TTBC’s U.S. Reel Pro-Am Puts Pros, Sponsors Together
TTBC competitors Chris Lane and Denny Brauer, left, discuss fishing conditions before Thursday's U.S. Reels Pro-Am on Lake Conroe. (PAA: Alan Clemons)
By Craig Nyhus
PAA Communications
CONROE, Texas – As 51 teams headed to the Lake Conroe boat ramp Thursday, the day before the competition begins at the 2011 Texas Toyota Bass Classic, the professional anglers engage in one of the entertainment part of their jobs, the U.S. Reel Pro-Am.
But is it all just entertainment or can they get something out of it?
“Basically we’re out their to show the sponsors and people who paid to fish with us a good time,” said Toyota Tundra pro Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla. “But we do use it like an extra practice day — you might find something new.”
Most of the team members know they aren’t headed to the prime spots the pros found in practice, and some focus on new techniques or some instruction. Team members ranged from the former president of Gulf States Toyota, Toby Hynes, to area anglers interested in having fun and learning more about Lake Conroe.
“Some of them like to learn new and different techniques,” Scroggins said.
Booyah pro Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla. and Jasper pro Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., said they use the time to try new areas and presentations.
“I look for something different from what I have found so far,” Butcher said. “There might be one big fish down there.”
“Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a bait the fish like,” Morgenthaler said.
Thursday morning the team members enjoyed a breakfast sponsored by Locke, Lord and Bissell law firm with the pros prior to the Rush Enterprises launch. Each amateur also received a goodie bag including a tackle box, a rod and reel combo from U.S. Reel, Igloo cooler, Academy H2O Express lures, tasc bamboo performance wear shirt, TTBC cap, Berkley Havoc lures, Oakley sunglasses and their choice of an iPod Shuffle, RCA Small Wonder, Sony MP3 player or Garmin GPS.
“And if the bass aren’t biting, maybe we’ll go out in the middle and catch some stripers,” Scroggins said.
Team Winners
First Place: 20 pounds
Pro: Harold Allen
Amateurs: Larry Egidy, O.T. Fears
Second Place: 16 pounds, 4 ounces
Pro: Kelly Jordon
Amateurs: Toby Hynes, Marc Watts
Third Place: 15 pounds, 4 ounce
Pro: Mark Rose
Amateurs: Jay Gulley, Chris Mahfouz
Complete Leaderboard – Click Here
Professional Big Bass Winner
Mark Rose – 8 pounds, 4 ounces
Amateur Big Bass Winner
Marc Watts – 7 pounds
For more information visit www.ToyotaTexasBassClassic.com.
