May 7, 2023 Elberton, GA. Division 25 South Carolina – Northwest anglers fish their two-day divisional championship on Lake Russell launching from Highway 72 ramp between Elberton, GA and Calhoun Falls, SC. on Saturday to kick off the beginning of the end of our 2023 season.
Day one was tough as the scales proved at the end of the day. Only 19 anglers brought back five-fish limits to the scales. Day two provided a much better outcome with 24 limits and some heavier weights. Donald Beck from Social Circle, GA scored the win with a five fish limit each day a two-day total of ten bass that hit the scales with a combined total weight of 26.30lb. which included a 4.94lb kicker largemouth. For the win, Beck took home $1530 and a plaque for his first place finish, as well as $222 in prize money from the first place option pot, bringing his total to $1752.
Second amongst the competitors was Greg Glouse from Liberty, SC who filled a limit each day and took the early lead on day one with 13.32, and on day two he added 11.95 for a total of 25.30 pounds, exactly one pound behind Beck. For his efforts Greg took home a plaque plus $974 in cash as well as an additional $148 in prize money from the second-place option pot, bringing his total to $1122.
Third place was claimed by Tony Holliday of Piedmont, SC. Tony bagged a limit each day and brought ten fish to scales with a combined total weight of 24.02lb. His day-two sack was anchored by a massive 7.11lb largemouth. For his efforts, he took home $442 cash for his third-place finish.
Fourth place was taken by Alex Prince of Blue Ridge, GA who brought a limit to the scales each day. His total of ten bass weighed in at 21.96lb. and earned him $332 in prize money.
Fifth place was received by Rodney “Krowbar” Cromer of Pomaria, SC who caught a limit each day and weighed in ten nice fish for 20.70lb anchored on his second-day scale visit by a hefty 5.35lb largemouth. His hard work earned him $260 cash.
Jayme Rampey from Liberty, SC, took down sixth place and our last paid position with a limit each day and ten bass with a combined total weight of 19.25lb. that earned him $188.
We awarded a Big Bass for each day this season and for Day 1 the honors go to Danny Taylor of Buckhead, Ga who bagged a nice 4.47lb largemouth. His catch earned him $190 and a plaque. Good catch Danny!
Big Bass for Day 2 goes to Tony Holliday of Piedmont, SC who brought a whopping 7.11lb largemouth to the scale and earned himself another $190 and a plaque. Good catch Tony!
Angler of the Year: It has been a close race for the head of the leaderboard all season long as our top five were only mere points away from each other, but Tony Holliday’s third-place finish here solidified his efforts to dominate the top of our division. It doesn’t get more dramatic than a Cinderella-style finish at the divisional championship, coming from behind and grinding hard to lock in the win! Please join me in congratulating him for his hard work and effort put forth to keep himself at the top. For his efforts he received a trophy and $170 cash to pay for his entry into the AFT National Championship on Lake Hartwell. Great job Tony!
| PL | Angler | Fish | Big Bass | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donald Tony A. Beck | 10 | 4.49 | 26.30 | 400 | 1530 |
| 2 | Gregory Glouse | 10 | 25.30 | 398 | 974 | |
| 3 | Tony Holliday | 10 | 7.11 | 24.02 | 396 | 442 |
| 4 | Alex T. Prince | 10 | 21.96 | 394 | 332 | |
| 5 | Rodney Cromer | 10 | 5.35 | 20.70 | 392 | 260 |
| 6 | James Rampey | 10 | 19.25 | 390 | 188 | |
| 7 | Darren l. Taylor | 10 | 2.94 | 18.36 | 388 | |
| 8 | Kim K. Neal | 10 | 3.88 | 18.22 | 386 | |
| 9 | Mike J. Guilbeau | 8 | 3.84 | 17.77 | 384 | |
| 10 | Mark Burns | 10 | 17.39 | 382 | 166 | |
| 11 | Richard J. Futch | 10 | 3.00 | 17.19 | 380 | |
| 12 | Timothy R. Kelley | 9 | 4.08 | 16.51 | 378 | |
| 13 | Mack Mack D. McKelvey | 10 | 16.00 | 376 | 130 | |
| 14 | Wally C. Williams | 10 | 3.28 | 14.82 | 374 | |
| 15 | Zachary A. Green | 8 | 12.98 | 372 | ||
| 15 | Evan D. Sheppard | 10 | 3.14 | 12.98 | 372 | |
| 17 | Greg N. Tarbuck | 9 | 12.94 | 368 | ||
| 18 | Wayman Coleman | 10 | 12.70 | 366 | ||
| 18 | Jesse L. Elder | 8 | 12.70 | 366 | ||
| 20 | Duane E. Houk | 9 | 12.04 | 362 |
I would like to thank everyone who came out and fished with us this season, I hope you all had a great as time as I had fishing with everyone. It was good to see all of our old friends again and it was good to have made some new ones this year as well. I hope to see everyone again next season. Y’all have a good summer and God bless.
The next tournament in this division will take place in the month of September 2023 and will begin the 2024 fishing season. The date, lake, and ramp are yet to be determined but will be posted as soon as they are available.
For more information on this event or division please contact local director Zach Green at 478-733-6473 or visit www.americanbassanglers.com
The American Fishing Tour offers low cost, close to home bass tournaments that are designed for the weekend angler. All anglers fish for both money and points. The points advance the angler to their divisional championship and the top 500 anglers in the US will be invited to the American Fishing Tour National Championship next October at Lake Hartwell.
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.
