Despino opens season with Sam Rayburn win

ATHENS, Ala. – Randy Despino opened the divisional season with a win during the American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series Southeast Texas Division 10 tournament, held March 8, 2014, on Lake Sam Rayburn.

Running out of Umphrey Pavilion near Jasper, Texas, on a cloudy, misty day, the Colfax, La., angler caught five bass weighing 18.77 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 5.69-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Despino took home a check for $2,246.

“I fished in about six to seven feet of water,” Despino explained. “In practice, the fish were shallow. During the tournament, they pulled out deeper. I caught four fish on a 3/8-ounce black and blue V&M jig and one on a green pumpkin senko. The key was working the bait slow on light line. I was using 15-pound fluorocarbon.”

In second for the boaters, Clayton Boulware of Zavalla, Texas, landed a five-bass tournament limit going 18.57 pounds. For second place, Boulware collected $1,123.

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Harcourt tallies tight win on Harris Chain

ATHENS, Ala. – Dean R. Harcourt edged out the competition by three one-hundredths of a pound to win the American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series Florida Division 6 tournament, held March 8, 2014, on the Harris Chain of Lakes in central Florida.

Running out of Hickory Point Recreational Facility in Tavares, Fla., the Sebastian, Fla., angler caught five bass weighing 18.50 pounds including a 5.01-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Harcourt took home a check for $2,580.

“I started on Big Harris until after 11 a.m.,” Harcourt revealed. “We mostly fished pads. I caught fish on a couple different baits including a junebug trick worm and a black senko. I caught a couple bass on a chatterbait as well. I lost one fish.”

In second for the boaters, Kent Smart of Tavares, Fla., landed a five-bass tournament limit going 18.47 pounds. He anchored his bag with an 8.72-pound bucketmouth to win the tournament big bass title. Smart pocketed a check worth $1,246 for second place and an extra $157 for the big bass.

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Sykora wins Missouri opener on Table Rock

ATHENS, Ala. – Marcus Sykora opened the divisional season by winning the American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series Missouri Division 16 tournament, held March 8, 2014, on Table Rock Lake.

Running out of Table Rock State Park near Branson, Mo., the Osage Beach, Mo., angler caught five bass weighing 12.74 pounds. He anchored his bag with a 3.16-pound kicker. For the Boater Division victory, Sykora took home a check for $1,282.

“I caught my fish on an Alabama rig with swimming flukes, Chompers grubs and a Chompers shad head,” Sykora said.

In second for the boaters, Doug Henzlik of Overland Park, Kan., landed a five-bass tournament limit going 12.19 pounds with a 2.78-pound kicker. He collected $634 for the effort.

“I caught my fish on an Alabama rig around main lake points with trees on them,” Henzlik revealed.
David E. Ryan of Levasy, Mo., took third for the boaters with four bass going 8.21 pounds. He anchored his catch with a 2.30-pound kicker to earn $418.

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Virginians to open season on Kerr Lake

ATHENS, Ala. – The Virginia Division 19 of the American Bass Anglers Weekend Bass Series will open its 2014 season on March 22 with a tournament on Kerr Lake near Boydton, Va.

The competitors will launch at North Bend Marina, located at 64 North Bend Drive in Boydton. Anglers may begin fishing at safe light. Registration begins at 4 p.m. March 21 at the Comfort Inn in South Hill. To register for this tournament, see www.americanbassanglers.com/proddetail.php?prod=848.
To enter, anglers fishing the Boater Division pay $200 with co-anglers paying $100. In addition, ABA members enjoy these other these other benefits:

- No more dual membership to fish the Weekend Bass Series.
- No more credit card processing fees for tournament entries.
- Liability insurance requirements have been reduced to an acceptable level for weekend anglers.
- Increased payback at divisional events from 20 percent of the field to 25 percent of the field.

Anglers fishing the Boater Division may weigh in up to five bass. Co-anglers may weigh in up to three bass. Since the lake borders Virginia and North Carolina, anglers may use a license from either state.

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Craig Wins and Johnson Takes 2nd on Kentucky Lake

ATHENS, Ala. – Adam Craig won the American Fishing Tour, operated by American Bass Anglers, Kentucky Division 8 tournament, held March, 9, 2014, on Kentucky Lake.

Running out of Paris Landing near Paris Landing State Park, Adam Craig from Buchanan, Tennessee, caught five bass weighing 15.89 pounds. For the victory, he earned a check for $303.

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Sammy Landrum Wins First Place on Clarks Hill Lake

The East Georgia Division 26 held its second one day event on Clarks Hill Lake on March 8, 2014 with Sammy Ladrum of Appling, GA winning $430, with a total weight of 18.93 pounds. Landrum won the tournament by going toward Fort Gordon area of the lake.

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Sam Morgan Takes First Place at Nickajack

From Division  30 Southeast TN  on March 8th 2014 Sam Morgan from Coalmont TN is one step closer to the ABA National Championship with a 1st Place win and $365.00 in the American Fishing Tour bass tournament held on Nickajack  Lake this past weekend. On a very tough day of fishing with no limits brought to the scales Sam’s 4 bass weighed in at 8.94 lbs.  Second place went to Mark Riggs with a weight of 8.91 lbs, third place was Cliff Thomas with a weight of 6.96 lbs. Big bass was awarded was to Mark Riggs for catching a 6.84 lb largemouth.

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Dennis & Marie Edgil take First Place at Lake Guntersville

From Division 1 Couples Central Alabama DATE March 8, 2014 is one step closer to the ABA National Championship with a 1st Place win and $900.00 in the American Fishing Tour bass tournament held on Lake Guntersville this past weekend.  Five bass limit weighed in at 22.38. Second place went to Richard & Kathy Walker with a weight of 18.89, third place was Scott & Marilyn Dalton with a weight of 14.87. Woman’s big bass was awarded was to Marie Edgil for catching a 5.52 pound large mouth. Men’s big bass went to Richard Walker with a 7.93 large mouth.