Curtis wins Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
JASPER, Texas – Pro David Curtis of Trinity, Texas, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 42 pounds, 15 ounces to win $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a 198VX Ranger boat powered by a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Yamaha outboard, Sunday at the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship presented by Abu Garcia on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. A field of 50 pros and 50 co-anglers competed in the event, which featured a $210,000 purse.
Curtis caught his bass on a Bill Norman DD-22 near points, humps and drops. He spent most of his time in the middle and south parts of the lake.
Rounding out the top five pros are Stephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas (10 bass, 36-6, $6,000 plus $5,000 bonus); Charles Reagan of Marquez, Texas (10 bass, 31-13, $4,500); Lee Batson of Forney, Texas (10 bass, 29-13, $3,500 plus $3,000 bonus); and Marcus Faske of Austin, Texas (nine bass, 29-11, $2,500 plus $2,250 bonus).
Matt Rigby of San Antonio, Texas, won the co-angler division title with 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 3 ounces. He earned $50,000, including a fully rigged Ranger 198VX and $5,000 cash. He was throwing a frog near lily pads.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Raymond Balcerowicz of Crosby, Texas (10 bass, 23-12, $2,000); Jeff Nichols of Gainesville, Texas (10 bass, 21-15, $1,500); Ronnie Bickham of New Boston, Texas (seven bass, 21-9, $1,250 plus $1,100 bonus); and Mark Oakley of Davis, Okla. (five bass, 21-5, $1,000 plus $1,000 Snickers Big Bass).
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits will offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.