Shaw Banks Takes Wins at Chickamauga

Dayton, TN, The Top 150 Solo Series presented by Caymas Boats launched Friday morning for day one of the two-day event from Dayton Boat Dock in Dayton, TN, located on Chickamauga Lake. Talk at the ramp had expectations mixed as to what it would take to win. The weather had been stable, but a weak cold front was coming through on Friday with some wind, and temps would be dropping for Friday night into the upper 50`sand Saturday winds would be lower. Banks Shaw, a member of the UNA Fishing Team and from Harrison, TN took the lead on day one with 29.26 lbs with a kicker of 8.75lbs and followed up with a more impressive bag of 34.15 lbs to take the win on Saturday with a total of 63.14 lbs total and earned a check dor $11,500.00.

Banks had figured out a pattern when he won our Pro League Tournament on May 11th this year that was still working for him. By scanning and scoping the bait balls on the ledges and in the creek channels he could follow the fish catching numbers and hunting the bigger fish in the area.

Conner Jacob, From the AU Fishing Team and from Auburn, AL was sitting in Second Place only .70 lbs behind Banks with 28.56 lbs with a Lunker 9.26 lb bass which held on for Big Bass Honors for the event. Connor added another 33.40lbs on Saturday to hold on to Second Place with a total of 61.96 lbs. With his Second Place Finish comes a nice plaque and a check of $4900.00. His Lunker of 9.26 lbs earned him a check of $1000.00 for Big Bass of the event. Connor had found multiple schools during practice and ran back and forth between them looking for the better fish to feed. On Friday his best fish along with his biggest bass came of a 1/2 oz white hair jig andSaturday’s fish cam on green football jig.

Jeff Walker from Kingston, TN, came in Third Place with a total of 53.47 lbs, a check for $3500.00, and a Third-Place Plaque. Jeff caught his fish off a rockpile he found in the mouth of a creek that had a large school of bass holding on to it. All his fish bit on a football jig with a beaver-style trailer. He would cast it out, let it go to the bottom, and hop it back to the boat, and the fish would bite on the fall.

Rusty White Jr. of Soddy Daisy, TN, brought in a total of 42.38 lbs, anchored by a 6.65lb bass, to come in Fourth Place for $2000.00. Rusty caught his fish by fishing deep holes on Friday with a Carolina rig, deep-diving crankbaits, and a big spoon. Saturday, he couldn`t get the deep bite going, so he adjusted to generate the frog and buzz bait bite.

James Brad Harmon of Ringgold, GA, coming in as for Fifth Place, probably overcame and adapted the best of all the anglers. He took off from launch and sheared his prop shaft off on his way to his first stop. He was able to get his boat dealer to send a mechanic with a new lower unit to Dayton while he was being towed back to the ramp. The mechanic changed out the lower unit and had him back in the water in 25 minutes as we stood there and watched. We figured he lost a little over three hours of fishing time, instead of giving up he went back out and ended up with 35.42lbs and picked up $1400.00.

For more information on upcoming tournaments, call Michael Garlen, Tournament Manager, at 256-497-8363 or ABA at 256-232-0406.

About American Bass Anglers

American Bass Anglers, committed to providing low-cost, close-to-home tournaments, offers an exciting platform for individual angler progression. With the support of industry-leading companies, ABA continues to advance the sport of bass fishing.

For more information on the Top 150 Solo and all other other series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.

American Bass Anglers is proud to be sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.