October 23, 2023
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 26-10 limit and 7-pound margin of victory over second place.
“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.
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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 impressive limits. Maddison and Triston Crowder finished second and Keith and Penny Miller finished third, with 19-pound limits each.
To learn more about Bonus Bucks and get signed up, visit www.ToyotaTrucksBonusBucks.com.
