The Toledo Bend Lake Association’s (TBLA) 22nd Annual Bass Unlimited Back-AGreat- Fighter Banquet and Auction was a tremendous success. It was a beautiful evening that defied the early-week weather forecast. The sold out event began with over 600 guests, sponsors and volunteers browsing items available in both the Silent and Live Auctions and the Raffle Drop Boxes. Negreet High School senior Abby Shanley came to the stage where she led everyone in the singing of the National Anthem.
TBLA President Gaynell Goodeaux welcomed the guests and took a moment to recognize TBLA members we have lost this year: Sammie Cicardo, Mac Lyddy, Al Smart, and Tom Welch. Ms. Goodeaux then announced TBLA has awarded the Glynn Carver Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $6000 to Abby Shanley of Negreet High School. TBLA also awarded two $6000 scholarships to Trenton Sepulvado of Zwolle High School, and Allison Bordelon of Negreet High School along with three scholarships in the amout of $1500 each to college students Quade Leone, Victoria Gaspard, and Kason Parker. Following these recognitions the crowd enjoyed a delicious three-meat BBQ dinner provided by Brisket House of Jena, Louisiana.
Auctioneer Kevin McDonald took the stage and kicked off the evening’s main event with the live auction. The first auction item was a “Patriot Package” including a carved cypress American flag, and the enthusiastic bidding set the tone for the entire evening. Several Lake Area experiences were sold in the Live Action during the evening, including two BBQ dinners for 8 by Sabine Parish Sheriff and local pitmaster Aaron Mitchell, a “Dream Day on the Bend” catch and cook experience donated by Living The Dream Guide Service, artwork by Don Edwards titled “Louisiana Swamp II”, a Bass memorabilia collection of Rat-L-Trap lures donated by Don Cooper, and a George Rodrigue Foundation “Cat Tie” print.
To conclude the Banquet, Grand Prize Raffle coordinator Mike Stewart conducted the live drawing for the first two guns in the 2025-26 Gun Raffle. John Cradure of Westlake, LA, won the Ruger American Gen II 300 Blackout Bolt Action Rifle, and Lionel Deslattes of Paulina, LA, won the ATI SX Cavalry 12-Gauge O/U Shotgun. The night culminated with the “Ginormous Door Prize”, a 24” Cabelas Pellet Grill that was won by Tony Mancuso.
TBLA thanks the many sponsors, supporters, and volunteers who graciously donated time, merchandise, money, and talents toward making this event a success. Early estimates from the night’s events indicate that the 2025 Banquet was the most successful in recent years. This money is used not only to fund the Toledo Bend Lunker Bass Program replicas but also college scholarships for deserving students, re-stocking Florida Bass fingerlings into the Lake, assisting High School fishing and 4-H shooting teams, artificial reefs, and many other worthwhile projects around the Lake.
TBLA is grateful to everyone for making this Bass Unlimited Banquet an occasion to remember and hope that you put Friday, April 17, 2026, on your calendar for next year.