Michael Allen Beats the Heat
Mt Pleasant, TX. – It was a triumphant day for angler Michael Allen from Clarksville, TX as he secured the top spot in the ABA Open Series East Texas division tournament on August 19th at Bob Sandlin near Mt Pleasant, TX. Allen's victory was hard-fought against harsh weather conditions marked by scorching temperatures and unforgiving heat indexes. The tournament took place at the Titus County Public ramp and was rescheduled from June due to a powerful storm system affecting Toledo Bend.
Michael Allen's determination and skill were on full display as he reeled in a five-bass haul weighing 14.20 pounds, securing his victory in the face of adversity. Reflecting on the challenging circumstances, Allen shared, "It was a tough day, but I managed to locate some schooling fish. I used a Carolina rig for the deeper ones and a swimbait when they surfaced. I hooked 7 keepers, but only 5 met the size requirement."
Emelio Moreno Jr. of Mt Pleasant, TX secured the second-place position with his five-bass limit weighing 13.68 pounds. The heaviest fish in his catch tipped the scales at 4.89 lbs, earning him the prestigious big bass honors among the boaters. Moreno attributed his success to his strategic jig fishing approach in depths ranging from 18 to 20 feet.
Lamonte Loyd from Pittsburg, TX secured the third spot in the boaters' category, boasting a total weight of 9.63 lbs from a five-bass limit. Anchored by a 4.89 lbs catch that led the big bass competition, Loyd's strategy involved employing a 6 XD crankbait to achieve his impressive results.
Rich Dalbey of Greenville, TX claimed the fourth position with a 9.29 lbs haul, followed by John Montelongo of Irving, TX, who weighed in a five-fish limit totaling 8.34 lbs.
In the Co-Angler Division, Tyler's Aaron Uncapher emerged as the victor with a 10.13 lbs haul from 2 fish. His accomplishment was amplified by an 8.77 lbs catch, which not only earned him the big bass honors but also stood as the largest fish captured throughout the tournament. Uncapher shared, "This was quite a surprise. I managed to hook one using a Carolina rig and another with a super fluke. The winning catch happened unexpectedly when I switched to open water."
Al Longoria from Pottsboro, TX secured the second place among co-anglers. He secured a solid three-fish limit weighing a combined 6.77 lbs, employing a Carolina rig approach in water depths ranging from 8 to 10 feet.
Mike Casanova claimed the third spot among co-anglers with a 5.88 lbs total from three fish, caught using crankbaits. Mark Crow of Kemah, TX secured the fourth spot with a 5.67 lbs catch, while Lynn Roller from Fort Worth, TX rounded out the top five with a three-fish haul totaling 5.56 lbs.
This event marked the conclusion of the East Texas anglers' season, with only the 2-day championship scheduled for September 9th and 10th at Toledo Bend's Lost Frontier remaining. Unlike previous years where the event was combined with the South Texas division, this year's championship will see East Texas anglers competing solely against each other. The culmination of the season will reveal the Angler of the Year, and the top 10 boaters and co-anglers will earn invitations to participate in the 2024 Ray Scott Championship at Lake Chickamauga next spring.
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.
