Smallmouth tend to have the same mystical qualities at Pickwick as the many iconic hit songs recorded in the surrounding Shoals region, but on a gorgeous late October Sunday it was a 9-pound largemouth that became the top hit at the 12th annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event.
Jake Lawrence and Monty Williams, both of Northwest Tennessee, leveraged Lawrence’s supreme knowledge of forward-facing sonar to catch the green beast that highlighted their mighty impressive 26 pound 10 ounce limit, and seven pound margin of victory over second place. Lawrence has been on a tear this year winning the Toyota Series event on Kentucky Lake, the BFL Super Tournament on Kentucky Lake a few weeks back as well as another local team championship a week later.
“Our boat was in 15-feet of water, but our keepers were swimming in the top third of the water column about 5-feet below the surface,” says Lawrence, a full-time fishing guide who provides forward facing sonar tutorials to his clients.
“The fact this is a no entry fee event is awesome, but it’s the catered food, hanging out with all the top Toyota pros, and hundreds of people walking around smiling that make it so special. Toyota just does so much for people who love to fish, and that played a big role in buying a brand-new Highlander for my wife last week,” added Lawrence, who tows with a Tundra.
Second and third place showed strong reflection of the unique family and fellowship aspect of the Toyota Bonus Bucks event, as husband and wife teams posted very impressive limits. Maddison and Triston Crowder finished second, and Keith and Penny Miller finished third, with 19-pound limits each.
However, you don’t have to be in the Top 3 to go home smiling from this annual event. The 15th place team scored a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, and the first team outside the guaranteed paycheck line got $1,000 from Yamaha for their 31st place finish.
Simply said, it pays to tow with a Toyota and sign-up for Bonus Bucks. Not only can you win cash throughout the year, but this annual no-entry fee event provides all the good vibes of a #1 song as well.
To learn more, and get signed up, please visit ToyotaTrucksBonusBucks.com.
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