Buckhead, GA. Anthony “Scott” Hayes won the 2024 American Bass Anglers Professional League, Presented by Caymas Boats, Georgia Division 8 tournament, held September 28 – 29, 2024, on Lake Oconee.
Running out of Sugar Creek Marina in Buckhead, GA, the Wedowee, AL angler caught a two-day total of ten bass weighing 28.12 pounds, including a kicker bass that weighed 4.64 pounds. For the Pro Division victory, Hayes took home a check for $3500 for his win.
“I was throwing top water up to about 10:00 AM in the morning and then flipping docks the rest of the day. I caught all my fish in one core area it was crazy. If you found an area with fish, you had better fish the mess out of it because there might be plenty of fish there, and then you might go fish for two hours and not get a bite. It was tough, but it was an area that was probably a few hundred yards, and almost everything I weighed in came off that one stretch both days. I was fishing in the mid-lake area, and I just got lucky. “Hayes said.
Second place, Aaron Batson of Mansfield, GA, landed a two-day total of nine bass weighing 26.44 pounds. He earned $1800 for the effort.
“Everything I caught was on docks, 100% docks, either flipping soft plastics or jigs both days. I fished mid-lake 44 down to Lick Creek and up just a little bit.” Batson said.
Travis Clay of Jackson, GA, took the third spot. He landed a two-day total of ten bass, going 24.24 pounds. He earned $1200 for his finish.
“I lost one 3-pounder, but it wouldn’t have helped, but I caught everything on a jig. I was mostly fishing docks and sea walls a little above I-20.” Clay said
The big bass award went to Chris Nelson of Social Circle, GA, for a 5.15-pound lunker. Nelson earned $470 for that fish.
“I caught that big bass on the Texas rig Brush Hog. There was one laydown that was obviously new from the storm and still had pretty green leaves, and I just pitched in, and it was there. It was probably 11:00 AM when I caught her. “Nelson said.
Finishing fourth, Thomas Earnest of Covington, GA, landed ten bass weighing 24.22 pounds. Grant Kelly of Milledgeville, GA, rounded out the top five landing ten bass weighing 24.20 pounds.
Top 25
At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance to the 2024 Ray Scott Championship, to be held at Lake Eufaula in April 2025.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. Online, see www.americanbassanglers.com
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 about the ABA Professional League and the Top 150 Solo Tour, 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, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
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 Professional League, all presented by Caymas Boats, please visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406.
