Loganville, Georgia – On November 25, 2023, bass angler Josh George showcased his skills and emerged the winner at the AFT D72 tournament held on the famed waters of Lake Sinclair. George’s performance yielded a five-bass limit that tipped the scales at 17.98 pounds, securing him the first-place trophy and a substantial cash prize of $824. The pinnacle of his catch was a remarkable 5.54-pound bass, demonstrating his prowess on the water.
Hailing from Dublin, Georgia, Jamie Fountain followed closely behind, finishing in second place with a total weight of 16.45 pounds. Fountain’s performance earned him a well-deserved $576 in cash, in addition to the second-place trophy, with his largest bass weighing in at 4.70 pounds.
Phillip Morris of Monticello, Georgia, showcased his angling finesse by reeling in a remarkable 5.63-pound bass, securing the optional Big Bass pot, which amounted to a substantial $530 in cash. Morris also claimed the Big Bass trophy, cementing his position as a notable contender in the competition.
53 skilled anglers vied for their share of the total payouts, which amounted to an impressive $2,597 across the top eight positions. The top ten finishers in this fiercely contested tournament are as follows:
| wdt_ID | PL | Angler | F | BB | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Josh M. George | 5 | 5.54 | 17.98 | 200 | 824 |
| 3 | 2 | Jamie M. Fountain | 5 | 4.7 | 16.45 | 199 | 576 |
| 4 | 3 | Carl H. Hayes III | 5 | 5.24 | 14.45 | 198 | 310 |
| 5 | 4 | Zach A. Thrower | 5 | 5.01 | 14.05 | 197 | 259 |
| 6 | 5 | Terry L. Adams | 5 | 13.64 | 196 | 223 | |
| 7 | 6 | Phillip J. Morris | 5 | 5.63 | 12.88 | 195 | 187 |
| 8 | 7 | Rob Johnston | 4 | 4.18 | 11.82 | 194 | 144 |
| 9 | 8 | James R. Golden | 5 | 11.78 | 193 | 72 | |
| 10 | 9 | Grant T. Kelly | 5 | 11.06 | 192 | ||
| 11 | 10 | Les R. Charles | 5 | 11.05 | 191 | ||
| 12 | 11 | John B. Stalnaker | 5 | 10.57 | 190 | ||
| 13 | 12 | Brandon S. Classon | 5 | 10.52 | 189 | ||
| 14 | 13 | Kevin H. Baggett | 5 | 10.41 | 188 | ||
| 15 | 14 | Jerry N. Jones | 5 | 10.36 | 187 | ||
| 16 | 15 | William T. Stewart | 5 | 4.84 | 10.34 | 186 | |
| 17 | 16 | Brian W. Garner | 5 | 10.1 | 185 | ||
| 18 | 17 | Adam J. Windham | 5 | 4.04 | 9.66 | 184 | |
| 19 | 18 | Anthony S. Brantley | 5 | 9.63 | 183 | ||
| 20 | 19 | Niles Murray | 4 | 5.54 | 9.26 | 182 | |
| 21 | 19 | Henry L. Starks | 5 | 9.26 | 182 |
Following the distribution of trophies and cash prizes, five fortunate anglers were drawn to receive $50 bills as additional prizes. The lucky winners included Grant Kelly, David Simmons, William Glawson, Niles Murray, and Todd Stewart. Furthermore, Carl Hayes had the distinction of winning a custom wooden American flag, while Charlie Adams walked away with a US Reel.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Danny Taylor and Bob Clark for their invaluable contributions, including overseeing morning registration, conducting boat checks, and meticulously weighing the fish at the scale.
Our upcoming tournament in this division is scheduled for December 9 on Lake Oconee, departing from Sugar Creek Marina. Should you have any inquiries or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Director Benny Howell at 770-365-4795. We look forward to another exciting and competitive event on the water.
Benny Howell is the current reining King of the Hill, an award presented at the end of each season to the top director of that season.
These anglers earn valuable points toward the divisional angler of the year title. The points champion from each division will compete in the annual American Bass Anglers AFT Angler of The Year Final Round at the AFT Championship. In addition, the top 500 anglers from the various divisions will earn the right to compete in the three-day ABA, AFT National Championship tournament.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, 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
