Team Mangham Takes Title at Couples Championship
LEESBURG, ALA. – In an interesting turn of events during the concluding moments, Team Mangham emerged triumphant at the 2-day American Bass Anglers American Couples Series Championship, proudly Presented by Caymas Boats, on Oct. 26-27, 2023, at Weiss Lake.
Initiating their campaign from Leesburg Landing & RV Park, Rod, and Hope Mangham showcased consistent performance by reaching two consecutive 5-bass daily limits. Their diligent efforts resulted in a weight of 11.50 pounds on the first day and 9.00 pounds the following day. With an aggregate of 20.50 pounds, which included a significant 4.47-pound catch, they narrowly secured the title by a margin of 1.27 pounds. This notable victory earned them a commendable prize of $1918.
Reflecting on their strategy, Mangham detailed, “Our approach was consistent. Commencing each day with a buzzbait, we strategically fished around a bridge, specifically targeting the rip rap and bridge pilings. When that seemed less fruitful, we shifted our focus. Hope’s adeptness with a shaky-head black trick-worm proved invaluable. Consequently, we shifted to docks and eventually discovered a promising point filled with fish. Our strategy remained consistent over both days.”
In a commendable effort, the pair of Jim Windham and Beth Lamb ascended from fifth place on the inaugural day, despite having just three bass weighing 10.55 pounds, to second place. Their second-day haul of three bass, weighing 8.68-pounds, bolstered their total to 19.23 pounds, anchored by a 4.60-pound catch. Windham shared, “Our primary tools were a spinnerbait and a magnum beaver. Regrettably, we missed a few opportunities on day one which might have augmented our scores.”
Roger and JoAnn White clinched the third position with a comprehensive haul of ten bass over two days, weighing 18.93 pounds. Their accolades didn’t stop there; the duo also bagged the ‘Couples Anglers of the Year’ award. Commenting on their approach and the unexpected honor, White mentioned, “Our primary tools were a Rat-L-Trap and shaky-head, especially around bluff walls. Winning the ‘Anglers of the Year’ was a delightful surprise.”
The resilience of Benny and Joyce Howell was on full display. Despite motor malfunctions on the first day, which restricted them to only a trolling motor, they secured the fourth spot among the 46 participating couples. Their tenacity was rewarded with a total of 18.69 pounds over the championship.
Chase McClain and Brittany Dodd rounded off the top five spots with a consistent performance over the two days, bringing in a combined weight of 18.41 pounds.
The title for the heaviest bass of the event was clinched by Thomas Bancroft with a catch weighing 4.92 pounds.
Additionally, Thomas and Missy Bancroft won the King of the Hill Award for being the top couple directors for the 2023 season.
The American Couples Series provides a platform for angling pairs. Although most pairs are spouses, the series welcomes diverse team formations – from dating couples to parent-child duos. Throughout the year, teams compete in various regional or state divisions. However, the same team must consistently participate together throughout the season to accrue points and be eligible for the national championship.
The Top 20 Teams
| PL | Angler | Fish | Big Bass | Total | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rod Mangham-Hope Mangham | 10 | 4.47 | 20.50 | 1918 |
| 2 | Jim Windham-Beth Lamb | 6 | 4.60 | 19.23 | 959 |
| 3 | Roger White-JoAnn White | 10 | 3.57 | 18.93 | 677 |
| 4 | Benny Howell-Joyce Howell | 10 | 18.69 | 564 | |
| 5 | Chase McClain-Brittany Dodd | 10 | 3.50 | 18.41 | 508 |
| 6 | Kerry Wilson-Heather Wilson | 8 | 3.16 | 18.26 | 338 |
| 7 | Freddy Hunt-Billie Hunt | 9 | 16.83 | 282 | |
| 8 | Sean Capes-Kathy Capes | 10 | 16.81 | 226 | |
| 9 | James Collins Sr-Julie Collins | 10 | 15.81 | 169 | |
| 10 | Thomas Bancroft-Melissa Bancroft | 7 | 4.92 | 15.59 | |
| 11 | Michael Garlen-Rhonda Ford | 10 | 15.28 | ||
| 12 | Chris Fields-Genevra Fields | 10 | 15.04 | ||
| 13 | Larry Bailey-Tammy Hoffner | 10 | 3.22 | 13.10 | |
| 14 | Jeff Maddox-Amanda Maddox | 10 | 12.26 | ||
| 15 | Steve Hales-Andrea Caylor | 9 | 12.22 | ||
| 16 | Don Goodfellow-Martha Goodfellow | 9 | 11.85 | ||
| 16 | Conery Williams-Quanda Taylor-Williams | 7 | 11.85 | ||
| 18 | Darren Taylor-Amy Taylor | 10 | 3.01 | 11.83 | |
| 19 | Jeff Breeden-Pam Breeden | 9 | 2.05 | 10.91 | |
| 20 | Roger Lovvorn-Deanna Lovvorn | 10 | 10.29 |
The stage for the 2024 ABA American Couples Series Championship, Presented by Caymas Boats, is set at Santee Cooper in South Carolina.
In the American Couples Series, anglers pair up for a team effort. Most teams consist of a husband and a wife, but that’s not a rule. Teams can consist of a boyfriend and girlfriend combination, a father and daughter duo, or any combination of one male and one female.
The teams compete in several regional or state divisions throughout the year. Once a pair forms a team, however, the two must fish together as a team throughout the season to be eligible to accumulate points and qualify for the annual national championship.
The entry fee for the American Couples Series one-day events is $100, and the top teams are invited to compete in the championship each fall.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, RT Outdoors, Atlas Hydraulic Jackplate, Power Pole, Optima Batteries, HotelPlanner.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, including the American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, Professional League, ABA Team Series, and Top 150 Solo Tour, all proudly presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
