Top anglers win by big margins at Bassmasters
By PATTY LENDERMAN Lakecaster Managing Editor

Outdoors photo/Patty Lenderman JOHN PITTMAN, above, won the Pro division with nearly a five pound margin, bringing in a 20.75 lb. limit. His 7.38 lb. kicker also won Big Bass. Bryan Smith, below, took first place in the amateur division with 13.63 lbs.

The third 2007 event for the Bassmaster Weekend Series, now operated by American Bass Anglers took place March 25 on Sam Rayburn at the Umphrey Family Pavilion. Fifty two boats, each with a pro and an amateur angler, separately competed in their divisions.

The margins between first and second place in each division was significant. John Pittman and Bryan Smith took top spots respectively.

It was a beautiful day, with overcast skies, mild temperatures and soft breezes.

The format for this tournament is the pro's are allowed a five fish limit while the amateur's are allowed only three.

John Pittman fished the pro division, and brought in 20.75 lbs. to take the win.

"I had a real good day. Pre-fishing, I wasn't on those kinds of fish. I didn't catch anything more than three pounds. The bigger fish moved in today."

He flipped bushes with grass in five foot depths.

"I stayed out in the mouths of pockets. The third fish I caught was my seven-pounder, and I had five fish in the livewell by 8:30. All total they probably weighed 12 pounds."

He was pitching a black & blue jig with a Lake Fork pig claw trailer.

"It was a steady bite all day. I only hit two spots, and caught around 30 fish."

He won first place with nearly a five-pound margin. His 7.38 lb. kicker also won Big Bass honors.

Second place in the pro division was won by Joe Hill with 16.07 lbs.

"I fished shallow - 2' or less wit a variety of plastics," Hill explained. "I stayed on main lake points with brush and grass. I was trying for bedding bass, but with the cloud cover it was hard to see them. I had to work my baits real slow. I broke off one fish and lost two others. I could've had around 26 pounds."

Corey Waldrop won third place in this tournament, after winning the first event this season.

"I was targeting spawning shad. At first I was using spinnerbaits and chatterbaits, getting short strikes. At that point I switched to a fluke and did a lot better."

He put his fifth fish in the livewell around 1 p.m., and culled three times after that.

"I didn't fish anything deeper than 6', pitching from the front of the coves working my way to the back."

Top 5 Pros

First - $2,409 20.75 lbs. John Pittman D e v i l l e , LA.

Second - $1,205 16.07 lbs. Joe Hill Crosby

Third - $803 15.82 lbs. Corey Waldrop, Ft. Worth

Fourth - $562 15.44 lbs. Bob Vote, Kingwood

Fifth - $482 14.50 lbs. Phil Hennigan, Center

Big Bass - $260 7.38 lbs. John Pittman, Deville, LA.

In the amateur division, Bryan Smith won with nearly a three-pound margin.

"I fished shallow, flipping the bushes with a Texas rigged watermelon lizard. I caught three good fish on that, and culled one of them with a wacky worm. I caught my last keeper at 11:30, then the bite just shut down hard."

Smith has been consistent in this series, finishing second, then tenth, and now taking firsrt place with 13.63 lbs.

Coming in second place with 10.82 lbs. was Kenneth Cook.

"We had a long boat ride to the North end of the lake," Kenneth began. "I had never been there, but my boater said that he was on some fish. At 9 a.m., I had my limit in the boat but my boater didn't have any. I was using a Texas rigged baby brush hog, throwing it in areas of brush and lily pads."

He was only fishing about 3-4' deep, and culled to bigger fish several times.

"The trick was to throw the bait as close to the bushes as you could, then just let it lay. The bass didn't want a lot of movement."

William Watts won third place with a total of 9.82 lbs. and also Big Bass honors with his 7.44 lb. kicker. He only had two fish, but that was enough to take home some nice checks.

"We fished the East side of the lake, and I was throwing an Excalibur XR50 crank bait. There was an 8' ridge with grass 1' below the surface. I'd tick my bait over the grass, and as soon as it cleared, they'd inhale it. I should've walked away with this (tournament). I missed the winning fish."

Top 5 Amateurs

First - $1,205 13.63 lbs. Bryan Smith Carthage

Second - $602 10.82 lbs. Kenneth Cook DeQuincy, LA.

Third - $402 9.82 lbs. William Watts, Beaumont

Fourth - $281 9.50 lbs. Scott Bellamy Red Oak

Fifth - $241 9.19 lbs. Gayland Heard, Vidor

Big Bass - $130 7.44 lbs. William Watts Beaumont

The next BassMaster Weekend Series tournament by American Bass Anglers for the Southeast Texas Region will be held June 10th on Toledo Bend at Cypress Bend.

For more information call 888-203-6222 or click to www.abaproam.com