Brown takes close win at Lake Seminole

Donalsonville, Ga. – Clint R. Brown won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Georgia Division 8 second tournament of the season, held March 11, 2023, at Lake Seminole on the Georgia-Florida line.

Launching at Big Jim’s Landing in Donalsonville, Ga., the angler from nearby Bainbridge, Ga. stayed shallow and kept his eyes on the water. Brown brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 19.76 pounds. That gave him a 3.95-pound average..

“I caught every bass I weighed in off a bed,” Brown explained. “I sight-fished for them. I started around the mouth of the Fish Pond Drain area where I spotted a big one on the bed in practice. She was still there, but I lost her. However, I did catch a couple in that area. After that, I just started riding the trolling motor along the banks. Every now and then, I’d find a decent fish. By noon, I had about 16 pounds. The fish on this lake like the new moon. This lake has been getting a lot of pressure lately. Thank God that He made it my day to win.”

In second among the boaters, Christian D. Rich from Eufaula, Ala. also landed his 5-bass limit. He finished with 18.89 pounds, less than 14 ounces off the lead pace. 

“At 1 p.m., I had three fish and I was getting nervous,” Rich remarked. “From 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., they started biting at this one little bar that came up into a bedding area. I lost a good fish at about 1:30 p.m. that possibly could have helped me. It straightened a 7/0 hook on a swimbait. I just kept casting and casting and we started catching a few.”

Taking the third spot for the boaters, Chris C. Yates from Ball Ground, Ga. found five keepers for 16.12 pounds. He topped that sack with a 6.58-pound bucketmouth that won the tournament lunker title. 

“I stayed in the flats all day,” Yates commented. “I found a shad spawn in the morning and fished topwaters most of the afternoon. The bite slowed down for about three hours in the middle of the day. Then, they started eating at about 1 p.m. In about 10 minutes, I lost three bass about the same size as the big one I caught around some hydrilla beds.”

Isaac “Big Ike” Clemmons of Fitzgerald, Ga. placed fourth for the boaters with five bass going 15.25 pounds. Bob Allen from Canton, Ga. followed with a 5-bass limit for 14.73 pounds.

In the Co-Angler Division, Richard M. Smith of Oxford, Ga. landed a 3-bass division limit for 11.69 pounds. He capped that catch with a 6.43-pound bucketmouth to take the division big bass honors. That gave Smith a 3.90-pound average. 

“We fished flats on the main lake with Senkos,” Smith said. “We caught a ton of fish, but not a lot of huge ones. I caught that one big one in 25 feet of water. I threw a weightless Senko next to a tree. It sunk down about 13 feet and she grabbed it.”

In second for the co-anglers, John H. Allen from Valdosta, Ga. found a limit for 10.65 pounds. He anchored that bag with a 6-pounder.

“I caught all my fish on a Senko,” Allen advised. “I threw it out and let it sit. I jerked it out of the grass and they fish hit it.”

Also bringing in a double-digit bag, Mark Carlson of Peachtree City, Ga. landed a limit weighing 10.41 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 5.69-pound bigmouth.

“We fished Spring Creek and caught all our fish on Senkos around grass,” Carlson detailed. “We let the Senko sit in the grass and then jerk it up of the grass. That’s when they hit the bait.”

The fourth co-angler to bring in a bag exceeding 10 pounds, Tyrie Jackson of Ashburn, Ga. placed fourth with a limit going 10.19 pounds. Jackson topped that sack with a 6.28-pounder. Tony Adams from Tifton, Ga. rounded out the top five co-anglers with three bass at 8.51 pounds. 

The division next goes to Lake Sinclair near Milledgeville, Ga. on April 16, 2023. That tournament runs out of the Dennis Station Ramp, located at 1016 Dennis Station Road in Eatonton, Ga. To register for the April tournament, CLICK HERE.

Anglers can sign up to fish ABA Open Series divisional events and a 2-day division championship. In a Pro/Am format, boaters fishing the Open Series pay $210 in entry fees for each divisional 1-day tournament. Co-anglers pay $105 per 1-day event.

Anyone who wishes to fish an ABA event, must become an ABA member. ABA members can receive discounts from some sponsors. For example, Optima Batteries will give ABA members 25 percent off and free shipping on any battery. Membership costs $35 a year, but anglers can save money by signing up for multiple years. A life membership costs $450.

For more information about this tournament, call Tournament Director Billy Benedetti at (256) 230-5632.

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.