Templeton Tops Co-Anglers
Biggest bag on the final day keys comeback
Weighing five fish for 12 pounds, 4 ounces, co-angler Anthony Templeton of Beckville, Texas, rocketed up from fifth place to win the Toyota Series Southwestern Division event on Sam Rayburn. With a total of 28-3, Templeton takes home a new Phoenix bass boat worth $33,500 and his first winner’s trophy with FLW.
“It’s freakin’ awesome, I’m totally pumped,” says Templeton of the win. “I’ve got the trophy in the seat beside me.”
Templeton drew the absolute cream of the crop on the week, fishing behind Dicky Newberry on day one, Chris McCall on day two and Stephen Johnston on the final day.
On day one, fishing shallow grass behind Newberry, Templeton turned to an Accent Finesse Game Changer Buzzbait with a pearl Strike King Rage Bug for the trailer to catch most of his fish. In the afternoon, in dirtier water, Templeton swapped out his trailer to a black and blue Rage Bug to catch his fourth keeper.
On day two, fishing slightly deeper grass behind McCall, Templeton used a Tennessee shad-colored 3.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT rigged on a belly-weighted hook with a blade. That accounted for two of his keepers, and his trusty buzzbait banked his third keeper.
On the final day, Johnston fished offshore in big waves and Templeton turned to either a Strike King 6XD or Strike King 5XD.
“We went out deep, man, it was a rodeo hanging on to the boat out there,” says Templeton. “I caught my fish by about 9:30, and caught a lot of fish, but I only caught five keepers all day.
“I was very blessed and I was able to make adjustments to each day’s conditions,” says Templeton. “I want to thank the Lord, he really blessed me this week.”
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Anthony Templeton – Beckville, Texas – 28 – 3 (12) – $33,500
2. Micheal Sharp – Argyle, Texas – 24 – 14 (10) – $4,057
3. Todd Childs – Waxahachie, Texas – 23 – 2 (7) – $3,314
4. Grayson Honeycutt – Temple, Texas – 21 – 5 (12) – $2,840
5. Kayden Tanner – Millsap, Texas – 20 – 15 (10) – $2,434
6. David Keith – Haughton, La. – 20 – 13 (10) – $2,029
7. Donny Davis – Livingston, La. – 20 – 12 (10) – $1,623
8. Timothy Cooper – Pelican, La. – 19 – 15 (10) – $1,420
9. Aaron Freeman – Montgomery, Texas – 18 – 2 (10) – $1,217
10. Randy Pewthers – Pearland, Texas – 16 – 6 (7) – $1,014