Phil Marks of Dallas, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 27 pounds, 8 ounces, to earn himself top honors at the first T-H Marine FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Cowboy Division event of the season on Sam Rayburn. For his efforts, Marks pocketed $8,143.
Marks says he caught the majority his fish on the main lake, specifically on the tips of ridges with isolated stumps. He fished through a dozen areas and was able to put 10 keepers in the boat throughout the day.
“I don’t think the water temperature on Sam Rayburn has been below 55 degrees in a few years, so the fish were really lethargic,” said Marks, an FLW Tour winner who had earned eight prior top-10 finishes on Rayburn in FLW competition. “I caught three or four good ones in the first hour which allowed me to focus on catching the big ones. It was a grind out there, but I knew when I got one it’d be a good one.”
Marks used a powder blue back chartreuse-colored Strike King 8XD crankbait to fish in 16 to 19 feet of water, and switched to a 10XD for deeper casts in the 18- to 24-foot range.
“It’s funny—just about every bite was on the initial descent or when the bait was up under the boat,” said Marks. “I started making shorter casts so I could maximize my time in those strike zones.”
The Boater Big Bass award went to Richard Ballard of Sulphur, Louisiana, who brought an 8-pound, 1-ounce largemouth to the scales.
The top 10 boaters:
- 1st: Phil Marks / Dallas, Texas, five bass / 27-8 / $6,143 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus
- 2nd: Richard Ballard / Sulphur, Louisiana, four bass / 19-12 / $4,081
- 3rd: Terry Hawkins / Corsicana, Texas, five bass / 17-2 /$2,048
- 4th: Kevin Lasyone / Dry Prong, Louisiana, five bass / 16-8 / $1,363
- 5th: Anthony Jones / Irving, Texas, five bass / 15-13 / $1,169
- 6th: Coy Riggins / Georgetown, Texas, five bass / 15-12 / $1,071
- 7th: Chris Lewis / Longview, Texas, three bass / 15-11 / $925
- 7th: Darold Gleason / Many, Louisiana, five bass / 15-11 / $925
- 9th: Todd Castledine / Nacogdoches, Texas / five bass, 15-9 / $779
- 10th: Brandon Thrash / Downsville, Louisiana / five bass, 15-8 / $682