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Results
TEAM TOURNAMENT
Date: October 10, 2009
Region: 2009 Championships
Tournament: East Central Championship
Tournament Trail: 2009 Bass Champs Tournament Trail
StatsResultsBig BassStoryPhotosPoints
Honeycutt & Underwood nab $50,000 at Bass Champs East/Central Championship on Cedar Creek
By: Patty Lenderman



Skeeter Bass Champs 2009 Team Trail finale took place on Cedar Creek Lake Oct 10-11. The combined championship wrapped up the Central and East Texas regions with 572 qualifying anglers. David Honeycutt and David Underwood won the guaranteed 1st place purse of $50,000.

Saturday had cool temps in the lower 50’s, overcast and drizzly. The winds were mild, with occasional gusts to 13 mph. Sunday the temps, drizzly rain and wind each rose slightly. All this low pressure made for great fishing conditions, but with the gates open on one end and a constant inflow from the creeks and tributaries, the current had the bass unsettled in most areas.

Keith Honeycutt and David Underwood of the Central Region had no particular plan coming into the tournament. “We did a lot of old school fishing. We milled around docks, rip rap, cat tails – if it looked good we fished it.” Using a variety of baits including spinnerbaits, crank baits and ½ oz Berkley jigs with Berkley green pumpkin Power Chiggers, they managed 11.30 lbs on four fish Saturday. “We were just hoping to get another 10-11 lbs on Sunday and maybe get a check.” That put them in 28th place going into Sunday. There were a lot of teams to overcome to win the tournament. “Sunday we just put our heads down and went fishing.” Repeating the same thing they had done the day before, they secured a limit of bass that included a 5 ½ lb kicker at 18.56 lbs, for a two day total weight of 29.86. That set the mark for the top weight, and as the remainder of the teams weighed in, held for a 1st place finish! Bass Champs presented the team with the $50,000 check for 1st place. “We’d like to thank Berkley, Ranger, Castaway, Ambassador and Berkley Trilene Flourocarbon for their support.”

Steve Holland and Rick Allen of the East Region had led the championship on day 1 with 19 lbs. “We had started out on the South end trying for a topwater bite on Saturday. That didn’t pan out for us, so we headed to secondary creeks and pockets.” Using Gambler jigs with Zoom Chunk trailers and Texas rigged Swebo worms, the team worked for the six bites they got. One of them weighed in at 8.40 lbs. To get all of the action on film, a camera crew was on board with the team Sunday. “It was the first time we’ve had a camera crew with us. It was interesting. We had a good time.” Changing up their game plan, looking for more bites and hoping for a decent limit, they headed North for the final day. This time they only got four bites with a 7.88 lb kicker. “We’ve been fishing Bass Champs for the past 10 years or so. Really enjoy fishing the circuit. The team landed 2nd place and $5,000 with a total weight of 27.08 lbs. Their 8.40 lb bass held up for Big Bass and another $1,000. Steve dedicated this tournament to his dad, and would like to thank Tracker Marine, Mercury, American Rodsmith, Gambler, Costlow Insurance and Bass Pro for their sponsorship.

3rd place was won by James & Thomas Whited with 25.78 lbs. The team doubled their $3,500 winnings to $7,000 being the highest finishing qualified Skeeter Boat team.

Bass Champs paid out a total of $82,700 – a 273% payback in 27 places. Cody Martin and Charles Simmons received the last check, weighing in 19.38 lbs.

The Fun-N-Sun Bonus money went to lone angler Heath Moody for $2,500.

Skeeter Bass Champs would like to thank all of the participating anglers this 2009 season and all of the great sponsors that made it another great year: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Berkley, MinnKota, Outdoor Channel, Academy, Humminbird, Progressive Ins., Sure Life Catch & Release, Costa Del Mar, Continental Batteries, Navionics, Billy Bob’s Texas, Abu Garcia, All Star Rods, Jasper Chamber of Commerce, Del Rio Chamber of Commerce, Zapata Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ballinger.

Sign up now for the 4th Annual Berkley Big Bass event on Lake Fork October 17th & 18th at Lake Fork Marina.

The 2010 schedules are now ready! For more information on any Bass Champs event, click to www.BassChamps.com or call 817-439-3274. Enjoy the holidays and see you next year.
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