Brandon Cobb wins his second Elite Series tournament
Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C. won his second Bassmaster Elite Series tournament this past weekend at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest on Lake Fork. He won the event in dominating fashion. His total weight was 114 pounds. He beat the second-place finisher Garrett Paquette by more than a dozen pounds.
Cobb won $125,000. He also took home a brand new Toyota Tundra for catching the biggest bass of the tournament. He caught the 11+ pound fish along some shoreline structure on Sunday. Cobb’s win also qualified him for an automatic berth in the 2020 Bassmaster Classic.
Cobb started his tournament fishing career as a member of the Clemson University Fishing Team. He is now in his first season on the Elite Series trail after a solid five-year run on the FLW Tour. He won over $400,000 on the Tour, fished in four FLW Cups, but never scored a win in that series. Already with two Elite Series’ wins, it seems a little surreal for Cobb.
Dream come true
“It’s absolutely been an amazing season for me. I had a lot of success on the FLW Tour, but I never could quite put together a win. For so many things to go right this season, it’s just been a dream come true,” said Cobb, whose other win this season came on Lake Hartwell last month.
Cobb’s main weapon during Texas Fest was a ghost pro blue-colored Dual Hardcore Minnow Flat 110 SP jerkbait. He caught most of his fish over shell beds in fairly shallow water while fishing points and flats.
Cobb’s total of 114 pounds also puts him in a small club of anglers to be awarded the Century Belt. He will receive that trophy, which is given to anglers who catch more than 100 pounds in a single tournament, during the 2020 Bassmaster Classic in Birmingham, Ala.
Patrick Walters leads Angler of Year, Rookie of Year honors
Another South Carolina angler, rookie Patrick Walters from Summerville, finished in 29th place with a total weight of 51-5. Walters, who won $13,500 for his finish, retained his lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and the DICK’s Sporting Goods Rookie of the Year races.
Walters is also a product of the college fishing ranks. While fishing for the University of South Carolina Fishing Team, he partnered with Gettys Brannon to win the FLW College Fishing National Championship in 2015 on Lake Murray.
