Angler's Choice "The Largest Team Bass Fishing Trail in America"

With the high winds and heavy rains predicted just 9 boats made the Angler's Choice opener on Saturday, April 24. The weather wasn't about to keep these anglers from an opportunity to make the Regionals where the top 40% will compete for three fully rigged Bass Cat Boats. With six regionals at stake, each team braved the high winds and all day rain and were given a look at the second 8 lb bass given up at Mark Twain in the past two weeks.

Dale Carver from Marthasville, MO caught the 8.64 beauty on a Crok-O-Gator, Black and Blue jig. Dale was fishing with his father, Earl Carver, in the Spalding area of the lake. The big toad was caught shallow in chunk rock. Earl caught the first two of the seven keepers on a Fire-Tiger, Wiggle Wart. They also caught fish on red tubes rigged with a ¼ ounce slip sinker because of the heavy winds. Three of the keepers came early then they didn't get bit until after 1:00. Their five fish stringer weighed 20.74 pounds. Earl Carver is sponsored by Dave Mungenast Motor Sports and Croc-O-Gator Baits.

Don Carrow, one of the Mark Twain Angler's Choice sponsors, took second place fishing with Ron Seabaugh. Their two fish weighed 6.34 pounds. Don and Ron caught the fish on one of Don's Black and Blue jigs in the Black Jack area of the lake. The water temp was 59 degrees and they concentrated on chunk rock. Don and Ron are sponsored by Croc-O-Gator Baits.

Lonnie Franklin of Mexico, MO and Bob Peneston from Fulton, MO brought in two fish weighing 5.78 pounds to take third place. The two fished in North Fork to catch their keepers and made a run to the Sandy Creek area only to catch smaller fish. "We made a mistake leaving the North Fork," said Lonnie, "the bigger fish were there."

The next Angler's Choice, Mark Twain Division is May 22nd. With six tournaments left and only five that will qualify for the regionals now is the time to enter this lucrative tournament trail. Come to the non-mandatory pre meeting at the Dry Dock Resort. $100.00 is given away at each meeting and each new member receives an attendance bag of Competitive Fishing Tackle and a subscription to the quarterly Bass West Magazine.

Angler's Choice is sponsored by Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Motors, Motorguide, Bass West Magazine, Competitive Edge Tackle, Solar Bat Sunglasses, Rejuvenade, Wilson Trophy's and the Mark Twain Division is sponsored additionally by Croc-O-Gator Baits, Cannon Express "Custom Built Rods" and Skyview Rehab Construction Company. Skyview gave the $100.00 attendance prize money away at the non-mandatory pre meeting held at the Dry Dock, Hosting Resort.