Childs Holds on for Co-angler Win
Big first day, late catches get it done at Amistad
For Jay Childs, the final day of competition at the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division tournament presented by Ranger Boats on Lake Amistad began and ended with excitement. And while the former proved deflating, the latter would prove triumphant, as the Houston co-angler secured the weight he needed to salvage a dramatic victory with a two-day limit of 20 pounds, 9 ounces.
Backing up a day, Childs led Friday’s field with a limit of 17-10, which included an 8-pound, 7-ounce kicker. He entered Saturday’s final round with a 3-3 lead, but it appeared that fate might steal the victory through a fishless day. Fortunately, he would nab a pair of keepers that went 2-15, but not before a grueling wait.
“I caught those fish back-to-back at 3:50 with a few minutes to spare [before check-in], and I fished hard all day long,” Childs says. “My first bite of the morning, on literally my second cast, I set the hook and it ended up being a 5-pound striper.”
Childs caught his fish on a YUM YUMbrella Flash Mob Jr. umbrella rig fitted with Zoom Swimmin’ Super Fluke Juniors. He chose that bait to contrast the larger swimbaits his pros were throwing.
“I worked that bait as slowly as you could get it,” Childs says. “Today, we fished from 70 feet to 5 feet. I’d throw it out there, and I’d count it down to about nine or 10, and then I’d start cranking.”
Childs weighed all largemouths Friday, but today he caught one smallmouth and one largemouth.
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Jay Childs – Houston, Texas – 20-9 (5) – $27,000
2. Chad McClendon – Grapevine, Texas – 18-8 (7) – $4,756
3. Ray Helveston – Powderly, Texas – 17-6 (5) – $3,898
4. Mason Roach – Conroe, Texas – 16-14 (10) – $3,309
5. Julian Machuca – Pecos, Texas – 16-4 (10) – $2,794
6. Russell Truitt – Liberty Hill, Texas – 15-5 (9) – $2,328
7. Buddy Hicks – Port Neches, Texas – 15-3 (6) – $1,862
8. Mike Power – Conroe, Texas – 14-12 (8) – $1,630
9. Scotty Walton – Yukon, Okla. – 13-3 (7) – $1,397
10. Rafael Menchaca – Del Rio, Texas – 12-12 (7) – $1,164