Goggins wins on Lay Lake 
ATHENS, Ala. – A run and gun strategy paid off for Anthony Goggins as he won the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Alabama South Division 2 tournament, held March 5, 2011, on Lay Lake.
Launching out of Beeswax Landing near Columbiana, the Sylacauga, Ala., angler landed five bass weighing 19.15 pounds with a 6.05-pound kicker. He collected $2,658 for the victory.
“I ran all up and down the lake from the steam plant to Blue Springs,” Goggins said. “I caught one fish in every spawning pocket I know. I caught every fish on a black and blue swimming jig with a tiny brush hog off a bed. I fished very shallow. I had to push pole to most of my spots.”
The anglers could fish anywhere on the 12,000-acre lake that flows 50 miles along the Coosa River. Ricky Smith of Ohatchee, Ala., chose to fish within 10 miles of the landing and brought in a five-bass tournament limit weighing 17.83 pounds with one 4.23-pounder to earn $1,329. He fished a jerkbait in shallow water.
In third for the 61 boaters, Wade Sieck of Phenix City, Ala., brought in five bass going 17.74 pounds with one 4.88-pounder to anchor the bag. For the effort, he took home $886.
“I was swimming a jig in really shallow water within a mile of the marina,” Sieck explained.
In fourth for the boaters, David Dove of Steens, Miss., brought in a five-bass limit weighing 17.34 pounds, followed closely by Foster Bradley of Bessemer, Ala., with five bass at 17.16 pounds including one 4.96-pounder. James McCullers of Daveville, Ala., took sixth among the boaters with five bass for 16.88 pounds, but earned Boater Division lunker honors with a 6.44-pounder.
“I was sight-fishing in about 18 inches of water and saw the fish,” McCullers said. “It hit a tube.” 
In the Co-Angler Division, Michael Smith of Laurel Hills, Fla., landed three keepers weighing 11.84 pounds with a 4.40-pound kicker. He earned $1,228.
“We fished upriver, running the mouths of creeks,” M. Smith said. “The fish were schooling on shad and pushing them into the mouths of the creeks. Every fish I weighed was caught on a different bait. I caught one on a Sammie, one on a Rat-L-Trap and a big spot on a Scrounger.”
In second, Flynn Smith of Pell City, Ala., brought in a division limit of three bass weighing 10.27 pounds, but one weighed 7.49 pounds. For second, he collected $614 plus another $133 for the tournament lunker.
“I was swimming a green pumpkin worm in three feet of water in the grass in Beeswax Creek,” F. Smith said.
Jason Ryan Davis of Vincent, Ala., flipped the southern end of the lake, catching three keepers weighing 9.56 pounds to take third among the co-anglers. Joseph Kelley of Sylacauga, Ala., landed in fourth with three bass for 8.78 pounds, followed by William Davis, Jr., of Sylacauga, Ala., with three bass at 8.73 pounds.
For more information, call ABA at (888) 203-6222. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
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