June 13–14, 2026 – Candlewood Lake, Connecticut, The ABA American Fishing Tour Division 6 season came to an exciting conclusion on June 13–14 as anglers gathered on Connecticut’s famed Candlewood Lake for the Division Championship. When the final fish were weighed, Taurus Lopez emerged victorious with a two-day total of 29.20 pounds, earning the championship title and closing out the season in impressive fashion.
Located in western Connecticut, Candlewood Lake is the largest lake in the state, spanning more than 5,400 acres. Known for its healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, the lake routinely challenges anglers with changing weather conditions, offshore structure, deep grass lines, and abundant forage. Those factors were on full display throughout the championship weekend as competitors worked to unlock the lake’s productive early-summer patterns.
Lopez entered the second and final day with a narrow lead after weighing 14.14 pounds on day one. He followed that performance with 15.06 pounds on day two to secure the championship. Key to his success was finding quality kicker fish each day, including a 4.55-pound largemouth on day one and a 4.85-pound largemouth on day two.
For his victory, Lopez earned 368 points, the Division 6 Championship plaque, and $512 in prize money, including $392 for first place and $120 for Big Fish of the event.
“I only had around 9 pounds in the boat by 12:30 PM on the second day,” Lopez said. “It wasn’t until then when the wind picked up that I culled out almost everything I had on one wind-blown spot on a crankbait.”
Finishing in second place was Sean Lemanski, who posted a two-day total of 26.42 pounds. Lemanski demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the championship, bringing 13.75 pounds to the scales on day one and adding another 12.67 pounds on day two. His runner-up finish earned him 366 points and secured his second consecutive ABA Division 6 Angler of the Year title.
Despite the close points race, Lemanski maintained his typical relaxed approach throughout the season.
“I never even like to think about Angler-of-the-Year points,” Lemanski said. “I just go out to have fun.”
Third place belonged to Greg Del Russo, who finished with a two-day total of 23.30 pounds. After weighing 9.41 pounds on day one, Del Russo mounted a strong comeback on the final day with 13.89 pounds to climb into the third-place position and earn 364 points.
One of the standout performances of the tournament came from Greg Capozzi, who recorded the largest single-day catch of the event with a 15.95-pound limit on day two.
The championship also finalized the season-long Angler of the Year standings, which featured one of the closest races in Division 6 history.
Final ABA Division 6 Angler of the Year Standings
AFT Division 6 Top 5 Points
With just six points separating the top three anglers, the Division 6 season showcased a highly competitive field from start to finish.
The ABA would like to thank all of the anglers who supported Division 6 throughout the season and helped make another successful year possible. Congratulations to Taurus Lopez on his Division Championship victory, to Sean Lemanski on earning back-to-back Angler of the Year titles, and to all competitors for a memorable 2026 season.
We look forward to seeing everyone back on the water in 2027.
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 Fishing Tour and other series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
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, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
