A look at Elite venues

A look at Sam Rayburn

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The fifth Elite event of 2017 is the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which will be held on Lake Sam Rayburn out of Lufkin, Texas, May 17-21. It will be the Bassmasters’ 32nd tournament on Sam Rayburn, the most B.A.S.S. events at one lake by 10. <p> <em>All captions: Mike Suchan</em>
The fifth Elite event of 2017 is the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which will be held on Lake Sam Rayburn out of Lufkin, Texas, May 17-21. It will be the Bassmasters’ 32nd tournament on Sam Rayburn, the most B.A.S.S. events at one lake by 10.

All captions: Mike Suchan

Work to dam the Angelina River in east Texas began in September of 1956. The reservoir’s main purpose was for flood control, power generation and conservation of water. Recreation was an added benefit.
Work to dam the Angelina River in east Texas began in September of 1956. The reservoir’s main purpose was for flood control, power generation and conservation of water. Recreation was an added benefit.
It took almost 9 years to complete the dam, and construction costs, which included recreational facilities, were estimated at $66 million.
It took almost 9 years to complete the dam, and construction costs, which included recreational facilities, were estimated at $66 million.
Sam Rayburn, impounded in 1965 by the concrete works and a 17,230-foot long earthen embankment, has a surface area of 114,500 acres, the largest lake wholly within the state. Just east, Toledo Bend, on the Texas-Louisiana border, is 180,000 acres.
Sam Rayburn, impounded in 1965 by the concrete works and a 17,230-foot long earthen embankment, has a surface area of 114,500 acres, the largest lake wholly within the state. Just east, Toledo Bend, on the Texas-Louisiana border, is 180,000 acres.
Some 7,000 feet west of the Sam Rayburn dam is a 640-foot long labyrinth weir spillway, which was reworked from 1994-96 to prevent erosion if any water were to be released. Cost of the new spillway totaled approximately $38 million.
Some 7,000 feet west of the Sam Rayburn dam is a 640-foot long labyrinth weir spillway, which was reworked from 1994-96 to prevent erosion if any water were to be released. Cost of the new spillway totaled approximately $38 million.
Originally named after a nearby bend in the river, the dam and reservoir name was changed in September, 1963, to Sam Rayburn in a special resolution adopted by Congress. Texas politician Samuel Taliaferro ‘Sam’ Rayburn was the 43rd and longest tenured Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. A long-time champion of soil and water conservation, he had died in 1961. President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered the principal address at the dam’s 1965 dedication ceremony by telephone from the White House.
Originally named after a nearby bend in the river, the dam and reservoir name was changed in September, 1963, to Sam Rayburn in a special resolution adopted by Congress. Texas politician Samuel Taliaferro ‘Sam’ Rayburn was the 43rd and longest tenured Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. A long-time champion of soil and water conservation, he had died in 1961. President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered the principal address at the dam’s 1965 dedication ceremony by telephone from the White House.
It wasn’t three years after impoundment that B.A.S.S. held its first of 31 tournaments on Sam Rayburn. That 1968 All-American was won by Bill Dance. Dance is pictured here (second from right) at the 1969 Texas National on Sam Rayburn. Name everyone in here and you’ll earn great respect.
It wasn’t three years after impoundment that B.A.S.S. held its first of 31 tournaments on Sam Rayburn. That 1968 All-American was won by Bill Dance. Dance is pictured here (second from right) at the 1969 Texas National on Sam Rayburn. Name everyone in here and you’ll earn great respect.
In that 1969 Texas National, Harold Hays was the winner with 105 pounds, 4 ounces. Hays was somewhat of a celebrity in those early bass events as he played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted out of Southern Mississippi University in 1962 and served as a reserve linebacker for five years before being traded to San Francisco in 1968, where he was released in 1970.
In that 1969 Texas National, Harold Hays was the winner with 105 pounds, 4 ounces. Hays was somewhat of a celebrity in those early bass events as he played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. He was drafted out of Southern Mississippi University in 1962 and served as a reserve linebacker for five years before being traded to San Francisco in 1968, where he was released in 1970.
Sam Rayburn is among Texas’ famed trophy largemouth fisheries, and a number of its bass have entered the state’s ShareLunker program, including No. 562 here caught by Darrell Tompkins of Huffman, Texas on March 7, 2015. This fish weighed 14.32 pounds, was 26.25 inches long and had a girth of 22.25 inches. The Texas state record bass is Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder caught from Lake Fork, and Rayburn’s best, Tommy Shelton’s 16.8-pound lunker, ranks ninth all-time in Texas.
Sam Rayburn is among Texas’ famed trophy largemouth fisheries, and a number of its bass have entered the state’s ShareLunker program, including No. 562 here caught by Darrell Tompkins of Huffman, Texas on March 7, 2015. This fish weighed 14.32 pounds, was 26.25 inches long and had a girth of 22.25 inches. The Texas state record bass is Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder caught from Lake Fork, and Rayburn’s best, Tommy Shelton’s 16.8-pound lunker, ranks ninth all-time in Texas.
Those big fish draw anglers, as well as tournaments. An economic survey by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department determined the overall value of the Sam Rayburn fishery was estimated at $46.7 million, two-thirds of it related to tournaments. In one of the events, Tonja Woytasczyk got an economic boost when the 48-year-old from Tarkington, Texas, caught a 12.04-pound bass from Sam Rayburn and became the first woman to win a Sealy’s Big Bass Splash, earning $122,000 in the process.
Those big fish draw anglers, as well as tournaments. An economic survey by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department determined the overall value of the Sam Rayburn fishery was estimated at $46.7 million, two-thirds of it related to tournaments. In one of the events, Tonja Woytasczyk got an economic boost when the 48-year-old from Tarkington, Texas, caught a 12.04-pound bass from Sam Rayburn and became the first woman to win a Sealy’s Big Bass Splash, earning $122,000 in the process.
One huge tournament series in the state was the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which was held for 10 consecutive years before partnering with B.A.S.S. to create the Toyota Texas Fest. Elite angler Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, came up with the idea for the tournament series to showcase the state’s trophy fisheries. In a happenstance meeting, Jordon met Donato Ramos, a commissioner with the TPWD, who put him in touch with another shaker, billionaire Dan Friedkin, CEO of Gulf States Toyota, and the TTBC was on.
One huge tournament series in the state was the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, which was held for 10 consecutive years before partnering with B.A.S.S. to create the Toyota Texas Fest. Elite angler Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, came up with the idea for the tournament series to showcase the state’s trophy fisheries. In a happenstance meeting, Jordon met Donato Ramos, a commissioner with the TPWD, who put him in touch with another shaker, billionaire Dan Friedkin, CEO of Gulf States Toyota, and the TTBC was on.
Elite Series angler Matt Herren won last year’s TTBC on Lake Ray Roberts, totaling 51 pounds, 12 ounces over three days to top Bryan Thrift by eight ounces. Herren won $100,000 and a Nitro Z20 boat in his first tournament victory in almost a decade. This year’s event offers the same first-place prize money, but a berth to the 2018 Bassmaster Classic also goes to the winner.
Elite Series angler Matt Herren won last year’s TTBC on Lake Ray Roberts, totaling 51 pounds, 12 ounces over three days to top Bryan Thrift by eight ounces. Herren won $100,000 and a Nitro Z20 boat in his first tournament victory in almost a decade. This year’s event offers the same first-place prize money, but a berth to the 2018 Bassmaster Classic also goes to the winner.
Chris Zaldain, an Elite Series pro from California and the TTBC leader after Day 1 last year, caught the event’s big bass weighing 7-12. It won him the Big Bass Award and its prize of a 2016 Toyota Tundra truck, which he promptly gave to his wife, Trait, also a tournament angler, for her birthday.
Chris Zaldain, an Elite Series pro from California and the TTBC leader after Day 1 last year, caught the event’s big bass weighing 7-12. It won him the Big Bass Award and its prize of a 2016 Toyota Tundra truck, which he promptly gave to his wife, Trait, also a tournament angler, for her birthday.
Toyota will again provide a $50,000 Tundra truck for the angler who weighs the largest bass in this year’s Texas Fest. But even if they don’t catch ‘em, all the anglers will receive a portion of the $1 million purse. First place still earns $100,000, but second is bumped up $9,000 to $34,000. Each of the top 12 checks are increased from a normal Elite stop, and the 13th to 51st anglers receive $11,000, up 1K. Payouts usually end there, but the next eight will get $5,000, then $4,500 goes to those 61st-70th and everyone else to 109th will receive $3,500. Happy days, for sure.
Toyota will again provide a $50,000 Tundra truck for the angler who weighs the largest bass in this year’s Texas Fest. But even if they don’t catch ‘em, all the anglers will receive a portion of the $1 million purse. First place still earns $100,000, but second is bumped up $9,000 to $34,000. Each of the top 12 checks are increased from a normal Elite stop, and the 13th to 51st anglers receive $11,000, up 1K. Payouts usually end there, but the next eight will get $5,000, then $4,500 goes to those 61st-70th and everyone else to 109th will receive $3,500. Happy days, for sure.
Bassmaster lake rankings put Sam Rayburn Reservoir fourth in the Central region in 2016, with this year’s rankings yet to be released. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 90 feet, and there are huge areas of flooded timber that provide prime fish habitat. There are several marinas on the lake and 22 maintained access areas, including parks and private concessions, on the lake’s 560 miles of shoreline.
Bassmaster lake rankings put Sam Rayburn Reservoir fourth in the Central region in 2016, with this year’s rankings yet to be released. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 90 feet, and there are huge areas of flooded timber that provide prime fish habitat. There are several marinas on the lake and 22 maintained access areas, including parks and private concessions, on the lake’s 560 miles of shoreline.
Texas Fest begins on Wednesday, May 17, a day earlier than usual Elite events. Daily takeoffs begin each day at 7 a.m. from Cassels-Boykin Park in Zavalla, 75980. The weigh-ins are 33.4 miles away at the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center, 1200 Ellen Trout Drive, Lufkin, Texas, 75901. All 109 pros compete Wednesday and Thursday, then the top 51 advance to fish Friday. The competitors will spend Saturday doing Bassmaster University seminars and appearance at the outdoors expo.
Texas Fest begins on Wednesday, May 17, a day earlier than usual Elite events. Daily takeoffs begin each day at 7 a.m. from Cassels-Boykin Park in Zavalla, 75980. The weigh-ins are 33.4 miles away at the George H. Henderson Jr. Expo Center, 1200 Ellen Trout Drive, Lufkin, Texas, 75901. All 109 pros compete Wednesday and Thursday, then the top 51 advance to fish Friday. The competitors will spend Saturday doing Bassmaster University seminars and appearance at the outdoors expo.
Texas Fest will feature another first in how the fish are weighed. Instead of bringing five fish to the scales, anglers will have their fish weighed immediately upon catching them by judges, like Randy Howell here last year. Most fish are then released without ever going in a live well; anglers will be allowed to bring in one fish at least 21 inches long to show the weigh-in crowd before they are returned to Sam Rayburn.
Texas Fest will feature another first in how the fish are weighed. Instead of bringing five fish to the scales, anglers will have their fish weighed immediately upon catching them by judges, like Randy Howell here last year. Most fish are then released without ever going in a live well; anglers will be allowed to bring in one fish at least 21 inches long to show the weigh-in crowd before they are returned to Sam Rayburn.
Texas Fest’s judges have been selected from previous TTBC judges, like Gwen Reed pictured here last year with Greg Hackney, B.A.S.S. Nation members and the current Marshal list. Judge are not to touch a fish, but they will hold the Brecknell Hand-Held Electro/Samson battery operated digital scales for each of the angler’s fish. They will enter pounds and ounces of each fish into BASSTrakk as well as a scorecard that the angler will initial. BASSTrakk will tabulate each angler’s best five fish.
Texas Fest’s judges have been selected from previous TTBC judges, like Gwen Reed pictured here last year with Greg Hackney, B.A.S.S. Nation members and the current Marshal list. Judge are not to touch a fish, but they will hold the Brecknell Hand-Held Electro/Samson battery operated digital scales for each of the angler’s fish. They will enter pounds and ounces of each fish into BASSTrakk as well as a scorecard that the angler will initial. BASSTrakk will tabulate each angler’s best five fish.
The weigh-ins will be held indoors at the George H. Henderson Exposition Center, while one of the largest expos in the history of the Elite Series will be held just outside.
The weigh-ins will be held indoors at the George H. Henderson Exposition Center, while one of the largest expos in the history of the Elite Series will be held just outside.
The on-site expo will take place Friday through Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. on the weekend days. Toyota will offer a Ride and Drive obstacle course open to qualified drivers 18 and over, and it’s also sponsoring a CastingKids course. There’s a free shuttle for demo boat rides provided by Skeeter, Yamaha, Nitro, Triton and Mercury at Cassels-Boykin Park. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area on site will include activities for all outdoor sports enthusiasts. Here, Michael Baird, a TPWD fisheries biologist, points to the state’s record bass in the ShareLunker trailer -- Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder caught from Lake Fork in 1992.
The on-site expo will take place Friday through Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. on the weekend days. Toyota will offer a Ride and Drive obstacle course open to qualified drivers 18 and over, and it’s also sponsoring a CastingKids course. There’s a free shuttle for demo boat rides provided by Skeeter, Yamaha, Nitro, Triton and Mercury at Cassels-Boykin Park. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area on site will include activities for all outdoor sports enthusiasts. Here, Michael Baird, a TPWD fisheries biologist, points to the state’s record bass in the ShareLunker trailer — Barry St. Clair’s 18.18-pounder caught from Lake Fork in 1992.
The Expo will also feature Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Vamos a Pescar/Take Me Fishing Trailer, where youngsters and their families can learn about boater education and important fishing techniques. Last year at TWPD’s Get Outside booth, which partnered with the National Archery in Schools Program, Austin Houston lets loose at a turkey target.
The Expo will also feature Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Vamos a Pescar/Take Me Fishing Trailer, where youngsters and their families can learn about boater education and important fishing techniques. Last year at TWPD’s Get Outside booth, which partnered with the National Archery in Schools Program, Austin Houston lets loose at a turkey target.
At TPWD’s Operation Game Thief trailer, south Texas radio host Billy Conway explains that this trophy buck was smuggled into Texas in violation of the Lacey Act, which warranted $1 million in fines. The trailer and the TPWD exhibits displayed much of the wildlife found in the Lone Star State.
At TPWD’s Operation Game Thief trailer, south Texas radio host Billy Conway explains that this trophy buck was smuggled into Texas in violation of the Lacey Act, which warranted $1 million in fines. The trailer and the TPWD exhibits displayed much of the wildlife found in the Lone Star State.
Here’s the Giant Salvinia Monster (he’s really TPWD worker John Findeisen), who will try to beat the heat and inform visitors on the invasive plant and about ‘Clean, Drain and Dry” regimen espoused to prevent invasives.
Here’s the Giant Salvinia Monster (he’s really TPWD worker John Findeisen), who will try to beat the heat and inform visitors on the invasive plant and about ‘Clean, Drain and Dry” regimen espoused to prevent invasives.
The TPWD has stocked Sam Rayburn with Florida strain largemouth almost from the lake’s beginning, and it conducts research to benefit bass, like this artificial fish attractor. A team is determining the best configuration from the 12 sites in Rayburn where six each were deployed, TPWD biologist Todd Driscoll said. There will be 140 individual structures in Sam Rayburn and 250 more in other east Texas lakes to improve fishing. “Some folks just fish a handful of days a year. Reefs add easily accessed points. The locations are publicly advertised and hopefully anglers have fishing success,” Driscoll said.
The TPWD has stocked Sam Rayburn with Florida strain largemouth almost from the lake’s beginning, and it conducts research to benefit bass, like this artificial fish attractor. A team is determining the best configuration from the 12 sites in Rayburn where six each were deployed, TPWD biologist Todd Driscoll said. There will be 140 individual structures in Sam Rayburn and 250 more in other east Texas lakes to improve fishing. “Some folks just fish a handful of days a year. Reefs add easily accessed points. The locations are publicly advertised and hopefully anglers have fishing success,” Driscoll said.
The test structures were quickly covered in algae, in turn bringing numbers of sunfish, crappie, spotted and largemouth bass, Driscoll said. He adds Sam Rayburn has great natural habitat which is in great shape for the Texas Fest. “For this time, the lake is a little bit higher than normal, and it’s got a lot of bank cover in the water,” he said. “This tournament, the anglers will be able to fish how they want to. They’ll be fish caught 1 foot to 30 feet deep.”
The test structures were quickly covered in algae, in turn bringing numbers of sunfish, crappie, spotted and largemouth bass, Driscoll said. He adds Sam Rayburn has great natural habitat which is in great shape for the Texas Fest. “For this time, the lake is a little bit higher than normal, and it’s got a lot of bank cover in the water,” he said. “This tournament, the anglers will be able to fish how they want to. They’ll be fish caught 1 foot to 30 feet deep.”
The Texas Fest is a significant fund-raiser for the TPWD, which has received $2.5 million from TTBC events in the past 10 years. The funds have been used to support youth fishing and urban outreach programs across Texas. A great event is anticipated for the first year of partnership between B.A.S.S. and TPWD.
The Texas Fest is a significant fund-raiser for the TPWD, which has received $2.5 million from TTBC events in the past 10 years. The funds have been used to support youth fishing and urban outreach programs across Texas. A great event is anticipated for the first year of partnership between B.A.S.S. and TPWD.

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