Air temps were in the 30s and the wind was gusting 25-30 mph out of the north the morning of the TTZ Sillhouse Hollow Big Bass Showdown. However, that did not keep 41 brave and determined anglers from dropping into the lake for a chance to take home over $2000.00 worth of hourly payouts in addition to the $1500.00 Big Bass prize money sponsored by Marine Outlet! The first hourly weigh-in opened with two nice five pounders brought to the scales. Charles Guthrie, owner of Tight Lines Premium Tackle in Killeen, took top honors with his 5.79 lb fish while Tom Lorden claimed second place with his 5.38 lb bass. Tom reported getting two quick bites very early in the morning slow rolling a spinnerbait in 20-25′ of water.
As the day wore on the winds seemed to blow harder, but this did not stop anglers from bringing in some solid Stillhouse blacks. Kenneth Massey weighed in his first, of several to come, 4.61 pound money winning fish just minutes after the scales opened for Hour 2. Shortly after, Tim Dixon brought up a very healthy 5.86 pounder that eventually took top honors for the hour. Tim said that fish, along with another 4 pound fish, bit a pumpkin jig and was caught during the first hour of fishing.
When Hour 3 rolled around, Kenneth Massey opened the scales with another 4.13 lb fish. Walking back to his boat, Kenneth commented he was around some solid fish but could not find that really big bite; instead he kept culling 3 pound fish! Kenneth’s fish was sitting in first for most of the hour until Paul Stokes and his partner walked up to the scales. With just a couple minutes before the scales closed, Danny Coppin managed to weigh in a 4th place hourly winner before his partner Paul pulled out a 4.88 lb bass that sealed first place for Hour 3.
As boats raced off in search of one last fish, the TTZ leader board had three five pounders claiming the Marine Outlet Top 3 payouts. Tim Dixon (5.86 lbs) sat in first, Charles Guthrie (5.79 lbs) was second and Tom Lorden (5.38 lbs) claimed third. Once the day drew closer to an end, several boats came in without fish to weigh. As boats were being trailored, the crowd slowly gathered around the scales in anticipation of who would claim the overall Big Bass title. Kenneth Massey and Tim Dixon weighed in two nice fish going 4.14 and 5.11 pounds respectively. Gerald Poboril, who was bumped one place out of the money in the first and third hours, claimed a fourth place spot with his 3.75 lber. But once again it was Paul Stokes with an 8.51 lb beast that claimed first place in the last hour and the overall Stillhouse Hollow Big Bass Showdown title! When asked how he caught the two hourly winning fish and overall Big Bass, Paul stated he spent most of the day bouncing DD22s off rocks in 15 feet of water.
After the last fish was weighed and the scales closed, $2080.00 worth of hourly payouts made its way to each of the hourly winners while the Marine Outlet Big Bass prizes were awarded as follows:
1st – $600.00 Paul Stokes (8.51 lbs)
2nd – $500.00 Tim Dixon (5.86 lbs)
3rd – $400.00 Charles Guthrie (5.79 lbs)
TTZ would like to thank Rick Smith and Marine Outlet for sponsoring this tournament! Also, a very special thanks to all that came out and braved the elements in support of our first tournament north of Salado.
