Fishing News - 2/23/01
From BASS
Matsubu finesses way into Toledo Bend lead
Baksay, Rojas are second and third heading into finals
MANY, La. (February 23, 2001) Rookie pro Ben Matsubu of Mineola, Tex. proved that not all the Toledo Bend bass are shallow and hitting big lures during the BASSMASTER Louisiana Top 150 Pro Am.
The Mineola, Tex. angler, who was second on Thursday, finessed another big limit from more than 20 feet of water Friday to take a 5 pound, 2 ounce lead into Saturday's championship round with 39 pounds, 13 ounces.
Terry Baksay of Monroe, Conn. is second with 34 pounds, 11 ounces, Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Az. is third with 34-6, Takahiro Omori of Emory, Tex. fourth with 33-6, and Mark Menendez of Paducah, Ky. fifth with 32-8. Rounding out the 10 finalists are Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 32-1; Larry Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., 31-14; David Fritts, Lexington, N.C., 31-10; Tim Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 31-4; and Alton Jones, Waco, Tex., 30-15.
Matsubu found a sweet spot in deep water near the Toledo Bend dam where he is drop-shotting a Yamamoto Cut Tail Worm over an old road bed with six-pound line. "Ben is going to win it," said Rojas. "He's fishing a different technique than the rest of us and is in an area where the fish are replenishing themselves. We've got to catch some really big bags to beat him."
Matsubu, who had never fished Toledo Bend before, said the technique and method is something he learned to do on Arizona lakes before moving to Texas.
"The fish are in the pre-spawn mode and moving up on the road bed I'm fishing," he said. "It's an area where the locals don't fish so the bass aren't getting pressured." Baksay, on the other hand, has to share his fishing spot with local anglers. He's catching most of his bass on a 3/4- ounce bubble gum colored Terminator spinnerbait and a chrome- colored Rogue and Rapala Husky Jerk.
Menendez made one of the biggest moves of the tournament, jumping from 67th place to fifth with the heaviest limit of the day. His 21 pound, 12 ounces was anchored by the biggest bass of the day, an 8-6. In the amateur division, Keith Keele of Center, Tex. won the $27,000 Ranger/Mercury rig with a two-day catch of 21 pounds, 9 ounces. Billy Billeaud of Lafayette, La. was second ($4,000) with 21-2 and Paul Strege of Woodbury, Minn. third ($3,500) with 20-11.
Anglers are prepared to launch from Cypress Bend Park, beginning at 6:45 a.m. tomorrow. Additionally, a free CastingKids event presented by Chevy Trucks, will be held here from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This fun-filled national program, designed by B.A.S.S. CEO Helen Sevier, encourages children to perfect the skills of casting, pitching and flipping. Local B.A.S.S. clubs conduct the events and provide instruction to all youngsters.
The three-day competition wraps up with the final weigh-in at Cypress Bend Resort beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Louisiana BASSMASTER Top 150 is the fifth of seven events on the BASSMASTER Top 150 Trail this season. The winning pro will take home $110,000, and the winning amateur, $27,000, out of the overall $431,450 purse. In addition to the prize money, anglers will be vying to earn valuable points that will help them qualify for next summer's BASS Masters Classic. The top 25 anglers in the season's points standings will qualify to fish in the "Super Bowl" of bass fishing.
By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide, The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society is the world's largest fishing organization. The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is America's oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship after more than three decades.
Sponsors of the 2001 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail include: Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Outboards, Chevy Trucks, Long John Silver's, Kumho Tires, ACDelco Batteries, Worldwaters.com, Humminbird/Zercom Marine, Pennzoil Marine, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, First USA/B.A.S.S. Platinum Visa, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Gore-Tex Outerwear and GMAC Insurance.
The event is sponsored locally by the Sabine River Authority and Sabine Parish Tourist Commission.
B.A.S.S. Web site: http://www.bassmaster.com.
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