Top honors in the co-angler division of the Bass Pro Shops Open Series East Texas Tournament on Lake Palestine was taken by Jason Prestridge of Paradise, TX when he came up on stage. His 3 fish limit tipped the scales at 12.60 lbs. A great limit for 3 fish!
“A couple days of practice with very few bites just like Matt said. I decided to just enjoy the weather and have fun. My boater started out on a rock shore off the main lake where I picked up a square bill and worked it around the rocks. It didn’t take long and a 5 lber jumped on it. That set my confidence to keep throwing the crankbait. After what felt like forever and a zillion casts, I finally hooked up again. This time the fish was not hooked well at all. One hook was barely holding on, but we got her in the net. We stayed near rocks and I ended up losing that crankbait. It was the only one I had in that color. I tried everything I could with no luck. My third fish came on a shakey head. I felt like I had a shot at it, but I have been there before and watched it slip away. I watched everyone come in and my big fish was beaten but I had finally won an ABA event! Thank you ABA for giving me the opportunity to do what I love and to have the friendly competition I need in my life.” Said Jason.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Joseph Starks of Houston, TX, brought in 2 solid fish for 10.40 lbs. One of which took big bass honors for the co-anglers at 6.48 lbs.
Michael Nantz of Ben Wheeler, TX placed third among the co-anglers with three bass weighing 9.90 -pounds, another solid weight. “We fished docks today. I only had 3 bites so I’m glad I was able to land them all. I caught one on a black and blue jig and the other two on a shakey head. It seemed like the pattern to them for me was on the outside edges of the docks, but It’s hard to put a pattern to them when you fish all day and only catch three.” Said Michael.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Thomas Helsley of Duncanville, TX brought in three bass for 6.62-pounds, and John Walker of Allen, TX finished 5th with 2 fish for 5.32 lbs.
Photo courtesy ABA