Events 4 & 5 of the 2026 North Central Region tournament trail took place on Saturday, May 2nd and Sunday May 3rd on lakes Eagle Mountain & Granbury. A rarity in the North Central Region, the wind finally decided to behave for a change and the anglers were treated to conditions that can only be described as pleasant. However, the actual fishing was far from pleasant as the fish apparently took the weekend off to protest the lack of whitecaps, and not one angler, boater or non boater, could scratch out a limit either day.
On Eagle Mountain, fresh off the heels of his victory on Limestone, it was boater Charlie Barnes, Big Sandy Bass Club, that would take first place with four fish weighing 13.09 pounds. Charlie’s impressive back to back win earned him $432 for his effort. Second place boater went to Toby Tucker, Big Sandy Bass Club, who also brought four fish to the scales for a total of 9.92 pounds. Rounding out the boater top three places on Eagle Mountain with just two fish for 7.67 pounds was Andrew Wren, Tarrant Christian Bass Club. Andrew’s two fish bag was anchored with the big bass of the tournament, a nice 4.65 pound Eagle Mountain chunk earning him a crisp $100 bill. The conversations at the ramp focused on how tough the lake was fishing and of lost opportunities (“the ones that got away”). The silver lining, if you want to call it that, was that there were no zeros on the boater side as the remaining boaters all brought at least one fish to the scales.
On the non boater side, the conversation at the ramp was a little more “colorful” as everyone was saying the “F” word! “Fudge” that is. Jordan Fudge, The Colony Bass Club, weighed in two fish for 6.47 pounds securing fist place and a check for $288. Jordan’s two fish were exactly two fish more than any other non-boater. Yep, the rest of the non boaters blanked, leaving them to say “What the Fudge”!
Unfortunately Sunday on lake Granbury was no different and again, there would be no limits brought to the scales and this time there was a zero on the boater side. “Mr. Consistent”, Charlie Barnes would bring four fish, yet again, to the scales that totaled 6.28 pounds, however, it was only good enough for second place snapping his winning streak. First place belonged to Andrew “Big Bass” Wren, who brought in only three fish for a total of 8.44 pounds, which included, yep you guessed it, the big bass of the day weighing 3.69 pounds. Andrew earned $432 for the win and $90 for the big bass, making his weekend very productive, at least financially. Third place went to Toby Tucker, who also only had three fish and his total weight was 5.05 pounds. Toby manages to stay just outside the winner’s circle, but I imagine it won’t be long before he takes the top prize.
As for the non boater side, Jordan Fudge only managed to bring in one fish to the scales for 1.48 pounds. Turns out that one fish earned him the top spot again (and $216) as the rest of the non boaters failed to weigh any fish. All of the non boaters, except for Jordan, expressed their opinions of the two lakes and their desire not to return anytime soon. I am sure that they had their fill of Fudge for the weekend as well!
They, as well as the rest of the field, will have their chance at redemption at the sixth and final stop of the trail on Lake Texoma on June 14th. Will Andrew Wren once again bring in the big bass? Will Charlie Barnes finally get that fifth fish? Will there be a non boater that can give Jordan Fudge a run for his money? If you are curious and want to know the answers to those questions, by all means sign up and come fish with us. All Texas Bass Nation members, regardless of region, are eligible to participate and we would like you to join us. So say “What the Fudge” and lets go fishing!!
See ya on the water!
Sincerely,
Stephen Farrar
Texas BASS Nation
North Central Region Director
Club Division
(682) 465-6165
