Patty Lenderman reports that Benjamin and Dustin Rivers came out on top at the Bass Champs Tournament on a foggy Toledo Bend. The duo took home $20,000, plus other money from sponsor incentives.

As morning began to dawn, a thick blanket of fog enveloped the area, necessitating a delayed start. Weighin was pushed back to 4:30 p.m..

Shannon Wingate and Cole Moore were the first to weigh in an excess of twenty pounds, having a 25.85 lb sack. Minutes before the scales closed, Benjamin Gulett and Dustin Rivers brought in their catch, tipping the scales to 28.58 lbs to claim the championship.

Gulett and Rivers mainly used Rattle Traps for their catches. “We only had one fish in the boat at 3:00,” said Gullet. Between 3-4:00 was the magic hour for them, catching their remaining limit. 

Second place winners Wingate and Moore also reported using Rayburn Red and Toledo Gold colored Rattle Traps, fishing in 4’-8’ depths.

Sean Kennon and Jordan Hollingsworth pulled out a 3rd place finish focusing on brush piles in 25’ of water using ¾ ounce Santone football head jigs. They caught a limit weighing 24.78 lbs to win $4,500.

Biggest bass was weighed in by the team of Brannon Mire and Eric Arnold, a 10.65 trophy caught on a jig.

Thirty seven teams won checks, with the last $600 going to Martin Elshout and Mark Price with 16.42 pounds.

Angler of the Year leaders: 

583 pts. Clayton Boulware & Albert Collins
575 pts. Jason Hanks & Marc Woolems
575 pts. Brian Lowrance & Jaret Latta
570 pts. Wyatt Frankens & Alec Castonguay
570 pts. Michael Newman & Justin Seeton

For a complete list of finishers, please check www.BassCahmps.com.