Top 150 Solo on Lake of the Pine April 28 and 29
ATHENS, Ala. – The Southwest Division of the American Bass Anglers Top 150 Solo Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, visits Lake O’ the Pines on April 28-29, 2023, for the second of three events this season.
Each angler pays $600 to enter each divisional tournament and everyone fishes alone on both days. No more than 150 anglers can participate in any divisional event. If 150 anglers participate, the winner will take home a guaranteed $20,000. If fewer competitors register, the top 20 percent of the field will each earn a portion of the prize money, based on the number of entries.
The Lake of the Pines tournament will run out of Lakeside Park, located at 5177 FM 726 in Jefferson, Texas
Sometimes called Ferrell’s Bridge Reservoir, the impoundment dates to 1956. About 25 miles northeast of Longview, the reservoir sits on Big Cypress Bayou, also known as Big Cypress Creek, near where the stream enters the Red River. Big Cypress Bayou flows for about 140 miles and drains an area of about 850 square miles.
The lake spreads across 19,780 acres of Marion, Morris, Upshur, and Camp counties at summer pool level. The lake drops to more than 49 feet deep in places. Thick vegetation in the form of hydrilla, buttonbush, water primrose, and American lotus cover about 15 to 20 percent of the lake.
The state frequently stocks the lake with Florida largemouth bass. The lake can produce many double-digit largemouths. The lake's record largemouth weighed 15.13 pounds, caught by Carl Clark in March 2021 on a Rat-L-Trap. The lake also holds some big spotted bass with the lake record spot weighing 5.56 pounds.
In the spring, many people fish around the grassy edges with topwater baits and shad-colored crankbaits or lipless jigs. Also buzz frogs across the grass mats or probe the pockets with jigs and soft plastics. Try Texas-rigged creature baits in black and blue around grass or deep structure.
During a May 2022 tournament on Lake O’ the Pines, the winning boater brought in five bass weighing 29 pounds, 7 ounces. The co-angler caught five bass weighing 25 pounds. The biggest bass weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces. The biggest bass caught by a co-angler weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces. The best lures for that May 2022 tournament included wacky worms and a Strike King Pro Model 5XD crankbait.
The Southwest Division wraps up its regular season at Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Louisiana-Texas line on May 26-27, 2023. That event runs out of Lost Frontier, located at 5518 TX-21 in Hemphill, Texas. To register for that event CLICK HERE
For information on the Southwest Division, call Chris Wayand at (256) 230-5627 or Click Here
For more information or to register for any ABA Solo 150 event, see www.americanbassanglers.com/Top150.
Anyone who wishes to fish an ABA event must become an ABA member. ABA members can receive discounts from some sponsors. For example, Optima Batteries will give ABA members 25 percent off and free shipping on any battery. Membership costs $35 a year, but anglers can save money by signing up for multiple years. Life membership costs $450.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and, at the same time, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
This story was written by ABA staff writer John N. Felsher. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.
