| 

Nation’s Top Bass Pros to Hit Lake Tawakoni in PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series

 Aug 29th, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Aug 29th, 2010 at 12:00 AM

GARLAND, Texas (Aug. 27, 2010) – Shallow tactics have proven to be critical during the first two stops of the PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix, so why should the third event of the season on Lake Tawakoni be any different?

 
Some of the nation’s top bass pros will compete Sept. 9-11, based at West Tawakoni City Park, for more than $250,000 and a first place prize package worth $45,000. Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at the park at 3 p.m. The final weigh-in will be at Bass Pro Shops in Garland at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
 
Among the pros scheduled to compete are Zell Rowland, Harold Allen, Justin Rackley and Kelly Jordon of Texas, Edwin Evers and Bradley Hallman of Oklahoma, Pete Ponds and Paul Elias of Mississippi, John Crews and JT Palmore of Virginia, Jason Quinn of South Carolina and many more.

Located northeast of Dallas, the sprawling 37,900-acre Sabine River impoundment may be more well-known for its superb catfishing. But bass fishermen find enough action with largemouth to stay busy. The lake record is 13.33 pounds, and earlier this year a 10.22-pounder was caught during a spring tournament.
 
“For bass, it’s a shallow-style lake and I think we’re going to see a lot of guys fishing docks, stumps, laydowns, riprap and cover anywhere along the bank,” said Texas A&M pro Justin Rackley, who guides on Lake Fork east of Tawakoni.
 
“Because of that, it could fish small with everyone looking at a lot of the same things,” he said. “There’s some stain to it, too, which I like. We’ll see a lot of jigs, big worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits … good power-fishing techniques, and I like that better than anything.”

Numerous coves dotted with docks, shallow backwaters with woody cover and several creeks will provide the PAA Tournament Series field with ample targets. Offshore opportunities will be available, too, although the majority of bass anglers will stay relatively shallow.
 
“It’s going to be a good tournament and will fish shallow,” said Yamaha pro Zell Rowland of Austin. “It has deeper water, but is mainly a shallow fishery. There are some quality bass in it, a lot of timber and maybe a little vegetation. I haven’t been there in a few years but I really believe we’ll see some good bags.”
 
Rackley agreed, noting the population of striped bass and catfish offshore that seem to keep largemouth in the shallow areas of the lake.
 
“It has some depth in the middle, but with all the stripers out there … when the bass spawn they don’t have a lot of cover out there so they stay closer to the bank,” he said. “I believe we’ll see a lot of guys fishing from 1-5 feet.”
 
Rowland added that getting upriver could be a key if an angler wanted to try that challenge.
 
“One of the big secrets there is to get upriver, but I don’t know how many or if any of these guys will bring a jet boat,” he said. “I don’t have one, so it won’t be me.”
 
The tournament also will determine the final 15 berths in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, set for Oct. 1-3 on Lake Conroe north of Houston. The top 15 in the PAA Tournament Series, Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour points standings will qualify, along with four exempt selections and defending champion Dave Lefebre of Pennsylvania.
 
Tournament facts: The tournament is the third of four in the 2010 PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series presented by Carrot Stix. The winner will earn a prize package worth $45,000 including cash and a new Phoenix 719 Pro XP boat powered by a Mercury Optimax 225hp engine and outfitted with a T-H Marine Atlas Jackplate. Eligible anglers also may benefit from the Bass Pro Shops Tournament Rewards and Phoenix Boats First Flight bonus payout programs.
Daily launches and the first two days’ weigh-ins will be at West Tawakoni City Park. Saturday’s final weigh-in featuring the top 30 pros will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Garland. All launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public. Free seminars will be held at Bass Pro Shops beginning at 12:30 p.m. prior to the Saturday weigh-in.

Free seminars featuring Bradley Hallman, Pete Ponds, Edwin Evers and Jason Quinn will be held at Bass Pro Shops on Sept. 8. The seminars begin at 5:30 p.m.

About the PAA – The Professional Anglers Association is a non-profit organization that gives professional anglers a unified voice in order to aid in the growth of the sport of professional bass fishing. The PAA also aims to administer educational programs to the average angler, to increase enjoyment of the sport, and to embrace sound conservation practices to further the future of the sport. Web: www.FishPAA.com
 
PAA Associate Sponsors: The PAA Tournament Series is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, E21 Carrot Stix, Lazer Trokar, Markel Insurance, Phoenix Boats, Nitro Boats, T-H Marine, Fishouflage, SolarBat, U.S. Reel, Sign Designs, BoatU.S. Foundation, Mercury Marine and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.