Texas Lunker Challenge presented by Mossy Oak Elements Comes to a Close

UT-Knoxville’s Scott Ellis wins the event with 9.64lb bass

The scales are closed and prizes have been handed out here at the inaugural Texas Lunker Challenge presented by Mossy Oak Elements at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Given the conditions these anglers faced on the water today, the weights were very impressive.

Second place went to Justin Barnes from the University of Montevallo bringing in a 8.64 lbs and Dustin Nash of Northwestern State University rounding out the top 3 with a 6.55 lb bass.

Payouts went all the way to 40th place and was claimed with a 3.89 lb largemouth bass. In true Sam Rayburn fashion, the lake showed why it is considered one of the best fisheries in the nation year in and year out.

One of the main concerns entering this competition day were the weather conditions these anglers faced. Strong winds, cool air temperatures, and cloudy skies can typically shut a fishery down. As was evident with the weights crossing the stage today, that was not an issue.

A typical mid-February pattern on Sam Rayburn finds anglers fishing shallow grass with red rattle traps, jerk baits, and soft plastics. From the reports received from the anglers, these were the tactics used to target those large pre-spawn bass. The bait most commonly mentioned was a red rattle trap. Anyone who knows Sam Rayburn, knows that is a go to bait on this body of water.

Here’s a look at the top 5:

1. Scott Ellis – University of Tennessee-Knoxville – 9.64lbs
2. Justin Barnes – University of Montevallo – 8.64lbs
3. Dustin Nash – Northwestern State University – 6.55lbs
4. Lucas Lindsay – Auburn University – 6.44lbs
5. Reid Strobl – Dallas Baptist University – 6.35lbs

Full Results

For more information about the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, please visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com.

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About the Association of Collegiate Anglers

The Association of Collegiate Anglers, a division of Careco TV, is a sanctioning body developed to facilitate growth, development, and structure within competitive collegiate bass fishing.  The ACA provides support to dozens of school operated regional events nationwide and owns the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, the largest participatory collegiate tournament circuit in the country.  With dedicated collegiate fishing programming on several television networks, three nationally televised collegiate bass fishing events, and thousands of members, the ACA is the leader in competitive collegiate bass fishing.  For more information on the ACA, or the Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, visit www.CollegiateBassChampionship.com. For more information on CarecoTV, visit www.carecotv.com.