On January 27, 2024, Lance Collins from Monticello, GA, emerged the winner at the AFT D72 tournament at Lake Oconee. Collins secured first place with a five-bass limit weighing 22.54 pounds, earning a first-place trophy and $640 in cash. His catch was highlighted by an 8.33-pound bass, which also won him the Big Bass pot of $260 and a trophy.
Scott Jeffers from Dublin, GA, placed second with a total weight of 16.56 pounds, receiving $389 and the second-place trophy. Sam Dyal and Niles Murray finished in third and fourth places, respectively, with catches of 15.48 and 15.31 pounds, each earning payouts for their five-bass limits.
Sam Montgomery landed a notable 5.12-pound bass but did not catch additional keepers for the scale. The tournament featured 26 competitors and offered total payouts of $1,274 spread across four places.
In addition to the awards, a $50 Sugar Creek Marina gift card and a $50 bill were distributed as draw prizes to the anglers, with Grant Kelly and Richard Carey being the lucky recipients.
Top 10 Anglers
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | PL | Angler | Fish | BB | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | Lance T. Collins | 5 | 8.33 | 22.54 | 200 | $640 | ||||
| 3 | 2 | Scott Jeffers | 5 | 16.56 | 199 | $389 | |||||
| 4 | 3 | Samuel E. Dyal | 5 | 15.48 | 198 | $137 | |||||
| 5 | 4 | Niles Murray | 5 | 4.42 | 15.31 | 197 | $108 | ||||
| 6 | 5 | Brian C. Hyde | 4 | 13.26 | 196 | ||||||
| 7 | 6 | Phillip J. Morris | 5 | 13.11 | 195 | ||||||
| 8 | 7 | Grant T. Kelly | 5 | 12.98 | 194 | ||||||
| 9 | 8 | William R. Payton Sr | 5 | 4.44 | 12.61 | 193 | |||||
| 10 | 9 | Derek N. Johnson | 5 | 11.96 | 192 | ||||||
| 11 | 10 | Jerry N. Jones | 5 | 10.38 | 191 |
Special thanks are extended to Bob Clark and Danny Taylor for their assistance with morning registration, boat checks, and weighing fish.
The next tournament in this division is scheduled for February 10, 2024, at Lake Oconee, launching from Sugar Creek Marina. For further inquiries, 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
