Tomlin Win at Lake Martin Top 150 Solo

In Alexander City, Alabama, Blake Tomlin of Greenville, Georgia, triumphed at the Lake Martin Top 150 Solo, leading both days to capture first place with a total weight of 22.99 pounds, winning $11,500. Tomlin outcompeted 67 other anglers, demonstrating skill and strategy in a lake known for its abundance yet scarcity of larger fish.

Lake Martin, while prolific with fish, proved challenging for catching specimens over five pounds. Notably, the heaviest fish of the tournament, a 4.98-pound catch by Keith Blocker of Holly Pond, Alabama, earned him a $1,000 prize and the title for the biggest fish of the event.

Tomlin reflected on his approach, saying, “I was able to catch one good fish each morning on a shad spawn. I think I caught two fish on the first day off of bed, and I caught 1 fish on the second day off of bed that I weighed in. I managed to catch a few on a wacky worm, and I think that’s about it. It was a grind to try and find 2-pound fish or, better, caught plenty of 1-pound fish both days. I was fishing about halfway to the shoals hitting any and all the cover I could.”

Connor Jacobs of Auburn, Alabama, secured the second place with a total of 19.62 pounds over the two days, earning $4,900. He climbed from eighth place on the first day with a strategic change in his fishing technique. Jacobs shared, “I fished this lake a lot and I really had some ideas of what to do going into the event. I threw a whopper phlopper most of the day caught all my weight, except for my biggest one I caught a 3 1/2 LB spot off the bed early this morning on a wacky rig and the rest on a phlopper. Then yesterday I actually had 6 lbs until like 2:00 and I hit the last spot of the day and I’m caught a couple 2 pounders and a big one that really saved the day on that was out of phlopper and a jerk bait.”

Third place was claimed by Larry Franks of Wilsonville, Alabama, who managed to rise from seventeenth to third with a total weight of 19.08 pounds, winning $3,500. Franks described his strategy, “I covered as much water as I fishing a shaky head, I fished this bank all on day-1. I started on the same bank this morning and I didn’t catch anything. So I left there fishing new water with no luck, I went back in there at 2:00 today and culled for my 5 fish limit.”

Kenny Carroll of Opelika, Alabama, finished fourth with 19.07 pounds, earning $2,000. He recounted, “I was fishing mid river both days fishing top all day long on both days. But I did catch 1 fish on a Carolina rig of all things, to see if I catch fish a different way and that 1 was it.”

KC Choosakul of Cameron, North Carolina, rounded out the top five with a total of 19.02 pounds. He expressed gratitude for the local support after facing equipment issues, “First, I want thank people here in Alabama, some of the best people I have ever met. I had 2 lower units go out on my boat during practice, and the people Outboard Recycling came through both times with lower units for me. Also, I would like thank fellow competitor David Parsons for helping me out, by towing me in during one of my break downs, during practice. I caught most of my fish flipping I ran into my big fish it was sitting on the bed I threw the nasty ‘a bait that I make and sale’ into her bed and she bit. All the rest of my fish I caught flipping.”

Big Fish winner Keith Blocker of Holly Pond AL had a big fish of 4.98 pounds, he also finish in 11th place with a 2-day total of 16.92 pounds. The big fish was $1,000.00 and 11th place $750.00 giving him a payday of $1,750.00.

The next scheduled event is June 7-8,2024 on Lake Chickamauga, going out of Dayton Boat Dock Ramp.

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About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is dedicated to organizing affordable, local tournaments for weekend anglers while offering opportunities for individual angler advancement. To learn more about American Bass Anglers, including the Team Series, American Fishing Tour, American Couples Series, annual Military Team Bass Tournament, ABA Team Series, Top 150 Solo Tour, and Pro League, all presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.