michael James and Andy Nuyen won their first major tournament top prize consisting of a 2009 Triton “18-HP Explorer” powered by a 150 hp Mercury Optimax . Mike and Andy also received Championship Plaques, and a cash award for participating in the “Bonus Bucks” program. Their total winnings netted the Champs $25, 487.50 The new South Central Region Champions garnered 35.12 lbs in two days of “nail-biting” competition to earn their “first-ever” boat!
During both days of tournament action, two teams experienced much anticipation as the first and second places changed hands each day. On Day-1, Mike and Andy, Boat 15 of the first flight, had the lead with a limit weighing 18.62 lbs all the way up until the last flight came to the scales. With a 3:00 pm check-in time, Andy and Mike saw their lead endure through nearly 160 teams and well over an hour until another Texas Central pair, in the last of the last flight stepped up on the stage. Jacky Roberts and Ken Wilkins, Boat 187, hoisted a 6.93 kicker fish and four more for a total of 20.14 lbs, thus grasping the Day-1 lead from Andy and Mike.
As Day-2 began, it was evident that the sunshine and “Bluebird” skies of Day-1 had given way to mostly cloudy skies at the blastoff. This day saw many quality fish come to the scales as the big bite had turned on for many competitors, although, about 50 teams had called it quits after the first day. 558 bass weighed in at 1373.73 lbs. These included 79, 5-fish limits as compared to the Day-1 catch of 562 fish, weighing 1249.86 lbs and 69 five-fish limits for a two-day total of 1120 bass, weighing 2623.69 lbs.
On the final day, with the blastoff field reversed, the first place team of Jacky Roberts and Ken Wilkins, now, had to wait nearly the entire two hours to see if their weight would hold for the win. However, among the very last to step up on the stage were Andy Nuyen and Michael James, who claimed the victory with 16.50 lbs for a 2-day total, mentioned earlier, of 35.12 lbs.
To earn the championship title, Mike and Andy concentrated south of the Highway 147 Bridge. On Day-1, they noticed that they were losing fish because of a quick hook set, so they settled down and started to put fish in the boat using Brush Hogs and a Stanley Bull Ribbit® in the submerged grass of the area. On Day-2, the champions had only three keepers in the boat at 4:00 pm and by their check-in, the teammates collected enough fish for the victory with the Bull Ribbit. They also noted that fish were more willing to bite when there was an 18-inch chop on the water.
The second place finishers, Jacky Roberts and Ken Wilkins, fished the backside of the “Canyons” with watermelon Brush Hogs® on ledges in about 18 feet of water and around underwater ridges. On day-2, Ken and Jacky worked water all day, upstream from the 147 bridge, along the right side of the Angelina River arm. These tactics brought in an additional five fish at 13.67 lbs, for a tournament total of 33.81 lbs and a $2,812.50 payout that included “Bonus Bucks”. When ask if they wanted to add anything, both replied that the Fishers Of Men’s Tournament Trail was an awesome organization and far above the other competitive bass fishing circuits in which they have competed in.
Moving up from ninth and finishing in third place, from the Texas North-Central Division, Randy Parks and Steve Terry earned $1500.00 for 33.72 lbs of fish in two days. Day-one weight was 15.23, while Day-two’s 18.49 included one largemouth at 6.29 lbs. Steve and Randy used spinning reels loaded with 20 pound test Power-Pro Fluorocarbon® and splitshotting smaller leaders with Zoom® finesse watermelon-seed worms; tail-dipped in chartreuse Spike-It®. Day-1 action came after 10:00 am by dead-sticking the worms in the matted grass as well as the surrounding scattered vegetation in the Harvey Creek area. Some bass were taken over grass, in four feet of water with Rat-L-Traps® in the Mud Creek area. In addition, Randy stated that fluke-type jerk baits produced results.
Dave Marshall and Curtis Harding brought in a “tournament high” bag of 21.19 lbs, which also included the biggest bass of the two days of competition, a 7.93 lbs bucketmouth. The Texas East team finished the event in forth place with 31.64 lbs and earned substantial money through different cash awards and bonus programs. Dave noted that on Day-1 Curtis and he worked a Norman Thin Shallow® in perch color over grass in four feet of water, about a 30 acre area, near the Twin Islands area. On Day-2 the men worked Texas rigged, Watermelon Candy Brush Hogs in 2 to 10 feet of water over hydrilla but that the 7.93 pounder came from a place with a 4-foot depth. The successful anglers culled five fish on Day-2 and ended the interview with the remark that in the last 4 days of fishing, everything had worked perfectly and there were no problems at all.
Duke Gunnell and Brandon Rhoden moved up an unheard of, 28 places from Day One to place fifth overall, with 30.91 lbs for the two days. The Arkansas Central pair also brought in a nice Day-2 kicker fish weighing 6.17 lbs. the sow fell for a Zoom® Carolina-rigged Watermelon/Chartreuse worm at 8:00 am near pockets behind the Black Forest. Brandon and Duke said they also worked the Black Forest area with a Norman DB-22 Char/Blu deep diver, buzzbaits, and Yellow Magic® topwater lures.
The $376.00 Second Big Fish Award went to the Louisiana North Central team of Todd Lary and TJ Johnston for their 6.77 lbs Hoss!
The 1st place Male/Female team of Roger and Jerral Boling ran about 10 miles up the lake to the Angelina Bridge. Jerrad stated that she used the ‘Ole Monster worm on Day-1 and crankbaits on Day-2. They are looking forward to the Red River National Championship.
In addition, qualifying for the Red River National Championship, we want to congratulate the Adult/Junior Texas Central team of Yung Follis and Regan Vaca.
We would like to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible: Triton Boats, Mercury, Strike King Lure Company, All Star Rods, Shakespeare, Pflueger, Grace Full Gospel Church, Marshall’s Marine (Lake City, SC), Solar Bat, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Keel shield, Kistler Custom Rods, Jacobs Glass, Jones Chevrolet, All-Terrain Tackle, Dual Pro Charger, Reese Marine Towpower, XTools, Buckeye Lures, Stanley Jigs, Castrol, Deka Marine Master Batteries, Spike-It, Berkley, Motorguide, SOSPENDERS, Mizmo Bait Company, River Bottom Lures, Poor Boys Baits, T&H Marine, Rejuvenade, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers.
We also want to thank Alisha Burrow, Manager of the Lufkin Convention and Visitors Bureau in the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber Of Commerce; who cannot be appreciated enough for all the work she has given to this very successful project. We also want to thank all the people from Betty’s Catering in preparing and serving a great meal with spectacular, professional, and, friendly service. The Jackson Hill Marina employees have been fabulous; managing the parking during the morning and in serving us throughout the day.
