Sparta, Georgia – James Clements emerged as the winner of the AFT D72 bass tournament, which took place on December 16, 2023, at Lake Oconee. Clements showcased his skills, catching a five-bass limit weighing 18.43 pounds, securing the first-place trophy and a cash prize of $837. Additionally, he reeled in a 5.73-pound catch to claim the optional Big Bass pot, earning an extra $590 in cash along with the Big Bass trophy.
In a competitive field, Grant Kelly followed closely behind with a sack weighing 14.95 pounds, earning him $608 in cash and the second-place trophy, thanks to a notable 4.52-pound catch.
The tournament saw the participation of 59 anglers, all competing for a share of the $2,891 in total payouts distributed to the top nine positions.
Top 20 Anglers
| wdt_ID | PL | Angler | Fish | BB | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | James H. Clements | 5 | 5.73 | 18.43 | 200 | 837 |
| 2 | 2 | Grant T. Kelly | 5 | 4.52 | 14.95 | 199 | 608 |
| 3 | 3 | Kenneth Cash | 5 | 12.74 | 198 | 346 | |
| 4 | 4 | Brian C. Hyde | 5 | 4.04 | 12.14 | 197 | 291 |
| 5 | 5 | Lance Collins | 5 | 12.12 | 196 | 248 | |
| 6 | 6 | Josh M. George | 5 | 3.92 | 11.75 | 195 | 212 |
| 7 | 7 | John B. Stalnaker | 5 | 11.21 | 194 | 169 | |
| 8 | 8 | James R. Golden | 4 | 3.95 | 11.03 | 193 | 108 |
| 9 | 9 | David H. Lowery | 5 | 11.01 | 192 | 72 | |
| 10 | 10 | Adam R. Wicks | 5 | 3.53 | 10.99 | 191 | |
| 11 | 11 | Aaron E. Batson | 5 | 10.41 | 190 | ||
| 12 | 12 | Scott Jeffers | 5 | 4.08 | 10.19 | 189 | |
| 13 | 13 | Shawn M. Nabus | 5 | 9.89 | 188 | ||
| 14 | 14 | Derek N. Johnson | 5 | 9.68 | 187 | ||
| 15 | 15 | Mike Cleveland | 4 | 3.01 | 9.56 | 186 | |
| 16 | 16 | Jamie M. Fountain | 5 | 8.91 | 185 | ||
| 17 | 17 | Jim C. Windham | 4 | 8.82 | 184 | ||
| 18 | 18 | Tony Couch | 5 | 8.63 | 183 | ||
| 19 | 19 | Kevin H. Baggett | 4 | 2.96 | 8.31 | 182 | |
| 20 | 20 | Anthony S. Brantley | 5 | 8.05 | 181 |
The post-tournament festivities featured the distribution of cash prizes and trophies, as well as the presentation of draw prizes to several fortunate participants. Notable recipients of the draw prizes included Bill Payton, James Dudley, Clifford Avery, and Carl Wilson, each receiving $50 bills. Jerry Jones was the recipient of a $50 Sugar Creek Marina gift card, while Clifford Avery was additionally awarded a $200 Kissel Krafts Rods gift certificate
The success of this event was made possible through the efforts of Danny Taylor and Bob Clark, who played key roles in facilitating the morning registration process, conducting boat checks, and overseeing the weighing of fish at the scale.
The upcoming tournament in this division is scheduled for January 13, 2024, and will take place on Lake Sinclair, departing from the Dennis Station DNR ramp. For any inquiries or further information, please contact Director Benny Howell at 770-365-4795.
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
