Texas-sized pressure
Pros and co-anglers battle it out today for coveted Texas Tournament Trail Championship title
LONGVIEW, Texas – With densely overcast skies, relatively humid conditions and warm temperatures serving as a backdrop for Sunday’s final showdown, 100 anglers departed Lakeside Park Marina shortly after 7:15 a.m. with one goal in mind – to take home the coveted 2004 Texas Tournament Trail Championship trophy by the end of today’s competition.
Per tournament rules, each pro and co-angler who records the biggest combined stringer over the two-day tournament will be crowned champion. However, realistically speaking, only a select few anglers – based on Saturday’s opening-round performance – have a legitimate shot at winning the title.
In the Pro Division, Paul Montelongo of San Angelo, Texas, used a staggering 17-pound, 13-ounce catch in yesterday’s competition to take a commanding lead heading into the finals. Already boasting a 2-pound lead over his nearest competitor, Montelongo storms into the final day of competition knowing that only three other pros have accumulated sacks weighing over 11 pounds total. In short, with very few pros within striking distance on the final day of tournament action, it appears that it’s Montelongo’s tournament to lose.
A similar situation exists in the Co-angler Division. Don Poston of Odessa, Texas, used a catch of 12 pounds, 7 ounces in yesterday’s action to build a 2 1/2-pound lead over his next closest rival. And because only three other co-anglers in the entire field were able to land stringers greater than 9 pounds, Poston also appears to be in the driver’s seat.
However, with $195,000 in total prize money at stake, the pressure of fishing in the final day of competition could produce some interesting results. So what’s at stake? For starters, the winning pro is guaranteed a first-place prize of a 519VS Ranger boat plus $15,000 cash – for a total prize package worth $50,000. However, if the winner is a qualifying Ranger owner, that angler will receive another $20,000 cash for a top award worth $70,000.
By contrast, the winning co-angler will earn a 195 Ranger boat plus $5,000 cash. If Ranger contingency guidelines are met, the winning co-angler will get another $5,000 cash for a total prize package worth $40,000. Cash awards are also paid out through 20th place in both divisions.
The final day of Texas Tournament Trail Championship action concludes during today’s weigh-in, scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter, located at 515 E. Loop 281 in Longview, Texas.
Sunday’s conditions
Sunrise: 7:25 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 68 degrees
Expected high temperature: 87 degrees
Water temperature: 62-67 degrees
Wind: from the south at 7 mph
Maximum humidity: 73 percent
Day’s outlook: cloudy