CONROE, TX (JAN 22, 2013) –Toyota Texas Bass Classic officials announced this year’s dates for the World Championship of Bass Fishing, scheduled for Oct. 4-6, 2013 at Lake Conroe; and after five years at Conroe, the 2014 TTBC will return to Lake Fork, the inaugural host site, May 9-11, 2014.    

“The City of Conroe has been an incredible host over the past 4 years,” Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur said. “We have an amazing partnership and we’re excited to return to Conroe again in October. We are also excited to return to Lake Fork, an historic Texas bass fishery where the community was so welcoming the first time around.”

Dave Terre, Chief of Management & Research for the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries Division added, “This year we will celebrate an unprecedented fifth consecutive year at Lake Conroe, an area where we’ve reached many milestones including record attendance, a first-ever overtime fish-off and helped raise over $1.5 million for the TPWD youth and outdoor programs,” Terre said. “Additionally, we’re excited to be able to further increase the awareness of the state’s great bass fisheries with  a return to Lake Fork in 2014.”

Currently, anglers qualify for TTBC through the Angler of the Year points race in the Bassmaster Elite Series, Walmart FLW Tour and Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series, four sponsor exemptions and the prior year champion. With the 2014 move, anglers will qualify for both tournaments with the 2013 Angler of the Year races, adding an extra element of competition – missing out on the 2013 TTBC would eliminate an angler from the tournament until 2015.

“With having double event qualification, it makes each and every point available on each respective Tour that much more valuable,” Francoeur said. “Anglers who compete at TTBC are the best of the best and to come here and win is truly something special. Earning the chance to compete in the event twice in one season is something we know will give the anglers extra motivation for this year.”  

Anglers that qualify for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic join a prestigious rank of past competitors. By drawing from all three major tours, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic field consistently boasts the best anglers in the world. The 2012 TTBC anglers had a combined 177 total wins, 15 Angler of the Year wins, 15 world championship winners and almost $75 million in prize money.

The 2012 tournament saw an unprecedented 11 anglers compete on the final day, and Bryan Thrift was crowned the Toyota Texas Bass Classic champion. With a dominating Sunday performance, Thrift bested second place angler Brian Snowden with a comeback for the ages, overcoming a final day deficit of 4 pounds, 12 ounces. Thrift won the 2012 TTBC by a staggering 9 pounds, 4 ounces for a total weight of 53 pounds, 4 ounces.

After a successful and delicious first year, TTBC officials are also pleased to announce the return of the TTBC BBQ Cook-Off.  For the third year in a row, tickets to TTBC will be free and available at www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com later this year. The BBQ Cook-Off, daily tournament weigh-ins, outdoor expo and concerts will take place at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center, making the Toyota Texas Bass Classic a destination for families, fishing enthusiasts and country music fans to enjoy. The 2013 concert lineup will be released later in the year, and last year’s musical acts included country superstars Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Jake Owen.

Anglers will compete on Lake Conroe over three days, October 4-6, 2013, with the field being reduced to the top-10 for the final round on Sunday, October 6. The tournament will remain a non-entry fee event and all 50 competing anglers will receive guaranteed prize money. Through a continued partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), TTBC will continue to its focus on conservation efforts and adhere to a strict catch, weigh and immediate release format. Over the last six years, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic has donated over $1.5 million to the TPWD, an effort that will continue again this year.

The Lone Star Convention & Expo Center is a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located minutes from Lake Conroe and The Woodlands and only 40 minutes north of Houston. The location offers easy access to event activities, local shops and restaurants. For more information visit www.thelonestar.org.   

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic tournament functions are operated by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. For additional information, visit toyotatexasbassclassic.com or call 1-866-907-0143.

• Mon. Dec 3rd &10th - 11:00pm CT

• Sat. Dec 8th & 15th - 6:00am CT

• Sun. Dec 9th & 16th - 4:00pm CT

Time Warner Cable’s exclusive Texas Channel offers a mix of syndicated and original local programming to more than 1 million Texans. Programming highlights include high school and college athletics from Time Warner Cable Sports, the Big 12 Conference, and the Southland Conference, as well as special events and Texas-themed outdoor and lifestyle shows.

The Texas Channel is available to digital subscribers in the following Time Warner Cable markets in Texas:
 

Over 75 million homes will be able to watch this year’s Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) when it airs on NBC Sports Network, Sunday, November 11. Considered the world championship of bass fishing, the TTBC event was held in Conroe September 28-30 and featured three day days of country music and a BBQ Cook-Off Championship where thousands of free tickets were available to families and fans. 

“Being able to air on NBC Sports Network is a great showcase for the world’s top anglers,” Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur said. “Sharing TTBC with such a large number of people is exciting, and it provides Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s conservation and education efforts with a broader audience.”

As the broadcast partner of TTBC, NBC Sports Network will air the championship in an hour-long broadcast. The debut will air on November 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. CST, and there will be one re-air, on November 15, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. CST.

Those who tune into the broadcast will watch 50 of the world’s best anglers compete for the TTBC title. The field includes representatives from the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series, the Walmart FLW Tour and the Bassmaster Elite Series, making it the only event to bring anglers from all the major tours to compete for one title.

Registration open for ShareLunker Club Tournament, chance to win $100,000

CONROE, TX (OCTOBER 11, 2012) – Over 75 million homes will be able to watch this year’s Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) when it airs on NBC Sports Network in November and today Tournament officials also announced that the ShareLunker Club program, where anglers can enter to win $100,000, is still open for registrants. Considered the world championship of bass fishing, the TTBC event was held in Conroe September 28-30 and featured three day days of country music and a BBQ Cook-Off Championship where thousands of free tickets were available to families and fans.  

“Being able to air on NBC Sports Network is a great showcase for the world’s top anglers,” Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur said. “Sharing TTBC with such a large number of people is exciting, and it provides Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s conservation and education efforts with a broader audience. Fans will get a great look at what professional anglers deal with during competition and now any angler can experience that with the ShareLunker Club Tournament where amateur anglers can enter to win $100,000.”

As the broadcast partner of TTBC, NBC Sports Network will air the championship in an hour-long broadcast. There will also be one weekday re-air, to be announced at a later date. The debut will air on November 11, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. CST.

Those who tune into the broadcast will watch 50 of the world’s best anglers compete for the TTBC title. The field includes representatives from the Bass Pro Shops PAA Tournament Series, the Walmart FLW Tour and the Bassmaster Elite Series, making it the only event to bring anglers from all the major tours to compete for one title.

Officials also announced that the ShareLunker Club Tournament, where anglers can register to win $100,000, is still open for interested participants. Running from now until Oct. 21 on Lake Conroe, anglers will be able to compete for a $100,000 cash prize by simply registering with the ShareLunker Club. Once a member, participants will need to fish on Lake Conroe from now until Oct. 21 where the largest Toyota ShareLunker caught during the tournament period nets $100,000. Only pre-registered members will be eligible to win and a $100 fee is required to register. Portions of the program proceeds will benefit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s youth outreach programs.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic tournament functions are operated by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. Other sponsors include: Ricoh, ATX Wheels, Coca-Cola, TXU and U.S. Reel.

Texas Gulf Coast BBQ Cookers Association
Number of Teams 48
September 28-29, 2012
Judging Official: Lon & Sandy Babcock

1. M & M Cookers #1, Ed Meyers
2. Bulldog Mountain, Mike Wells
3. Dry Creek Cookers, George Feist
4. Hey Boys, Donald Winford
5. Cow Tippin, Chad Radley
6. We Be Smokin, Don Canterbury
7. Just Showed Up Bunch, Danny Evans
8. VFW 4709, Grover Hodges
9. PJ's Smokehouse, Paul Carnell
10. M & M Cookers #2, Robin Myers

Pork Spare Ribs

1. M & M Cookers # 2, Robin Myers
2. TPWD Game Wardens, Kevin Frazier
3. Cool Hand Cookers, Joe Severson
4. We Be Smokin, Don Canterbury
5. Hot Damn Cookers, Will Bankhead
6. Stacks & Racks, Randy Harmeyer
7. We Be Smokin Too, Jan Canterbury
8. M & M Cookers #1, Ed Myers
9. Dry Creek Cookers, George Feist
10. Smokin Stacks #2, Hugh Mann

Chicken

1. Krack Head Kookers, James Oldham
2. PJ's Smokehouse, Paul Carnell
3. Bulldog Mountain, Mike Wells
4. Rowdy Crowd Kookers, Al Lesnik
5. We Be Smokin, Don Canterbury
6. Stacks & Racks, Randy Harmeyer
7. Pollacks with a Pit, Mike Glezman
8. We Be Smokin Too, Jan Canterbury
9. Don't Have a Clue, Robert Christ
10. Smokin Stacks #2, Hugh Mann

People's Choice

1. Getting Sauced Cookers
2. Bulldog Mountain Cookin Crew
3. Pollacks with a Pit
4. Let's Smoke One
5. Texas Smokers
6. Fillin Station Lady Cookers

Grand Champion – We Be Smokin, Don Canterbury 18
Res. Grand Champion – Bulldog Mountain, Mike Wells 17
3rd Overall – M & M Cookers #1, Ed Myers 13
4th Overall – PJ's Smokehouse, Paul Carnell 11
5th Overall – M & M Cookers #2, Robin Myers 11
6th Overall – Dry Creek Cookers, George Feist 10
7th Overall – Stacks & Racks, Randy Harmeyer 10
8th Overall – Krack Head Kookers, James Oldham 10
9th Overall – TPWD Game Wardens, Kevin Frazier 9
10th Overall  - Cool Hand Cookers, Joe Severson 8

Day Three Notes & Quotes

Did you know? The Toyota Texas Bass Classic started with an exchange of ideas during a chance meeting between pro angler Kelly Jordon and a couple of great gentlemen, former TPWD Commissioner Donato Ramos and TPWD Commission Chairman Dan Friedkin.

Turns out they all shared a similar idea, which was to showcase the great fishing in Texas, to create a program to promote the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and their main goal was to have some way through this event to support the TPWD kids fishing program, especially to provide urban fisning opportunites for kids who may not otherwise get to go fishing.

The trio shared some conversations and a seed was planted. It sprouted and has grown and blossomed into this great event that generates a lot of money for TPWD and for kids fishing programs.

Kelly Jordan said, "It's awesome how in this sport you meet great folks all over the place. I just happened to meet Donato Ramos and Dan Friedkin and talked about this idea with them – and they're the guys that made it happen. "

Brandon Card's Boat Swamp and Swap

The pros had to cope with progressively worsening weather and water conditions each day of this tournament.

Basically what happened was when the anglers went out for the morning of day three, the waves weren't that big of a deal because the pros were going against the waves. These experienced boaters were easily able to get uplake to their hotspots.

Coming back down-lake later that afternoon, however, proved eventful for pro Brandon Card. He tried to come back around 1 o'clock in order to fish some spots in the lower lake. By then, the waves were building to 4-footers, and when Card tried to slow down, feeling it would be better to take it slower, Card said, "As soon as my foot came off the pedal, the boat's nose drooped and we speared a monster wave. We were suddenly sitting with tons of water in the boat and the bilge pump picked the worst time to malfunction."

Card kept the boat going at a really slow speed so as not to take more waves over the side, maneuvering his boat over to a nearby dock. He waved down a camera boat as Card phoned the tournament director to report the incident and to ask for permission to fish out of the camera boat. A few minutes later, the tournament director called back, telling Card he could make the boat swap. Card and his ride-along TroKar judge boarded the camera boat which already had two media members on it. Card fished out the rest of the tournament like that, with four persons on the camera boat. Meanwhile, Boat U.S. towing service was already on the way to recover Card's swamped boat to bring it back to the launch ramp.

"By the time I returned to check-in at the end-of-day time (3 o'clock), they already had my boat back on its trailer, so things turned out pretty good," said Card who finished 9th. This was Card's first TTBC  and 2012 was his first year on the Bassmaster Elite circuit too, where Card was crowned Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.

Bobby Lane Shares a Lesson

"You know, we do this thing called fishing for a living, and we absolutely love it and we're considered professionals here, but day one of this event was one of the toughest days I have ever had to fish on Lake Conroe," Bobby Lane admitted.  "I struggled the first day to catch five, and four of those weren't very big. And you want to know what? I went right back to that same water on day two with different weather conditions and caught 18-1/2 pounds and got myself into the Toyaota Tundra Top Ten. "

"The moral of my story is, that if you know the fish are there, and they don't bite, always check them again. If it is a two-day tournament, don't ever give up on a spot you know has fish – because those fish will have to bite sooner or later," said Lane.

Conroe, TX (September 30, 2012) – It was a comeback for ages at the final day of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Conroe, where Bryan Thrift overcame a final day deficit of 4 pounds, 12 ounces to win the 2012 TTBC by a staggering 9 pounds, 4 ounces. 

Even after finishing the first day of the TTBC in 3^rd place with a 16 pound, 12 ounce limit that included a 6.22 pound kicker, the North Carolina pro wasn’t very optimistic about his chances of contending for the title. 

During the three official practice days, he located a single productive stretch of bank above the 1097 bridge but struggled to find another viable pattern on the 21,000 acre fishery. “If I don’t get a big bite in there tomorrow, it’s probably going to be a bad day,” said Thrift on Friday afternoon.  “I don’t think that I have any other area where I can catch the weight that I need to catch to stay in the hunt.” 

The turning point in Thrift’s tournament came when heavy cloud cover and wind arrived in the Conroe, Texas area late on Friday afternoon and lingered throughout the remaining two days of competition.  On Saturday, Thrift returned to his magical stretch and caught two keepers on a buzzbait in the first hour of competition. 

He finished day two with a modest limit weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces and snuck inside the final day cut in 9^th place with a total weight of 28 pounds, 4 ounces, nearly 5 pounds behind day two leader Brian Snowden.       

On Sunday, Thrift returned to his primary stretch and quickly went to work in the blustery conditions that persisted throughout the day.  “I picked up a Chatterbait and caught one and missed one.  I went back down the bank with a crankbait and caught a 4 pounder.  That got me off to a good start and calmed me down,” he explained.

With two keepers in the boat, the FLW Tour pro began running “random places” with shocking results.  He landed a 7 pounder at 10:30 and added a 4 pound, 8 ounce largemouth shortly after noon.  With minutes remaining in the day, he pulled up on a brush pile and boated a 6 pound, 8 ounce fish that boosted his final day weight to an even 25 pounds and capped off an incredible comeback.

Thrift’s three day total weight of 53 pounds, 4 ounces easily outdistanced Brian Snowden’s 2^nd place weight by over 9 pounds. 

Throughout the tournament, Thrift relied on a plethora of baits that included a white buzzbait, Chatterbait, five different crankbaits, and a shakey head.   Half of his keepers during his week on Conroe came off of the 100 yard long stretch. 

“This tournament is truly a championship event,” explained Thrift just moments after lifting the TTBC trophy in front of the crowd that braved the inclement weather to witness history.  “You’re fishing against the top professional bass fisherman over the course of the year, so it’s a stacked field. 

“I’d like to thank Gulf States Toyota for putting this tournament on,” he continued.  “It’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and I’m glad that they let this old Chevy boy come catch a few fish.” 

2^nd Place: Brian Snowden

Brian Snowden’s bid to capture his second TTBC title in three years fell one place short.  The Missouri pro, who entered the day with a 1 pound, 4 ounce lead over Edwin Evers, struggled throughout the day and caught four keepers weighing 11 pounds to finish the tournament with a total weight of 44 pounds.  

Despite falling out of the lead, Snowden was pleased with his performance on Lake Conroe.  “Mother Nature just kind of hurt me today,” he explained.  “There was way too much wind for what I wanted to do.  I broke off a 5 pounder today, but it was just a situation where I didn’t get a lot of keeper bites and couldn’t move around.” 

Snowden spent a good portion of Sunday flipping many of the 536 boat slips in Walden Marina.  “I went in there on the second day and caught some keepers that turned out to be big ones,” he explained.  “That’s why I went back today.”

He used a Snowden’s 3/8 oz. Pig Sticker Jig with a Zoom Fat Albert Twin Tail Grub in green pumpkin color when fishing the marina docks, and he used a ½ oz. white buzzbait throughout the week when he targeted areas with shallow stumps.   In the opening round, Snowden Carolina-rigged a black trick worm to catch most of his weight on offshore structure.          

“This is a patient lake where you really have to work an area methodically while at the same time cover a lot of water,” he said.  “It makes me feel good to come down here and perform well again,” Concluded Snowden.       

3^rd Place: Keith Combs

Like Snowden, Keith Combs was hoping to become a two-time TTBC champion on Sunday.  The 2011 winner entered the day in a tie for 10^th place, but was well aware of the fact that overcoming a large deficit was a real possibility on a lake that has surrendered a total of 16 Toyota ShareLunkers since 1986.  

The Texas pro delivered, catching a 16 pound, 12 ounce limit on Sunday for a total weight of 43 pounds, 8 ounces.  It wasn’t enough, and Combs’ bid to repeat as champion fell short. 

“My downfall this week was the fact that I wasn’t able to catch fish the way that I wanted to until noon each day.  I know that a lot of guys caught them early, but I didn’t have a fish in the boat at noon today,” he explained. 

All week, Combs fished several different shad colored crankbaits, but the majority of his fish came on a Strike King Series 5XD in Sexy Shad color.  He targeted brush piles positioned on the main lake points. “I never put the crankbait down,” he said. 

“I was just lucky to be here today after squeaking inside the cut yesterday. I feel like I was able to make the best of it out there.  I just needed to catch some early fish, and it’s kind of weird that they wouldn’t bite for me.”  

ATX Wheels Big Bass

The ATX Wheels Big Bass award went to Florida’s Terry Scroggins, who boated a 7.70 pound largemouth on Saturday.  The fish earned Scroggins a set of premium ATX Wheels.  

CONROE, TX (Sept. 30, 2012) – After an unprecedented 11 anglers competed on Sunday, Bryan Thrift, of Shelbyville, NC, was crowned The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) champion. With a dominating Sunday, Thrift bested second place angler and 2010 TTBC Champion Brian Snowden at the world championship of professional bass fishing.

It was a comeback for ages at the final day, where Bryan Thrift overcame a final day deficit of 4 pounds, 12 ounces to win the 2012 TTBC by a staggering 9 pounds, 4 ounces.  Even after finishing the first day of the TTBC in 3rd place with a 16 pound, 12 ounce limit that included a 6.22 pound kicker, the North Carolina pro wasn’t very optimistic about his chances of contending for the title. 

The turning point in Thrift’s tournament came when heavy cloud cover and wind arrived in the area late on Friday afternoon and lingered throughout the remaining two days of competition.  On Saturday, Thrift returned to his magical stretch and caught two keepers on a buzzbait in the first hour of competition.  He finished day two with a modest limit weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces and snuck inside the final day cut in 9th place with a total weight of 28 pounds, 4 ounces, nearly 5 pounds behind day two leader Brian Snowden.      

On Sunday, Thrift returned to his primary stretch and quickly went to work in the blustery conditions that persisted throughout the day.  “I picked up a Chatterbait and caught one and missed one.  I went back down the bank with a crankbait and caught a 4 pounder.  That got me off to a good start and calmed me down,” he explained.

He landed a 7 pounder at 10:30 and added a 4 pound, 8 ounce largemouth shortly after noon.  With minutes remaining in the day, he pulled up on a brush pile and boated a 6 pound, 8 ounce fish that boosted his final day weight to an even 25 pounds and capped off an incredible comeback.

“This tournament is truly a championship event,” explained Thrift just moments after lifting the TTBC trophy in front of the crowd that braved the inclement weather to witness history.  “You’re fishing against the top professional bass fisherman over the course of the year, so it’s a stacked field.  “I’d like to thank Gulf States Toyota for putting this tournament on. It’s one of the biggest tournaments of the year, and I’m glad that they let this old Chevy boy come catch a few fish.” 

Toyota angler Terry Scroggins earned the ATX Wheels Big Bass Award for his 7 lb. 7 oz. catch on Saturday. Scroggins will receive a set of four ATX Premium wheels for his efforts.

The tournament remains a non-entry fee event, with all 50 competing anglers taking home guaranteed prize money. In addition, the TTBC continued its focus on conservation and adhere to strict catch, weigh and immediate release format that has earned the event national praise for its conservation efforts over the past five years.

TTBC is more than just world class bass fishing, and three of country music’s biggest stars took to the main stage. Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Jake Owen all entertained the fans throughout the weekend, with Owen closing out the event on Sunday night. Free family fun was also a highlight of the event, with activities in the Bass Pro Shop Outdoor Expo such as the Toyota Drive Center, Reliant Energy Outdoor Adventures Area, Yamaha ATV Test Track, Milwaukee Tools Autograph Alley and Sam’s Club Kids’ Zone.

The unique professional angling tournament focuses on conservation and features a catch and release program that highlights the efforts of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. A generous donation of $250,000 was given to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on behalf of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic to fund youth education and outreach programs. Over the past five years, $1.5 million has been donated to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department through the TTBC.

A little rain didn't slow down participants at the Yamaha Test Track in the Bass Pro Shops Expo at TTBC. In fact, the muddy conditions added some fun to the track, with riders testing out ATVs on a test course.

Driving around on the track, riders experienced different terrain, testing out the just some of the abilities of the ATVs, and a Yamaha representative guided participants through the course. With the bumps, twists and log-filled roads, drivers had an exciting and unique experience. 

Those not wanting to drive could still stop by the booth to check out all the latest Yamaha models, pick up gear and talk to the experts about the various products they had on display.