JEFFERSON, Texas – Brennan M. Flick opened a good lead during the first day of the American Bass Anglers Top 150 Solo Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Southwest Division second tournament of the season, held April 28, 2023, on Lake O’ the Pines, Texas.
Launching at Lakeside Park in Jefferson, Texas, for the 2-day event, Flick from West Monroe, La. landed a 5-bass tournament limit weighing 24.04 pounds. He topped that catch with a 7.50-pounder, the second largest bass brought in on Day 1. That big fish gave him a 4.81-pound average on the first day.
“The anglers had a picture-perfect day for fishing with 50-degree temperatures in the morning, clear skies and a light breeze,” reported Tournament Director Chris Wayand. “It warmed up to the upper 70s later in the day. The fishing is getting better from the post-spawn blues with some great catches made including four bass exceeding six pounds, but the bass have not committed to their summer patterns yet. Some of the anglers reported shad spawns happening. We’ll see what the final day brings.”
Holding second among the competitors, Wesley Dawson of Chester, Texas, also landed a 5-bass limit. His bag weighed 22.27 pounds, about one pound, 12 ounces off the pace. He capped his catch with an 8.73-pound largemouth, the largest fish landed on Day 1.
Sitting in third, Arthur A. Johnson from Judson, Texas, brought in five bass for 21.48 pounds. Lance J. Silvertooth of Kilgore, Texas, occupies fourth place after one day with five bass and 20.95 pounds.
Rounding out the top five leaders after Day 1, Benji Gulett came over from Converse, La. to catch a 5-bass daily limit going 20.25. Gulett anchored that sack with a 6.05-pound mossback, the fourth largest bass caught on the first day.
Leading the second five, Blake A. Schroeder from Whitehouse, Texas, caught five good keepers for 19.59 pounds. Jeffrey D. Kennedy of Longview, Texas, holds seventh place after Day 1 with five bass at 18.04 pounds.
Jeffery L. Rice from Shreveport, La. brought in a limit for 17.75 pounds and currently occupies eighth place, followed by Scott Hoing of Diana, Texas with five bass and 17.27 pounds. Michael R. Clements from Santa Fe, Texas, rounds out the Day 1 Top 10 with four keepers for 16.26 pounds.
The action at Lake O’ the Pines continues through April 29, 2023. The public is invited to attend the free weigh-in at Lakeside Park, located at 5177 FM 726 in Jefferson, Texas.
The Southwest Division wraps up its season May 26-27, 2023, at Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Louisiana-Texas line. That event runs out of Lost Frontier, located at 5518 Texas-21 in Hemphill, Texas. To register for the Toledo Bend event, CLICK HERE
The ABA Top 150 Solo Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Southeast and Southwest Divisions each hold three 2-day tournaments for the season. Both divisions offer big cash payouts and chances for anglers to advance to higher levels of competition.
Each angler pays $600 to enter each divisional tournament and everyone fishes alone both days. No more than 150 anglers can participate in any divisional event. If 150 anglers participate, the winner will take home a guaranteed $20,000. If fewer competitors register, the top 20 percent of the field will each earn a portion of the prize money, based upon the number of entries.
Anglers could also qualify for one of two post-season tournaments. The top 15 points holders in each division at the end of the regular season will qualify to fish the ABA Top 150 Solo Series Championship, providing they fished all three of their divisional events. The Tour Championship will take place Oct. 6-7, 2023, at a venue to be announced later.
Conducted like the divisional events, the Tour Championship will involve two days of intense competition with the winner taking home $25,000. In addition, every angler in the field will receive a payout.
Anglers who did not qualify for the Tour Championship by points, but who fished all three of the qualifiers in their division, will be invited to fish a 2-day Wild Card event, slated for Lake Neely Henry. That event will run out of Coosa Landing, located at 200 Lake Street in Gadsden, Ala. on July 14-15, 2023.
From this Wild Card tournament, the top five anglers will advance to the ABA Top 150 Solo Series Championship. Qualifying through their divisions by points and additionally from the Wild Card, the Tour Championship field will total 35 competitors.
Moreover, the top five anglers by points from each division after the Tour Championship will be eligible to fish the 2024 Ray Scott Championship. The 9th annual Ray Scott Championship, Presented by Caymas Boats, will be held on Lake Chickamauga near Dayton, Tenn. during the week of March 30-April 6, 2024.
In addition, anglers may qualify for bonus money offered by such tournament sponsors as Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, the T-H Marine Atlas Awards program and Power Pole. See each manufacturer’s website for details, rules and qualifications for more information on their contingency programs.
Anyone who wishes to fish an ABA event, must become an ABA member. ABA members can receive discounts from some sponsors. For example, Optima Batteries will give ABA members 25 percent off and free shipping on any battery. Membership costs $35 a year, but anglers can save money by signing up for multiple years.
For more information or to register for any ABA Solo 150 event, see www.americanbassanglers.com/Top150.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, 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.
