Paul Browning Rallies to Win B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, Okla. — With a determined comeback and a change in strategy, Paul Browning of Monahans, Texas, captured the win at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier on Lake Eufaula presented by Lowrance. His three-day total of 42 pounds, 5 ounces earned him the top prize of $12,899 and a coveted spot at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Upper Mississippi River, Oct. 22–25.
Browning’s tournament began slowly, producing just two keepers for 7-13 on Day 1, placing him in 29th. On Day 2, he rebounded with 15-10 — still one fish short of a limit — and climbed to seventh. Then, on Championship Friday, he delivered a clutch 18-14 bag, the second-largest of the event, overtaking Day 2 leader Ian Leybas by 2 pounds, 9 ounces.
“It started off slow today and I lost two fish pretty quick,” Browning said. “I lost a 3-pounder and a 2, but then I caught a 7-4 that clued me in on a new stretch.”
Browning focused his efforts on spawning fish near the mid-lake region around Belle Starr Marina. He flipped buckbrush in 6 inches to 4 feet of water using a 4-inch Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog in tilapia color, rigged on a 4/0 Owner Jungle flipping hook and a 1/2-ounce Kovert Tungsten weight.
“The water was really clean; it had a brownish tint, but it was mostly clear, so the light breeze helped,” Browning explained. “My mapping showed a deeper area in the middle, so I knew that would give the fish a place to go during the cooler nights.”
Reflecting on his final day, Browning realized that slowing down was the key. His 7-4 kicker fish helped shift his approach.
“That 7-4 slowed me down, and I think that’s what did it for me,” he said. “I was flipping into the brush and slowly dragging the bait out. Some of them would bite it in the brush, but most of them bit when I drug it out.”
Browning added: “It feels good. The last two years have been a struggle fishing the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens. Maybe this will help me get the wheels back on the wagon.”
Local angler Ian Leybas of McAlester, Okla., placed second with 39-12. After finishing Day 1 in 13th with two bass for 10-10, he surged on Day 2 with the tournament’s heaviest bag — 19-13 — to take the lead. A four-fish effort for 9-5 on Day 3 solidified his runner-up finish.
Leybas attributed his Day 2 success to improved wind conditions and targeted prespawn bass in the mid- to south-lake region using a 3/8-ounce white/chartreuse spinnerbait with double Colorado blades.
“You gotta keep perspective when you’re fishing,” he said. “It was a tough practice; the fish were not set up right. They were in and out; the water level was fluctuating. I was blessed for the day I had yesterday. Today was a lot tougher, but it’s been a good event and it exceeded my expectations.”
Kelley Hudson, who led after Day 1, rounded out the top three with 39-2. His daily weights were 14-11, 13-10, and 10-13. Hudson focused on shallow staging areas in the backs of creeks, primarily using a Texas-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Brush Hog with a chartreuse-dipped tail. He caught his biggest fish on the final day using a spinnerbait.
“I had a great week and I’m proud of the way I fished,” Hudson said. “I’ve never been here before, so to come to a 200,000-acre lake and have a chance to win is absolutely fantastic.”
Browning and Lane Edwards of Paden, Okla., shared the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award, each landing a 7-4 and splitting the $500 prize.
In the non-boater division, Zach Oliver of Coal Hill, Ark., took top honors with a three-day total of 29-13. He consistently delivered daily limits of 5-10, 11-7, and 12-12 to earn a $4,593 payday.
Joe Conway of Colorado Springs, Colo., landed the biggest bass among non-boaters — an 8-2 — to win the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award.
The event was hosted by the City of Eufaula.
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About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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