BBS FINAL: Brad Myers of Sulphur, La. Wins 26th Annual McDonald’s Big Bass Splash with 10.6 lb’er

By PATTY LENDERMAN

April 18, 2010
Posted: April 18, 2010, 7:51 PM CDT  

It was intense. It was exciting. It was the 26th Annual McDonalds Big Bass Splash on Sam Rayburn April 16-18,2010. Brad Myers of Sulphur LA beat out over 3,700 participants from all over the globe including Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Japan, and nearly 40 states to win the $100,000 first place prize with a 10.6 lb’er. A guaranteed payback of $580,000 was on the line for this amateur only event along with drawings for various prizes for the spectators. Three days of hourly paybacks and a whole lot more was packed in this fun-filled Block Party weekend.

The suspense was intense while Randy Turner held the top position for nearly 2 ½ days until the double digit bass started showing up on Sunday. Two over 10 were weighed in just hours apart, and Sulphur, LA angler Brad Myers held his breath and hung on with the heaviest weight to win the grand prize sportsman’s package worth over $100,000.

The final morning started off with big bass coming in to be weighed. Roy Walton won the first hour of the day with his 8.79 lb catch. Another non-bass record was also recorded this weekend as Mike Sampson heaved an enormous flathead catfish to the weigh tanks. It barely fit inside the giant containers! A special scale was brought in and Bob Sealy carefully balanced the fish on it. The big cat locked in at 74.09 pounds! “I was fishing a hump, using 20# test line with a french fry rig. It took me about 30 minutes to get it in!” Once the length and girth were measured, Howard Elder of Texas Parks & Wildlife was on the scene and certified the catch to be submitted as a new possible rod & reel lake record. Sampson released the big catfish back into Sam Rayburn, got in his boat and set out to catch some winning bass before days end.

The 9:00-10:00 hour was bustling with excitement as two exact weight winners came in. Wesley Raines brought in the first 4.00 lb bass of the weekend for $5,000 and J.R. McDonald weighed in his 3.00 bass also receiving a $5,000 check.

Things just kept heating up when Brad Myers of Sulphur, LA was the first to weigh in for the 10:00 hour. He took over the lead of the tournament with his 10.60 lb catch! “Do you know what that bass could be worth?” Sealy asked Myers. “I have no idea!” he answered. “Well over $100,000 with a new Dodge truck, a fully rigged 21′ Triton/Mercury, PLUS a Stealth 4×4!”

This is Myers’ second tournament to ever fish in his life, both being the Big Bass Splash tournaments on Sam Rayburn. “I hadn’t practiced any for this tournament. It was just blind luck. We’ve been trying to figure out the fish for the past two days. Yesterday we finally found them and the pattern they were on.” He said the fish were shallow first thing in the morning, then moved to deeper water around 8:30. “We just followed them as they gradually headed out.” Using a watermelon colored Texas rigged 7″ Ringworm, he put his bait in 14′ of water, a primary point with just a little bit of grass. “She bit at 9:30. Just two small taps.” He set the hook, but had no idea he had a giant double digit bass until it came to the surface. “We didn’t waste any time getting it into the live well, then we headed right in.” The crowd cheered and everyone got loud and excited except for Myers, who stayed as cool as a cucumber. Bob reminded him that there was more than three hours yet to go. “Anything can happen at the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash!”

Two hours later Lee Lacour of Highlands, TX brought in another double digit bass weighing 10.27 lbs. The overall top 5 leaderboard continued to shift throughout the day.

Final Top 5:

1st 10.60 lbs Brad Myers Sulphur, LA

Sportsman’s Package: 2010 Dodge Truck, Triton Bass Boat powered by Mercury, equipped with Minn Kota, Lowrance, Navionics and Power pole, Plus a Stealth 4×4

2nd 10.27 lbs Lee Lacour Highlands, TX

Sportsman Duo - Dodge Truck from Weaver Motors of Kirbyville, TX, Triton Bass Boat powered by Mercury, equipped with Minn Kota, Lowrance and Power Pole

3rd 9.65 lbs Kevin Kubeczka Houston, TX

Triton Bass Boat powered by Mercury, equipped with Minn Kota & Lowrance

4th 9.49 lbs Justin Parks Etoile, TX

Dodge Truck from Weaver Motors of Kirbyville, TX

5th 9.15 lbs Randy Turner Lufkin, TX

Stealth ATV from Stealth Manufacturing, West Monroe, LA

Each year the winner from the year prior receives an exact replica of the bass that won the tournament. Larry McNeese, winner of the 25th Annual event, received his replica for the bass that made him a $250,000 winner.

“We’re going to have another MILLION DOLLAR event!” Sealy announced. In 2014, Sealy Outdoors will be celebrating 30 years, and with it a guaranteed purse of $1 MILLION dollars. “There’s a lot more to come and more surprises in store for you!”

The next McDonald’s Big Bass Splash will be on Toledo Bend at Cypress Bend Marina May 21-23, 2010. For more information click to HYPERLINK “http://www.SealyOutdoors.com” www.SealyOutdoors.com or call 888-698-2591.

For more than a quarter of a century, the McDonald’s Big Bass Splash has evolved to mean many things to many people. Acclaimed as being the largest amateur tournament on the planet, it has become a family tradition for all. “Every year a percentage of every entry is given to the Ronald McDonald house and select charities” Bob Sealy said to the crowd. “Over the past quarter century, this tournament has donated over $4 MILLION dollars to the house that love built. I am proud to present this years donation from the event in the amount of $18,505.” These donations help keep the Ronald McDonald House operating for families that need to stay nearby while their sick children are in the hospital at no expense.. Sealy got teary-eyed while telling a few of the stories people have shared with him in appreciation for the facility and the impact this tournament’s donations has made.

For the entire results please visit either www.thelakecaster.com or www.sealyoutdoors.com

Reel um N Guide Service

Owner
Lynn Atkinson

Water Temp.68

Normal pool 164.40               
Water Clarity 2 feet
04-12-10

Sam Rayburn has started to fall this week to 164.71.  The water is a little muddy in the mid lake area from the rain and high winds that we had last week. 

The Big Bass Splash is this weekend and there will be a lot of anglers on the water looking for that one BIG bass. Lots of folks will come from all over the country to fish this tournament. We need to be extra careful out there with all the boats that will be running around. Make sure your lights are on and working when you lunch every morning and keep them on ‘till 30 minutes after sunrise.  I know it sounds silly but you have to obey all the laws and rules for the tournament.

Now I would like to point out another thing that you need to watch for.  This stuff is big trouble with big fines of up to $500 pre-plant to go with it.  It can cause major damage, not just to Sam Rayburn, but to other lakes as well.  “Giant Salvinia,” don’t transport this stuff on your boat or trailer. Make sure you check the trailer and boat for anything hanging off it. If you’re changing lakes it’s a good idea to wash your boat and trailer down with hot soapy water at a high pressure car wash. Remember, transporting Salvinia is breaking the law, and a no-no for tournaments AND ANY OTHER DAY OF THE WEEK.

Now here’s what we have found on the fishing.  There are some fish up in the buck brush and some hanging in the grass from 6 to 12 ft.  Flipping the brush will catch a lot of fish but it is a lot of work and takes skill to do it.  Stanley Jig has a new bait call the Y-NOT that has been doing really good picking up big fish in the brush. I lost several fish today because they got tangled up and we just couldn’t get them out. Most of them are small fish and they are doing their thing, replenishing the lake for years to come. The Stanley Spinner bait has also been putting a few fish in the boat, tinkling the grass and dropping it off the edges. The deep bite has slowed way down and just hasn’t been working for us around Mid Lake. I hope this helps, GOOD LUCK.

Remember the Sharelunker Program entries started on October 1 and runs thru April 30th. If you haven’t heard, it encourages anglers who catch a 13 - pound- plus largemouth bass to lend or donate it to the TPWD for spawning purposes. There are some great benefits doing this and one of them is that the angler receives a fiberglass replica of the bass. There is a 24- hour pager at 1-888-784-0600 Check out the Program rules at their site along with the Benefits. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visitorcenters/tffc/sharelunker/

www.rayburncountry.com
srayburn@rayburncountry.com
www.reelumn.com
lynn@reelumn.com

Eagle Rock Energy

Brookeland / Masters Creek Employees and Friends

                                           13th ANNUAL

                                 June 12, 2010

BENEFITING:

Lakes Area Hospice

Brookeland Youth Baseball & Softball , Jasper 4H Gun & Bow,

and Vernon Parish TRIAD and Special Kids.

Registration forms can be obtained at local area tackle shops, Miller’s Bait and Tackle, Hollis Tire, The Stump, and Jasper Outboard or by calling 409-698-9606.  Lunch will be provided at weigh-in.  An appreciation fish fry and meal will be held that evening and trophies and prizes will be awarded at that time.

A live charity auction will be held following the meal.

PAYOUT INCLUDES CASH PRIZES FOR:

1^st thru 3^rd Place and 17^th  Place

Heaviest Stringer, Heaviest Crappie, and Heaviest & Lightest Trash Fish

For additional information including a registration form and tournament rules, Please contact the number below.

TOURNAMENT                    Peggy West                              Marleta Payne

COMMITTEE                       Craig Blanchard                         Bobby Shaver

MEMBERS:                           Johnny Wood                            Jim Hopper

Todd McKee                            Eddie Coleson

Darryl Warner                          Larry Root      

******            For any inquiries, please call any of the above mentioned committee members at

            409-698-9606.

Boulware & McCall stayed on the move to win Bass N Bucks on Sam Rayburn

[Click to enlarge image]

1st - Having all cookie cutters in the bag, Clayton Boulware & Chris McCall won 1st place with their 24.85 lb limit

[Click to enlarge image]

2nd ? Holding the lead for a little while, Clint Teutche and Alan Moore ultimately claimed 2nd place with their 23.19 lb sack

(Apr. 12, 2010 - Lake Sam Rayburn TX)… A line up of renowned “heavy hitters” hit Sam Rayburn April 10, 2010 for the 4th of five Bass N Bucks 1st Series events. Several big kickers anchored competitor’s bags, but Clayton Boulware and Chris McCall searched out and found the winning stringer for the guaranteed 1st place purse of $15,000.

Under mostly sunny skies, anglers had a beautiful day to fish. The only thing that could have made it better was a little less wind. When the scales officially opened at 3:00 limit after limit was brought to the scales.

Clint Teutsch and Alan Moore brought in the first sack over 20 lbs at 23.19 that included a 9.01 lb kicker for Big Bass. Bobby and Nobie Jo LeBert took Big Bass honors away from them coming in soon after with their 9.25 lb kicker, but leaving Teutsch & Moore in the overall lead. The flights of teams continued coming in, leaving Teutsch & Moore as the unchallenged leaders until the last flight. Clayton Boulware & Chris McCall had a sack of cookie cutters weighing 24.85 lbs to win the tournament.

“We have been following the same pattern for weeks,” reported McCall. Focusing on shallow brush with needle grass or hydrilla on wind blown banks, they managed an initial limit on a swim jig. “Our initial limit consisted of 2-4 pounders. We kept moving from one spot to the next, and switched to Gambler Cane Toads and Stanley Ribbits.” The team estimates culling around 15 pounds worth to their winning stringer. Chris would like to thank Ranger, Evinrude, Abu Garcia, Santone Lures, Berkley, Gambler and American Rodsmiths. Clayton’s sponsors include Nitro, Mercury, MotorGuide, American Rodsmiths, V & M, Stanley Baits and Dusty Rhoades Marine.

Clint Teutsch & Alan Moore secured a 2nd place finish with their 23.19 lb sack. Using Texas rigged senko’s, they hit scattered bushes in shallow water, 3-4’ deep. “We caught four small keepers in our first spot, then moved and caught another. Those five only weighed around eight pounds total.” Moving yet again, they caught their 9.01 kicker and others in the 5-6 pound range, culling all of their initial limit and then some. They were presented with a $3,000 check for their 2nd place finish, and were fishing from a qualified Ranger boat to win an additional $500 from Ranger Cup. Alan also received the Cabela’s bonus of $250. The team would like to thank Tri Lakes Tackle for their help and support.

Archie Hayley & Charles Reed weighed in the last sack registering over 20 lbs at 20.17 to win 3rd place. “We hit lots of spots, using Bass Assassins and Senko’s.” The team went to the backs of creeks to fish shallow water. “We didn’t find any on beds, but they were close to bedding areas.” It took until 9:15 to put 5 fish in the boat. It was a meager limit, only weighing around 11 lbs. “The bigger fish started biting after 12:00.” They nearly doubled their stringer limit by days end to win 3rd place.

Bobby and Nobie Jo LeBert had their day cut out for them. “It started out terrible. We blew the motor right off the bat, and had to come back and fish close to the weigh in all day.” Using Senko’s and wacky worms, they fished in shallow water, 2’-6’ deep. “It was a slow bite all day, but we didn’t catch too many throw backs.” Bobby landed the Big Bass of the day weighing 9.25 lbs cashing in on $1,000. This also anchored their 13th overall finish, winning an additional $600 with a total weight of 16.47 lbs.