Robinson starts season with a Guntersville Victory

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – Tracy D. Robinson won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Alabama North Division 1 season opener, held February 18, 2023, on Lake Guntersville.

Launching at Waterfront Landing in Scottsboro, the angler from Gadsden, Ala. brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 20.60 pounds. That gave him a 4.12-pound average. The anglers had to compete for spots with another major tournament in progress on the sprawling lake.

“We blasted off early, so we found a good starting spot,” Robinson commented. “I caught a couple fish shallow early. Then, we started moving around and had to take whatever was available. We caught about 40 fish throughout the day, most in the 3- to 4-pound range.”

In second among the boaters, Hayden L. O’Barr from the hosting town of Scottsboro also landed his 5-bass limit. Just a bit more than a pound off the pace, his bag weighed 19.57 with a 4.59-pound kicker. 

“We started the morning by catching a few on a ChatterBait,” O’Barr revealed. “Finally, we switched gears and started catching them on a wacky worm.”

Landing in third place, Jason L. Whitehead from Arab, Ala. brought in five keepers for 16.39 pounds. He capped that catch with a 4.55-pounder. 

“I threw a ChatterBait around scattered grass in about four to five feet of water,” Whitehead detailed.

Jack T. Morris from Huntsville, Ala. placed fourth among the boaters with a 5-bass limit going 15.05 pounds. He took home $500 for the effort. Mike W. Ary of Dalton, Ga. followed with a limit weighing 12.55 pounds, anchored by a 3.38-pound kicker.

Tony Tidwell from Horton, Ala. only found one keeper, but he made it count. Tidwell’s bass weighed 5.38 pounds, big enough to take the division lunker honors.

“I fished about everything I could think to throw,” Tidwell stated. “I had one bite all day and that was it. I caught that one fish on a small black and blue finesse jig.”

In the Co-Angler Division, Joshua A. McCool of Berry, Ala. started slow, but won the victory at the end. He landed a 3-bass division limit for 8.76 pounds. He capped that catch with a 3.79-pounder.

“It was a struggle most of the day,” McCool lamented. “I caught all three of my fish on a Rat-L-Trap in the last 15 minutes of the day. I had zero until about 2:15 p.m.”

The only other co-angler to bring in a limit, Duane Parker from Calhoun, Ga. landed in second with three keepers for 7.87 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 3.31-pounder. 

“It was a tough day,” Parker admitted. “I saw a lot of people struggling out there. I caught my best fish on a Rat-L-Trap. I caught about eight fish on a shaky head.” 

With one fish, Christopher S. Harcrow from Dawson, Ala. finished third for the co-anglers. His one bass weighed 6.37 pounds, the biggest bucketmouth caught by anyone in the tournament. 

“I caught that fish by throwing a red Rat-L-Trap,” Harcrow advised. “In the last 30 minutes of the day, we pulled up on a clump of hydrilla and found that fish.”

Matt Cameron of Southside, Ala. also caught one bass. His 2.89-pounder put him in fourth place. Bob Vosbury from Gadsden, Ala. brought in one keeper for 2.26 pounds and fifth place among the co-anglers.

The division next goes to Neely Henry Lake on March 26, 2023. That tournament runs out of Coosa Landing, located at 200 Lake Street in Gadsden, Ala.

For more information about this tournament, call Tournament Director Floyd Vaughn at (256) 230-5633.

American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com and LurePartsOnline.com.

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments for the weekend angler and, at the same time, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.

For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.

This story was written by ABA staff writer John N. Felsher. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.