New Milford, Connecticut – June 14, 2025, The second stop of the 2025 American Fishing Tour (AFT) Division 6 season delivered a competitive showdown on Candlewood Lake in New Milford, Connecticut. Held on Saturday, June 14, anglers faced cooler-than-usual mid-June conditions, with temperatures in the low 60s, overcast skies, light rain, and steady ESE winds. Water temperatures ranged from the upper 60s to low 70s across the lake.
Topping the leaderboard was Greg Del Russo, who brought in a five-fish limit totaling 15.48 pounds. His winning effort earned him $337 and 190 valuable points toward the Angler of the Year race.
Close behind in second was Ryan Bell with 15.38 pounds. Bell also landed the event’s Big Fish, a 4.95-pound largemouth, bringing his total payout to $303 along with 189 points. Both anglers reported success fishing around docks using a combination of jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, and drop shot rigs.
Rounding out the top five were Russell Awad in third with 13.03 pounds, Sean Lemanski in fourth with 12.87 pounds, and Shane Stout in fifth with 12.52 pounds.
After two events, the Angler of the Year race in Division 6 is already tight. Greg Del Russo leads with 376 points, followed closely by Sean Lemanski (374), Russell Awad (373), and Gregory Capozzi (366). Ryan Bell (189) and Mike Zampese (188) remain strong contenders after fishing one event each.
The Division 6 schedule resumes after a short break with four more regular season events and a two-day championship in the fall. Anglers’ final AOY standings will be based on their best four one-day finishes and the championship results, with two drop tournaments factored in.
The next event is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, on Lake Zoar, launching from the State Launch from 6:00 AM to 2:30 PM. Thank you to all the anglers who participated—we look forward to another exciting event in August!
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
