Randy Howell’s Epic Topwater Comeback at the Ultimate Angler Championship
Randy Howell, a name synonymous with angling excellence, recently made waves at the Ultimate Angler Championship in Alabama, securing a remarkable third-place finish and an $80,000 prize in a fiercely competitive field. Howell shared the thrilling details of his comeback, the game-changing role of the Livingston Walking Boss, and the secrets behind his success on a highly pressured lake.
The Ultimate Angler Championship: A Battle of the Best
The Ultimate Angler Championship brought together 190 anglers, seasoned pros from various tours and skilled amateurs, competing for a jaw-dropping $500,000 first-place prize, with $130,000 for second and $80,000 for third. Funded by a conservation initiative tied to bass stocking in Alabama, the event was a unique clash of talent and strategy. Howell described it as “a cool event” that drew competitors from across the country, creating an intense atmosphere with “1,500 boats on the lake” due to a simultaneous bass tournaments.
Sitting at 29th place, Howell faced an uphill battle to get on stage and in the money. His strategy? Rely on the proven effectiveness of Livingston Lures Walking Boss topwater lure. By the final day, he was in 29th place with a total weight of 36 pounds, 15 ounces just 4.5 pounds shy of the top 10. Undeterred, Howell doubled down on the Walking Boss, knowing it could tempt the lake’s bigger fish.
A Final-Day Surge with the Walking Boss
On the final day, Howell targeted a heavily fished grass point on Lake Guntersville, a lake under immense angling pressure. “It was the most pressure I’d ever seen,” he noted, with boats constantly buzzing by. Yet, his persistence paid off. A school of larger bass moved into the area, and Howell’s slow, deliberate retrieves with the Walking Boss proved irresistible. “I just walked that Walking Boss slow and easy over that grass, and they would come out and smash it,” he said.
The result was a staggering 24.5-pound bag, including a 7-pound, 3-ounce giant and a 5.5-pounder, among his five fish. Howell caught around 50 bass that day, but those five propelled him from 29th to 3rd place, earning him the $80,000 prize. “Nobody caught that much that day,” he said, crediting the Walking Boss for delivering the biggest bag of the final round.
Why the Walking Boss Shines Under Pressure
Howell’s success wasn’t just luck, it was a testament to the Walking Boss’s unique design. Developed by Livingston Lures, this topwater bait stands out for its Electronic Baitfish Sound (EBS) technology, which mimics the distress sounds of a shad being. “The shad sound is a big deal,” Howell explained. “When you pause it over the grass, they hear that sound, come up, swirl under it, and then smoke it.”
This sound technology gives the Walking Boss an edge, especially in high angling pressure scenarios where fish are less active. Howell tested this by switching to another topwater bait with a loud knocker but no E.B.S. The result? Fish swirled but refused to bite. When he switched back to the Walking Boss, they committed. “That shad sound is the difference maker,” he said, proving its superiority in convincing wary bass to strike.
The Walking Boss’s weighted ballast also sets it apart. Unlike high-riding baits like a Zara Spook, the Walking Boss sits lower in the water, allowing it to “dig in and splash side to side” without advancing too far. This keeps the bait in the strike zone longer, giving fish more time to attack. Additionally, the bait’s balanced weighting chip in the tail, enables long, spiraling casts crucial for reaching spooky fish in pressured waters.
Howell’s Winning Setup
Howell’s setup was meticulously tailored for topwater success. He used his signature Daiwa 7’4” medium-heavy rod, designed with a parabolic tip for long casts and a shorter 9-inch handle for effortless walking-the-dog action. Paired with a Daiwa Tatula 100 SV reel (8.1:1 gear ratio) and 55-pound Daiwa braid, this setup ensured precise casts and instant hooksets, even at 50-60 yards. “I never lost a fish that day,” Howell said, crediting the Walking Boss’s quality hooks and his dialed-in gear.
Randy Howell a Legacy of Winning
Howell’s third-place finish mirrors another recent victory; his son Laker Howell’s comeback win on a topwater at Leech Lake. Both anglers leveraged topwater presentations to overcome tough conditions and high angling pressure, proving its reliability when big money is on the line. Howell emphasized. “When you have that kind of money on the line, the best of the best show up, and you need to have a serious gameplan if you want to make the cut.”
For anglers looking to elevate their game, Howell’s story is a powerful reminder of the Walking Boss’s unmatched ability to draw strikes in the toughest conditions. Whether you’re chasing a tournament check or a personal best, this bait’s sound, action, and design make it a staple in any tackle box.
Ready to make your own comeback? Grab a Livingston Walking Boss and experience the difference for yourself. Visit LivingstonLures.com to gear up for your next big catch.
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