Rookie Dean Morgan tops Sam Rayburn co-anglers

JASPER, Texas – Dean Morgan took advantage of some generous pro partners this week to win the Co-angler Division of the EverStart Series Central Division tournament at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. On days one and two, his pros decided to go to Morgan’s pre-scouted fishing locations instead of heading off to their own.

Morgan, a local angler from Port Arthur, Texas, capitalized on his spots to move past the opening round with a two-day weight of 22 pounds, 15 ounces.

In Saturday’s finals, he caught four bass weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce to edge out Brent Ausbrook of Olney, Ill., by 2 ounces for victory. Ausbrook caught four bass as well, but his weighed 7-15.

Morgan, fishing in his first EverStart tournament, collected $5,000 and a new Ranger boat for the win.

“I feel fantastic,” he said. “It’s a heck of an honor for me. I’ll probably be grinning like this all week.”

Morgan caught his winning stringer by dragging a watermelon lizard Saturday in roughly 5 feet of water. He pointed to days one and two as the key to his victory.

“It’s the luck of the draw,” he said. “Those guys didn’t have much going on and I was fortunate enough to have some fish.”

Ausbrook caught his bass Saturday using a red Rat-L-Trap, a popular bait here this week. He collected $4,000 for second place.

Rounding out the top five co-angler finishers were third-place Mike Neal of Dexter, Kan. (three bass, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, $3,500); fourth-place Larry Regina of South Bend, Ind. (three bass, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, $2,500); and fifth-place Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas (two bass, 4 pounds, 5 ounces, $2,000).

Coming up

The next EverStart Series tournament is an Eastern Division contest at Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala., Feb. 26-Mar. 1. The Central Division will visit Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala., March 26-29 for its second regular-season event.

Links:

Veteran Williams wins Sam Rayburn EverStart
Photos
Final results
Press release