Jones wraps up Alabama North with big win 
ATHENS, Ala. – Bradley Jones lined his pockets with nearly $5,000 after winning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Alabama North Division 1 regular season finale, held July 14, 2012, on Weiss Lake.
Running out of Little River Marina near Cedar Bluff, the Aragon, Ga., angler caught five bass weighing 20.34 pounds. Catching a total of 10 keepers, he anchored his bag with a 5.75-pound kicker that set the tournament lunker standard. For the Boater Division victory, Jones took home a check for $2,730 with an extra $313 for the bucketmouth. He also collected significant bonuses from Mercury, Triton, Toyota Tundra and MotorGuide.
“I threw a 3/4-ounce football head jig on river ledges,” Jones revealed. “I threw a black and blue jig in the morning and a green one later in the day. I looked for places where a creek dumped into the main river channel and fished hard-bottom areas with trash and brush on the bottom. I had two of my biggest fish by 8:30 a.m. The biggest fish finished off the limit.”
In second for the boaters, Barry Stokes of Covington, Ga., brought in a five-bass tournament limit weighing 17.11 pounds. He collected a check for $1,364.
“I usually fish deep, but decided to fish shallow because of the weather,” Stokes said. “I found most of my fish flipping shallow. I had a lot of bites, but had to work hard for fish. Dark colors worked best, including junebug, black and emerald. A lot of the fish were shallow, but were really close to the river channels.”
Terry L. Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., took third place with five bass going 16.15 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 3.94-pound kicker to earn $910.
“I caught several on spinnerbaits around grass in the morning, but they weren’t the quality I needed,” Tucker admitted. “I had a limit early, but caught most of my weigh fish on a jig around brush in three to four feet of water. I lost a couple good fish.”
In fourth for the boaters, Broox M. Goza of Fort Payne, Ala., found five keepers for 15.88 pounds. Billy Brindle of Calhoun, Ga., rounded out the top five boaters with five bass and 15.62 pounds. 
In the Co-Angler Division, Randy Hobbs of Dawson, Ala., broke into double digits with three bass weighing 10.21 pounds. He capped his catch with a 4.29-pounder to pocket $1,433.
“I threw a homemade rainbow trout and pearl crankbait,” Hobbs said. “I caught all of my fish on that bait. We fished around shallow docks.”
Dennis McGouirk of Carrollton, Ga., placed second among the co-anglers with a three-bass division limit tipping the scales at 9.84 pounds. He went home with $716 for the effort.
“We had to fish slowly all day,” McGouirk advised. “We caught fish on soft plastics off hard bottoms on the main lake. We fished rocky bottoms in eight to 12 feet of water.”
In third place, Stan Reynolds of Leesburg, Ala., brought in three keepers at 8.29 pounds. He topped his take with a 3.91-pounder to win $478.
“I threw a 10-inch plum worm on the river ledges,” Reynolds said. “I have a lot of confidence on it. It took several hours to land a limit. I just kept working it.”
Richard “Ricky” W. Long of Rome, Ga., brought in three bass for 8.20 pounds and fourth place. Michael A. Thaggard of Acworth, Ga., wrapped up the top five co-anglers with three bass and 8.07 pounds. Shawn Brock of Armuchee, Ga., brought in the division lunker, a 4.66-pounder.
For more information on this tournament, call Randy Sullivan at (256) 230-5633 or 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 or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
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