Cottonwood Team Wins AllStar Bass Couples Event

Special Report by Harry Morgan (Mesa, AZ) The Cottonwood team of Jennifer and Wes McCracken won the second in a series of seven AllStar Bass Couples bass fishing tournaments with a six-fish limit totaling 12.77 pounds including a 3.38-pound largemouth at Bartlett Lake on Saturday, January 7. The couple received a total of $2,000 in cash from the more than $10,250 in cash and merchandise prizes, plus trophies. The pair fished crankbaits on large boulders by the dam and submerged trees up in the river. The team is sponsored by Champion Boats and Tempe Marine. Second place went to the Glendale team of Gloria and Don Thompson for a limit weighing 10.74 pounds. They pocketed a total of $1,600. They fished crankbaits on rocky shorelines around Campaign Bay and SB Cove. The Gilbert team of Jennifer and Troy Robinson finished in third place with a limit weighing 10.36 pounds and received a total of $850. They fished deep-diving crankbaits in 15 to 20 feet of water on rocky shorelines up in the river area. Fourth place and $425 went to the Phoenix team of Janet and Tom Bowman for a limit weighing 10.22 pounds. They fished drop-shot rigs and crankbaits up in the river. The team is sponsored by Sunland Marine. Fifth place and $350 went to the Scottsdale team of Robin and Sam Schattenberg for a limit weighing 9.96 pounds including a 3.36-pounder. The pair fished Texas-rigged worms, jig'n'pig rigs and crankbaits in mainlake coves. The team is sponsored by Ranger Boats, Mercury Outboards, Southwest Boats, Fenwick, Abu Garcia, Berkley Power Baits, Lowrance, Stren, Equalizer Scales, Yamamoto Custom Baits, Wired Worms & Jigs, Props Plus, Conquistador Tackle, Phoenix Fishing Supply, Walton Accounting, Bill Heard Chevrolet & Collision Center, Copperstate Batteries, Lifeline Batteries, and Bill Luke Dodge. Rounding out the top ten teams were Shari and Tony Marsh of Chino Valley, with 9.66 pounds worth $1,262; Kathy and Gary Senft, Phoenix, 8.93 pounds, $180; Belinda and John Randall, Mesa, 8.61 pounds, $675; Tanya and Dean Kreuzer, Mesa, 7.68 pounds, $170; and Kristin and Joe King, Mesa, 7.30 pounds, $165. The Mesa team of Carolyne Yerger and Mario Mills took Big Fish honors worth $750 with 3.93-pound largemouth. The next AllStar Bass Fishing Tournaments couples event is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, at Lake Pleasant. For more information, call 480-894-2775 or visit the Arizona Hunter & Angler website at www.azha.com. AllStar Bass Fishing Tournaments, Inc., is sponsored by Stratos Boats, official boat sponsor, and Champion Boats, associate boat sponsor. Additional sponsors include Lowrance Electronics, Plano Tackle Systems, Bushnell Optics, and Arizona Hunter & Angler Magazine.