Stricklin 'echoes' Rayburn ABA win
By ED SNYDER

MIKE HOLLAND fished a Carolina rigged watermelon/ candy Zoom fluke to catch his 6.59 lb. big bass.

The second 'go-round' of this district-53 American Bass Anglers (ABA) weekend tournament launched anglers into a fog-less morning with building north winds and clearing 'bluebird' skies, a hard knock for catching bass, but as always, when the 'tuff' got going it just got TUFFER!

Although TONS of bass were caught today very few keepers were in that tonnage as anglers had to fight gutsy north winds and chill-down temperatures. But even so the list of winners, almost winners, and hindsight 20/20 anglers told their tales.

Top-5 ABA Anglers

First - (12.66) "I fished the same pattern as Saturdays ABA," stated Jimmy Stricklin of Sam Rayburn. "I just didn't get the big bites today." Targeting two-to-five foot mid-lake grass patches Jimmy ripped Rayburn red Rat-L-Traps through the hydrilla strands to catch his winning weight.

Second - (12.34) "I pretty well just GPS covered the lake area from Veach north to south-lake areas," stated Clayton Boulware, of Zavala. Clayton cranked shad patterned crank baits to catch over 40 bass today, but had only 10 keepers to cull from.

Third - (11.76) "Mid-lake points and Zoom trickworms," stated Bill Rodgers of Jasper. Rodgers hovered

along 10-20 foot mid-lake points to work Carolina rigged watermelon/candy Zoom trick worms to catch "tons" of bass for culling his third place finish.

Finishing out the top-5 angler field were Ragley La, angler Mike Holland, for his 10.92 fourth place finish, and Rayburn angler David Mauldin, with his fifth place 10.87 catch.

Overall Big Bass - (6.59) Mike Holland of Ragley La , was working a Carolina rigged watermelon/candy Zoom fluke within a 25 foot Caney Creek brush top when his 6.59 bass hit on a 1:15 p.m. big bite.

Second Big Bass - (4.25) -Dave Mauldin of Sam Rayburn.

In a recent business move BASSMaster licensed ABAto operate their E S P N / B A S S M a s t e r Weekend series tournament trail. The ABA will continue to send their 'overall' national champion to the CITGO BASSMasters Classic.

ABA plans to maintain the popular weekend series one-day tournament structure and operate a schedule similar to the 2006 event format. The weekend series tournament will continue to be conducted according to BASS rules and under BASS' highest fish care standards.

For more information on ABA tournaments contact Paul Henry - District 53 at 409-745-1846 or cell 409-670- 5644.