Foli Scores on Tough Ohio River Tournament

ATHENS, Ala. – Luke Foli won the third tournament in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Indiana Division 7, held July 21, 2012, on the Ohio River.

Running out of Rocky Point Marina near Cannelton, the Granger, Ind., angler caught five bass weighing 10.66 pounds with a 2.93-pound kicker.

“In the morning, I was flipping a Luck E Strike Guido Bug in green pumpkin up in the creeks around grass, lily pads and logs off the bank,” Foli revealed. “Later in the day, I caught my last few keepers on a Luck E Strike Series 1 Rick Clunn crankbait. I caught 10 keepers. What helped me was my U.S. Reels. I really like them.”

In second for the boaters, Scott Bateman of Washington, Ind., landed a five-bass tournament limit weighing 7.26 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 3.08-pounder that took tournament big bass honors.

“I started on the main river, flipping around grass,” Bateman advised. “I caught the big bass early and one other keeper there. Then, I made a long run up the river to crank some logs and caught three more keepers.”

Herb Robinson of Lafayette, Ind., came in third among the boaters with five bass at 5.71 pounds.

“I caught a lot of fish on soft plastics,” Robinson explained. “I caught fish on green pumpkin senkos, flukes and worms. We stayed close to the marina and had all the fish I needed by 10:30 a.m.”

In fourth place for the boaters, Calvin Davidson of Plainfield, Ind., brought in four bass for 5.08 pounds. Raymond Clift of Indianapolis, Ind., followed with a five-bass limit going 4.55 pounds.

In the Co-Angler Division, Rod Keel of Bloomington, Ind., brought in the only three-bass division limit of the tournament.

“It took until noon to get the limit,” Keel lamented. “I caught my fish on green pumpkin tubes worked around woody cover in the backs of the creeks.”

Nathaniel Hester of Indianapolis, Ind., placed second among the co-anglers with two bass for 3.21 pounds. He topped his take with a 1.76-pounder that won the division big bass title.

“The big fish was the first one I caught in the morning,” Hester recalled. “It hit a Strike King KVD 1.5 crankbait. I was fishing flooded brush along the banks. When the wind came up, it blew muddy water toward the shore. We caught our fish in two feet of water where the mud line hit the clear water.”

In third for the co-anglers, Richard Michalski of Westport, Ky., landed two bass for 2.63 pounds.

“I caught my fish on a sweet beaver fished later in the day around wood,” Michalski said. “We fished in muddy water about 18 inches to three feet deep. Early in the day, I missed two good fish on a buzzbait that would have helped me in the tournament.”

Sean Mickey of Terre Haute, Ind., placed fourth with two bass going 2.56 pounds. Clayton Vanosdol of Butlerville, Ind., rounded out the top five co-anglers with two bass and 2.24 pounds.

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.

Home Page