Bradshaw Clinches Victory at Ross Barnett

ATHENS, Ala. - Ivy Bradshaw, hailing from Brandon, MS, emerged triumphant in the ABA Open Series Mississippi division tournament, held on May 20th at the renowned Ross Barnett Reservoir. Competing alongside a pool of skilled anglers, Bradshaw showcased exceptional skills and landed five bass, weighing an impressive 20.84 pounds.

Despite facing slightly elevated water levels and stained conditions due to a spring filled with rainfall, Bradshaw's perseverance paid off as the post-spawn blues began to recede. For his remarkable achievement in the Boater Division, Bradshaw was awarded a well-deserved cash prize of $2,300.00.

Reflecting on his victorious performance, Bradshaw shared, "I started the morning by capitalizing on a shad spawn, which yielded two catches weighing around 4 lbs each. Later, I discovered a bream bed and managed to reel in a couple more bass by chasing after them. Transitioning to a ledge, I completed my limit by around 11 a.m. Throughout the day, I caught approximately 30 keepers and continuously upgraded my selection. My successful catches were primarily made using an Ol' Monster, a swim jig, and a crankbait."

Securing second place in the boater category was David Woodfin from Kosciusko, MS, who skillfully landed a five-bass limit, narrowly trailing behind Bradshaw with a weight of 20.57 pounds. Woodfin's achievement was further accentuated by his impressive 6.58-pound kicker, which claimed the big bass honors.

Woodfin commented, "I quickly acquired a small limit within the first 30 minutes of the tournament. However, upon reaching my second fishing spot, I discovered the absence of any fish. Observing my livescope, I detected a school of fish and inferred that they had relocated. As a result, I resorted to using a crankbait and successfully culled all the catches in my possession. Although I lost several fish weighing over 3 lbs, it is disheartening to fall just ounces short of victory. One of the fish I weighed in was a mere 2.5 lbs, and any of those missed opportunities could have clinched the win. Nonetheless, I did manage to secure the big bass using a crankbait, despite the inherent risk of losing the fish due to hook dislodgement."

Claiming the third spot among the boaters was Mike Norsworthy of Brandon, MS, who skillfully amassed a weight of 19.24 pounds for his five bass. Norsworthy's accomplishment was buoyed by an impressive 5.47-pound catch, which led the big bass category for a significant period.

Norsworthy remarked, "I promptly secured my limit by 7:15 a.m., thanks to my effective utilization of a frog lure. Throughout the day, I encountered around 20 keepers. Although I lost a fish weighing over 5 lbs, I managed to maintain a consistent number of catches in my live well. I navigated between seven to eight spots, consistently culling my collection. It was a gratifying day, albeit falling slightly short of my desired outcome."

Finishing in fourth place was Ray King of Brandon, MS, who demonstrated his prowess by reeling in a five-bass limit, totaling 16.68 pounds. Taylor Odom closely followed in fifth place, with an impressive weight of 16.67 pounds.

In the Co-Angler Division, Dwayne Brumfield from Brookhaven, MS, showcased remarkable angling skills by securing a commendable three-fish limit, which weighed 8.27 pounds. Brumfield's outstanding performance was highlighted by his capture of the biggest bass among the co-anglers, weighing an impressive 2.96 pounds.

Recounting his strategy, Brumfield shared, "During the early morning hours, we focused our efforts offshore, targeting shakey heads and bream beds. I successfully landed my first keeper around 9:00-9:30 a.m. Throughout the day, we explored numerous spots, and I managed to secure my final catch around noon. Given the consistently high level of competition in these tournaments, I am thrilled with the outcome."

Jeremy Stockton of Summit, MS secured second place in the co-angler category with an impressive three-fish total weighing 6.10 pounds. Stockton's determination paid off as he adapted his approach by switching to a shakey head, which proved fruitful in landing his first keeper at 11:45 a.m. Targeting channel swings and offshore humps, Stockton capitalized on a flurry of bites, resulting in multiple culls and a productive hour of angling.

Expressing his satisfaction, Stockton stated, "Initially, I faced challenges and had not landed a single fish until late morning. However, after switching to a shakey head, my luck turned around. I managed to secure my limit within an hour of landing my first catch and experienced a burst of bites. With all my successful strikes occurring on the shakey head, I saw no reason to deviate from what was working."

Bill Goldman from Tylertown claimed the third spot in the co-angler division with a two-fish total weighing 4.31 pounds. Following closely in fourth place was Kendall Amos of Greenville, MS, with a respectable weight of 4.03 pounds. Rounding out the top five was Kris McCarter from Pheba, MS, with a two-fish total weighing 3.34 pounds. While the weights in the co-angler division may not have been as formidable on this occasion, each participant accrued valuable points, contributing to their overall standings as they approach the fourth and final event for Division 12 in just a few weeks.

Looking ahead, the next tournament is scheduled for June 4th and will again take place on Ross Barnett Reservoir, with Tommy's Trading Post as the launch site. Notably, this event will occur on a Sunday. As the season progresses, the top-performing anglers from across the nation will advance to the highly anticipated 2024 Ray Scott Championship, set to be held at Lake Chickamauga.

The ABA Open Series offers a platform for anglers of all skill levels to showcase their talent and compete in high-quality fishing tournaments. With divisions spanning across the country, the series provides opportunities for anglers to test their abilities against formidable opponents while vying for substantial cash prizes and valuable recognition. For more information about the ABA Open Series, please visit AmericanBassAnglers.com.

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 Chris Wayand. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.