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Military Team Bass Tournament

Brown, Bardolf lead wire-to-wire for military victory

ATHENS, Ala. – After leading the first two days, David Brown and Keith Bardolf sealed their victory by bested the nearest competition by about 15 pounds to win the 23rd annual Military Team Bass Tournament, presented by American Bass Anglers, held on Lake Seminole.
Running out of the Earl May Boat Basin in Bainbridge, Ga., on May 8-10, 2013, to fish the 37,500-acre lake on the Florida-Georgia line, the winning team landed a three-day tournament limit of 15 bass for a total weight of 67.05 pounds. That comes out to about a 4.47-pound average. They capped their catch with a 5.01-pounder they caught on Day 1.
“We ran south and started every morning on a ledge with a big worm until we caught a limit,” Bardolf explained. “After we caught a limit, we slowly worked our way back north and went flipping. It was slow on the first day and slower the second day, but picked up on the final day.”
The only team to top the 20-pound mark on Day 1, Brown and Bardolf set the pace with a 20.13-pound bag that included the 5.01-pounder. In fact, Brown and Bardolf brought in three of only five daily bags exceeding 20 pounds.
“We had our limit by 10 a.m. on the first day, 9 a.m. on the second day and 8:30 a.m. on the final day,” Brown added. “We culled twice on Day 2. We caught nine fish on Day 3 and culled twice. On Day 3, we lost a really big fish.”

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Bassmaster Weekend Series News (READ MORE BWS STORIES)

Gillham wraps up regular season with a win

ATHENS, Ala. – David E. Gillham ended the regular season with a win during the Toyota Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, East Texas Division 11 tournament, held May 18, 2013, on Cedar Creek Reservoir.

Running out of Log Cabin Landing in Malakoff to fish the 32,623-acre lake on a warm, blustery day, the 49-year-old angler from Heath caught five bass weighing 16.14 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Gillham took home a check for $2,502.

“On the last day of practice, I found an area where shad were spawning on underwater rock,” Gillham advised. “In the morning, it was cloudy, so shad stayed shallow longer. I caught some on a topwater bait and some on a green pumpkin Texas-rigged senko. I caught about 15 fish.”

In second for the boaters, Ricky E. Phillips, 51, of Trinidad, Texas, landed a five-bass tournament limit going 15.96 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 6.52-pounder that won the division big bass race. He earned $1,251 for second place and a $270 bonus for the big bass.

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Soles comes out on top at Okeechobee

ATHENS, Ala. – Van Soles flipped his way to victory in the Toyota Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Florida Division 6 tournament, held May 18, 2013, on Lake Okeechobee.

Running out of C. Scott Driver Park in the town of Okeechobee, Fla. to fish the 730-square-mile lake, the Haines City angler caught five bass weighing 17.06 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 7.69-pound bucketmouth that also took tournament lunker honors. For the Boater Division victory, Soles took home a check for $1,017 plus a $140 bonus for the big bass.

“We started with frogs and then went to flipping beavers around reeds and cattails,” Soles revealed. “The frog bite shut down when the sun came up. We stayed on the north end of the lake. I caught the big bass late in the afternoon with about an hour left to fish. The water was pretty stained.”

In second for the boaters, Corey A. Roberts of Fort Meyers landed a five-bass tournament limit going 17.03 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 6.14-pounder to pocket $859.

“We started on the west side and didn’t do much, so we moved to the east side,” Roberts advised. “I was throwing a jig and filled out a limit. On the last cast, I caught my biggest fish on a swimbait.”
David M. Thomas of Lake Butler finished third for the boaters with five bass and 16.86 pounds. For the effort, he went home with a check for $572.

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Ryan scores season opening victory

ATHENS, Ala. – David E. Ryan didn’t burn much gasoline to win more than $2,000 during the Toyota Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Missouri Division 16 season opener, held May 18, 2013, on Lake of the Ozarks.

Running out of PB2 Landing in Osage Beach to fish the 55,000-acre lake, the Levasy, Mo., angler caught five bass weighing 18.62 pounds. He sealed his victory by landing a 4.40-pound bucketmouth that won the division big bass award. For the Boater Division victory, Ryan took home a check for $1,859 with an extra $175 for the big bass.

“In practice, I didn’t catch much,” Ryan revealed. “I made a decision to not go where I was originally going to go. I decided to fish close and never went more than five miles from the marina. I focused on the first wave of post-spawners moving out to the points and caught all my fish on a DD-22 crankbait. I didn’t catch a lot of fish, but I didn’t lose a fish either. I just caught the right fish.”

In second for the boaters, Ted J. Daniels of Crestwood, Mo., landed a five-bass tournament limit going 15.89 pounds. He capped his catch with a 4.21-pounder to earn a check for $930.

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American Fishing Tour News (READ MORE AFT STORIES)

Newhouse Takes First on Gaston

ATHENS, AL – Carlton Newhouse won the American Fishing Tour, presented by American Bass Anglers, Virginia Division 3 tournament, held April 13, 2013, on Lake Gaston

Running out of Holly Grove Marina landing near Bracey, VA, the North Carolina, Carlton caught five bass weighing 18.12 pounds with a 6.59 pound kicker. For the victory, Newhouse took home a check for $303. Newhouse caught his fish on Texas Rigged soft plastics

In second among the competitors, James Funk, of Virginia, caught five bass weighing 11.91 pounds and pocketed a check for $137.

These anglers accrued valuable points toward the divisional angler of the year title. The points champion from each division will compete in the annual American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of The Year Final Round Fish-Off. In addition, the top 500 anglers from the various divisions will earn the right to compete in the three-day ABA, AFT National Championship tournament.

American Fishing Tour News (READ MORE AFT STORIES)

Mike Roselle Wins on the Potomac

Marbury, MD – Mike Roselle won the American Fishing Tour, presented by American Bass Anglers, Maryland Division 11 tournament, held May 11, 2013 on the Potomac River.

Running out of Smallwood State Park the Laplata, MD angler caught bass weighing 14.93 pounds with a 3.48-pound kicker to taking Big Bass. For the victory, Mike took home first place and Big Bass pots. Mike caught his fish by throwing finesse worms into clumps of grass in 2 – 3 feet of water (a popular strategy on the Potomac), on a windy Virginia creek point.

In second among the competitors, Tom Thompson of Falls Church, VA, caught 5 bass weighing 12.45 pounds with a 2.85-pound kicker.

Taking third place, Scott Randall of King George, VA, caught 5 bass weighing 11.44 pounds.

American Fishing Tour News (READ MORE AFT STORIES)

Rob Lawhon Takes First Place at Lake Talquin

From Division 76 Talquin May 11, 2013 Rob Lawhon from Quincy, Florida is one step closer to the American Fishing Tour National Championship with a first place win and $480 in the American Fishing Tour Divisional Bass Tournament held on Lake Talquin this past weekend. Rob’s five bass weighed in at 28.81 pounds. Second Place went to Titus Landston with a weight of 15.06 pounds. Third Place was Kyle Brooks with a weight of 10.98 pounds. Big Bass went to Rob Lawhon with an 8.34 pound largemouth.

These anglers are acquiring valuable points to insure their birth in the American Fishing Tour National Championship that will be held this fall. Their points are also being used to determine the divisional angler of the year. The top angler by points earned in this division will represent the division in the Angler of the Year final round.

American Couples Series News (READ MORE ABA COUPLES STORIES)

Carolyn and Rick Leigeber Win On Wheeler

ATHENS, AL – Carolyn and Rick Leigeber won the sixth ABA Couples Series, AL North, Division 7 tournament held May 11, 2013 on Wheeler Lake. Running out of Ingalls Ramp, Decatur AL; the team caught 5 bass weighing 19.48 pounds. The victory earned them a check for $630. Rick’s 5.95 pound Lunker was Men’s Big Fish of the tournament. The team of Tracy and Larry Cameron won second place. They caught 5 bass weighing 18.96 pounds, and pocketed a check for $420.

Angela Braun’s 5.84 pound lunker was the Women’s Big Fish of the tournament.