Elberton, GA, January 14, 2024 – Lane Clark from Anderson, SC, emerged as the champion in the Division 25 South Carolina Northwest Tournament held on Lake Russell. The event saw 33 anglers setting off from the Highway 72 ramp, spanning between Elberton, GA, and Calhoun Falls, SC. Out of these, 14 anglers succeeded in bringing five-fish limits to the scales. However, it was Lane Clark who stood out with his five bass weighing a total of 16.02 lbs, including a notable 5.02 lb largemouth. Clark’s victory awarded him a total of $897, comprising $723 for the win and an additional $174 from the first-place option pot, along with a commemorative plaque.
Justin Raines from Easley, SC, clinched the second position with his five fish totaling 14.97 lbs, anchored by a 3.79 lb spotted bass, earning him $454 plus an extra $116 from the second-place option pot.
Blake Campbell, also from Anderson, SC, captured the third spot with a total catch of 14.00 lbs, receiving $187 in cash.
In the fourth place, Russell Clark of Abbeville, SC, presented a five-fish bag weighing 13.66 lbs, securing $144 in prize money.
Jay Futch of Greenwood, SC, achieved fifth place with his 13.18 lb catch, earning $108.
Additionally, the largest bass of the tournament, a 5.02 lb largemouth, was caught by Lane Clark, bringing him an extra $165 and a plaque for this achievement.
The top ten finishers were as follows:
| wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | PL | Angler | Fish | BB | Total | Points | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Lane Clark | 5 | 5.02 | 16.12 | 200 | $723 | ||||
| 2 | 2 | Justin K. Raines | 5 | 3.79 | 14.97 | 199 | $454 | ||||
| 3 | 3 | Blake S. Campbell | 5 | 14.00 | 198 | $187 | |||||
| 4 | 4 | Russell H. Clark | 5 | 13.66 | 197 | $144 | |||||
| 5 | 5 | Richard J. Futch | 5 | 3.42 | 13.18 | 196 | $108 | ||||
| 6 | 6 | Thomas C. Stacy | 5 | 13.12 | 195 | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | Justin DeBose | 5 | 13.09 | 194 | ||||||
| 8 | 7 | Jonathon D. Webb | 5 | 3.56 | 13.09 | 194 | |||||
| 9 | 9 | Zachary A. Green | 5 | 12.80 | 192 | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | Wayne J. Davenport | 3 | 3.79 | 10.46 | 191 |
The upcoming tournament in this division is scheduled for February 3, 2024, at Clark’s Hill Lake, launching from Dorn Fishing Facility in McCormick, SC. For more details on this event or the division, contact local director Zach Green at 478-733-6473 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 Professional League, the American Fishing Tour, ABA Team Series, 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
