ATHENS, Ala. — Michael Cooper from Hazlehurst, Mississippi, made quite the splash at the Ross Barnett Reservoir this week, and it wasn’t just the cold north winds stirring things up. The first MS Division Professional League tournament of the season kicked off with 35 anglers battling unpredictable conditions, and Cooper came out on top, pocketing $3,200 with a five-fish limit weighing 19.86 pounds.
Fishing the Rez this time of year is always a roll of the dice. Water levels swing wildly thanks to spring rains pouring in from the Pearl River, with the Pearl River Valley Water Supply keeping tabs on the spillway to manage the flow. The reservoir isn’t just a fishing haven—Jackson leans on it for boating and drinking water, too. Launching from Tommy’s Trading Post near Highway 43 on the north end, the field faced 37-degree temps and a day full of question marks. Cooper didn’t know it at the time, but each fish he hauled in was worth $640—and he made it look easy despite the odds.
“Man, my motor blew up first thing this morning—down to three cylinders,” Cooper said. “I pulled over to the nearest spot I’d practiced last week, and the fish were still there. I caught around 30, had my limit by 7:00 a.m., and culled 8 or 9 times. A crankbait and a jig on a flat near deep water were my go-to baits.”
Right behind him was Corey Sullivan from Brandon, Mississippi, who landed second place with a five-fish limit of 18.47 pounds, earning $1,400. His haul included a stunning 5.69-pound bass that nabbed him an extra $350 for big bass honors. “I was out there with an 8-inch Zoom lizard tied on—threw that and a Z-Man chatterbait all day,” Sullivan said with a grin. “Only got seven bites. Lost one early that didn’t matter and another that might’ve helped. I was in three to four feet of water—they weren’t deep. With the sun out now, I bet they’re biting like crazy. Next week’s warm weather should pull them up even more.”
Chad McGehee from Pearl, Mississippi, held the lead for a stretch during the weigh-in with his five-fish limit of 16.43 pounds, good for third place and $1,100—$220 per fish. “I scouted up the river yesterday and found some fish in an oxbow lake,” McGehee explained. “Didn’t catch much then, but I knew they were there. Today, I stayed put, flipping five different creature baits to timber in five feet of water. Got six keepers, culled once, and had my limit by 8:30 a.m. Slow day, but it felt good having them in the box early.”
Jay Mitchell of Canton, Mississippi, took fourth with 15.45 pounds for $950, while Mike Savell of Brandon rounded out the top five with 15.18 pounds, earning $600. Missed this one? No sweat—points for the Ray Scott Championship can come from any division nationwide, and just one event gets you in the running for the two-day fall finale. Mark May 17th for Tournament #2 back at Tommy’s.
At the end of the season, we will crown the Angler of the Year in this division, the top 10 who compete in all 4 divisional events and the top 200 anglers by points in the Nation will receive an invitation to fish the 2026 Ray Scott Championship.
For more information on upcoming tournaments call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406. Online, see www.americanbassanglers.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.
American Bass Anglers is proud to be sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Power Pole, WattCycle Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
For more information, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
