Meredith wins at Fort Gibson
WAGONER, Okla. – The Oklahoma Division 14 in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, opened its season about three hours late because of fog at Fort Gibson Lake on March 25, 2023, but Mitch Meredith won the Boater Division on a tough day.
Meredith from Hulbert found three keepers for 7.59 pounds. His largest bass, a 3.46-pounder, won the tournament lunker title. Meredith collected $2,300 for the win and a $410 bonus for the big bass, giving him a total of $2,710 in winnings.
“I caught one bass on a jerkbait and the other two on a Rat-L-Trap,” Meredith revealed. “I caught one fish at about 11 a.m. and the other two on back-to-back casts at about 3 p.m. In the morning, I stayed in the creek and made my way down the lake at about 12:30 p.m. I had another good fish on, but I lost it.”
The event ended an hour later than normal and ran out of the Taylor Ferry North ramp in Wagoner, Okla. The day before the tournament, a severe storm dropped considerable rain on the area. The lake came up four to six feet during the week and muddied much of the water.
In second among the boaters, Cameron G. Foster of Wagoner brought in two bass for 4.36 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 2.32-pounder to earn $1,000.
“I caught my fish on a chatter spinnerbait,” Foster explained. “I caught one bass on my third cast and the other one at about 3 p.m. Most of the muddy water was near the ramp. The lake had a lot of clear water in places.”
In third place for the boaters, Fred J. Fielder from the town of Fort Gibson caught one bass weighing 3.02 pounds. He pocketed a check for $700.
“I flipped the brush with a Brush Hog,” Fielder said. “The fish hit at 3:45 p.m.”
Marc G. Downs of Midwest City finished fourth for the boaters with one 2.36-pounder and walked off with $600 in winnings. George Simonof came up from Bossier City, La. to catch one 2.10-pound bass. He earned $500 for fifth place.
In the Co-Angler Division, Terry M. Butts of Norman won with one bass weighing 2.49 pounds. That fish also took the division big bass honors. Butts earned a winning check worth $700 and another $95 check for the big fish.
“I caught that fish on a Senko at about 11 a.m.,” Butts said. “I only had one bite all day.”
The division next goes to Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Okla. on May 6 and 7, 2023. Both events run out of South Point Cove, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive in the town of Eufaula.
For more information about this tournament, call Tournament Director Chris Wayand at (256) 230-5627.
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.
