Jason Burroughs Win at Lake Keowee

ATHENS, Ala. – The 2025 American Bass Anglers Professional League, presented by Caymas Boats, launched its South Carolina Division 9 season in style on February 22nd at Lake Keowee. When the scales settled, it was Jason Burroughs of Hodges, SC, who claimed the top spot with an impressive performance.

Running out of South Cove Park, Burroughs hauled in a five-bass limit weighing 25.81 pounds, anchored by a hefty 5.77-pound kicker. His stellar day on the water earned him a $3,400 paycheck for the victory, plus an extra $410 for landing the event’s big bass.

“My day started out like a dream,” Burroughs said after the weigh-in. “I had most of my weight in the boat by 9:30 a.m. It was fast and furious early, but things slowed way down after that—I only caught seven keepers all day. My bigger fish came on a Deps 250 Glider, and I stayed between 5 and 15 feet deep most of the time.”

Hot on Burroughs’ heels was Randy Childers of Townsville, SC, who took second place with a five-bass limit tipping the scales at 16.47 pounds. Childers pocketed $1,500 for his efforts. “I got off to a solid start with my biggest fish right near the ramp,” he shared. “But then I went almost three hours without a bite. I stuck to shallow water, throwing a pig-and-jig combo, and ended up with about seven bites total.”

Rounding out the podium was Cody Hoyle from Rutherfordton, NC, who brought in a five-bass limit weighing 15.67 pounds to secure third place. “I started shallow and had about 15 pounds by 10 a.m.,” Hoyle explained. “I managed to cull one fish late—about 10 or 15 minutes before check-in. I was throwing a shaky head all day, just whatever color I grabbed from my pocket.”

In fourth was Brent Willey of Anderson, SC, with a 14.31-pound limit in fourth, and Bradley Day, also of Anderson, SC, with 14.18 pounds in fifth.

The Lake Keowee opener set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season in Division 9. At the end of the year, the nation’s top-performing anglers will earn a berth in the prestigious 2025 Ray Scott Championship, slated for April 2026. With early performances like these, the competition is already heating up.

The next event for this division is on Lake Hartwell out of Green Pond Landing March 22, 2025. Register now..

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