Kris Wilson Leads Costa FLW Event on Rayburn:

 Photo Courtesy of FLW

February 25, 2016  by David A. Brown

 

Prudence paid big dividends for Montgomery, Texas, pro Kris Wilson who topped day one of the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir – which is presented by Mercury and hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce – with a limit catch that weighed 27 pounds, 10 ounces.

Understandably tight-lipped and sporting the coy grin of a man who’d found the mother lode, Wilson was able to shed a little light on his exceptional day.

For starters, Wilson attributes his success to long-range weather watching and diligent site planning.

“I was watching the weather a week ahead of time and I kind of planned for the weather we had and everything worked out,” Wilson says.

Specifically, Wilson referred to the post-frontal conditions draping Rayburn. A major weather system plowed through the Gulf states on Tuesday bringing heavy rains and big winds.

East Texas avoided the worst of the storms, but once the front cleared, the temperature dropped, the wind decreased and skies turned bluebird clear. Today, lots of sunshine gradually warmed the water and pinned the shallow fish tighter to cover.

Wilson wouldn’t divulge specifics about the types of cover he’s targeting, but he did say that the key habitat is very specific. Locations, he notes, were random; he found his preferred setup all over the lake.

Wilson says he hit approximately 20 spots today and targeted both prespawn and spawning fish.

“I had areas with both,” he explains. “It was about 50/50 (on the mix of prespawn and spawner).

“I ran around quite a bit. I fished all over the lake and it was a stead bite throughout the day.”

As for presentations, Wilson caught his shallow fish by flipping soft plastics. For the prespawners, he employed a dragging technique.

Wilson caught roughly 15-20 keepers today. According to Wilson, the bite was slower than he would have preferred, but picking through his areas produced the quality he needed.

Advanced tournament preparation, particularly in terms of selecting the key areas to target gave Wilson the confidence he needed to work through a somewhat plodding day and stick to his game plan.

“I caught fish pretty much where I expected to catch them,” the Texas pro says.

Top 10 Pros

1. Kris Wilson – Montgomery, Texas – 27-10 (5)

2. Ricky Guy – Humble, Texas – 25-8 (5)

3. Chris McCall – Brookeland, Texas – 24-3 (5)

4. Cory Rambo – Orange, Texas – 23-9 (5)

5. Jerry Dubose – Silsbee, Texas – 22-0 (5)

6. Roger Hughes – Bartlesville, Ok. – 21-4 (5)

7. Allen Rude – Pauls Valley, Ok. – 20-12 (5)

8. Tyson Patrick – McCamey, Texas – 20-6 (5)

9. Denny Brauer – Del Rio, Texas – 20-1 (5)

10. Tommy Martin – Hemphill, Texas – 19-10 (5)

Complete Results

Key bait decision pushes Moon to co-angler lead

A wish granted and the right bait chosen — that’s the formula that lead John Moon, of Brookeland, Texas to the 19-pound, 3-ounce bag that leads the co-angler division.

Moon experienced some early success, but then a drought prompted a request that led to a highlight reel moment.

“This morning was kind of slow, but about 10 o’clock, I caught a 4 ½-pounder flipping, but then it kinda got slow,” Moon says. “I still kept culling and toward the end of the day, it just shut off.

“I asked my pro if we could go to one of my spots on the way back and when we pulled in there, I decided to put on a spinnerbait. On my third cast, I stuck my (8 1/2-pounder).”

Initially, Moon mistook a relatively subtle bite for a snag.

“I thought I was hung up and then I felt the fish move and I stuck it and I knew it was a big one,” he recalls.

Moon’s big fish ate a slow-rolled 3/4-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait in mouse color with twin willow baits. Slow rolling the bait on a creek channel bend was the winning presentation.

Top 10 Cos

1. John Moon – Brookeland, Texas – 19-3 (5)

2. Randy Hicks – Lumberton, Texas – 18-11 (5)

3. Larry Regina – South Bend, Ind. – 16-9 (5)

4. Rick Vallis – Fort Smith, Ark. – 16-1 (5)

5. Rolan Foster – Terrell, Texas – 16-0 (5)

6. Ryan Keele – Center, Texas – 15-11 (5)

7. Jon Lessard – Katy, Texas – 15-3 (5)

8. Jacob Root – Brookeland, Texas – 15-3 (5)

9. Chaz York – Vidor, Texas – 15-3 (5)

10. Hunter Marshall – Beaumont, Texas – 15-1 (5)

Tournament Details

Format: All 202 boaters and co-anglers will compete for two days. The top 10 boaters and co-anglers based on cumulative weight after two days of competition will advance to the third and final round, with the winner determined by the heaviest cumulative three-day weight.

Takeoff Time: 7 a.m.

Takeoff Location: Umphrey Family Pavilion, 5438 RR 255, Brookeland TX 75931

Weigh-In Time: Days 1 and 2 at 3 p.m.; Day 3 at 3 p.m.

Weigh-In Location: Umphrey Family Pavilion, 5438 RR 255, Brookeland TX 75931

 

 

PLACE	ANGLER	CITY/STATE	DAY 1
1	KRIS	WILSON	MONTGOMERY, TX	27 – 10 (5)
2	RICKY	GUY	HUMBLE, TX	25 – 8 (5)
3	CHRIS	MCCALL	BROOKELAND, TX	24 – 3 (5)
4	CORY	RAMBO	ORANGE, TX	23 – 9 (5)
5	JERRY	DUBOSE	SILSBEE, TX	22 – 0 (5)
6	ROGER	HUGHES	BARTLESVILLE, OK	21 – 4 (5)
7	ALLEN	RUDE	PAULS VALLEY, OK	20 – 12 (5)
8	TYSON	PATRICK	MCCAMEY, TX	20 – 6 (5)
9	DENNY	BRAUER	DEL RIO, TX	20 – 1 (5)
10	TOMMY	MARTIN	HEMPHILL, TX	19 – 10 (5)
11	RUSSELL	CECIL	WILLIS, TX	19 – 9 (5)
12	NICKALAS	BUTLER	TOPEKA, KS	19 – 7 (5)
13	JOEL	BAKER	TALALA, OK	19 – 4 (5)
14	KYLE	CORTIANA	TULSA, OK	19 – 3 (5)
15	JIMMY	BALLARD	PARIS, TX	19 – 1 (5)
16	JAMES	CALDEMEYER	GILMER, TX	18 – 14 (5)
17	GERALD	SPOHRER	GONZALES, LA	18 – 12 (5)
18	DARREL	ROBERTSON	JAY, OK	18 – 11 (5)
19	JEFF	BRIDGES	LUMBERTON, TX	17 – 11 (5)
20	JIM	TUTT	LONGVIEW, TX	17 – 1 (5)
21	BLAKE	SCHROEDER	WHITEHOUSE, TX	17 – 1 (5)
22	SHANE	WILLIAMS	KEITHVILLE, LA	17 – 0 (5)
23	BOB	VOTE	KINGWOOD, TX	16 – 15 (5)
24	SHANE	LONG	WILLARD, MO	16 – 14 (5)
25	COREY	HARRIS	CHATHAM, LA	16 – 13 (5)
26	DAVID	MANSUE	HEMPHILL, TX	16 – 11 (5)
27	CHARLIE	APPERSON	JAY, OK	16 – 10 (5)
28	LENDELL	MARTIN JR	NACOGDOCHES, TX	16 – 9 (5)
29	CHARLIE	KING	COUSHATTA, LA	16 – 8 (5)
30	JAY	KENDRICK	DALLAS, TX	16 – 7 (5)
31	JEFFREY	RANDOLPH	HUNTSVILLE, TX	16 – 6 (5)
32	CHARLES	DUBROC	HESSMER, LA	16 – 6 (5)
33	RAY	HANSELMAN	DEL RIO, TX	16 – 5 (5)
34	TODD	CASTLEDINE	NACOGDOCHES, TX	16 – 2 (5)
35	TROY	RODER	BROOKELAND, TX	16 – 0 (5)
36	DREW	BARNES	BELLA VISTA, AR	16 – 0 (5)
37	CRAIG	WORKMAN	FORT WORTH, TX	15 – 15 (5)
38	CHAD	WARREN	SAND SPRINGS, OK	15 – 14 (5)
39	TREA	LUEDKE	MONTGOMERY, TX	15 – 14 (5)
40	MICHAEL	LAFLEUR	ORANGEFIELD, TX	15 – 13 (5)
41	STEWART	HERNDON	NORMAN, OK	15 – 13 (5)
42	CHRIS	LEWIS	LONGVIEW, TX	15 – 12 (5)
43	NICK	LEBRUN	BOSSIER CITY, LA	15 – 12 (5)
44	RICK	CARTER	ALBA, TX	15 – 11 (5)
45	TREY	BAYLES	EROS, LA	15 – 11 (5)
46	RANDY	BLAUKAT	JOPLIN, MO	15 – 10 (5)
47	BOB	RAMSDELL	SOUR LAKE, TX	15 – 8 (5)
48	PHILIP	CRELIA	CENTER, TX	15 – 8 (5)
49	AARON	JOHNSON	SHREVEPORT, LA	15 – 7 (5)
50	GENE	EISENMANN	FRISCO, TX	15 – 6 (3)
51	SHELDON	COLLINGS	GROVE, OK	15 – 5 (5)
52	ROBERT	SPARKS	HEFLIN, LA	15 – 1 (5)
53	ERIC	FAUCETT	MOORE, OK	14 – 14 (5)
54	CHRIS	TORKLESON	SAND SPRINGS, OK	14 – 14 (5)
55	BRAD	COOK	AFTON, OK	14 – 12 (5)
56	JUSTIN	WOJCIK	BULVERDE, TX	14 – 12 (5)
57	JUSTIN	MORTON	ETOILE, TX	14 – 12 (5)
58	T.R	ANDREAS	KERRVILLE, TX	14 – 11 (5)
59	KELLY	OWENS	CROWLEY, LA	14 – 10 (5)
60	CHRIS	HART	BOZEMAN, MT	14 – 8 (5)
61	SHONN	GOODWIN	MOORE, OK	14 – 6 (5)
62	TOMMY	BROWN	LOUISVILLE, TN	14 – 6 (5)
63	RANDY	DESPINO	COLFAX, LA	14 – 3 (5)
64	JEFF	DOBSON	PONCA CITY, OK	14 – 2 (5)
65	RAY	STAGNER	TULSA, OK	14 – 1 (5)
66	DOUGLAS R.	JOHNSON	PONCA CITY, OK	14 – 0 (5)
67	BRANDON	MOSLEY	CHOCTAW, OK	14 – 0 (5)
68	JESSE	WOLFE	NELSON, WI	14 – 0 (5)
69	JEFF	SPRAGUE	POINT, TX	14 – 0 (5)
70	JAMES	MARTIN	LONGVIEW, TX	13 – 15 (5)
71	NEAL	GILMORE	MAGNOLIA, TX	13 – 10 (5)
72	PAUL	HEAVENER	TULSA, OK	13 – 9 (5)
73	PHIL	MARKS	DALLAS, TX	13 – 8 (5)
74	TERRY	STEVENS	HUTTO, TX	13 – 8 (5)
75	DEAN	PERKINS	BROADDUS, TX	13 – 6 (5)
76	COLE	FINDLEY	FORSYTH, MO	13 – 5 (5)
77	BRADLEY	STRINGER	HUNTINGTON, TX	13 – 4 (5)
78	STEPHEN	JOHNSTON	HEMPHILL, TX	13 – 4 (5)
79	RICK	HANNA	HEREFORD, TX	13 – 3 (5)
80	CARL	JOCUMSEN	FRISCO, TX	13 – 2 (5)
81	ZACK	BIRGE	BLANCHARD, OK	13 – 1 (5)
82	BRADLEY	HALLMAN	NORMAN, OK	13 – 0 (5)
83	MIKE	BOYLES	KIMBERLING CITY, MO	12 – 15 (5)
84	JOHN	SHORE	OWASSO, OK	12 – 12 (5)
85	RON	HOPKINS SR	MOUNDS, OK	12 – 12 (5)
86	ALTON	JONES JR	LORENA, TX	12 – 12 (5)
87	DICKY	NEWBERRY	HOUSTON, TX	12 – 12 (5)
88	HOLT	MARKUM	PARADISE, TX	12 – 12 (5)
89	ADAM	SMITH	SPRINGFIELD, MO	12 – 11 (5)
90	TERRY	EZELL	EL RENO, OK	12 – 11 (5)
91	MICHAEL	HERRON	PARIS, TX	12 – 10 (5)
92	MITCHELL	WEBB	SKIATOOK, OK	12 – 10 (5)
93	ALLAN	NAIL	SAND SPRINGS, OK	12 – 9 (5)
94	MATT	COOPER	SMITHVILLE, TX	12 – 8 (5)
95	CHANCE	HAVARD	SIMSBORO, LA	12 – 8 (4)
96	JEFF	REYNOLDS	CALERA, OK	12 – 7 (5)
97	JUSTIN	BURNS	BUNA, TX	12 – 6 (4)
98	BRIAN	POTTER	CLAREMORE, OK	12 – 6 (5)
99	JAY	LEWIS	BENTON, AR	12 – 5 (5)
100	ED	KLOBAS	ARLINGTON, TX	12 – 5 (5)
101	BRIAN	BRANUM	SAM RAYBURN, TX	12 – 4 (5)
102	ERIC	WRIGHT	BALCH SPRINGS, TX	12 – 2 (5)
103	BILLY	CLINE	GRAPEVINE, TX	12 – 1 (5)
104	AARON	PRESLEY	NORMAN, OK	12 – 1 (5)
105	CHARLEY	SLATON	VALLIANT, OK	11 – 15 (5)
106	TROY	O’ROURKE	NATCHITOCHES, LA	11 – 13 (4)
107	MATTHEW	MCARDLE	HOUSTON, TX	11 – 13 (5)
108	KENNETH	GRAEBER	BENNINGTON, NE	11 – 13 (5)
109	CHAD	RANDLES	ELKHORN, NE	11 – 13 (5)
110	DOUG	THOMPSON	MABELVALE, AR	11 – 13 (5)
111	JOHN	BOHANNAN	BERRYVILLE, AR	11 – 12 (5)
112	ANDREW	UPSHAW	SAPULPA, OK	11 – 11 (5)
113	GARRETT	GILL	EDMOND, OK	11 – 11 (5)
114	KEVIN	LEDOUX	CHOCTAW, OK	11 – 11 (5)
115	RUSTY	HARVEY	LUMBERTON, TX	11 – 9 (5)
116	BRIAN	MARTIN	HEMPHILL, TX	11 – 9 (4)
117	CLOYS	WARREN	BASTROP, TX	11 – 9 (5)
118	JEFF	WHITEHEAD	SLATON, TX	11 – 9 (5)
119	BRONK	MCDANIEL	ALEXANDRIA, LA	11 – 6 (5)
120	JEFF	CADE	RICHARDSON, TX	11 – 6 (4)
121	TROY	BROUSSARD	BEAUMONT, TX	11 – 6 (5)
122	TIM	BROGAN	ARPIN, WI	11 – 5 (5)
123	CHRIS	RUSSELL	MONTGOMERY, TX	11 – 4 (5)
124	ALLEN	HEAD	PRYOR, OK	11 – 4 (5)
125	LANDAN	WARE	JEWETT, TX	11 – 4 (5)
126	DEREK	FULPS	BROKEN ARROW, OK	11 – 4 (5)
127	JOE	GERARD	CONCORDIA, KS	11 – 3 (3)
128	CHESTER	GIBBS	WAGONER, OK	11 – 1 (5)
129	CHUCK	NELSON	ELMORE CITY, OK	11 – 0 (4)
130	KEN (SKEETER)	FOWLER	GRAND SALINE, TX	10 – 15 (5)
131	BOB	KEELAND	HUNTSVILLE, TX	10 – 14 (5)
132	CODY	BIRD	GRANBURY, TX	10 – 13 (5)
133	WALT	ROBERTS	VILLAGE MILLS, TX	10 – 12 (4)
134	TJ	GOODWYN	CENTER, TX	10 – 12 (5)
135	KEN	SMITH	DALLAS, TX	10 – 12 (5)
136	KEVIN	GRESSETT	TIOGA, TX	10 – 12 (5)
137	ERIC	POINDEXTER	EUFAULA, OK	10 – 12 (5)
138	CHRIS	KING	JASPER, TX	10 – 11 (5)
139	MATT	GARNER	SEMINOLE, OK	10 – 11 (5)
140	GARY	CARUSO	BATON ROUGE, LA	10 – 11 (5)
141	ROBERT	CASE	POINT, TX	10 – 10 (5)
142	STEPHEN	REITZELL	COLFAX, LA	10 – 9 (4)
143	BRAD	SMITH	LONGVIEW, TX	10 – 9 (5)
144	WILLIAM	GADDIS	VINITA, OK	10 – 7 (5)
145	ANDREW	MCCLUSKY	SILSBEE, TX	10 – 7 (4)
146	ASHTON	JOHNSON	HUNTINGTON, TX	10 – 7 (5)
147	ROBERT	TERKLA	ARLINGTON, TX	10 – 5 (5)
148	SAMMY	BURKS	JOPLIN, MO	10 – 5 (5)
149	BILLY	LEMON	SAND SPRINGS, OK	10 – 1 (4)
150	RICH	DALBEY	GREENVILLE, TX	10 – 1 (5)
151	DAVID	REDINGTON	SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX	10 – 0 (5)
152	SCOTTY	VILLINES	PONCA, AR	10 – 0 (5)
153	BRIAN	ANKRUM	NATALIA, TX	9 – 14 (4)
154	MATT	MASSEY	LITTLETON, CO	9 – 13 (5)
155	DAVE	PARSONS	YANTIS, TX	9 – 13 (5)
156	JORDAN	OSBORNE	LONGVIEW, TX	9 – 10 (5)
157	MIKE	MCCORMICK	ADAIR, OK	9 – 9 (5)
158	DANNY	SHEPARD	COTTONWOOD FALLS, KS	9 – 9 (5)
159	KEITH	SURBER	LONGVIEW, TX	9 – 7 (5)
160	COREY	SMITH	PERRY, OK	9 – 6 (4)
161	WILLIAM	SPILLER	BASTROP, TX	9 – 5 (5)
162	ROY	WHISENHUNT	VALLIANT, OK	9 – 5 (4)
163	LANCE	WILLIAMS	BILLINGS, MO	9 – 1 (5)
164	KEVIN	RICH	CUSHING, OK	8 – 14 (5)
165	ROB	LAY	SOUTHLAKE, TX	8 – 11 (4)
166	TOMMY	BIFFLE	WAGONER, OK	8 – 9 (3)
167	TIM	WEBB	OLPE, KS	8 – 9 (3)
168	FLOYD	DRANNON	STRATFORD, OK	8 – 2 (5)
169	BRIAN	FOX	LEWISVILLE, TX	8 – 1 (4)
170	JAMES	STRICKLIN JR	FORT SMITH, AR	7 – 15 (4)
171	NICK	ABER	PIEDMONT, OK	7 – 13 (4)
172	THERON	CALDWELL	COLLEYVILLE, TX	7 – 9 (4)
173	MARTY	SUGG	PATTONVILLE, TX	7 – 4 (4)
174	RANDY	SULLIVAN	BRECKENRIDGE, TX	7 – 2 (4)
175	TIM	REED	COLLINSVILLE, OK	6 – 15 (2)
176	CRAIG	TORKLESON	SAND SPRINGS, OK	6 – 14 (4)
177	JERREL	PRINGLE	HEMPHILL, TX	6 – 10 (3)
178	TAYLOR	SURLY	BELLA VISTA, AR	6 – 7 (3)
179	RIKI	PIKE	PORTER, TX	6 – 5 (3)
180	JEFFREY	BARRICKMAN	SPOKANE, MO	6 – 4 (3)
181	ALTON	WILHOIT	NOBLE, OK	5 – 15 (3)
182	JOEY	RENFRO	NACOGDOCHES, TX	5 – 14 (3)
183	CLINT	WEST	BEAUMONT, TX	5 – 10 (3)
184	MICK	FENN	GROVE, OK	5 – 2 (3)
185	JUSTIN	MATTINGLY	NEDERLAND, TX	4 – 15 (3)
186	WAYNE	BROWN	ARDMORE, OK	4 – 7 (2)
187	GREG	INGRAM	OWASSO, OK	4 – 1 (2)
188	TERRY	HAWKINS	CORSICANA, TX	4 – 0 (2)
189	BILL	COOK	HOUSTON, TX	3 – 12 (2)
190	JAKE	BIRAM	TULSA, OK	3 – 10 (1)
191	BILLY	BILLEAUD	LAFAYETTE, LA	3 – 8 (2)
192	JOE	NECH	ALBA, TX	3 – 7 (2)
193	LAMAR	WARD	HUNTSVILLE, TX	3 – 3 (2)
194	MIKE	DORCZ	HUFFMAN, TX	2 – 8 (1)
195	JOHN	ERVIN	LAS CRUCES, NM	2 – 3 (1)
196	TIM	FLOWERS	MIDLAND, TX	2 – 1 (1)
197	CHIP	HARRINGTON	CLEVELAND, MO	1 – 14 (1)
198	CRAIG	FRILOT	BREAUX BRIDGE, LA	1 – 14 (1)
199	DANIEL	HOWARD	ODESSA, TX
200	TERRY	MCGLASSON	VINITA, OK
201	TREVOR	TOLIVER	SAPULPA, OK
202	CASEY	SOBCZAK	WILLIS, TX