“We are expecting a full field of 225 boats and everybody is expecting it’s going to take at least 30 pounds to win,” Hastings said. “We are excited to get the season started.”

“Due to the mild winter we’ve had we think there will be more fish than normal to be caught shallow and we also think there are going to be more fish than normal set up in kind of classic pre-spawn locations. With that in mind, however, there will still be some fish caught out deep.”

Hastings said that typically this time of year lipless crankbaits, Chatterbaits, swim jigs and sometimes spinnerbaits can play a big role, especially when fishing the areas that have good vegetation – hydrilla, specifically.

Payout for the tournaments is like it has been in the past, he said, with some new continegency programs added this year.

“First place is guaranteed a fully-rigged, tournament-ready bass boat package – boat, motor, trailer, electronics and trolling motor.”

Based on a 200-boat field, the package is valued at more than $26,000. But anglers can win even more through the Anglers Advantage Program.

The Texas Team Trail Anglers Advantage Program allows each team, for an additional $100 entry, to compete in a higher payout bracket.  The optional $100 entry fee is in addition to the standard $250 tournament entry and may be paid when a team registers for an event, or is otherwise due by the close of on-site registration prior to the tournament. 

The Anglers Advantage entry fee will be paid out at 100 percent to those participating and is based on a 200-boat field. If a winning team opts for the Anglers Advantage Program, they stand to win an additional $3,000. A tournament second place pays $5,000, but Anglers Advantage would boost that total to $7,200.

The kind of boat a team fishes out of also can mean a bigger payday with manufacturers’ contingency programs. The Ranger bonus would provide an upgrade to a Z519 for first place, Stratos to a 201 XLE, Triton to a 19TRX and Mercury and Evinrude would upgrade to a 250 hp. All four programs pay an adduitional $250 for 2^nd through 30^th place and $125 for 31^st through 50^th place.

“We also have some new contingency programs from BoatUS and Lucas Oil in addition to the other programs already in place,” Hasting said.

After the Rayburn tournament the series, which is designed exclusively for team competition, moves to Toledo Bend Feb. 20, then to Richland Chambers Reservoir March 19, and to Lake Texoma April 16, with the year-end championship on Ray Roberts Lake, May 14–15. Anglers can sign up by visiting www.texasteamtrail.com or by calling 210-788-4143.

 

Texas Team Trail

Sat, Jan 30, 2016

Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Umphrey Family Pavilion

Call (210) 788-4143

www.texasteamtrail.com