This tournament has a national reputation as the finest couples championship held each year and this year was no exception.. I have been to many, many tournaments in my life but I do not think that I have ever been to one that was a good as the 1999 Cast Classic Tournament that was held on Lake Brownwood.
Starting on Friday night with the Awards Banquet all of the 148 couples received a weigh bag containing over $100.00 worth of our sponsors products. The first item was a custom made soft sided ice chest with the CAST logo silk-screened on the side. Other gifts included several spools of line from Berkley, a $40 free setting from Glamour Shots, key chains and pins from Ranger Boats, a package of Berkley Power Worms and Power Craws, and a Terminator Spinner Bait.
During the banquet on Friday night our top six couples in all 8 regions were presented with a plaque for their achievement in this year standing. Plus Team of the Year and Big Bass of the Year winners received plaques for their achievements.
Without question, the highlight of the evening was the presentation of a fully rigged brand new 2000 RANGER BOAT and trailer with a brand new 2000 MERCURY OUTBOARD MOTOR. The boat was fully equipped with a MotorGuide trolling motor and Continental batteries. Wayne Trull of Ranger boats reached into a hat and pulled out the name of Connie and Dale Swasick of Hurst as the winners of this year’s prize boat. Needless to say they were more than overjoyed. Dale said that they would be fishing out of this new Ranger boat for many years to come. Also we gave away a $900 custom diamond and sapphire ring donated by Luxor Jewelers of Bedford and the lucky lady was Becky McBride.
At our banquet on Saturday night not only was the food delicious but every single couple won a door prize. We gave away everything that just anybody who fishes could possibly want. From gallons of Itaska oil to complete fishing systems from Woodstream. OUANTUM rod and reel donated over a dozen of their finest rods and a dozen of their best reels. Continental Batteries gave twenty of their deep cycle batteries to some of our lucky couples. Many, many more great gifts were given away from baskets full of Mary Kay products to several gift certificates to Academy Stores to boxes of Berkley products.
As for the tournament itself you could not have asked for better. The weather was perfect and the fishing was fantastic. The best thing was that at the start of the 2nd day there was 22 couples with-in 3 pounds of first place. I don’t need to tell you how exciting that made the final weigh-in. I can not list all of the 25 winners but here is the grand prizewinner and the top 10 couples with their weights and prize money.
Connie & Dale Swasick 2000 RANGER BOAT & MERCURY OUTBOARD MOTOR valued at $18,000.00
| 1. | Grace & John Watts | 16.56lbs | $3,120.00 |
| 2. | Carrie & Dalton Cooley | 14.72lbs | $2,440.00 |
| 3. | Tammy & David Waller | 14.70lbs | $2,075.00 |
| 4. | Robin & Allen Little | 14.00lbs | $1,815.00 |
| 5. | Carolyn & Erbie Voyles | 13.06lbs | $1,560.00 |
| 6. | Carol & Larry McMinimy | 12.18lbs | $1,355.00 |
| 7. | Kym & Lester Springer | 12.08lbs | $1,150.00 |
| 8. | Rebecca & Neil Herline | 11.48lbs | $1,040.00 |
| 9. | Regina & Tom Mix | 11.38lbs | $ 930.00 |
| 10. | Karla & Waylon Bullard | 11.36 lbs | $ 875.00 |
SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS
We are adding a new region to our 2000 tournament schedule. This give us a total of (9) regions in Texas. Where ever you live there will be a region near you that you can fish.By: Tommy & Barbara Taylor / C.A.S.T.
