Many, LA- (2/25)- Father's Day is still a few months away, but it is hard to imagine a better early Father's Day gift than than what Mr Roy Anderson of Kountze received last Sunday when he was able to stand beside his two son's atop a field of 500 teams to claim the 3rd leg of the SETX Ford Championship Series presented by Skeeter boats. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the event was postponed until Sunday as the National Weather Service posted Lake Wind Advisories for the area.
"We monitored the weather all week and we knew Saturday was going to be iffy at best so we decided to postpone the event until Sunday" said SETX President Bryan Thomas. Sunday saw the winds lay considerably, but after a few good hours Sunday morning, the rains came around 9 am and lingered all day. Even though conditions deteriorated throughout the day, it did not stop the SETX anglers from bringing in almost 800 fish weighing nearly a ton to the scales at Cypress Bend.
Tackle Addict First Place Team- 23.83 LBS- Kountze HS- Matthew Anderson and Lane Anderson- Boat Captain Roy Anderson
Ask any father their idea of a "perfect day" with their kids and they might very well answer that question by saying "spending quality time on the water with them". What could be better than that you ask? How about 24 LBS of East Texas Bass and topping a field of 500 teams to claim the first ever SETX event on Toledo Bend. " We are just very thankful we got those bites, especially the two big bites" said Capt. Anderson. "We did not catch but 7 fish all day, with the two larger ones coming around 9:30 and noon, both on chartreuse/white spinner baits" concluded Anderson. The team reported having pre fished on Saturday and finding some good fish, only to find out Sunday morning that the area had been blown out with muddy water. Targeting 3-6 foot drains in Housen Bay, the team also reported catching fish on Rat-L-Traps as well.
Second Place Team - 23.81 LBS- Spurger HS- Dayson Robertson and Dalton Holley- Boat Captain Bubba Frazier
Anytime an SETX team brings 20 LBS to the scales, it is quite the accomplishment. It's even more of an accomplishment when you are fishing without your partner! That is exactly what happened this past weekend when Dayson fished alone and brought almost 24 Lbs to the scales, including an 8.58 LB anchor that also claimed Big Bass for the tournament. "We did not pre fish any. In fact, it has been 5-6 years since I have even been on this lake" said Capt Bubba Frazier. The team reported having launched their Skeeter boat at Fin and Feather and stayed on the lower end of the lake all day throwing Lews rods and reels loaded with chatter baits and focusing on lilly stems and hay grass to accumulate their bag of fish. "It was a slow bite, but the quality was there. The big fish came with about 15 minutes remaining so we decided to make the run up to Cypress Bend in the rain, rather than try to trailer back" concluded Capt Frazier.
Third Place team- 21.99 LBS- Livingston HS- Cody Ross and Cody Laird- Boat Captian Robert Laird
Having already claimed a first place finish in the first SETX event in January, team Livingston cracks the top 3 again with the team of Ross and Laird bringing in nearly 22 LBS to the scales last Sunday. Having launched at Patroon Bay, the team from Livingston targeted mid lake shallow bushes in the 1-4 foot range with Senko's to accumulate their bag. The team reported a limit by 10 am and culled up throughout the day. When asked about any trade secrets, the team reported that they were barely moving the Senko, fishing it super slow. Both of the kids wished to thank the Lord for their success and their parents for their support. Capt Laird concluded with this statement, "These boys are amazing fishermen and it is really fun to be their captain. I am just glad to spend some time with these kids and I appreciate SETX for allowing these students to have an outlet for their passion. I am glad they can get out on the lake and enjoy their time on the water".
REST of the Top Ten
4th Place- 20.98 LBS- Jasper HS- Hudson Faircloth and Chase Webb
5th Place- 20.28 LBS- East Chambers HS- Slade Parnell and Braeden Credeur
6th Place- 20.00 LBS- Buna HS- Trace Marks and Denton Peveto
7th Place- 19.31 LBS- LCM HS- John Lingo and Samuel Mcdonald
8th Place- 19.23 LBS- LCM HS- Tyler Shearin and Kameryn Henderson
9th Place- 19.22 LBS- Bridge City HS- Tanner Wilson and Ethan Bourque
10th Place- 18.98 LBS- Bridge City HS- Riley Pipps and Ky Terrell
Top 3 Big Bass and winners of Lews Fishing Gear
1st Place- 8.58 LBS- Spurger HS- Dayson Robertson and Dalton Holley
2nd Place- 8.04 LBS- Kountze HS- Matthew Anderson and Lane Anderson
3rd Place- 7.58 LBS- Jasper HS- Hudson Faircloth and Chase Webb
Leak Sealers/V&M Baits Conservation Prize Winners
Jace Nunellyn of Bridge City was the lucky recipient of the Leak Sealers/V&M Baits Conservation prize of $500 this past weekend. So how did he win? Instead of weighing his fish, he simply snapped a photo and released the fish back into the lake. He then entered his photo at the conservation booth and his team # was drawn!! It is that simple. Jace even got an item or two from V&M baits for his participation as all entries receive a V&M prize. We encourage all of our teams to participate in this program should they not have the best day on the water. If you have a bag of fish that is less than 5-6 LBS and the chances of earning a check look slim, this is an excellent way to at least have a chance of taking home some cash!! Thank you to Leak Sealers and V&M for supporting this awesome program.
3 LB Pot- Crystal Heigley and the Allman Real Estate Team
If anyone was around the Cypress Bend Pavilion at around 1:00-1:30 on Sunday, then you heard it!! Perhaps the loudest screams of the day happened when Hunter Murphy and Bailey Strother of West Sabine paid a visit to Crystal Heigley and the 3lb scales located at the corner of the SETX stage. For two tournaments, the 3 lb exact weight pot had gone unclaimed, meaning that the prize money has 'rolled over" into what would now be worth almost 6 THOUSAND DOLLARS!! Having just weighed in a very respectable 12.43 LB stringer in only their 3rd tournament to ever fish, the team decided to pick one out of their bag to try their luck at the 3 LB pot, and that is when the eruption of screams and shouts began!! They nailed it! Exactly 3.00 on the scales and instantly winning the $6000 pot. SETX wishes to thank Ms Crystal Heigley and the entire Allman Real Estate Team for sponsoring the even weight 3 lb pot.
The SETX board wanted to make sure they sent out many THANKS to the all the volunteers who helped last Sunday. Your time and your patience is absolutely necessary for the success of this organization. We simply cannot thank all of you enough for your efforts. THANK YOU ALL.
Lastly, the board wanted to make sure that all of you take the time to go by the many sponsor booth's at the tournaments and say "HI" and "thank you" for supporting the young anglers of Southeast Texas. As always, please remember these companies when it comes time to make your own personal purchases!! They are supporting us, so please support them. When out and about, let these people know you support them because they support SETX HS Fishing.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE SETX SPONSORS for helping make SETX the premiere HS Fishing Trail in the country!!!
South Texas Ford Dealers Assn, Skeeter Boats/Yamaha, Tackle Addict, Costa, Lews, Winn Grips, TH Marine, Leak Sealers Inc., Livingston Lures, Rat L Trap, Culprit Lures, Bass Cash Bash, Big Bite Baits, V&M Lures, Happy, Stubb's Cycle, Gator Guards, Crystal Heigley and the Allman Real Estate Team, and Obsessed with Nature Taxidermy.
For full results, or more information about all of our sponsors, please visit www.setxhighschoolfishing.com or visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/setxhighschoolfishing/
Story by Jet Donovan
