December 3, 2006
Lake Travis – Austin, TX
With the temperature hovering just above freezing and a north wind gusting upwards of 30mph, what could possibly prompted someone to jump out of a warm bed long before sunrise and head to the lake for a day of fishing? Well for 25 BASSMASTERS on this day the answer was the December ATX Club Tournament on the drought stricken Lake Travis. The final event of the 2006 tournament season presented a challenge beyond just the inclement weather. The lake is currently some 36 feet below conservation pool. Which means the ATXers that call Lake Travis their home water, got a good look at the structure they normally fish as the majority of it was high and dry. Fishing in such extreme drought conditions might seem a daunting task to anglers unfamiliar with highland lake fishing. But not for our ATX BASSMASTERS as the majority of the field managed to at least find a small limit of bass.
But not everyone found just small bass. Michael Waldrop landed a 5 fish limit totaling 14.14 pounds which included the big bass of the tournament a 6.03 pounder to secure 1st Place honors. One only needs look back in the archives of the large tournament trails that frequent Travis to know that a sack measured in the teens is somewhat of a rarity on this body of water. For Michael to weigh such a sack under the conditions faced this day is truly an accomplishment. Michael’s main weapon of choice was a black and green 3/8oz jig with a matching pork trailer worked down the secondary points in numerous creek arms.
Not too far behind Michael taking 2nd with a very respectable 5 fish total of 12.22 pounds was Dan Taylor. Dan also used a jig of the green-pumpkin variety pitched to the face of rocky ledges out on the main lake.
Adam Clark cranked his way into the 3rd spot with a shad pattern Bandit 200 crankbait, bumped along chunk rock near deep water. Adam’s 5 fish tipped the scales at 11.98 pounds and was anchored by at very solid 4.98 pound Travis hog.
“SkeeterMark” Peevey used a jigging spoon and Rapala DT10 also in shad pattern to secure 4th. His total weight for the day tipped the scales at 10.77 pounds.
Anytime you find Henry Meyer fishing a tournament on Lake Travis you can pretty much bet he is going to be near the top. This time we find him finishing 5th with 9.78 pounds caught on tubes fished slowly down bluff walls.
Rounding out the top six finishers was Ed Matthews landing 9.56 pounds by tossing a dropshot worm around multiple floating docks.
As the Travis event signifies the end of the 2006 season we crown founding club member, Brent Parish the 2006 ATX BASSMASTERS Angler of the Year. Brent held the position for the majority of the year and finally out distanced the field in the last couple of events to make the title official. Congratulations Brent! We know you worked hard and you truly deserve the AOY title having beat out a tough field of anglers.
ATX BASSMASTER will now take a short break to enjoy the Christmas Holiday Season. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year!
