Anderson, Shine win Fishers of Men at Toledo Bend
By DONALD GERVAIS Lakecaster Correspondent

Outdoors photos/Donald Gervais GEORGE ANDERSON uses two hands to hoist the 10.39-pound fish that anchored the 26.35-pound five fish limit he and partner the Reverend Larry Shine, middle, brought to the scales at the April 7 Fisher of Men East Texas Division team tournament on Toledo Bend. Tournament director Rodney Howard lends helping hands. Pictured left, a boat heads to shore during the rocky weather Saturday afternoon.

Falling snow set the backdrop during the weigh in at the Fisher of Men's April 7 tournament on Toledo Bend as George Anderson and the Reverend Larry Shine hoisted their day's catch, two large bags.

One bag contained a 10.39-pound Toledo Bend lunker that anchored their five limit weighing 26.35 pounds.

The team's catch almost doubled the weight of the second place finishers.

"We were due for a good tournament," said the Rev. Shine. "We haven't had a good tournament this season. We did today. We were blessed."

The winners and the other 41 teams fishing in the fourth event of the Fisher of Men National Tournament Trail, East Texas division did not fare so well with the fishing conditions as they faced early morning rain turning to snow by the weigh in time of 3 p.m. and north winds blowing between 7- 20 m.p.h.

The majority of the field failed to bring a fish to the scales.

Gamesmanship was shown by the winners as they allowed all teams to weigh before they brought their two heavy weigh bags to the scales.

Shine's big bass drew a round of applause by anglers and spectators under the pavilion. Another round of applause went up as their total weight was announced.

"I've been catching good fish for the past three weeks," said Anderson, a recent retiree who is building his retirement home in the Six Mile Bay area. "I've caught four over 10- pounds. The big fish bit at high noon and after a great fight, including an airborne dance, Larry netted her."

Winning anglers customarily reveal their angling ways at weigh in. Some anglers have been known to stretch the truth rather than reveal some things.

However, when a reverend reveals his winning ways, there has to be a bit more credibility in the tale.

Outdoors photo/Donald Gervais GEORGE ANDERSON holds up the 10.39-pound fish that claimed Big Bass honors at the April 7 Fisher of Men East Texas team tournament held on Toledo Bend Reservoir.The angler entered the bass in the Toledo Bend Lunker Program for 10+ pound bass caught on Toledo Bend.

"We started off fishing where we had caught them in practice," said Shine, of Onalaska and pastor of the Pine Forest Baptist Church. "After fighting four-foot waves for four hours we decided to move to a more protected area and the wacky worm worked there too."

Both team members were enticing the bite with wacky-rigged finesse trick worms, in junebug color. The worms had nails inserted in them to increase the fall in the 7-8 feet of water they targeted around grass in Six Mile and Housen Bay.

Anderson's boat brought the anglers to the water where the big bass was caught on a Shimano rod and reel, spooled with 12-pound test Vanish line. Shine's tackle included Kisler rods and Ambassador Reels spooled with 14-pound test line.

Three limits of fish fell for their wacky worms including a seven-pound eight ounce that would have taken second big bass of the day, save for the tournament rule that only one big bass award is awarded per team.

Rusty West of Warren and Robert Moore of Springer claimed the second place plaques and checks as well as the second big bass award.

Their five-fish 13.79 pound catch was anchored by a 6.91-pound fish that took second Big Bass honors.

It was the team's best finish this season.

West and More motored to their fish in mid-lake areas in depths of three-10 feet around grass.

They caught their fish on numerous baits including soft plastics; flukes, lizards and Senko's and _ ounce tandem willow spinnerbaits, white and chartreuse in color.

Woodville, Ms. anglers John McKinney and Warren Whitaker made the cross state trek to take home third place honors with 13.32 pounds.

It was the first tournament fished by the team and first tournament ever for McKinney.

They too targeted fish in the southern end of the lake, between Housen Bay and Cypress Bend Marina.

A variety of baits were needed for their five-fish limit, including spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged lizards in watermelon color and two different mid-depth crank baits.

A Tidecraft bass boat, powered by a Mercury engine brought the anglers to their fishing spots where they targeted fish in three- 10 feet of water with Quantum rods and reels, spooled with 15-pound test Berkeley Big Game line in green color.

Surely there will be no snow for the remaining tournament for the East Texas division anglers of the Fisher of Men, a return to Toledo Bend on May 26.

At season's end the top 20 teams who have fished at least three of the five events will move on to the regional championship.

Those who do not qualify by points and have paid for five tournaments in a combination of different divisions and who have fished at least three of them will be eligible for the wildcard regional tournament.

Rodney Howard is the tournament director for the East Texas division and may be reached at fishinrod71446@ yahoo.com or by calling (337) 424-2339.

For information about the Fisher of Men National Tournament Trail and the complete tournament standings and division standings go online to: http://www.fomntt.com/