The Southeast Region Individual Trail held their fourth event of the 2026 season on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Lake O’ the Pines out of Lakeside Park in Jefferson, Texas.
This was many of the 36 contestants first time visiting this lake and pretournament practice results were mixed.
Cord Rawls with the Vidor Bass Anglers Association captured the win with 5 bass weighing 23.20 pounds, anchored by the second Big Bass of the tournament a 5.55 pounder. Cord stated that he targeted hard spots with rock and clay leading out of spawning pockets using a Carolina rig and a jig on the points, as well as a mooch minnow.
Wesley Baxley with The Bass Club came in second with 5 fish weighing 20.48-pounds, Wesley started out the day fishing a shad spawn and caught a few small fish, he then went looking for bedding fish, but was unable to locate as many as he expected to, so he then transitioned to looking for pre-spawners and was able to run that pattern for the remainder of the day.
Arron Slaten with the Seven Coves Bass Club finished third overall with a 5 fish limit weighing in at 19.76 pounds, anchored by the Big Bass of the day a 7.70 pounder. Arron stated that as he was idling out of a ramp, on Friday morning, he graphed some rip rap leading into the cove and noticed a lot of bait in the area, he made a few cast and got a few bites and decided to leave it alone. On tournament morning he was one of the first boats there and spot locked on a spot where he could fan cast around the point and a ledge with a Carolina rig, Arron says he caught between 40-50 fish throughout the day and culled four or five times to his final weight.
Robert Royal with the Vidor Bass Anglers Association won the Senior Division side pot with a 5 fish limit weighing 16.79 pounds and fellow Vidor Bass Angler Mark Grissom was second with 5 fish weighing 15.27 pounds.
Robert Thierry with the Seven Coves Bass Club took home the Edge Rod in open drawing for all contestants still present.
We would like to thank the regional clubs that provided members to serve as tournament volunteers, as well as the Southeast Region Directors for their assistance in conducting the tournament.
The Southeast Region Individual Trails’ next event is on Sam Rayburn, out of Jackson Hill on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Written by: Robert Royal Southeast Region Secretary
