Individual Results
Big Bass Results
Club Results
AOY Standings | Club Standings
After a three-year break, The Southeast Region Individual Trail returned to Lake Livingston for their fifth stop of the 2023 season on Saturday May 13, 2023, this was a trailering tournament, due to limited parking at Chaserz Lakeside Marina. Anglers were greeted with warm temperatures, partly cloudy skies with the threat of rain and breezy conditions forecasted for later in the day.
According to reports on Friday, pre fishing had been tough, with a few anglers reporting bites, but the majority of anglers were struggling to get keeper bites. Recent rains had muddied up many areas of the lake.
Justin Royal of the Vidor Bass Anglers Association claimed his second win of the 2023 season with a 5 bass limit weighing in at an even 12.00 pounds. Justin showed up with no sleep and no practice, thanks in part to his real job. Justin locked a Power Tackle “The One” 03 7’3’’ rod rigged with 3/8-ounce 6th Sense shad colored double silver willow spinnerbait in his hand for 90% of the day to catch four of his five, with his fifth and largest bass coming on a 6th Sense 100x in the Jaint Juice color. Justin states that he targeted shallow rock and wood all day. Justin would like to thank the following companies for his success Power Tackle Rods, 6th Sense Fishing, Jordan’s Marine & Pro Fuel, Waterland Glasses, Yamaha Outboards, Texas Custom Cranks and Power-Pole Total Boat Control.
Bill (Billy Ray) Huskins with The Bass Club finished second with 4 fish weighing 11.79 pounds, anchored by the Big Bass of the tournament a 4.36 pounder. Bill stated that he started out targeting a shad spawn on rocky points, he caught several trash fish doing this, but no keeper bass. He then moved to his secondary spot, a rocky outcropping near docks, here he utilized his Lowrance Active Target to help locate fish in this area and utilized finesse soft plastics to target these fish, he boxed three keepers doing this, once this bite subsided, he moved to a rocky point and caught his fourth keeper running a squarebill along the rocky point. This is Bill’s second runner-up finish of the year and he is currently ranked eighth in the Southeast Region Angler of the Year standings.
Jacob Bruener with the Nacogdoches Bass Club finished third overall with a 5 fish limit weighing 10.72 lbs. Jacob stated that he just went fishing, targeting docks, wood and any other type of cover he could find. Jacob caught 4 of his 5 on a ½ ounce Stanley Vibra Wedge spinnerbait in the Natural Shiner color and his 5th keeper came on a Spro Little John. Jacob reported catching six fish all day. Jacob would like to thank Stanley Jigs and Kistler Rods for their support.
Kyle Fontenot with the Katy Bassmasters captured second Big Bass of the tournament honors with a 3.76 pounder. Kyle is currently third in the Southeast Region Angler of the Year standings.
A special thank you goes out to the assisting clubs the Onalaska Bass Club and The Bass Club, as well as the Southeast Region Directors for their assistance in conducting the tournament.
The Southeast Region next and final regular season event is on Lake Palestine on June 10, 2023, out of The Villages Marina. The final regular season stop of the Southeast Texas Region Bassmaster Open Team series will take place on Lake Palestine on Sunday, June 11, 2023, out of The Villages Marina as well.
Written by: Robert Royal Southeast Region Secretary