{"id":1594,"date":"2023-03-20T11:10:58","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T17:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanbassanglers.com\/news\/?p=1594"},"modified":"2023-11-21T11:40:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T17:40:52","slug":"big-sam-delivers-big-at-top-150-solo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanbassanglers.com\/news\/index.php\/2023\/03\/20\/big-sam-delivers-big-at-top-150-solo\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Sam Delivers Big at Top 150 Solo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ZAVALLA, Texas \u2013 Cole B. Moore barely missed breaking into double digits with his lunker largemouth, but he did win the American Bass Anglers Top 150 Solo Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Southwest Division season opener, held March 18, 2023, on Lake Sam Rayburn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally scheduled for a 2-day tournament, severe weather forced the cancelation of the first day. On what would have been the second day, the anglers launched at Cassel Boykin Landing near Zavalla, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore from Anacoco, La., landed an impressive 5-bass tournament limit weighing 32.94 pounds for an astonishing 6.59-pound average. Less than one-third of an ounce from the double-digit plateau, Moore securely anchored his bag with a 9.98-pound largemouth. He collected $14,000 for the win and an extra $1,000 for the tournament lunker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI fished an Alabama Rig in drains that tapered out into a flat,\u201d Moore advised. \u201cThat\u2019s where prespawn fish stage in eight to 15 feet of water. I started the morning fishing a drain that had been good to me for the past couple of months, but the big fish moved about 75 yards away. When I found them again, I started catching fish at about 8:30 a.m. In the next 45 minutes, I put three big ones in the boat. I fished a brush pile down the lake and spotted the biggest one on my electronics. I tossed a jerkbait over the top of her, and she ate it at 11:30 a.m. I never caught another good fish after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In second among the 93 competitors, Aaron M. Freeman from Montgomery, Texas, brought in five bass for 28.90 pounds. He capped that catch with a 5.87-pounder and earned $5,800 for the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI used an oversized swimbait and a jerkbait,\u201d Freeman commented. \u201cThe water cooled before the tournament. When I came in with almost 29 pounds, I thought I had the tournament won, but this is Sam Rayburn. On this lake, there\u2019s always a chance someone might bust 30 pounds and it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Landing in third place, Chad D. Marler of Jasper, Texas, found five big keepers for 22.13 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 6.98-pound bucketmouth, the fifth largest bass brought to the scales. Marler pocketed $4,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cI made a long run to get away from everybody,\u201d Marler remarked. \u201cI caught most of my fish from four spots. The magic number for me was 15 feet of water. I caught all my fish except two on an Alabama Rig with Cross Baits black and blue trailers. One of the others came on a Cross Baits SkinnyZilla. The other one hit a wacky rig. I did lose a fish on a crankbait that might have bumped me up a little.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chris B. Lewis from Hallsville, Texas, finished fourth with five bass at 21.06 pounds. His largest bass weighed 8.12 pounds, tied for the second largest fish caught in the tournament. Lewis picked up a check worth $2,900. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI caught fish with all different kinds of baits,\u201d Lewis detailed. \u201cI caught some dragging and some cranking. I even caught one on a wacky worm. I just kept rotating through 12 different spots. I had a small limit by 8 a.m. I probably caught at least 75 fish in all. Most of them were all about the same size.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rounding out the top five, Brennan M. Flick from West Monroe, La., only caught three keepers, but made each one count. Barely behind fourth place, he finished fifth with 21.05 pounds for a 7.02-pound average. His biggest fish weighed 7.61 pounds, the fourth largest lunker seen in the tournament. Flick took home a check worth $2,200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had never fished this lake until I practiced on it before the tournament,\u201d Flick revealed. \u201cI fished offshore at one spot I found in practice. I had four bites on crankbaits all day and lost one big one right by the boat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top150Results<\/h3>\n
\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n PL <\/th>\n \n Angler <\/th>\n \n Fish <\/th>\n \n Big Bass <\/th>\n \n Total <\/th>\n \n Points <\/th>\n \n Payout <\/th>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 1 <\/td>\n \n Cole B. Moore <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n 9.98 <\/td>\n \n 32.94 <\/td>\n \n 250 <\/td>\n \n 15000 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 2 <\/td>\n \n Aaron M. Freeman <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n 5.87 <\/td>\n \n 28.9 <\/td>\n \n 249 <\/td>\n \n 5800 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 3 <\/td>\n \n Chad D. Marler <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n 6.98 <\/td>\n \n 22.13 <\/td>\n \n 248 <\/td>\n \n 4500 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 4 <\/td>\n \n Chris B. Lewis <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n 8.12 <\/td>\n \n 21.06 <\/td>\n \n 247 <\/td>\n \n 2900 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 5 <\/td>\n \n Brennan M. Flick <\/td>\n \n 3 <\/td>\n \n 7.61 <\/td>\n \n 21.05 <\/td>\n \n 246 <\/td>\n \n 2200 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 6 <\/td>\n \n Garrett C. Hilton <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 19.5 <\/td>\n \n 245 <\/td>\n \n 1600 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 7 <\/td>\n \n Richard L. Wagnon <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n 6.42 <\/td>\n \n 19.15 <\/td>\n \n 244 <\/td>\n \n 1300 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 8 <\/td>\n \n Wyatt A. Frankens <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 18.57 <\/td>\n \n 243 <\/td>\n \n 1200 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 9 <\/td>\n \n Justin M. Morton <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 18.11 <\/td>\n \n 242 <\/td>\n \n 1125 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 10 <\/td>\n \n Shane Howell <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 15.33 <\/td>\n \n 241 <\/td>\n \n 1075 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 11 <\/td>\n \n Michael Weems <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 15.29 <\/td>\n \n 240 <\/td>\n \n 1000 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 12 <\/td>\n \n Brad L. Smith <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 14.11 <\/td>\n \n 239 <\/td>\n \n 900 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 13 <\/td>\n \n Kevin L. Lasyone <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 14 <\/td>\n \n 238 <\/td>\n \n 850 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 14 <\/td>\n \n Brett T. Clark <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 13.6 <\/td>\n \n 237 <\/td>\n \n 800 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 15 <\/td>\n \n James JD D. Chandler <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 13.35 <\/td>\n \n 236 <\/td>\n \n 775 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 16 <\/td>\n \n Easton J. Heigley <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 13.34 <\/td>\n \n 235 <\/td>\n \n 750 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 17 <\/td>\n \n Blake Blake A. Schroeder <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 13.26 <\/td>\n \n 234 <\/td>\n \n 725 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 18 <\/td>\n \n Bill T. Bean <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 13.2 <\/td>\n \n 233 <\/td>\n \n 700 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 19 <\/td>\n \n Shane H. Gibson <\/td>\n \n 5 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n \n 12.03 <\/td>\n \n 232 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n 20 <\/td>\n \n Bruce M. Anderson <\/td>\n \n 3 <\/td>\n \n 8.12 <\/td>\n \n 11.9 <\/td>\n \n 231 <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n<\/div>