Darnell Wins Northeast Regional At Smith Mountain

ATHENS, Ala. – Otis Darnell wins it all at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Northeast Regional Championship tournament, held Oct. 19-20, 2012, on Smith Mountain Lake.

Running out of Parkway Marina near Huddleston, VA, Otis Darnell of Linden, VA, brought in a two-day limit of 10 bass for 23.43 pounds including his 4.48 pound lunker. In ninth place at the end of day one with 10.36 pounds he came back on day two with the largest bag of 13.07 pounds to take the win. As the winner out of 105 anglers in the Boater Division, he took home a fully-rigged 18’ Triton boat powered by a Mercury outboard with a MotorGuide trolling motor and heads to Sam Rayburn in Texas for the National Championship during the first week of November.

In Second, John “J3” Hansen of Street, MD, caught a total of ten bass for 22.37 pounds anchoring his bag with a 5.53-pounder. He was the leader on day one with 12.46 pounds but couldn’t hold that spot on day two with 9.91 pounds. He took home a check for $2,500.

In third, Clayton Williams of Taylorsville, NC, brought in nine bass for 19.26 pounds including a 4.17-pounder and earned $1,250. On day one he weighed 12.31 pounds and added 6.95 pounds on day two.

Allen Burns of Rustburg, VA, finished in fourth with eight bass for 18.56 pounds. On Saturday he weighed 10.85 pounds and added 7.71 pounds on Sunday for $750.

Rounding out the top-five of the boaters, Robert Grike of Dumfries, VA, caught ten bass for 18.40 pounds. On Saturday he weighed 9.56 pounds and added 8.84 pounds on Sunday.

Hometown angler, Thomas Wooten of Huddleston, took home the Big Bass honors for his big fish catch of 5.65 pounds.

In the Co-Angler Division, Doug File, 48, a retired machinist and a twelve-year cancer survivor of Salisbury, NC, won with six bass weighing 12.82 pounds. Finishing in second on day one with 6.90 pounds, he added 5.92 pounds on day two, and moved into the top spot for the win and took home a 17’ Triton boat.

“This was my first time on this lake. I came up from Salisbury, jumped in a boat and went fishing without any practice. On Saturday I was fishing muddy water back in a cove throwing top water and on Sunday I fished clear water throwing a shaky head and crankbait. I lost a big fish beside the boat that weighed close to four pounds about an hour before weigh-in and I thought that was going to be the turning point but I had enough for the win.”

In a close second, Terry Stevens of Sterling, VA, caught six bass weighing 12.64 pounds which was only .18 ounces away from the top spot. On Saturday he caught 7.35 pounds and came back on Sunday with 5.29 pounds for a payday of $1,250.

In third, Jonathan “Jon” Marlow of Burke, VA, weighed four bass for a total of 10.18 pounds. He weighed 2.10 pounds on day one and added the largest bag of the day at 8.08 pounds on day two to earn $625.

Finishing in fourth place with 9.48 pounds, Lamar Spade of Brodheadsville, PA, caught 6.38 pounds on day one and added 3.10 pounds on day two.

Rounding out the top-five of the 102 co-anglers with five bass for 9.29 pounds, Brendon Schneider of Leicester, NC, caught 6.03 pounds on day one and added 3.26 pounds on day two.

Finishing in twenty-second place, Stephen “Safo” Longobardi of Northford, CT, is the winner of the co-angler Big Bass honors for his 4.84 pound lunker.

For more information on this tournament, call Gary Conner, tournament manager, at (256) 230-5627 or ABA at (256) 232-0406. 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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