Ninety-six TBF anglers took off the shores of Lake Ray Robert as the 2013 Central Division Championship presented by Evinrude kicked off in Denton, Texas yesterday. Twelve state champions representing the eight states in the Central division will compete for the titles both in the individual and state team standings this week. Sixteen TBF anglers, the top two from each state, will also earn slots in the 2014 Federation National Championship.
After day one, Hoyt Akins from Bauxite, Ark., leads the individual standings with a five bass limit weighing 18bs 2ounces. “It was slow out there today and in practice,” Hoyt said. “I only had five bites, five bites and five fish.” Hoyt’s first bite of the day came around 8:30am when he landed a six and a half pound beauty. “He was way down in a tree; we had to go get to him. It definitely was exciting, set the pace for the day.”
It was slow across the board today with several anglers struggling to find limits. “It was sunny and windy today, which was good. I need the wind to blow. If it stops it will be over for me,” Hoyt continued. “Tomorrow, I’m just going to go out there and try to catch a limit. I’m going to hit some new stuff and some of the same stuff, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that doesn’t work.”
In the state team standings, Arkansas is leading it with 85lbs 3ounces followed close behind by Oklahoma state team with 84lbs 14ounces. In third, is Missouri with 68lbs 14ounces.
Today, the 2013 Central Division Championship continues on Lake Ray Robert as state champion anglers set out to claim the division champion titles and all the bragging rights.
