Minnesota angler wins Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Lake Amistad

Shreveport’s Randy Allen finishes third

Andy Young, a Minnetonka Lake guide, topped hard-charging Stephen Browning to win the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Lake Amistad by only 1 ounce.

Randy Allen of Shreveport, who has a ranch 25 miles north of Del Rio, Texas and frequently fishes Amistad, placed third after leading the first two days of the tournament.

But on the final day, Young wound up with a 13-pound, 10-ounce limit for a winning total of 39-6. Browning caught the heaviest limit of the day (14-6) and climbed into second place with 39-5.

Allen caught only one keeper and dropped into third place at 37-12.

“I thought I was fishing for second,” Young said. “The local hammer (Allen) had 18 pounds each day, and I was about 11 pounds behind.

“I just went out and did the best I could.”

Young caught his three biggest fish Saturday on a Hog Farmer Bait Company Alabama Rig adorned with Big BIte Baits Cane Thumpers. He caught his other two keepers on a drop shot rig with a Biovex Kolt Fish Tail.  He fished the Alabama rig 12 to 15 feet deep and the drop shot 21 to 25 feet deep along rocky humps and points.

Browning followed up a tough first day with a 20-14 limit the second day to jump back into contention.

“I had two stinking bites after Day 1, and I didn’t tuck my tail and run,” the Bassmaster Elite Series pro said.

The Arkansas competitor caught all of his keepers on an Alabama rig with Z-Man ElaZtech DieZel Minnowz on main lake flats 35- to 45-feet deep.

“I was throwing it out and waiting for it to hit bottom and then just really slow reeling it,” he said. “I think the key for me was using 20-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon rather than braided line like I usually do.”

Rounding out the Top 5 in the pro division were Cody Ryan Greaney of Texas in fourth place with 34-3 and Jordan Lee of Alabama in fifth with 31-9,

Allen earned the Carhartt Big Bass award of $500 for catching the largest bass (10 pounds, 1 ounce) of the event.