With a slot limit of from 16 to 24 inches levied on Lake Fork for legal bass catches, the anglers would have to be really careful NOT to live-well any bass edging in at over 16″ or under 24″. The weigh-in system at Lake Fork Marina would be strictly supervised by teams of Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens. But today was big bass/little bass splish-splash day with a .009 lb catch claiming the “smallest” bass ever weighed-in during the 20 year history of Big Bass Splash, and with the top-5 big bass marking 10.87, 10.09, 10.07, 9.56, and 9.53 -lb bass weighed-in on the first days leader-board this Big Bass tournament was building up to be a real “Lake Fork” record setter.
With $325,000 “GUARANTEED” to be awarded in cash & awards for this event roughly 3,800 anglers from 32 states and two countries arrived to fish this 18th Annual Lake Fork Big Bass Splash. All three days would allow these anglers to weigh-in for the top-10 hourly cash prizes of $1,200 at the top-end all the way down to $200 for the bottom-line, for a total of $158,400 paid out for all three days. The Mcbass anglers would also try to nab an exact weight bass of 2.5 lbs that would land them a $12,500 Triton 163/Mercury bass rig per day. The largest bass weighed-in from this event that could hold up as the biggest “overall” bass of the tournament, will net the angler a $60,000 Hummer H2.
Day-1- Despite threatening skies from “Ivan-II” the 20th start for the Lake Fork Big Bass Splashed in with overcastting skies and light northerly winds. Great weather for big bass catches and CATCH THEY DID as 10 bass were weighed-in over the 24″ slot-limit.
1st Mcleader-(10.87)- Don Latham of Mansfield LA, was crankin’ a hard bait along a 35′ sloping ledge when his big bass hit. The bass hit on a 11:53 am and “mums” the word on the hows, where’s and what’s until Sunday” he informed with no further info……”Nuff-Said!!”
2nd McLeader-(10.09)- Daniel Gentry of Princeton TX, was dragging a 22′ main-lake point when a 10.09 lb bass hit his Carolina rigged root beer Berkley Power worm. “My bass hit at 12:15 pm, he stated with a “Lake Fork” sized grin.
3rd McLeader-(10.07)- Kevin Maxwell of Marshall TX, was working a Texas rigged camo brush-hog along a 17′ Burch Creek timber-line when his big bass hit at 6:10 am.
4th McLeader-(9.56)- Jerry Campbell of Valiant OK, increased the big bass tally with his 8:am to 9:am big bass of 9.56 lbs. “It hit my Texas rigged green lizard at 8:am, Jerry said as he informed of working a 6′ to 7′ Caney Creek weed-bed. “It was my 2nd bass of the morning, Jerry stated, and my biggest bass ever!
5th McLeader-(9.53)- Mark McMillin of Poteau OK, was cranking a 20′ tree-line in Little Caney with a baby bass DD-22 when it suddenly stopped. Setting the hook, Mark quickly found himself tangled up with a 9.53 lb bass that became the first big bass weigh-in for the 7am to 8am hour. “My big bass hit on a 7:30 am big bite, Mark informed.
Day-1 Exact Weight (2.5-lbs)- Leslie Singleton of Duncanville TX, got really excited after seeing the Stren digital scale settle on 2.50 lbs. “Immediately headed in to weigh it at the tournament site to see if it could win me the exact weight boat,” Jimmy stated. The fish officially settled on the tournament scale at 2.50 lbs, giving Leslie Singleton the first exact weight Triton/Mercury bass-rig valued at $12,500.
All Mcbass were recovered and live released via Sealy Outdoors and Lake Fork Association Live release krewes. Day-1 tally-471 bass weighing 928 lbs-
Bass Boat Raffle Fundraiser-Lake Fork Land’s End VFD -1996 Ranger/Mercury- For Fire Fighting Equipment funds- (903)- 383-7496.
Bass Boat Raffle Fundraiser- Lake Sam Rayburn Pavilion Assn: 2004 Triton/Mercury- for the Lake Sam Rayburn Pavilion construction funds- (409)-382-5478.
For more information on the Sealy Outdoors Inc; events contact Sealy Outdoors at (1-888)-698-2591.
2004 Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Splash Sponsors; Triton- Mercury- Shimano- Academy- Ron Carter Chevrolet- Cowboy Harley- Vexilar Electronics- Texas Fish & Game magazine- Cherokee RV- Gulp- Trilene- MinnKota- Louisiana Sportsman- Polar Eyes- Rejuvenade- Weaver Brothers- Port-A-Cool- Wave Worms- Dawson Marine- Lowrance- Reeves taxidermy- Berkley- Costa Del Mar- AND the Lake Fork McBass Anglers-
This Ed Snyder/Outdoors Tournament Report sponsored by , The Stump Restaurant & Club, Bass Buster Inn, Rayburn Country Resort, Party Perfect, Hollis Tire, and The Lake Sam Rayburn Pavilion Association.By: Ed Snyder / Ed Snyder Outdoors
