Hults & Hults Inc.
Hults upholds family’s winning tradition at Eufaula; brother runner-up
EUFAULA, Ala. – First there was Alan, then Chris and now Matt. The Hults family winning tradition continued on Lake Eufaula today as Matt Hults dominated the Co-angler Division of the FLW Series event with a three-day total of 47 pounds, 12 ounces, winning by nearly 12 pounds.
With this win he follows in the footsteps of his older brothers Alan, who has won two American Fishing Series events on Eufaula as a co-angler (2007, 2008) and Chris, who won the FLW Co-angler Division of the FLW Series here last year.
“It’s my turn,” Hults said after being declared the winner. “They’re my brothers, so I want to see them do good, but at the same time, they can get to you sometimes. So this feels awesome; it finally happened.”
The Hults brothers have been coming to Eufaula for many years to fish tournaments. Working together, they have learned a tremendous amount about how to fish on Eufaula.
“The truth is, this lake fishes just like our lakes back home in Mississippi,” Hults said. “But we like to come over here because the fish are so much bigger. We usually fish shallow over here with jigs, soft plastics and chatterbaits.”
During the week, Hults fished with pros Scott Montgomery, David Fritts and Patrick Baynes.
On day one, Eufaula local Montgomery took Hults out deep and he scored 20 pounds, 2 ounces on a 1/2-ounce jig. On day two, he fished a Carolina rig and a crankbait behind Fritts for 15-15. And today he caught 11-11 behind Baynes on a Carolina-rigged Zoom Magnum Speedworm.
Matt is hoping that his own personal winning karma also follows in the footsteps of his brothers.
“With Alan and Chris, it seems to happen in pairs,” he explained. “When they win one, they turn around and win another one and I hope that continues with me.”
For his win, Hults takes home a brand new fully equipped Ranger 177TR. And in case anyone is keeping count, this will make the ninth boat that the Hults brothers own collectively.
And as for sticking around to cheer his brother Alan on in the Pro Division tomorrow, Matt said he is headed home to spend the weekend with his kids – Sorry Alan, you can’t fault him for that one.
Another Hults brother brings home second
Yes, believe it or not, another Hults took second place in the Co-angler Division.
That’s right, Chris Hults, who won this event in the Co-angler Division last year, finished second to his brother with a three-day total of 35 pounds, 13 ounces to take home $6,386.
Chris spent the week fishing with pros Rob Digh, Tim Wyatt and Nicolas Supik.
He fished crankbaits, Lake Fork Flippers, a jig and chatterbait to catch his fish.
His best bass came on day one when he weighed in a 7-1/2 pounder caught on a chatterbait.
“My biggest fish this week came on a chatterbait, but I probably caught the most on a Lake Fork Flipper,” Hults said.
Casada, Michaux and Hauser round out top five
Mike Casada of Stearns, Ky., finished third in the Co-angler Division with a three-day total of 34-11 worth $3,750.
Kurtis Michaux of Clermont, Fla., finished fourth with a three-day total of 33-11 worth $2,500.
Wayne Hauser of Mooresville, N.C., finished fifth with a three-day total of 33-11 worth $2,000.
Rounding out the top-10 Co-anglers in FLW Series on Lake Eufaula:
6th: George Kapiton of Inverness, Fla., three-day total of 32-15, $1,962
7th: Dean Tucker of Hiawassee, Ga., three-day total of 32-10, $1,250
8th: William Ranquist of Park Ridge, Ill., three-day total of 32-6, $1,000
9th: Delmer Wyatt of Crossville, Tenn., three-day total of 32-3, $1,250
10th: Keith Carson of Debary, Fla., three-day total of 31-11, $750