Pair win Bass and Bucks Summer event
By PATTY LENDERMAN Lakecaster Managing Editor

Outdoors photo/Patty Lenderman RANDY MILLENDAR shows the 10.12 lb. bass he landed that won Big Bass honors and helped him and his partner Kenneth Nichols to win first place with 22.53 lbs.

Toledo Bend marked the second of three summer series tournaments for Bass N Bucks. The lake is in good shape, being at or even a little over full pool. It's been a long time since we've seen the lake at these levels this time of year.

One hundred two teams fished for a part of an over $21,000 all cash payout, and Randy Millender and Kenneth Nichols landed first place for a big cash payday.

Our East Texas/West Louisiana area has been receiving an inordinate amount of rain this season. With these wet weather patterns, Dave Concienne, owner and tournament director of Bass N Bucks was watching the weather long before sun up.

The weather service indicated possible severe weather so trailering was allowed. Several teams took advantage of being able to launch closer to their fishing holes, and was grateful that they had the opportunity to do so. The bad weather didn't last long, leaving an unseasonably cool day under overcast skies for everyone to enjoy.

Outdoors photo/Patty Lenderman JAMES ELLIOTT and Ron Hendricks brought in a cookie cutter limit, winning 2nd place with 19.39 lbs.

The first to weigh in, establishing the leader board, was Butch Covington and Frank LeBaron. Their five fish limit weighed 18.85 lbs., with an 8.49 lb. kicker. Their lead didn't last long, ultimately taking fourth place overall.

The top weight of the day was 22.53 lbs., by Randy Millender and Kenneth Nichols. They also seized Big Bass honors with their double-digit, 10.12 lb. lunker.

"We had our fish patterned for the past couple of weeks," Randy explained. "We fished deep bare humps in 15'-18'. There were scattered stumps on them."

They used Texas rigged red bug Mag 2 worms and DD-22's.

They took first place by more than three pounds, winning a check for $5,000. They received an additional $1,000 for their Big Bass.

James Elliott and Ron Hendricks brought in the second place stringer weighing 19.39 lbs. They were all pretty close to the same size, around four pounds apiece.

"We were glad Dave called a trailering tournament. It would have been a rough ride for us first thing in the morning to get where we were going" James said. "We fished the 1215 area, throwing crank baits and a Carolina rigged red bug Dead Ringer."

Only landing one fish in their first spot, they moved to their next area, a ridge in about 12-14'.

They received $2,500 for their second place finish, plus they were the highest qualified Champion boat team and received an additional $500 Champion bonus. This is the sixth time this team has won the Champion Boat bonus.

Bobby Addison and Clarence Sanderson finished just 1/4 lb. behind them landing third place with 19.08 pounds.

Their creel included an 8.61 lb. kicker. They enjoyed a $2,000 check for their third place finish.

Top Teams:

First - $5,000 22.53 lbs. Randy Millender and Kenneth Nichols

Second - $2,500 19.39 lbs. James Elliott and Ron Hendricks

Third - $2,000 19.08 lbs. Bobby Addison and Clarence Sanderson

Fourth - $1,500 18.85 lbs. Frank LeBaron and Butch Covington

Fifth - $1,400 18.25 lbs. Cary Talbot and James Talbot

Sixth - $1,200 17.79 lbs. Harold Moore and David Scott

Seventh - $1,000 17.55 lbs. Dean West and Darrel Reeves

Eighth - $1,000 17.15 lbs. Jason Wells and Vic Cooper

Ninth - $1,000 16.94 lbs. Bobby LeBert and Nobie Jo LeBert

Tenth - $1,000 16.47 lbs. Sandy Daniel and Dean Morgan

....and last in the money....

15th - $500 15.26 lbs. Mike Hollomon and Jim Sorter

Big Bass - $1,000 10.12 lbs. Randy Millender and Kenneth Nichols

There's still one more tournament to go in the Summer Series. Anyone is allowed to enter any tournaments they'd like to fish. Sign up now for the last event Aug. 11 on Sam Rayburn.

The Championship will be held Sept. 15-16 on Sam Rayburn. Three fully rigged Champion boats will be given away, one each to the top winners in each of three divisions.