Michael Stephens Takes NC Opener

ATHENS, Ala. – Michael D. Stephens won the 2024 American Bass Anglers Professional league, North Carolina division season opener held February 17th on Lake Norman. Running out of Pinnacle Wildlife Access the Gastonia North Carolina angler weighed in a five bass limit weighing 21.70 lbs. His limit was anchored by a bass weighing 5.33lbs.
Stephens took home $4800.00 for his win.

“I caught my fish on a Shane’s Alabama rig. It’s the best A-rig I’ve used said Stephens.
I covered a lot of water and caught them anywhere from 2-14 feet deep.”

“Taking second place, Cody Hoyle of Rutherfordton, NC weighed in a five bass limit totaling 20.98 lbs. Notably, his catch was anchored by a bass weighing 6.02 lbs., marking the largest bass caught throughout the tournament,” Hoyle stated. “I probably caught 40 fish today. Everything was on a crankbait in the 3-10 foot depth range,” he added. Hoyle’s impressive performance earned him a total prize of $3360.00.

“I caught three four pounders pretty quick. I then went awhile before I caught another one, also a four pounder. I caught the last fish to be weighed in about 35 minutes before I was due in,” recounted Lucas Helms of Mooresville, NC. “I caught my fish today on a crankbait and an Alabama rig shallow.” Helms secured third place in the competition, boasting a five bass limit weighing 20.76 lbs, earning him a prize of $1900.00.

Finishing fourth, Carson Orellana of Mooresville, NC, weighed in a five-bass limit weighing 20.63 lbs. and rounding out the top five, Chris Brown of Lexington, NC, weighed in five bass weighing 17.00 lbs.

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