Well everyone has been waiting for it, and now it is finally happening. The bass are moving in shallow and they’re hungry. Limit after limit was brought to the scales February 22nd at Twin Dikes Marina as the 257 teams brought in their catch at the 2nd event for the Sealy Outdoors Open Team Splash. Ten teams weighed in over 20 pounds, and there were four big bass weighed in over 9 lbs. Lynn Shivers and Darrell Proffitt achieved victory in the event with their limit, including their 9.50 top honors big bass kicker, plus two over 6 lbs to follow in their sack.
The bass are steadily marching to shallow water as the daytime temperatures are climbing to 70 degrees and water temps are climbing with it. The average water temperature was reported to be around 59 degrees, but in some areas as high as 64 degrees. These competitors had a picture perfect day to be out on the lake, with mild temps in the 60’s and a gentle breeze.
Darrell Proffitt & Lynn Shivers took all the top honors, 1st place over all and 1st place big bass. “We had a full bag by 12:00” Darrell reported. “Our last cull was at 12:30.” Throwing carolina rigged Zoom lizards, Darrell used a cherry seed color while Lynn used watermelon blue. Their carolina rig had a 3/4 oz weight and a 2 1/2 foot leader. “We were throwing in 3′-5′ pockets with flooded trees and bushes. Lynn literally called the catch. We threw in one spot and pulled out a 6 lb’r, and Lynn said ‘now all we need is one between 9-10 lbs for a kicker’. The very next cast, in the same spot, he pulled her out.” They caught their big bass and their two 6 lbr’s around 11:00, all in the same 20 minute period.
Coming in 2nd place was a team of cousins, Max and William Hawthorn. They weighed in a limit of 26.53 lbs, and had an 8.93 lb kicker to go with it. It was hard to pick the big bass out of their bag, they had two that looked just alike. “We had an awesome day. We caught them when it counted.” They found their fish a little deeper, in about 12′-14′ off of main lake points. They used a 1/2 oz carolina rig with a 3 1/2 foot leader and a green pumpkin trick worm. They culled four times to their final weight.
Scooter Clark and Lance Hughes cranked 1/2 and 3/4 oz red rattle traps all day for their limit. They went to the warmer water in the backs of coves and caught their fish in 5′-6′ depths. The water was stained and grassy, which was just right to cull three limits throughout the day. They also caught a 30 lb catfish. This team is sponsored by Castaway Rods.
Fathers and sons, mothers and sons, couples, cousins and buddies – they were all there, as young as 11 years old. It is a family style event for everyone to enjoy.
Rounding out the top 10 overall:
| 1st | $12,000 | 28.40 lbs | Darrell Proffitt & Lynn Shivers |
| 2nd | $ 6,000 | 26.53 lbs | Max Hawthorn & William Hawthorn |
| 3rd | $ 4,000 | 22.71 lbs | Scooter Clark & Lance Hughes |
| 4th | $ 3,500 | 22.44 lbs | David Ozio & Kevin Wing |
| 5th | $ 3,000 | 22.05 lbs | Marvin Konecny & Vince Neal |
| 6th | $ 2,500 | 21.92 lbs | Alice Stringer & Bradley Stringer |
| 7th | $ 2,300 | 21.29 lbs | Curtis Fisette & Scotty Reynolds |
| 8th | $ 2,200 | 20.40 lbs | Allan Shivers & Pete Shivers |
| 9th | $ 2,100 | 20.31 lbs | Paul Eason & Cory Rambo |
| 10th | $ 2,000 | 20.23 lbs | Michael Jordan & Jesse Moody |
….and what it took to make a check
30th – $ 700 – 15.84 lbs – P.D. Evans & Alton Jones
Top 3 big bass:
| 1st | $ 750 | 9.50 lbs | Darrell Proffitt & Lynn Shivers |
| 2nd | $ 500 | 9.35 lbs | Curtis Fisette & Scotty Reynolds |
| 3rd | $ 250 | 9.29 lbs | Allen Shivers & Pete Shivers |
There were 149 limits weighed in, and a total of 960 tournament bass for an incredible 2606.65 lbs. That’s an average weight of 2.72 lbs per fish. Like Bob Sealy said, “It’s only going to get better”
The next Sealy Outdoors Team Splash event is scheduled for March 28 on Toledo Bend Lake. Whether you can fish all of the events or just one, it is open for anyone who would like to compete for these cash prizes. 30 places are paid per event, and 30th place receives $700 in winnings, it is only $250 per team to enter.
Also mark your calendars for the upcoming 20th Anniversary of the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn April 16, 17 & 18. This event has a record breaking $500,000 payout, with $244,800 in hourly paybacks. It will be a block party like none other including entertainment by country music artist Neal McCoy. Bass fishing legend Jimmy Houston will be there and there will be concessions, games and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Tournament sponsors include: Triton, Mercury, Vexlar, MinnKota, Berkley, Wave Worms, Acadamy, Easy View Tackle Systems, Costa Del Mar, Shimano, Pure Fishing, Port-A-Cool, Polar Eyes, Bass Medics Rejuvenade, Dawson Marine, Toledo Town USA, Needmore Tackle & Latch Oil Inc.By: Patty Lenderman / Lakecaster
