Red is right for Wilson

Texas co-angler victorious on Choke Canyon

CALLIHAM, Texas – Dan Wilson, of Pilot Point, Texas took the redeye to Calliham, but he wasn’t flying or riding the overnight bus – he was hauling up the right bass to win the co-angler division of the EverStart Series Texas Division event on Choke Canyon Lake.

Committing solely to a Strike King Red Eye shad (sexy shad color), Wilson tallied 15 pounds, 9 ounces on day one, 8-1 on day two and 7-6 on day three for a total weight of 31 pounds. Wilson slipped past second place co-angler Trevor Rogge by 4 ounces.

Paired with pro winner Kelly Owens, Wilson had a tough go on day three. Owens had been fishing a small ditch at the lake’s south end for two days and he advised Wilson that he would again point his nose into the creek and work his crankbait through the target zone. The necessary boat angle left Wilson with little casting room, but he was able to squeak out four keepers.

“It was difficult for me because the drain he was fishing was a pretty narrow little area,” Wilson said. “I just had to make the best of what I had to work with. I just had to work off the sides of the ditch and take what he left.”

Rogge rises to second place

When second place co-angler Trevor Rogge found himself unable to find a hotel room, he resigned himself to three nights of sleeping in his truck. Probably not his first choice, but the modest accommodations provided a sense of clarity that helped him focus on the task at hand.

“I’m telling you, nothing hones the mind for fishing like sleeping in a truck for three days,” said Rogge, of San Antonio, Texas. “You just put it on autopilot. You’re not overthinking anything.”

Rogge said he fished a variety of deep and shallow baits from Carolina rigs to crankbaits. He caught his day three fish on Rat-L-Traps. With weights of 11-14, 5-7 and 12-7, Rogge finished with 29-12. His was the only limit and the heaviest co-angler bag of day three.

Clinton McNiel, of George West, Texas placed third with 27-8, while James McKeithen, of Baton Rouge, La. took fourth with 23-2. In fifth place, Russel Lohman, of Pineville, La. had 22-10.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-10 co-angler leaders at the EverStart Series Choke Canyon event:

6th: Keith Hawkins, of Missouri City, Texas, 22-3

7th: Steve Corbin, of Bacliff, Texas, 16-0

8th Joseph Brozak, of Orange, Texas, 17-12

9th: Gary Fields, of New Orleans, La., 19-15

10th: Danny Bickom, of Canastota, N.Y., 19-5