June 7, 2025 – Candlewood Lake, CT. The 2025 season kicked off in dramatic fashion for American Fishing Tour Division 6 as anglers battled it out on Candlewood Lake this past Saturday. Known for its clear water, deep structure, and healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, Candlewood Lake delivered a nail-biter of a tournament where just over a pound separated the top five finishers.
Mike Zampese rose to the occasion with a winning five-fish limit weighing 14.78 pounds, securing the first blue trophy of the season in a highly competitive field. Just behind him was Sean Lemanski, who claimed second with 14.63 pounds and also landed the event’s Big Fish, a standout 5.05-pound largemouth.
Greg Del Russo took third place with 14.25 pounds, while Russell Awad finished fourth with 13.87, and Charles Jedlica rounded out the top five with 13.75 pounds.
Nestled in western Connecticut, Candlewood Lake is the largest lake in the state, covering over 5,000 acres. With its submerged humps, rocky points, and abundant forage, it offers a dynamic challenge for bass anglers throughout the season. On this day, it showcased just how competitive and closely matched the AFT field can be.
Thank you to all the anglers who came out to compete. We look forward to seeing everyone back on Candlewood for the next event this Saturday, June 14th!
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About American Bass Anglers
American Bass Anglers, committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments, offers an exciting platform for individual angler progression. With the support of industry-leading companies, ABA continues to advance the sport of bass fishing.
For more information about the American Couples Series, 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.
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
