Buckeye Team Wins AllStar Bass Couples Finale

Viki & Rod Nelson of Buckeye stepped it up a notch at Roosevelt Lake on Saturday, June 10th, to win the final AllStar Bass Couples Tournament of the 2006 season by nearly 4 pounds. Their 6-bass limit weighed 20.71 pounds. They collected checks totaling $2,200 & the 1st Place trophy. Spending the day in the Salt River arm of the lake, the Nelsons fished topwater lures early, switching to Carolina-rigged soft plastics later in the day to catch their limit, which included a 4.58-pounder.

The 2nd place spot went to Show Low's team of Angel & Larry Lunt for their limit weighing 16.86 pounds including a 5.07-pounder that fell for a drop-shot finesse worm. They received a total of $1,789. They fished drop-shot & Carolina rigs on points in 8 to 30 feet of water in the Salt River arm.

The Phoenix team of Janet & Tom Bowman took third place & $500 with a limit weighing 16.16 pounds including a 3.45-pounder. They fished a Carolina-rigged creature bait & a skirted spider jig on points in the Tonto Creek arm early, & submerged humps around Windy Hill later in the day.

Kathy and Gary Senft, also of Phoenix, finished in 4th place with a limit weighing 14.07 pounds including a 3.25-pounder. They received $650. They fished drop-shot & Texas rigs on primary & secondary points down to 30' in the main basin of Roosevelt.

The Glendale team of Melinda and Harold Bigler took 5th place and $300 with a limit weighing 13.39 pounds including a 3.17-pounder. They fished skirted spider grubs on football head jigs in 20 to 30 feet of water on mainlake points.

Rounding out the top 10 were Dawn & Dennis Desrosier of Phoenix for 13.07 pounds worth $440; Mellissa & Justin Allgood, Surprise, 12.96 pounds, $535; Angela & Mark DiBrito, Scottsdale, 12.70 pounds, $160; Jennifer & Wes McCracken, Cottonwood, 12.67 pounds, $155; & Mary and Bob Hayn, Payson, 11.52 pounds, $150. Big Fish honors & $500 went to Brenda & Richard Alvarez of Roosevelt for a 5.11-pound largemouth caught on a Rebel Pop-R near Windy Hill. They finished 14th place overall. Jennifer & Wes McCracken locked up the 2006 Couple of the Year honor with their 9th place finish & will lead the other 33 qualifiers of the 2006 AllStar Bass SuperCouples Championship, September 22nd-23rd, when they compete on Roosevelt Lake.

For more info about AllStar Bass team bass fishing tournaments, including the Summer Nights team tournament starting Saturday, June 24th, at Roosevelt Lake, call 480-894-2775.