Alton Jones Jr. came to the Red River this week feeling down. He left Shreveport, La. riding a high he couldn’t put into words.
The 24-year-old son of Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Alton Jones won the second Bassmaster Central Open of 2016 by catching the biggest bag of the 3-day event during the 12-man finale Saturday. With a 13-14 stringer, Jones finished with 35-14. Todd Murray of Prairieville, La., ende up 2nd with 32-02.
“It’s kind of like I don’t know how I got here,” said Jones. “There’s nothing to say other than, wow.”
Jones was hoping to join his father on the Elite Series next year by finishing in the Top 5 of the point standings through the Northern Opens. But he fell one point short on the final day at New York’s Lake Champlain last Friday, then made the 27-hour drive to the Red River.
“Last week was definitely gut-wrenching,” said Jones, who admitted shedding some tears after the last angler to weigh in bumped him out of the final Elite Series qualifying spot.
With a 15th-place finish in the first Central Open this season to go with his win Saturday, Jones will have a good chance to make the Elite Series through the Central Opens when the three-tournament series concludes later this month on the Atchafalaya Basin in Morgan City, La.
Even better, Jones earned a berth in the 2017 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe near Houston, Texas. The berth is contingent on him fishing the final Central Open.
His father, Alton Sr., has already qualified for the Classic through the Elite Series. Alton Sr. had to wait 26 years to fish a Classic in his home state of Texas.
“This is incredible to be going to my first Classic in my home state,” said Alton Jr., who, like his father, lives in Lorena, Texas. “Conroe is only about 3 hours from the house.”
Alton Sr. and his wife, Jimmy Sue, drove from Lorena to attend Saturday’s weigh-in.
“You always tend to think of your children as children,” said Alton Sr. “What I saw today was a mature young man I’m very proud of.”
Full details of Jones' winning pattern will be published in the coming days.
Here are the final totals for the Top 12:
1. Alton Jones Jr.: 35-14
2. Todd Murray: 32-02
3. Mike Pedroza: 30-15
4. Billy McCaghren Jr.: 29-07
5. Darrell Lyons: 28-15
6. Luke Estel: 27-11
7. Skylar Hamilton: 27-07
8. Jeffery Lemoine Jr.: 26-13
9. Luke Palmer: 25-03
10. Robbie Latuso: 24-11
11. Tommy Murray: 23-10
12. Charlie Hartley: 20-12
