Sparta, Georgia – James Clements took the win at the tournament held on December 9, 2023, at the pristine Lake Oconee. This location, nestled in the heart of Georgia, provided the backdrop for the American Fishing Tour Georgia Division 72 bass tournament.
Mr. Clements brought in a limit five-bass limit that tipped the scales at 16.38 pounds, securing the win. His performance earned him the first-place trophy and a cash prize of $849. In addition to this achievement, Mr. Clements had the largest bass weighing in at 5.59-pounds and added $610 in cash to his earnings netting him a total of $1,459.
The runner-up in this highly competitive event was Josh George, who weighed in 15.87 pounds and took secured place. He took the second-place prize of $620 and the second-place trophy. Josh’s largest fish weighed in at 4.85 pounds.
The tournament had 61 dedicated anglers who competed for a total payout of $2,989, distributed amongst the top nine places:
Top 20 Finishers
| wdt_ID | Pl | Angler | Fish | BB | Weight | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | James H. Clements | 5 | 5.59 | 16.38 | 200 | 849 |
| 2 | 2 | Josh M. George | 5 | 4.85 | 15.87 | 199 | 620 |
| 3 | 3 | Wayne Garner | 5 | 4.46 | 15.03 | 198 | 360 |
| 4 | 4 | Tony Couch | 5 | 12.90 | 197 | 303 | |
| 5 | 5 | Kenneth Cash | 5 | 5.05 | 12.72 | 196 | 259 |
| 6 | 6 | Scott Jeffers | 5 | 12.63 | 195 | 223 | |
| 7 | 7 | Lance Collins | 5 | 12.33 | 194 | 180 | |
| 8 | 8 | Rob Johnston | 5 | 4.22 | 11.96 | 193 | 123 |
| 9 | 9 | Jerry N. Jones | 5 | 11.85 | 192 | 72 | |
| 10 | 10 | William C. Glawson | 5 | 11.58 | 191 | ||
| 11 | 11 | Terry L. Adams | 4 | 4.62 | 11.57 | 190 | |
| 12 | 12 | Travis D. Clay | 5 | 3.79 | 11.17 | 189 | |
| 13 | 13 | Barry O. Collins | 5 | 10.96 | 188 | ||
| 14 | 14 | David H. Lowery | 5 | 10.93 | 187 | ||
| 15 | 14 | Chris Saunders | 5 | 10.93 | 187 | ||
| 16 | 16 | Richard Carey II | 5 | 10.57 | 185 | ||
| 17 | 17 | Derek N. Johnson | 5 | 10.56 | 184 | ||
| 18 | 18 | Cole Holloway | 5 | 10.19 | 183 | ||
| 19 | 19 | Gregory C. Yarbrough | 5 | 3.24 | 10.11 | 182 | |
| 20 | 20 | Aaron E. Batson | 5 | 10.01 | 181 |
After the distribution of trophies and cash prizes, the event featured a thrilling draw prize segment. Four lucky anglers, namely Steve Dobbs, Chris Saunders, David Lowery, and Greg Yarbrough, walked away with $50 bills, adding an extra layer of excitement to the festivities. Connor Hatch was the fortunate recipient of a $50 Sugar Creek Marina gift card, while Grant Kelly secured a custom wooden American flag.
The success of this tournament was made possible through the dedication and support of Danny Taylor and Bob Clark, who played instrumental roles in facilitating morning registration, conducting boat checks, and meticulously weighing the catch at the scale.
The next tournament in this division is slated for December 16, and it will once again take place on the picturesque Lake Oconee, with the Sugar Creek Marina serving as the launch point. For any inquiries or further information, please do not hesitate to contact Director Benny Howell at 770-365-4795.
In conclusion, the AFT D72 tournament on Lake Oconee provided a thrilling showcase of angling talent against the backdrop of this stunning Georgia location, making it an unforgettable day for all participants and spectators alike.
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
