Steve Knight

YANTIS - As the only undefeated captain in the history of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Terry Scroggins hopes to keep his title intact this weekend.

Of course this is just the second year of the tournament running Friday-Sunday on Lake Fork.

Last year Scroggins teamed with Frank Ippoliti, Van's James Niggemeyer and Chris Daves to win the $250,000 first prize, winning in a three-day total of 54 bass weighing 244 pounds, 12 ounces.

"It was a lot of fun," Scroggins said of last year's win. "There was a lot of camaraderie because you got to hang out with your buddies. If you didn't win there was no pressure because there weren't any (season) points involved."

A tournament on Lake Fork has been a longtime dream of professional anglers. The lake's slot limit has caused organizations such as BASS and FLW to stay away because the regulation didn't match with the tours' individual format and their desire to show bass at the weigh-in. So the membership of the Professional Anglers Association took on the event.

The format for the TTBC actually came from the anglers. For the first two days two members will fish the morning and then, after a team meeting, two will fish the afternoon. A spotter is placed on each boat to weigh every fish caught. Anglers are given credit for their five best fish, but only those over the lake's slot limit are brought to shore.

Seventy-five of the 104 anglers in this year's field qualified through a point system based on their BASS or FLW tour results. Another 29 made the tournament through a qualifying event on Choke Canyon Reservoir in February.

Besides a showcase for the pros' skills and the lake, the tournament also benefits Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's fisheries programs. Through the tournament, Gulf States Toyota will donate a minimum of $250,000 to the department. Last year the money was used within the department's urban lakes fishing program, the Texas State Fish Art competition, to help develop a traveling fishing program and fishing education videos.

Last year's tournament was impacted by cold, wind and rain, but anglers were still able to catch 1,060 bass weighing 4,358 pounds, 2 ounces. The tournament big bass was an 11-pound, 2-ounce fish.

Prior to last year's tournament, Scroggins had only fished the lake a couple of times during the summer months. His knowledge was limited to little more than knowing how to get from one place to another. During practice rounds, however, he quickly found a big school of fish.

"I knew I was going to catch fish because I was on a school of fish that was unbelievable," Scroggins recalled.

With Niggemeyer, a former Fork guide on his team, Scroggins felt secure they could find a backup plan if necessary.

Because they were on his fish, Scroggins teamed with Daves the first morning while Niggemeyer and Ippoliti returned to the hole that afternoon.

"It worked so well the first day we stayed with it the second," Scroggins recalled.

On the final day of the tournament, Scroggins and Daves went back to the spot a third time. He sent Niggemeyer and Ippoliti sight-fishing around the lake.

The plan worked as the team boated 51 pounds of bass during the morning session and another 68 in the afternoon for a one-day total of 119 pounds.

Scroggins, who joined the professional anglers' million-dollar club in record time two weeks ago at Falcon Lake, is again a captain in the TTBC. However, in a shuffle of teammates, the Florida angler will be partnering with Russ Lane, Shaw Grigsby and Craig Dowling.

During the first day of practice Tuesday, Scroggins said he had a harder time finding fish than a year ago despite greatly improved conditions.

"This time of year the spawn is going on. The offshore bite is not that great, but you still have to look for the schools. You can't catch 10 in four hours sight fishing," he explained.

None of Scroggins' teammates have any more knowledge of Lake Fork than he does. However, Lane was on the second-place team last year and proved he was capable of finding and boating big bass in deeper water. During last year's tournament, the Alabama angler teamed with Kyle Mabrey to weigh 126 pounds, 12 ounces fishing mostly near the dam. Lane's big fish was a 10-4 caught on the final day.

Grigsby is known for his sight-fishing skills.

With the way practice started, Scroggins said it is possible that the tournament could be won with less weight than a year ago. However, several factors are aligned that could lead to a heavyweight event.

"I actually believe it is a little tougher, but there is a full moon and there is a warming trend. If everything happens right this week, it could take a lot more," Scroggins said.

Steve Knight is the outdoor writer for the Tyler Morning Telegraph. He can be reached by calling 903-596-6277 or by e-mail at outdoor@tylerpaper.com.

Steve Knight
()