Toyota Texas Bass Classic crowns 2008 champions
One-of-a-Kind event donates $250,000 to Texas Parks & Wildlife
Adam Harris, Marketing & Communication Coordinator

Lake Fork, Texas - The Toyota Texas Bass Classic, held April 18 - 20, successfully wrapped up on Sunday evening. The unique team angling competition awarded $750,000 in prize money, including $250,000 to the winning team of Kelly Jordon, Lance Vick, David Smith and David Walker. In addition, a generous donation of $250,000 was given to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Fans on Sunday were treated to exciting tournament fishing as the final five teams jostled for the top spot. Team #20, captained by Jordon, certainly had the crowd's support though. Jordon and Vick are both nearby Mineola, Texas residents and have both served as fishing guides on Lake Fork. Jordon has lived in Mineola for 12 years and was a fulltime guide for seven years. He was instrumental in the founding of the event, along with TPWD commissioners Dan Friedkin and Donato Ramos. Vick has lived in Mineola for 14 years and has served as a guide that entire time, and still does to this day.

"I can't say enough about how exciting it is to win on my home lake, in front of my family, and I've had a tremendous amount of support from the people of East Texas," said Jordon.

Kelly Jordon, Lance Vick, David Smith and David Walker

Team #9, captained by Bobby Lane, charged into the lead late Sunday afternoon and held the lead with only 45 minutes remaining in the flight. However, a last minute charge by Jordon's crew gave his team the 2008 title. The winning team caught 54 fish weighing a total of 228 lbs. over the three days. The runners-up finished only 8 lbs. 4 oz. behind. Their totals were 48 caught for 219 lbs. 12 oz.

Lane did however capture the Lucchese Big Bass Award with an 11 lb. 12 oz. catch. He won a 2008 Lucchese Edition Toyota Tundra, a pair of custom-made Toyota Texas Bass Classic Lucchese boots and a Stetson hat.

Chad Morganthaler's Team #16 finished in third with 183 lbs. Defending champion Terry Scroggins, Team #8 captain, finished in fourth place with 180 lbs 4 oz..

Over the course of three days, 581 fish were caught and recorded totaling 2,141 lbs.

The unique bass fishing tournament grouped 104 professional anglers into teams of four. The event combined the conservation aspects of Lake Fork's slot limits with certified observers and on-thewater scales, allowing anglers to weigh fish normally not allowed on a slot-limit lake. The field was cut to the top five teams after two days of fishing, and the remaining competitors fished Lake Fork for four hours in the morning and afternoon.

The event was created to highlight the unique conservation methods of the TPWD on Lake Fork. The donation from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic will be spread throughout several TPWD initiatives including their Neighborhood Fishing Program, the Texas State Fish Art Contest and "How to Fish" videos.

The event included many family-friendly activities and musical concerts featuring Trace Adkins and Robert Earl Keen.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is sanctioned by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Inland Fisheries Division. The Professional Anglers Association oversaw Tournament regulations and operations. The Toyota Texas Bass Classic benefits the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and its outdoor recreation programs. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. Tournament partners include Bass Pro Shops, Nitro, 96.3 KSCS and 96.7 the Texas Twister. For additional information, visit www.toyotatexasbassclassic. com

Country Music star Trace Adkins performed Below: Kelly Jordon signs autographs