Ryan Watkins does it again, capturing a second consecutive Club Division AOY for the 2023 Texas Bass Nation South Region Individual Trail! Coming into the final doubleheader tournament Ryan was in second place for the AOY standings and ground out a second and eighth place finish to push him to the first place standing. Over the course of the six-event season Ryan made 3 podium finishes, and brought 28 fish to the scales for a better than 2.5lb average. Congratulations Ryan!
The final stop for the 2023 TBN South Region regular season was a doubleheader on Lake Amistad, 20 and 21 May. 16 anglers made the trip and found typical conditions for late spring with temperatures in the mid 80’s and light winds from the south. Overall fishing was tough not for numbers, but for keepers.
Cliff Martinez captured the top spot Saturday with a five fish limit of #12.41 including a #4.46 kicker that was good enough for big bass on the day. Ryan Watkins’ 5 fish bag of #9.66 was good for second place, and Trevor Rogge was close behind, rounding out the podium with 5 fish that weighed in for #8.94.
On Sunday Ricky Bishop showed out with a full creel for #11.90 to top the podium. Rick Shock was less than a pound back, his five fish weighing in at #10.99 earning second place. Third place was Ken Scarborough with a #9.55 limit anchored by the big bass of the day at #4.13.
Sunday 23 April was fourth round for the Texas Bass Nation South Region from Choke Canyon Reservoir, and mother nature put our 17 angler field to a real test. After launching storms blew in with torrential rain, lightning and wind gusts to near 60. Anglers took shelter and rode out the storm and the were hit with a near 20 degree temperature drop. After all was said and done, it was Ira Lynn returning to his winning ways with a five fish limit for 18.08lbs, and a big bass winning kicker of 7.78lbs to make it a sweep.
Ricky Bishop was hot on Ira’s heels with a full creel totaling 17.2lbs anchored by a healthy 6.63 pounder. Rounding out the podium was Matt Barnes with a 16.22lb limit. See full results and standings.
May will be the South Region regular season closeout with a double header at Amistad May 20 and 21. Rick Shock is holding on to a narrow lead in points total over the next three, so this promises to be a shootout for for AOY.