Rickman/Bryan finish 2nd, Howe/Wadsworth finish 3rd
Lake Texoma, OK (April 27, 2026) – Stop 3 of the 2026 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive brought teams to Lake Texoma, where shifting spring patterns and changing conditions set the stage for a competitive day on the water.
Hosted by West Bay Casino & Resort, anglers were met with a mix of seasonal transition fish and fluctuating conditions that kept the leaderboard tight throughout the event. By weigh-in, several teams managed to put together solid limits, but ounces proved critical as the race for the top spot came down to execution and key bites.
Landen Bennett and Lowell Bennett rose to the occasion, bringing in a five-fish limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces to secure the victory.
Winners – Bennett & Bennett (1st Place | 20-10)
The duo entered Texoma expecting a strong shad spawn bite but quickly realized they would need to adjust when that pattern never developed.
“We came in thinking it was going to be a really good shad spawn bite, but it just didn’t happen,” they said.
Instead, the team shifted focus to shallow spawning fish and isolated targets, piecing together key bites throughout the day on a mix of crankbaits and swimbaits to build their winning limit.
The moment carried extra meaning for the father-son team.
“I was just the net man today, but I was proud to be one,” Lowell said. “This is my son, and I’m super proud to watch him do what he did.”
The win earned the Bennett family a brand new Ranger Z518 powered by a Mercury 150 Pro XS and a total payout of $56,595!
Second Place – Rickman & Bryan (2nd Place | 19-11)
The second-place team made a last-minute decision to compete, turning a spontaneous entry into a standout finish.
“We didn’t even plan to fish this,” they said. “We got signed up last minute and just decided to go for it.”
After a slow start, the duo committed to making a major move across the lake — a decision that ultimately changed their day.
“We started off slow, but made a long run and on about the third cast caught a four-pounder,” they said. “After that, we knew we were around the right fish.”
Riding momentum and confidence, the team capitalized on the opportunity and built what became their best bag to date.
“This is the biggest bag we’ve ever had, together or separate, so we’re super happy with it,”
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Third Place – Howe & Wadsworth (3rd Place | 18-7)
Fishing Lake Texoma for the first time, the team relied on covering water and adjusting after a tough practice.
“We’d never been here before and practice really wasn’t good,” they said. “We just kept running water and finally stumbled on something late.”
They committed to that area on tournament day and made the most of it, highlighted by a key smallmouth that helped anchor their limit.
“We got lucky and caught about a four-and-a-half pound smallmouth, which really helped,” they added.
Despite losing a couple fish that could have boosted their weight, the strong finish adds valuable points as they remain in the hunt for Progressive Team of the Year.
Big Bass – Botan & Fonte (5-11)
The top single fish of the event came in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces, standing out as the largest bass brought to the scales at Lake Texoma.
The catch earned the team a brand new Power-Pole Pro II 8ft, adding to an already memorable performance on the water.
Thank You West Bay Casino!
West Bay Casino & Resort served as the central hub for all tournament activities throughout the event, providing anglers and fans with a premier destination on Lake Texoma.
Thank you to the entire staff at West Bay Casino & Resort for being such outstanding hosts and supporting this stop of the Texas Team Trail. Their hospitality and attention to detail helped create a seamless experience both on and off the water.
In addition to the event facilities, West Bay offers spacious cabin accommodations that sleep up to 10 guests, each featuring individual bathrooms and full kitchens — making them an ideal setup for teams, families, and groups looking to stay close to the action.
With three events complete, the Texas Team Trail now turns its attention to Stop 4 at Lake Ray Roberts in Sanger, Texas, set for May 16, 2026. As the season progresses, teams will look to build momentum and continue climbing the standings in the race for Progressive Team of the Year points.
Any teams wishing to enter Lake Ray Roberts can sign up now!