Mitchell Sr Takes Murray Win with 26.32 Pounds

Prosperity, SC – On June 10, 2023, Richard Mitchell Sr., hailing from Appling, GA, emerged victorious in the American Bass Anglers Open Series South Carolina event held at Lake Murray. Competing from Dreher Island State Park, Mitchell showcased an exceptional performance, landing a remarkable five bass limit weighing 26.32 pounds, securing. Additionally, Mitchell reeled in the largest bass among boaters, weighing an impressive 6.88 pounds.

Mitchell expressed his elation, stating, "This was, by far, the best day I have ever had on the water." Observing the fishing patterns of other participants, he noticed that many were targeting deeper waters near points. However, his practice session the day prior led him to discover a successful strategy in shallower waters. Mitchell's second stop of the day yielded a 4.13-pound catch, followed immediately by a 6-pound bass on the same cast. Throughout the competition, he primarily utilized topwater baits in water depths of five feet or less, managing to secure six bites in total.

Claiming second place among boaters was Steven Ricker from Greenville, SC. Ricker showcased his skills by presenting an impressive five bass limit, weighing 19.48 pounds. Notably, he landed a bass weighing 5.06 pounds. 

Reflecting on his approach, Ricker shared, "I caught fish all day in shallow areas using topwater lures. The activity slowed down around noon but picked back up later in the day. I targeted various types of structures during the competition."

Jason Burroughs, a participant from Hodges, SC, secured third place among boaters with his five bass weighing 16.46 pounds, earning him a prize of $500.00. Burroughs admitted to covering a considerable distance during the event, traversing the lake multiple times in search of fishing spots. He started by fishing shallow waters but adjusted his strategy to target depths around 15 feet, where he successfully caught his fish using a Georgia Lures fluke-style bait.

Grover Jones from Starr, SC, claimed fourth place with his five bass weighing 16.00 pounds, including a bass weighing 4.66 pounds. Rounding out the top five was Brad Benfield from Demorest, GA, with a total weight of 15.04 pounds for his five bass.

In the co-angler division, Marvin Godard from Charlotte, NC, secured victory by weighing in three bass totaling 11.75 pounds. Notably, Godard also caught the largest bass among co-anglers, weighing 4.70 pounds. 

Describing his experience, Godard said, "It started out fast and furious. I caught my fish using a pearl fluke early in the competition. I had my catch by around 10 am, and the action slowed down for the remainder of the day."

Ryan Smith from Sugar Hill, GA, claimed second place among co-anglers, presenting three bass weighing 9.74 pounds, earning him a prize of $350.00. Smith reported having his weight by 11 am, with the action tapering off afterward. He successfully landed his catches using topwater lures in water depths ranging from 12 to 5 feet.

Matthew Guffey from Simpsonville, SC, secured third place among co-anglers, presenting three bass 

weighing 8.99 pounds. Guffey's catch included a bass weighing 4.07 pounds, contributing to his success in the tournament. He received a prize of $300.00 for his achievement.

Guffey shared his fishing strategy, stating, "I caught six fish today, all on a Pop R lure around the shady sides of docks." His approach proved fruitful during the competition.

Michael Nix from Liberty, SC, took fourth place among co-anglers with three bass weighing 7.65 pounds. Completing the top five was Lonnie Drusch from Sumter, SC, with three bass totaling 7.48 pounds.

Looking ahead, the next event for the South Carolina division will be the Divisional Championship on Lake Russell, scheduled for September 9-10, 2023. Anglers will launch their boats from the Hwy 72 boat ramps.

American Bass Anglers (ABA) is dedicated to providing affordable and locally accessible tournaments for weekend anglers while offering a pathway for individual angler progression. For more information about ABA and its various bass tournament trails, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

American Bass Anglers is proudly sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, Motorguide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planners.com, and Lure Parts Online, demonstrating their commitment to the sport and its participants.