Cure crowned king of Rayburn

Local co-anglers finish first, second, third

JASPER, Texas – The Co-angler Division of the Stren Series event on Sam Rayburn was dominated by local fishermen. As Saturday’s temperature reached into the low 90s, three Jasper, Texas, co-anglers kept their cool and caught fish when it mattered most. John Cure finished first by adding 7 pounds, 7 ounces to his sizeable day-three lead. His four bass were just enough to hold off hard-charging Bill Guillory and earn his first Stren Series victory.

Cure’s final-round total consisted of eight bass that weighed 22 pounds, 13 ounces.

“Lendell caught his early, and I had two on a drop-shot,” said Cure, who was paired with the pro winner, Lendell Martin Jr. “We left and ran 40 minutes to the extreme north end of the lake so he could upgrade to some better fish.”

Martin changed up to a Yamamoto Kreature to improve his catch before returning to their first spot so Cure could improve his tournament creel as well.

“He was pretty confident he had enough to win, so he took me right back to the dam so I could catch a few more,” Cure said. “I can’t say enough about how much he worked with me to catch the fish I did.”

Cure fished a green-pumpkin Zoom finesse worm in the morning and a watermelon Zoom finesse worm after the sun came up. All four of his keepers came from a ledge near the spillway area of the dam.

“I fished four different patterns on four different days. I fished anywhere from 1 foot of water to 50 feet of water.”

Cure made the top-20 cut Thursday with a two-day total of eight bass, weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces. He then caught four bass, weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces, with pro Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, Friday to make the top-10 cut in first place.

“Well, I was worried, I really was. I knew he (Guillory) had two really good fish with an hour to go. Bill is a heck of a fisherman; everyone knows that. His style as a co-angler is tough to beat.”

For Cure’s first career victory, he took home a check for $5,000.

Guillory lands two hogs, moves up to second

Fresh in Cure’s mind coming into day four had to be co-angler stalwart Bill Guillory. Much like McCall on the pro side, Guillory won the last Stren Series event on Sam Rayburn and was breathing down the leader’s neck. Ultimately the Jasper, Texas, resident came up just short – 11 ounces, to be exact.

He did boat two nice fish Saturday, weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces, to give him a two-day total of 22 pounds, 2 ounces. Guillory caught his fish Saturday on a Buckeye Spot Remover jighead and won $4,000.

“We fished a lot, and we prayed a little,” Guillory said. “I look forward to fishing with ya’ll again next year.”

Stagg places third

Local Jasper, Texas, co-angler Eddie Stagg Carolina rigged his way to $3,400 by way of a two-day total of 17 pounds, 3 ounces. Before the tournament began, Stagg told the tournament staff that he would be willing to fish as a pro if needed.

“I wish I would have gotten to fish the boater side,” a self-assured Stagg said. “There are a few spots of mine that we didn’t get to hit.”

Darley drops to fourth

Travis Darley of Del Rio, Texas, came in fourth with a final-round total of 17 pounds, 3 ounces, worth $2,400. His day would have been much better had he not broke two off. Darley’s one bass Saturday weighed 4 pounds, 8 ounces. He and Stagg actually tied with an identical weight, but Stagg held the tiebreaker.

“When you fish with Chris McCall, he doesn’t leave too much behind,” Darley said.

Herron fifth

Coming in fifth was Michael Herron of Paris, Texas, who was the lone co-angler to catch a five-bass limit. Herron’s five fish were caught on an assortment of baits and weighed 9 pounds, 12 ounces for a two-day total of 16-4. He earned $1,900.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finalists in the final Stren Series Central Division event on Sam Rayburn:

6th: Tim Webb of Olpe, Kan., two-day total of 15-12, $1,800

7th: R. D. Lewis of Hemphill, Texas, 14-12, $1,700

8th: Randall Vaughan of Blanco, Texas, 12-14, $1,600

9th: James Nichols of Ozark, Ark., 11-11, $1,500

10th: Mike Wisenbaker of Jourdanton, Texas, 11-5, $1,400

The top 40 co-anglers from the Central Division will advance to the $1 million Stren Series Championship on Wheeler Lake Nov. 1-4.