Behnken wins Texas Tournament Trail event on Richland Chambers Reservoir

Jim Behnken of Garden Ridge, Tex., took home $72,250 in cash and prizes and the first-place trophy in the Angler Division of the TTT event on Lake Richland Chambers with a catch of 18 pounds. Angler: Jim Behnken.

May 12, 2001 • MLF • Archives

CORSICANA, Texas – Jim Behnken of Garden Ridge, Texas, won $72,250 in cash and prizes Saturday including a new Ranger bass boat in the first Texas Tournament Trail event on Richland Chambers Reservoir.

Behnken topped 139 anglers in the Pro Division with four bass weighing 18 pounds that he caught while sight fishing with a white tubebait in the Richland arm of the reservoir. His winnings included $5,000 from Ranger for his participation in the Ranger Cup incentive program, $1,000 from GARMIN for using a fixed-mount GARMIN sonar and $1,250 from Travis Boating Centers for having purchased his boat from the dealership.

Ronald Roger of Keller, Texas, took second place and $8,000 in the Pro Division with four bass weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces. Finishing third through fifth place in the division were Terry Burghart of Longview, Texas, with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces worth $6,000; David Curtis of Trinity, Texas, with four bass weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces worth $7,300; and Keith Combs of Nolanville, Texas, with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces worth $3,200.

Matt Cannon of Troy, Texas, took first place in the 139-person Co-Angler Division and won $4,000 cash and a new Ranger boat with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces. Second place in the division and $3,000 went to Dwain Morgan of Grand Prairie, Texas, with two bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces, while Roy Walton of Oakhurst, Texas, took third place and $3,200 with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces.

Overall, 203 bass were caught during the tournament, including three five-bass limits.

This was the fourth and final qualifying event in the 2001 Texas Tournament Trail season. Each qualifying event featured a potential purse of $205,000 in cash and prizes. The Texas Tournament Trail will next host a two-day, no-entry-fee championship presented by Pepsi and Frito-Lay that will feature the trail’s top 50 pros and top 50 co-anglers in a shootout for up to $195,000 in cash and prizes. Toledo Bend Reservoir near Hemphill, Texas, will host the championship Oct. 20-21.

More than $1 million in cash and prizes could be awarded during the 2001 Texas Tournament Trail season.

The Texas Tournament Trail’s pro and co-angler format is designed to accommodate anglers of various skill levels. While pros supply the boats and control their movement, co-anglers fish from the back of the boats. Each person is fishing independently and competing against anglers in his or her own division. Entry fees for the qualifying events are $350 for pros and $100 for co-anglers.

To enter the Texas Tournament Trail, visit our tournament registration page or contact Operation Bass at (270) 362-4880.