Metcalf, Kirk take home first at TFC tourney on Toledo
By PATTY LENDERMAN Lakecaster Managing Editor

Outdoors photo/Patty Lenderman GLEN KIRK AND MIKE METCALF hold the oversized $10,000 check awarded to them for winning first place at the Texas Forest Country Bass Circuit held on Toledo Bend.

Toledo Bend is in great shape and pumping out some big bass! The Texas Forest Country Bass Circuit held it's second event of four at Lowe's Creek Park on Toledo Bend. The Sabine County Chamber of Commerce was the host Chamber for this tournament, with nearly 100 participating teams. Several ninepound kickers were brought to the scales, with the biggest bass of the day weighing over 11 pounds. Mike Metcalf and Glen Kirk won $10,000 for first place.

This tournament series was set up in what would normally be called the "off season" for tournament anglers. One tournament per month September through December, then the championship in January. Four area Chambers of Commerce around Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend are hosting an event in each of their counties for this series. October 6 was a beautiful day on the Bend, the lake is holding at more that 168', and the fall bass are moving in.

Outdoors photo/Patty Lenderman SHANE GIBSON hoists the 11.13 lb. bass that caught Big Bass honors. He and his partner Jimmy Johnson won 4th place overall with 19.49 lbs.

Shane Gibson and Jimmy Johnson brought in the first big sack weighing 19.49 lbs. Their kicker was a monster - 11.13 pounds. Shane caught this huge bass on a camo 1- 1/4 oz Oldham jig with a watermelon red brush hog trailer.

"We were fishing the end of a ridge with grass in about 11'-12'. She picked it up about 1:00, and just started swimming off with it. I didn't know she was big because there wasn't really any fight. She just came right on in. Jimmy got the net and swooped her into the boat, and that's when we realized how big she was!"

They won Big Bass honors, and fourth place overall. They would like to thank their sponsors - Falcon rods, Skeeter, Yamaha and Waterloo rods.

Todd Driscoll and John Lynch gained a temporary lead with 22.64 lbs. They didn't have a particular kicker in their bag, just a fist full of solid chunks.

"We pitched 1-1/2 oz pumpkin green jigs outside the grass line in 9'-12'. By 8:00 we had a small limit in the boat, probably would've weighed around 11 pounds. We hit four different spots, but caught all of our quality fish in one 200 yard stretch. It was an area with a little slough, or depression. By 11:00 we culled all of our original limit. The better bite was mid day, and we caught about 20 keepers."

They stayed in lead position as many teams brought in their catch, ultimately landing second place overall.

Mike Metcalf and Glen Kirk caught a lot of attention as they brought their bag in. It took both of them to carry it for all the big fish they had caught. First they weighed the biggest - once they determined which one that was - and it tipped the scales at 9.03 lbs. Then the rest of their creel was added, bringing their total weight to a whopping 27.11 lbs.

They explained, "A lot of people think we have certain places that we fish, but we just hit spots as we're going by them. We just keep looking, until we put a plan together and figure out what the bass are doing that day."

One of the spots they stopped at, Mike told Glen "there's nothing but little one's here."

After making a few casts, they caught a couple of bass over eight pounds.

Glen said to him, "Well, if these are the little ones, show me where the big ones are!" They hit about eight different places, looking for ledges in 8'-15'. Their success came off a variety of hard baits and soft plastics. They were presented with a check for $10,000 for their first place win.

More great weights and big bass in the nine pound range came across the scales. As the weigh in line got smaller, Phil Hennigan and Bobby Barrera slid into thirdplace with 19.76 pounds. As with the other top teams, they were also flipping a jig in the grass. Their choice was a 1 oz camo jig with a watermelon trailer.

"We stayed on main lake points with grass in 10'-11'. We had about a 10 pound limit by 9:00, then at 11:30 caught our big bass (7.49 lbs). Between 1:45 and 2:30 we culled all we had except the big bass. Out of the three spots we hit, two produced for us."

The Line-Up:

First - 27.11 lbs. Mike Metcalf and Glen Kirk

2nd - 22.64 lbs. Todd Driscoll and John Lynch

3rd - 19.76 lbs. Phil Hennigan and Bobby Barrera

4th - 19.49 lbs. Shane Gibson and Jimmy Johnson

Big Bass - 11.13 lbs. Shane Gibson

John Salamone officiated as Tournament Director. "I'd like to thank everybody for coming out and fishing with us. We hope you're having fun in this series. We'd also like to thank all of the sponsors, chambers of commerce and host marina's for their part in making this series happen."

There are only two tournaments left in this series. The next will be hosted by the San Augustine Chamber of Commerce Nov. 10 at Jackson Hill Marina on Sam Rayburn. The last chance tournament will be Dec. 8, hosted by Shelby County Chamber of Commerce at Huxley Bay Marina on Toledo Bend. For more information, please call any of these chamber offices or click to www.wulfoutdoorsports. com.