ATHENS, Ala- Matt Henry won the 2025 American Bass Anglers Professional League, Presented by Caymas Boats, Georgia Division 8 season opener tournament, held February 15TH, 2025 on Lake Oconee.
Running out of Sugar Creek Marina in Buckhead, GA the Milledgeville, GA angler caught five bass weighing 21.00 pounds including a 6.54-pound kicker. For the Pro Division victory, Henry took home a check for $3500 for his win.
“Fishing was a little tougher today for me. I’ve been catching fish a little better up here on Lake Oconee. I think this dirtier water kind of messed me up a little bit. I ran down the lake and just kind of fished around. I had some electronics issues today and I wasn’t able to really look around with live scope or anything, so I just went fishing and happened to luck up on a little stretch. I was just winding down the bank and winding against docks. I did get a couple of the right bites. It was a little bit slow first thing and I ended up catching my limit by about 11:00am. I caught most of my fish from 10:00am to 11:00am. It got kind of a big lull of for part of the day and then I caught some around 2:00pm again and made a couple key culls. I’m just happy to have it, I’ve been chasing one of these eagle heads for a while. I’ve had a lot of 2nd place and top five finishes but never got the eagle done until now. “Henry said.
Second place for the Pros, Justin Kimmel of Athens, GA landed a 5-bass limit weighing 18.64 pounds. He earned $1800 for his catch.
“I did not lose anything to get me to 21lbs. Matt and I fish together out here all the time so we basically cut the lake in half. I fished the other zone and we just kind of worked towards each other. I couldn’t get the big ones to go on anything fun, I had to pull out the spinning rod. I have been catching a lot of fish on a drop shot Missile Magic Worm. I had to pull out some other spinning rod tricks today but keeping it finesse and stuff that is not going to work tomorrow in that 15 to 20 mile per hour wind. I caught my fish from about 2 feet to 24 feet today.” Kimmel said.
John “Brad” Stalnaker of Eatonton, GA took the third spot for the Pros. He landed a 5-bass limit going 18.36 pounds including the big bass that weighed 6.86-pounds. He earned $1200 for his finish and an additional $450 for the big bass award.
“No secret with me, everybody knows how I fish. I caught all my fish shallow on jigs spinnerbait, and buzzbait. I am not a finesse fisherman so if I come in with some weight, you know pretty much I’m power fishing. I ran from one end of this lake to the other. Hats off to Matt Henry and Justin Kimmel for first and second. I caught that big bass on a buzzbait. I haven’t had a buzzbait bite in probably two months. Actually, I think Kimmel got to witness that bite, but you know it happened, I mean you got to keep it honest. I mean you never know on this lake when you might get a big buzzbait bite or any kind of top water bite. You never know when one might hit it. “Stalnaker said.
Finishing fourth, Martie Murphy of Thomaston, GA landed 5-bass weighing 17.12 pounds. Dylan Peppers of Good Hope, GA rounded out the top five Pros landed a 5-bass limit weighing 17.09 pounds.
At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2025 Ray Scott Championship to be held in April, 2026.
About American Bass Anglers
American Bass Anglers is dedicated to organizing affordable, local tournaments for weekend anglers while offering opportunities for individual angler advancement. To learn more about American Bass Anglers, including the Team Series, American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, ABA Team Series, Top 150 Solo Tour, and Professional League, all presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
American Bass Anglers is proud to be sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, WattCycle Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
For more information, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
