The Southeast Region Individual Trail completed their regular season, this past Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Lake Palestine out of The Villages Marina. Anglers were greeted with warm temperatures, clear skies and the threat of severe weather forecasted for later in the day, fortunately the severe weather missed us and all we received was heavy rain and a lightning show as the weigh-in was concluding. Arron Slaten with the Seven Coves Bass Club captured first place, Arron brought in 5 fish, tipping the scales at 22.26 pounds anchored by an 8.66-pound Palestine beauty, earning the Big Bass of the tournament honors. Arron states that in practice that he had located fish tucked up close to standing timber and that he planned to run that pattern on tournament day, but the wind made it near impossible to fish without getting hung up. He noticed that there were docks in the area that had rocks close by and he was hoping that the front coming in may have pushed some fish up on them, so he started pitching a custom poured worm around the rocks and caught a small limit by 8:00 AM. Once the sun came out and the wind laid, he moved out to the deeper dock post and started to upgrade. He then noticed a guy crappie fishing in the middle of a couple of docks, so he started pitching to the middle piling of the docks, this is where he caught his big bass and several other quality fish. Arron was throwing a custom poured worm, on a Sixgill Fenrir flipping rod paired with a Sixgill Hamarr reel, the rod was crucial in being able to get the bigger fish turned and into the boat. Arron states that he was truly blessed. Justin Royal of the Vidor Bass Anglers Association claimed second with a 5 bass limit weighing in at 18.56 pounds. Justin states that he targeted timber close to channel swings up the lake. Justin utilized a Power Tackle “The One” 04 HM rod and 6th Sense Blue Fleck Magic Boosa Worm. 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. Tye Grissom with the Vidor Bass Anglers Association finished third with 5 fish weighing 16.16 pounds, anchored by the second Big Bass of the tournament a 7.04 pounder. Tye stated that he started out cranking a squarebill on rocks and caught a few keepers including his big bass, when the squarebill bite slowed, he switched to a shaky head worm and coaxed a few more out of the rocks. He then moved to docks, where he pitched soft plastics around dock posts. A special thank you goes out to the assisting clubs the Seven Coves Bass Club and The Bass Bandits, as well as the Southeast Region Directors for their assistance in conducting the tournament. As stated earlier this was the final regular season event of the 2023 season and in a tightly contested race Colin Bode with The Bass Club captured the 2023 Southeast Region Angler of the Year. The Bass Club was once again crowned the 2023 Southeast Region Club of the Year. Written by: Robert Royal Southeast Region Secretary

Arron Slaten with his winning bag at 22.26 pounds.

Justin Royal with 3 of his 2nd place bag at 18.56 pounds.

Tye Grissom and SE Region Weighmaster Dale McQuerry show of Tye’s 7.04 pounder that earned him 2nd BB of the tournament.