Harrell Wins $5650.00 on Lake Gaston

ATHENS, Ala. – Ryan Harrell of Roanoke Rapids, NC won the Bass Pro Shops Open Series event held on Lake Gaston on 6/29/19. Running out of Holly Grove Marine in Bracey, VA Harrell weighed in a five bass limit weighing 15.85 pounds. His limit was anchored by a bass weighing 6.37 pounds which was the largest bass weighed in by a boater.  He took home a check for $5000.00 for the win and an additional $650.00 for the biggest bass.

“It was really no secret,” said Harrell. “I caught about 15 bass today flipping a jig around docks and grass.”

Taking second, Michael “waterboy” Hoffman of Hubert, NC weighed in a five bass limit weighing 14.87 pounds. His limit was anchored by a bass weighing 4.74 pounds. 

“I caught fish all day dirt shallow on a black buzzbait,” said Hoffman.  

Taking third for the boaters Chris Baldwin of Lexington, NC weighed in a five bass limit weighing 13.63 pounds. 

“I caught all of my fish dirt shallow on a buzzbait,” said Baldwin. “By 7:30 I was pretty much done.” 

In fourth place for the boaters Mark Robertson of Henderson, NC weighed in five bass weighing 12.33 pounds. Rounding out the top five, Danny Moss of Macon, NC weighed in five bass weighing 11.90 pounds.  

In the co-angler division Thomas Sescoe of Greensboro, NC weighed in two bass for 7.42 pounds. His catch was anchored by a bass weighing 6.29 pounds which was the biggest bass weighed in by a co-angler. Sescoe collected $1090.00 for his catch.

“I’d like to thank my boater for getting me loose from snags today. We were fishing docks and I have never been hung up as much as today. I got all of my bites on a weightless senko,” said Sescoe. 

In second place for the co-anglers Dylan Walsh of Greensboro, NC weighed in three bass for 6.97 pounds.  

“I want to thank my boater for putting me around fish today,” said Walsh. “I caught my fish on a big worm and a buzzbait.”

Taking third for the co-anglers Johnny Hopkins of Rougemont, NC weighed in a three bass limit weighing 6.55 pounds.

“I caught fish all day on the bank with a frog,” said Hopkins.

In fourth place for the co-anglers, Timothy Sisler of Oakland, MD weighed in three bass for 5.38 pounds. Rounding out the top five, Chad Cleckner of Spring Lake, NC weighed in three bass for 5.22 pounds. 

Being in the Berkley Cast for Cash program the following anglers will receive extra monies from Berkley:
Chris Baldwin boater $250.00
Ray Griffin boater $150.00
Dylan Walsh co-angler $150.00
Larry Freeman co-angler $100.00

The next event for the Virginia Division will be the area championship on Kerr Lake slated for 9/28-9/29/19 running out of Nutbush Park.

About American Bass Anglers - American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler while offering an upward path for individual angler progression.  For more information about American Bass Anglers and all their bass tournament trails visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

American Bass Anglers is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Tracker Boats, MotorGuide, Garmin, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Engel Coolers, Four Roses Bourbon, Lucas Oil, Maui Jim, Optima Batteries and Power-Pole.  Mailing address: American Bass Anglers, Inc, PO Box 475, Athens, AL 35612 PH (256) 232-0406.