Neff tops list at Lake Buchanan tourney
Fri, 2016-04-29 05:00
News Staff
By JASPER JOHNSON
Special to the Leader-Press
BURNET - This month’s Copperas Cove Bass Club Tournament was held on Lake Buchanan. The club launched from the Burnet County Ramp on the northeast side of the lake and shared the ramp with the River City Bass Masters who were also fishing their club tournament.
Because of the extreme rains, the water was extremely stained on the main body and in several of the main creeks flowing into the lake. Due to the flooding on the Colorado River above Lake Buchanan, the Corps of Engineers was releasing water, as much as possible; yet controlling it so there would be no flooding downstream.
The club was also faced with winds of 5-10 miles per hour and an overcast sky during the early morning. Around 10 a.m. the wind kicked up to 20 mph and remained that way for the rest of the day. The cloud cover began to break up around noon and the afternoon was sunny which helped to increase the wind gust up to 25 mph. This wind made the main body of the lake extremely rough and difficult to fish and navigate.
Due to the River City Bass Master’s club launching first, parking at the ramp was somewhat congested and challenged the club to find water to fish that was not already occupied by one of their boats. Even with this challenge, the club did very well weighing in a total of 115 pounds, 2 ounces of bass. All club members were fishing for both total weight and Big Bass for the tournament. Everyone was hoping to increase their placement in the club’s overall standings. The top eight members of the club, in the total weight category, are sent to the Texas Association of Bass Clubs Championship each year.
In the total weight category the first place finisher went to Scott Neff of Killeen with a total weight for two fish of 10 pounds 5 ounces. Scott also placed first in the Big Bass category with a monster 7 lbs. 8 oz. hog. Scott caught his big fish using Senko brush hog in brown pumpkin weightless in six to eight feet of water in the brush near the left side of the dam. His other fish were caught the same way working the weightless brush hog slowly through the brush.
Second place total weight went to Randy Fesler of Lampasas with five fish and a total weight of 8 lbs. 8 oz. Randy also was fishing a Senko brush hog in brown pumpkin weightless in six to eight feet of water in the brush near the left side of the dam. He and Scott Neff were partners for the tournament.
Third place total weight went to Johnny Hull of Copperas Cove with four fish that weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 oz. Johnny caught his fish throwing a watermelon seed Senko brush hog with a 1/8 oz. slip sinker in the morning and changed to a ¼ oz as the winds picked up. Johnny also fished the brush in eight feet of water near the dam.
Second place in the Big Bass category went to Jason Miller. He caught his 3 lbs. 15 oz. bass using a Ragetail in watermelon red with a 1/8 oz. slip sinker and 3.0 hook. His fish came fish a point on the right side down near the dam. This was the only fish Jason caught all day.
If you enjoy fishing and a little competition, come join the club. The Copperas Cove Bass Club meets the first and third Tuesday of every month at Little Tex Restaurant in downtown Copperas Cove. You may also contact Jasper Johnson, the club secretary, at 318-218-0358 or e-mail to jasperjohnson66@yahoo.com for more information. The club’s web site is www.copperascovebassclub.com.