Henry Starks of Byron, GA. takes the win at the AFT D74 tournament held at Lake Blackshear on 25 March 2023. His five-fish limit tipped the scales at 14.45 pounds to take first place for $288. Henry stated that a combination of top water and spinnerbaits contributed to his success. His catch was anchored by a 5.26 pounder earning him an additional $80 for big fish.
Second place was claimed by DeWayne Smith with five fish for a total weight of 12.76 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 4.38 pounder. His efforts earned him $104.
Coming in third was Johnny Smith with three fish weighing in at 7.40 pounds.
Fourth place was taken by Harry Cooper with a total weight of 3.73 pounds.
Finishing in fifth was Brett Mathis with 3.18 pounds.
The morning started out a little cool and windy with overcast skies. The temperature warmed up but there was a steady wind all day which made for some tough fishing. The upper end of the lake was stained from the recent rains. The spring bite’s getting better every day.
| PL | Angler | Fish | Big Bass | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry L. Starks | 5 | 5.26 | 14.45 | 189 | 288 |
| 2 | Dwayne D. Smith | 5 | 4.38 | 12.76 | 188 | 104 |
| 3 | Johnny L. Smith | 3 | 7.40 | 187 | ||
| 4 | Jason S. Law | 3 | 2.00 | 5.82 | 186 | |
| 5 | Harry A. Cooper | 3 | 2.32 | 3.73 | 185 |
The next tournament in this division will take place on Lake Blackshear April 8, 2023, launching from the Mega Ramp.
For more information on this event or division please contact local director Henry Starks 478-808-9701 or visit www.americanbassanglers.com
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
