USA Fishing Trails announced the 2016 schedule for the Bud Light Trail and Bass-N-Bucks tournaments with some big changes. The key changes for 2016 include 4 tournaments per Bud Light Trail division instead of 5 and fewer tournaments. Another big change is a $2,000 guaranteed payout at every event, regardless of entries. Over $90,000 in payouts is guaranteed in just the Bud Light Trail Division tournaments alone.
In the Pick 5 Division, anglers can choose any 5 tournaments in the Bud Light Trail and Bass –N-Bucks tournaments to qualify for the Oklahoma-Louisiana-Texas Championship. The Pick 5 Division does not qualify for AOY Race Points or the Bryan Davis Cup. A $40 membership fee per angler and $200 early entry fee is required.
Bud Light Trail Tournaments will be held on Lake Texoma on February 20, 2016 and June 25, 2016. Highport Marina will be home base for both tournaments. Tournaments will begin at 5 am and final weighin will be at 5 pm. Trailering will be allowed in bad weather. BLT divisions are based around the favorite and best local lakes, which helps to limit travel time and expense. Dates for the Bud Light Trail Striper Challenge tournaments have not been announced.
Winners of the Bud Light Trail Open Tournament held December 12, 2015 were the team of Bruce Anderson/Scott Cox with a total $760 payout. Second place went to Red Rutherford/Joe Copeland for a $200 payout. Sixteen fish were weighed in for a total of 43.18 lbs. Results for the Lake Texoma BLT Striper Challenge also held on December 12, 2015 have not been released.
In other BLT news, earlier this fall, USA Fishing Trails and the Flip Flop Foundation sponsored a Bud Light Trail tournament on Lake Texoma as a benefit for the Gabe Carter Memorial Fund. On Friday they presented a check to the family at a ceremony held at the Pottsboro Chamber of Commerce. Over the past two years the Bud Light Trail Flip Flop Tournament and Fish Fry has raised over $17,000 for the Carter family.
