Texan Collins keeps on course to victory in B.A.S.S. nation divisional




The frog bite was on at Sam Rayburn Reservoir but Texan Albert Collins avoided that temptation and won the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional. While runner-up Brandon Pedigo and other contestants turned in double-digit sacks today by fishing plastic frogs in the shallow grass, Collins stuck with an offshore summertime pattern of targeting channel swings near points. He brought a 17-pound, 4-ounce limit of five bass to the scales to clinch the victory. He noted the fish were caught at various depths. "I was fishing different areas of the lake," said Collins, who finished with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 53-4. "In some areas they were in 6 to 8 feet and in some areas they were in 18 to 20 feet. "My primary lure, the one I caught the most fish on, was a Missile Baits Tomahawk worm [in the Love Bug hue]." The 48-year-old plumber from Nacogdoches, Texas, said he rigged the worm Texas style with a 5/16-ounce lead weight and a 5/0 Gamakatsu worm hook. On the first day, he tried to fish as many different areas and types of habitat as he could to accumulate a decent weight, which he accomplished with a 16-12 limit to move into the runner-up spot behind Pedigo. The second day started slowly for Collins, but he finished strong with the heaviest bag of the tournament (19-4) and leapfrogged over Pedigo to take over the lead. Collins won the Livingston Lures award of $250 because he led the tournament on Day 2. The fishing got tougher for Collins during Friday's final round, because he exhausted several of his best spots in order to build such a heavy stringer of bass on the second day. "It worked out well though," said the Nacogdoches Bass Club member. "I planned everything out, and it worked." Collins credits his partner in the draw tournament, Kevin Johnston of Missouri, for letting him call the shots in the final round. "He let me position the boat to the point to where I had a good advantage to throw at everything without getting interfered with," he said. Photo: Winner of the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional on Sam Rayburn Reservoir is 2013 Bassmaster Classic qualifier Albert Collins of Texas, who had a three-day total of 53-4. Photo by John Neporadny/Bassmaster




Tell us what you think!

Lake Sam Rayburn Real Estate with Rayburn Realty

Lake Sam Rayburn Email Updates


 

Visit our Lake Sam Rayburn Sponsors!

Lake Sam Rayburn on Social Media

 
       

Lake Sam Rayburn Current Weather Alerts

There are no active watches, warnings or advisories.

 

Lake Sam Rayburn Weather Forecast

Thursday

Sunny

Hi: 71

Thursday Night

Clear

Lo: 51

Friday

Mostly Sunny

Hi: 76

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 58

Saturday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 79

Saturday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 61

Sunday

Mostly Cloudy

Hi: 79

Sunday Night

Mostly Cloudy

Lo: 67


Lake Sam Rayburn Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 3/28: 158.26 (-6.14)



Lake Sam Rayburn

Fishing Report from TPWD (Mar. 27)

GOOD. Water stained; 62 degrees; 5.99 feet below pool. The magic water temperature is 67 degrees for the spawn. The water is muddy north of the Texas State Highway147 bridge. Navigate with caution to avoid sandbars and stumps. Bass are in the grass lines in 4-20 feet of water biting soft plastics and spin baits. Spawn appears to be deeper due to the water draw. This will eliminate a lot of sight fishing. Crappie are slow. Report by Captain Lynn Atkinson, Reel Um N Guide Service. The bite bass bite has been fantastic! Large waves and groups of fish shallow from 10-15 feet deep as well as large numbers of fish shallow 1-7 feet deep. Primarily fishing a Carolina rig, medium diving crankbait, and Texas rig in 10-15 feet. Cast rattletraps, chatterbaits, and lightweight Carolina rigs up shallow. Report by Captain Hank Harrison, Double H Precision Fishing.

More Fishing Reports