Curtis wraps up Louisiana season with river win

ATHENS, Ala. – David Curtis wrapped up the divisional regular season by winning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Louisiana Division 13 tournament, held July 21, 2012, on the Red River.

Running out of Grand Ecore Landing near Natchitoches on a blistering hot day, the Trinity, Texas, angler caught five bass weighing 13.01 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Curtis took home a check for $2,255.21.

“I live about three hours from this river, but I’ve fished a few tournaments on it,” Curtis said. “I covered a lot of water with Strike King crankbaits, Yellow Magic topwater poppers, 3/8-ounce Stanley spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged trick worms. I never did really dial into a good pattern. I caught about eight bass and lost one good fish.”

In second for the boaters, Matthew Armand of Hessmer, La., brought in a five-bass tournament limit for 12.56 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 4.27-pounder to pocket $1,127.12.

“I was throwing a black Lunker Lure buzzbait with black blades,” Armand revealed. “I just retrieved it at a constant slow speed next to the grass mats. The clouds in the morning helped the topwater bite. I caught seven fish.”

Current division leader, Billy J. Billea of Lafayette, La., added another 248 points to his seasonal total with a third place finish. He landed a five-bass limit going 12.06 pounds with a 3.70-pound kicker to win $751.41.

“In the first area I fished, the water was really stained and I used brush hogs in three different colors,” Billea said. “The second spot was an oxbow in clear water and I caught fish on black straight-tail worms. I was fishing shallow up around woody cover. I lost one good fish that probably would have helped and was able to cull one time.”

Trey Blocker of Greenwell Springs, La., finished in fourth place with five bass and 12.01 pounds. Ronnie P. Sharp of Hammond, La., brought in five keepers for 11.41 pounds and fifth place. Ivy J. St. Romain of Morgan City, La., landed the division lunker, a 4.31 pounder.

In the Co-Angler Division, Steve J. Meche of Pineville, La., won with three bass and 8.10 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 4.66-pounder to take the tournament big bass title. For the victory, Meche collected $1,127.61 plus a $121.67 bonus for the bucketmouth.

“I was flipping a watermelon red Speed Craw around heavy timber,” Meche explained. “I fished it on a Texas rig with a 1/8-ounce sinker and a little rattle bead. I was just shaking it. I caught about 16 fish. The big fish came off in the net. I lost a 5- and a 4-pounder early in the morning.”

Nathaniel L. Rudisill of Bossier City, La., took second with a three-bass division limit and 7.95 pounds. Right behind, Tony R. Gafford Jr. of Denham Springs, La., brought in three keepers for 7.10 pounds with one 4.05-pounder. Alan Yedor of Gretna, La., landed in fourth place among the co-anglers with three bass and 6.79 pounds including a 3.10-pound kicker. Gerald “Scooter” Boyette of Baton Rouge, La., rounded out the top five co-anglers with three bass at an even 6 pounds.

For more information on this tournament, call Porter Trimble at (318) 201-3474 or ABA at (888) 203-6222. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com.

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