Texan Ray Hanselman Takes Early Lead At Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest On Lake Travis

Ray Hanselman Jr. of Del Rio, Texas, takes the lead on the first day of the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, bringing 21 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales on Thursday. 

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 17, 2018JONESTOWN, Texas — A heavy, 21-pound, 15-ounce limit of largemouth bass, anchored by an impressive 7-9 big fish, put Ray Hanselman Jr. of Del Rio, Texas, in the lead after the opening round of competition at the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on Lake Travis.

Texas Fest offers fans a unique format under which the majority of the fish are caught, weighed and immediately released. Each pro is allowed to keep one big bass that measures more than 18 inches.

Each big bass will be brought to the scales, weighed and showed off to the Bassmaster cameras. The bass are then immediately returned to Lake Travis after the weigh-in has concluded.

Hanselman grew up in South Texas, and has guided bass fisherman on legendary Lake Amistad for many years. After noticing many similarities between Lake Travis and Amistad, he was confident in what he needed to do.

“The water color on Lake Travis is very similar to Amistad. But the biggest difference is there isn’t any grass here,” Hanselman said. “I just clicked with this lake. I’ve fished many of the other lakes in this chain and they are all pretty similar, but overall I don’t have much experience on this particular lake.”

The 45-year-old rookie earned an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series by finishing among the Top 5 in standings for the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Central Opens last year.

“The weather has been hot and calm, which makes my morning bite critical,” he said. “I’d feel a lot better about staying consistent if some clouds and wind would move in. It’s harder to fool these bass in water this clear.”

Lake Travis is known for its gin-clear water and substantial fishing pressure due to close proximity to Austin, Texas.

“Another 20-pound day is sure possible, but getting the right fish to bite at the right time is the challenge,” he said. “I caught my three big bass from the same stretch that was about 250 yards long. After that, I left it alone hoping to save some bigger fish for coming days of the tournament.”

Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., managed an impressive 21-2, which will have him starting Friday’s second round of competition in second place.

“I fished real clean today,” Lane said. “I caught three big fish and I got them into the boat without any problems. That doesn’t always happen, especially when you’re fishing around wires, cables, pipes and docks. Lake Travis is full of those types of things.”

The big bass of the tournament will win its captor a 2018 Toyota Tundra.

Currently leading that race is Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., with a giant 10-5. That big bass pushed his first limit to 19-8 and third place.

“Any time you catch a 10-pounder in a tournament, it’s a big surprise,” Pace said. “But catching that fish on this lake is just as surprising. There are plenty of big fish here, but Travis is full of small 10- to 13-inchers, making it hard to catch a real big one. That fish was a gift from God, and I’m thankful for it.

Rounding out the Top 6 are Jacob Powroznik and Josh Bertrand tied at fourth place with 19-5, and Jacob Wheeler is in sixth with 17-4.

A total purse of $1 million will be paid out at Texas Fest, including $100,000 to the winner, who also earns a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Takeoff will begin at 6:15 a.m. CT each morning at Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown, Texas, and weigh-ins will be at the same location each afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. Fans can follow the action online by tuning in to Bassmaster LIVE on Bassmaster.com and the ESPN App and by viewing BASSTrakk leaderboard and other real-time coverage on Bassmaster.com.

2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/20
Lake Travis, Jonestown  TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  21-15  110
Day 1: 5   21-15
2.  Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  21-02  109
Day 1: 5   21-02
3.  Cliff Pace             Petal, MS                5  19-08  108
Day 1: 5   19-08
4.  Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ       5  19-05  107
Day 1: 5   19-05
4.  Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  19-05  107
Day 1: 5   19-05
6.  Jacob Wheeler          Harrison, TN             5  17-04  105
Day 1: 5   17-04
7.  Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  16-01  104
Day 1: 5   16-01
8.  David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  15-15  103
Day 1: 5   15-15
9.  Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            5  15-14  102
Day 1: 5   15-14
10. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  15-13  101
Day 1: 5   15-13
10. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               5  15-13  101
Day 1: 5   15-13
12. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                5  15-12   99
Day 1: 5   15-12
13. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          5  15-10   98
Day 1: 5   15-10
14. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  15-09   97
Day 1: 5   15-09
15. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  15-02   96
Day 1: 5   15-02
16. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  15-00   95
Day 1: 5   15-00
16. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       5  15-00   95
Day 1: 5   15-00
18. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  14-13   93
Day 1: 5   14-13
19. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  14-09   92
Day 1: 5   14-09
20. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         5  14-05   91
Day 1: 5   14-05
21. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN          5  14-02   90
Day 1: 5   14-02
22. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  13-15   89
Day 1: 5   13-15
23. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  13-11   88
Day 1: 5   13-11
24. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  13-09   87
Day 1: 5   13-09
24. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  13-09   87
Day 1: 5   13-09
26. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  13-08   85
Day 1: 5   13-08
27. Shin Fukae             Palestine TX JAPAN       5  13-07   84
Day 1: 5   13-07
27. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  13-07   84
Day 1: 5   13-07
29. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                4  13-07   82
Day 1: 4   13-07
30. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               5  13-06   81
Day 1: 5   13-06
31. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                5  13-04   80
Day 1: 5   13-04
32. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL              5  13-03   79
Day 1: 5   13-03
32. Brent Ehrler           Redlands, CA             5  13-03   79
Day 1: 5   13-03
34. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA             5  13-02   77
Day 1: 5   13-02
35. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  12-14   76
Day 1: 5   12-14
36. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            5  12-12   75
Day 1: 5   12-12
37. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  12-08   74
Day 1: 5   12-08
38. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            5  12-07   73
Day 1: 5   12-07
39. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  12-06   72
Day 1: 5   12-06
39. Jordan Lee             Grant, AL                5  12-06   72
Day 1: 5   12-06
41. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  12-04   70
Day 1: 5   12-04
42. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  11-13   69
Day 1: 5   11-13
42. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI              5  11-13   69
Day 1: 5   11-13
44. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5  11-12   67
Day 1: 5   11-12
44. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          5  11-12   67
Day 1: 5   11-12
46. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  11-10   65
Day 1: 5   11-10
47. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        5  11-09   64
Day 1: 5   11-09
47. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             5  11-09   64
Day 1: 5   11-09
49. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  11-07   62
Day 1: 5   11-07
50. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  11-06   61
Day 1: 5   11-06
50. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           5  11-06   61
Day 1: 5   11-06
52. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  11-05   59
Day 1: 5   11-05
53. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          5  11-02   58
Day 1: 5   11-02
54. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  11-01   57
Day 1: 5   11-01
55. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN            5  11-00   56
Day 1: 5   11-00
56. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  10-12   55
Day 1: 5   10-12
57. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             5  10-11   54
Day 1: 5   10-11
58. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  10-10   53
Day 1: 5   10-10
59. Roy Hawk               Lk Havasu Cty, AZ        5  10-07   52
Day 1: 5   10-07
60. Jonathon VanDam        Gobles, MI               5  10-05   51
Day 1: 5   10-05
61. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  10-03   50
Day 1: 5   10-03
61. Wesley Strader         Spring City, TN          5  10-03   50
Day 1: 5   10-03
63. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX               5  10-01   48
Day 1: 5   10-01
64. Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL             5  09-15   47
Day 1: 5   09-15
64. Mike McClelland        Bentonville, AR          5  09-15   47
Day 1: 5   09-15
64. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              5  09-15   47
Day 1: 5   09-15
67. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              5  09-14   44
Day 1: 5   09-14
68. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  09-13   43
Day 1: 5   09-13
69. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            5  09-10   42
Day 1: 5   09-10
70. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL              5  09-07   41
Day 1: 5   09-07
71. Hunter Shryock         Newcomerstown, OH        4  09-01   40
Day 1: 4   09-01
72. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  08-15   39
Day 1: 5   08-15
73. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL               5  08-13   38
Day 1: 5   08-13
74. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV             5  08-12   37
Day 1: 5   08-12
75. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  08-11   36
Day 1: 5   08-11
76. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ             5  08-10   35
Day 1: 5   08-10
76. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               5  08-10   35
Day 1: 5   08-10
76. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         5  08-10   35
Day 1: 5   08-10
79. Ott DeFoe              Blaine, TN               5  08-07   32
Day 1: 5   08-07
80. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  08-06   31
Day 1: 5   08-06
80. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  08-06   31
Day 1: 5   08-06
82. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            5  08-00   29
Day 1: 5   08-00
83. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              5  07-15   28
Day 1: 5   07-15
84. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  07-14   27
Day 1: 5   07-14
84. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  07-14   27
Day 1: 5   07-14
86. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  07-12   25
Day 1: 5   07-12
87. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               3  07-06   24
Day 1: 3   07-06
88. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          5  07-01   23
Day 1: 5   07-01
89. Alton Jones Jr.        Waco, TX                 5  07-00   22
Day 1: 5   07-00
90. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            5  06-13   21
Day 1: 5   06-13
91. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         4  06-12   20
Day 1: 4   06-12
92. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  06-11   19
Day 1: 5   06-11
93. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  06-10   18
Day 1: 5   06-10
94. Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL         5  06-05   17
Day 1: 5   06-05
95. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  06-00   16
Day 1: 5   06-00
96. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                4  05-06   15
Day 1: 4   05-06
96. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          4  05-06   15
Day 1: 4   05-06
98. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             2  05-06   13
Day 1: 2   05-06
99. Fred Roumbanis         Russellville, AR         4  05-00   12
Day 1: 4   05-00
100. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               2  05-00   11
Day 1: 2   05-00
101. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         4  04-15   10
Day 1: 4   04-15
102. Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                 3  04-14    9
Day 1: 3   04-14
103. Fletcher Shryock       Dennison, OH             3  04-09    8
Day 1: 3   04-09
104. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         3  03-14    7
Day 1: 3   03-14
105. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           2  03-08    6
Day 1: 2   03-08
106. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         2  03-01    5
Day 1: 2   03-01
107. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              2  02-04    4
Day 1: 2   02-04
108. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     2  02-03    3
Day 1: 2   02-03