Bassmaster Elite Series pro Matt Herren of Alabama won the 2016 Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Ray Roberts and was quick to thank his wife for her unwavering support as he held the crystal trophy, and a check for $100,000.
But, Chris Zaldain may have supplied the best birthday present ever received by a pro angler’s wife by winning a brand new Toyota Tundra on the very day of his wife Trait’s 29th birthday Sunday, the final day of this year’s Toyota Texas Fest event.
The story gets better – Zaldain, a California native, caught the 7-pound beast on a jig from an isolated willow tree in a specific portion of the lake his wife Trait grew up fishing with her dad.
Trait is an avid tournament angler, fishes the Bassmaster Central and Northern Opens, and learned to fish with her dad Larry on Ray Roberts. “Chris caught that 7-pounder in an area of the lake that dad and I have fished many times,” says Trait.
“It’s my birthday, but this new Tundra is for Chris,” says Trait in heartfelt fashion.
“Chris is towing his boat all over the country with a Ford diesel that has 302,000 miles on it, he needs a new truck, but being newlyweds and all, we just haven’t had a lot of extra money to go buy the new Toyota we’ve been talking about wanting for months,” says Trait.
“The first vehicle I ever had in my life was a Toyota 4Runner, and that was the best vehicle I have ever owned,” says Trait. “That’s a big reason we’ve been talking about buying a Toyota, I know how reliable they are, not to mention all that they do for the sport we both make a living from,” she adds.
