Home advantage pays off in TTBC

It is not often that the hometown advantage plays a significant role in the outcome of a big league bass tournament. The 2008 Toyota Texas Bass Classic held April 18-20 at Lake Fork was different.

Local knowledge paid off big time for bass pros Kelly Jordon, Lance Vick, David Smith and David Walker. Jordon and Vick are Mineola residents who have a combined 21 years of experience guiding on the 27,000-acre reservoir near Quitman.

Somehow, the local experts wound up on the same fourman team at the second annual TTBC. The unique tournament format grouped 104 professional anglers into 26 teams. Teams split into pairs and fished morning and afternoon sessions based on shared information and planned strategies.

Tough fishing conditions played right into the hands of Team 20, which was captained by Jordon. The four anglers combined for a three-day total of 54 bass weighing 228 pounds, besting the second-place team captained by Florida's Bobby Lane by 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

The win earned Jordon's team $250,000. Lane's team split $80,000.