Ranger Pro Keith Combs Wins His Third Toyota Texas Bass Classic Title
OutdoorHub 05.13.14
East Texas is home to a collection of big-bass lakes that few regions of the country can rival. Ranger Pro Keith Combs, of Huntington, Texas, lives right in the heart of it. And for at least another year the Toyota Texas Bass Classic title will, too.
Combs captured his third Toyota Texas Bass Classic championship on May 11 at famed big-bass fishery Lake Fork. Aboard his Ranger Z520C armed with some deep-diving crankbaits, Combs repeatedly posted jaw-dropping totals during the tournament’s three days on his way to collecting more than $150,000 in cash and prizes. Combs’ three-day total of 15 bass that weighed 110 pounds set a world-record for heaviest three-day total weight in a tour-level event. The Toyota Texas Big Bass Classic is an annual event, which pits top pros from the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour and the PAA Series.
“To get 100 pounds in four days is a major accomplishment and to do it in three is unheard of. It’s nothing about the angler but it’s a testament to this lake,” Combs said. “I wasn’t the only one here to crack 100 pounds on 15 bass so that just tells you how strong and how well-managed this lake is.”
The victory marks Comb’s third win in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic, with his previous wins coming in 2011 and 2013. Since the TTBC changed its format from a team event to an individual tournament, Ranger pros have dominated the star-studded event, winning all but one in that span.
“Keith Combs put on a performance that left us in awe. A lot of anglers will go an entire lifetime without catching 15 bass that weigh more than 7 pounds – he did it in a 3-day tournament,” said Ranger Boats Vice President of Marketing Bart Schad. “He’s a force to be reckoned with in Texas and that success is transferring over the Elite Series, where he already has a Top-10 finish this season. We’re proud of his accomplishments and expect to see him holding even more trophies in the future.”
KEITH COMBS: BY THE NUMBERS
$150,000: Total value of cash and prizes for TTBC win
110 pounds: Combs’ three-day total weight
42 pounds: Combs’ total weight on the first day
8 pounds, 8 ounces: Combs’ biggest bass
7.33 pounds: Average weight of Combs’ 15 fish
3: Number of Toyota Texas Bass Championships won by Combs in four years
