June 30th, July 1st & 2nd was a week -end to remember. There are going to be good memories for some really good cooks, some great memories for some really good anglers, and some very special memories for some families of special people inducted into the Falcon Lake Fishing Hall of Fame. Seven men were inducted into this prestigious organization and all of them deserved the recognition they received.

Saturday night highlighted the real purpose of this event and was a glowing tribute to seven men that gave of their time and assets in an effort to preserve and to improve one of the truly great bass fishing lakes in the United States. It has been proclaimed by many of the bass fishing world’s most prominent leaders and most of the top bass fishing professionals in the United States that the two lakes on the Texas/Mexico border known as Lake Amistad and Lake Falcon are second to none when it comes to producing great numbers of much larger than average Black Bass and are most probably the two best Black Bass lakes in the United States today. Lake Falcon has for many years been recognized for it’s consistency in producing many, many, trophy size bass year after year. The seven men recognized in the evening of Saturday July 1st can be given a monumental portion of the credit for Lake Falcon being what it is today.

Gaylen w. Gilbreath Tommy Gray Alvaro Gutierrez Richard Vasquez Jim Murray Bob Hood Renato Ramirez

The tributes paid to these sportsmen were a show of affection for their efforts and dedication. It came from a grateful community that wanted to recognize them for all that they did to serve their community and preserve one of it’s greatest assets. Though five had passed on and only two were there to receive their inductee plaques, none of these fine men will soon be forgotten. I know their families and their community thank them for what they have done. I thank them, for I have fished on Lake Falcon with one of their sons, my friend Robert Amaya.

Andy Hickman  FishNet Daily News

This week-end included a tribute to seven men that spent a great deal of personal time and effort in promoting and preserving Falcon Lake. It also included a wonderful fishing tournament, a cook-off, a fireworks show for the Fourth of July and a tremendous show of patriotic pride.

Falcon Lake Hall of Fame 2006 Big Bass Tournament

Big Bass Overall – Day 1 Israel Garcia Total Weight 12.22   Big Bass Overall – Day 2 Michael Bauer Total Weight 9.68   Women’s Division Winner Lila Bass Total Weight 7.18   Jr. Division Winner James Vasquez Total Weight 3.65   Guide Pro Division 1st Place Robert “Speedy” Collett Sandy Leyendecker Jessica Walker Total Weight: 47.25 2nd Place Charlie Haralson Donna Murray Robin McFarlane 3rd Place Robert Amaya Norma Amaya

Israel Garcia - Men’s Largest Bass Lila Bass - Women’s Largest Bass James Vasquez - Jr. Division Winner Speedy Collett, Sandy Leyendecker, Jessica Walker - Pro Guide Division

Zapata County Chamber of Commerce
2006 HALL OF FAME FAJITA & ROCKY MOUNTAIN OYSTER COOK-OFF WINNERS

Rocky Mountain Oyster Category Santo Nino Ranch - 1st Place Wee “B” Landman - 2nd Place   Fajita Category Duval Lease Service - 1st Place River Cats - 2nd Place Consolidated Oilfield Services - 3rd Place   Chicken Category Consolidated Oilfield Services - 1st Place River Cats - 2nd Place Wee “B” Landmen - 3rd Place   Specialty Division Wee “B” Landmen - 1st Place Duval Lease Service - 2nd Place Santo Nino Ranch - 3rd Place   Ranchero Beans Category River Cats - 1st Place Consolidated Oilfield Service - 2nd Place Los Nopaleros - 3rd Place   Pan De Campo Duval Lease Service - 1st Place Wee “B” Landmen - 2nd Place   *Anglers Choice Award (Fajita Category) Wee “B” Landmen (Land Research Technologies)

We don’t know exactly how many fish were weighed in but my guess would be that there were well over 60 bass in the 5.5 lb. to 7.5 lb. range. The first day was an astounding day with fish after fish coming to the weigh station and it seemed like they were all big, very big. The second day wasn’t as phenomenal but there was still a lot of very large fish including a 9lb.+ fish. This tournament again proved what a tremendous lake Falcon really is. We are looking forward to coming back in the next few weeks and fishing with Robert Amaya and also coming back next year for the Zapata Hall of Fame Tournament

We hope you enjoy the photo gallery: