Ligon, Schweitz claim inaurgural Toledo Bend Oilman's Classic
By DONALD GERVAIS Lakecaster Correspondent

Bill Ligon and John Schweitz teamed up to claim the win the championship at the inaugural Toledo Bend Oilman's Classic (TBOC) held April 25-26 with a total of 44.3 pounds. They brought in the largest limit of the tournament on day 2 which weighed 28.17 pounds, anchored by Ligon's best ever bass catch, a 10.75 lunker. Day 1 leaders Chris Allen and Glenn Gilbreat had the second biggest stringer, weighing 26.25 pounds, anchored by Allen's best ever catch, a 10.86 pound largemouth bass-big bass of the tournament and had to settle for the runner-up spot. A check for $20,000 was presented to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas by the tournament at Saturday's finale.

Mother Nature was kind to the 370 oilfield-related fishing teams who competed in the inaugural TBOC tournament. Mild temperatures, a short period of gusty wind on day 1, followed by mostly sunny skies allowed anglers to fish their favorite spots. The favorable angling conditions helped the seven teams who brought 20+ pound back sacks to the scales on Day 1 and five fish over 8 pounds.

Allen and Gilbreat were among the first team to the scales. Spectators broke out with "Oohs, Ahhs" and applause as Allen hoisted his big fish to the scales. Besides the 10 pound lunker their limit included a bass that fell just short of the 7-pound mark.

Wayne Jonson and Wayne Psenick were the closest to the leaders with a limit of 20.57 pounds. It was the most impressive of the 20+ bags in that their biggest fish was but 5.59 pounds. The father and son team of C. David and Dereck Mong had an almost identical catch. The largest fish weighed but 5.67 pounds in their 3rd place weight of 20.5 pounds. Just 0.08 pounds behind in 4th were Tommy Marrison and Bud Sell with 20.42 pounds.

Rick Barnes' 8.72 pound fish, 4th big bass of the day, anchored him and Clyde Mcafee's 5th place catch weighing 20.33 pounds. A weight difference of several drops of water, 0.01 pounds, separated them and the sixth place of team of Harley Wilson and Charlie Woods.

Wayne Smith's 8.91 pound fish, second big bass of the day, anchored him and partner Leo Foreman's tally of 20.04 pounds to place them in 7th.

Teams competed for daily and overall standing checks. The top 70 each day received a check as did the overall finishers. The five biggest bass each day received checks. The cutoff weight to earn a check for Day 1 was 11.29 pounds. At the bottom of the big bass list on day 1 was Jack Jetter, with an 8.61-pound fish.

Anglers remained tightlipped about their spots and lures, although big bass angler of the day Allen did share that he caught his bass, which was entered in the Toledo Bend Lunker program, on a baby Brush Hog.

Anglers faced a change in weather conditions on Day 2 as the cloud cover remained all day. Some anglers on the south end of the lake were drenched by an early morning shower. Anglers at mid lake reported a misting. Winds were mild from the Southeast at 5 mph allowing anglers to hold on their favorite fishing holes.

Wilson and Harley took the early lead when they brought in 13.76 pounds for a 33.94 pound total. The veteran team lamented that a large fish, which broke off late in their fishing day, haunted them.

Smith and Foreman had a slightly better catch of 14.26 pounds to edge them ahead of Wilson and Harley with 34.3 pounds. They would end up in 6th place on the final tally board. Marrison and Sell, 4th on day 1, managed a 5-fish skinny catch weighing 11.35 pounds, dropping them in the overall standings to 12th.

Team Wong faired a bit lighter in their catch than they had on the previous day. Their 16.07 pounds catch placed them temporarily in the #2 spot with 36.57 pounds.

Saturday's "Ooh's, Aah's" and applause went to Schweitz and Ligon, 16th place on day 1 with 16.13 pounds, when they made their way to the scales.

"It was Bill's turn today," said Schweitzer. "I caught one of the five brought in. He could do no wrong today. He netted the 10 pound fish I caught last year and I returned the favor today."

They had to wait for the Day 1 leaders, in the late flight of day, before they could breathe easier.

Among the late flight teams were Johnson and Psenick, who brought in 12.56 pounds to slip from second to 9th place. Barnes and Mcafee lacked a kicker fish in their limit, which weighed 14.51 pounds. However, they managed to move up to 4th place overall with 34.84 pounds.

"We caught more fish today than yesterday," said first day 1 leader Allen. "We couldn't catch any over 2 pounds today."

Indeed, their five fish skinny limit weighed 11.54 pounds, giving them second place with 37.79 pounds.

Travis Brossard and Lynn Thibodeaux brought in the second biggest bag on day 2 weighing 20.6 pounds to add to their 12.4 pound on Friday for 33.01 pounds and claim the 8th spot overall.

Third biggest stringer of the day went to Donnie Ortega and Chad Dyess with their catch of 20.67 pounds. It was the last 20 + pound sack of the day. The weight to qualify for big bass of the day declined from Friday. Harlan Blancet had second big bass with a 7.45 pound catch. Floyd Blackman took 3rd big 'un of the day with 7.38 pounds.

Brothers Richard and Ronnie Madole took 5th place overall with 34.44 pounds. They had catches of 16.81 and 17.63. Smith and Foreman would end up in the sixth place with 34.3 pounds

Although the weight of the top five bass was a bit lower Saturday the weight to qualify for a check went up almost a pound to slightly over 12 pounds.

"Everything for the kids," said Chester Huval, president of the TBOC board of directors who led the formation of the tournament.

Huval, owner of Huval Trucking Inc. of New Iberia and Venture Transportation LLC, has been a sponsor and participant in oilfield industry tournaments for 18 years. At age 68 he is still active in the business of keeping a fleet of 30 trucks supporting the oil business industries in Texas and Louisiana.

"The Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas is such a wonderful cause," said Huval to those gathered at Saturday evening finale. "They need all the help we can give them."

"We are so grateful to you the anglers, to the tournament directors and sponsors for this generous donation," said Chip Woods, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas, as he accepted the tournament donation. "The money will be put to good use and I invite you all to visit one of the clubs to see the good that is being done."

Several other youth groups benefitted from the tournament. The junior class of Negreet High School aided in taking fish from the weigh scales to the live release boat to help earn money for their upcoming Ring Ceremony. Boy Scout Troop 154 of Lufkin earned money helping carry fish on Saturday.

Huval gave credit to the dozens of directors, volunteers and sponsors who made the tournament possible. Sponsors of the tournament included not only oil field-related businesses but also numerous businesses around Toledo Bend Lake. Yokum Toyota of Alexandria, La., joined the sponsor team. Bass Pro Shops aided considerably with the tournament, according to a tournament official.

Anglers were fed Friday and Saturday due to the support of Allis Chalmers, L&L Oil & Gas Svc., Ameri-Tech, Superior Energy Services and Venture Transport Logistics.

The grand door prize was a Nitro Z-7 bass boat, powered by a 150 hp Mercury outboard, a package valued at over $26,000. Dusty Rhoades Marine of Lufkin arranged for the donation, prepared the prize and brought it to the tournament. Bob Penenger of Cypress was the winner of the grand door prize and was awarded the boat by Dusty Rhoades.

Visit the TBOC website for information daily and overall standings as well as information about the organization, directors and sponsors at: TBOCBASS.com

Information on the Boys and Girls Club of deep east Texas can be found at: http://www.bgcdet.org/