Stricklin wins TTT event on Amistad with near-record catch

DEL RIO, Texas — Pro James Stricklin Jr. of Jasper, Texas, caught a near-record five-bass limit weighing 37 pounds to win $70,000 in cash and prizes, including a 519VX Ranger boat, Sunday at the Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail event presented by Abu Garcia on Lake Amistad. The incredible catch was just 5 ounces shy of the all-time heaviest catch in FLW Outdoors history – an honor belonging to Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky., who caught a 37-5 limit during the 1996 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Kerr Lake in North Carolina.

Stricklin earned his place in the record books during an abbreviated tournament that was cut short by high winds and unsafe conditions, which forced the cancellation of opening day Saturday. The field of 200 pros and 200 co-anglers competing at Amistad regrouped Sunday, however, and set out after a share of the tournament’s $226,500 purse.

Rounding out the top five pros are David Longrie of Stoughton (five bass, 27-10, $7,835); David Hogge of Nolanville (five bass, 26-10, $5,876 plus $4,000 bonus); Rick Turner of Tyler (five bass, 23-8, $4,211 plus $3,000 bonus); and Paul Ferguson of Whitehouse (five bass, 20-3, $3,114).

Bonuses are awarded to registered Ranger boat owners. Pros must also fish out of the eligible Ranger boat during the tournament to qualify for contingency awards. Stricklin’s winnings also included a $5,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

James Bruton of Andrews won the Co-angler Division title and $4,000 with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 3 ounces.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Claude Rabb of Vidalia, La. (five bass, 14-15, $2,936); Joey Wilson of Cedar Park (five bass, 14-12, $1,957); Ken Massey of Waco (five bass, 14-2, $979); and Danny Nelson of Frisco (five bass,13-6, $783).

The next TTT event will be held April 21-22 on Lake Livingston in Livingston followed by the trail’s third and final regular-season event May19-20 on Lake Texoma in Denison. The top 50 pros and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will then advance to the $210,000 Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail Championship Oct. 13-14 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper. The winning pro at the championship can earn as much as $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger boat.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits will offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 238 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Wal-Mart.com.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.