Albert Collins Reels in Gold

ATHENS, Ala. – Albert Collins of Nacogdoches, TX won the American Bass Anglers Open Series Area 6 Championship, held Oct 20-21 on Toledo Bend. Consistency is key to staying on top and Albert was able to put together 2 solid bags of fish under changing weather patterns and a very tough bite to stay on top of the Angler of the Year (AOY) race. Collins walked away with a winning check for $10,000.00, Triton Gold honors, and AOY for division 10 of the ABA Open Series with his 2-day total weight of 26.38-lbs.

“During practice, I couldn’t put anything together that I had a lot of confidence in.  Leading in the point standings coming into this tournament is really what set me up.  I was just trying to make sure I had a limit both days just trying to catch keepers.  I went shallow.  I started flipping wood, flipping stumps and stuck with it over both days.  I had no idea it would allow me the chance to win but I figure it would keep me up high enough in the standings to hold my AOY spot.  This is just wonderful,” said Albert

Landing in second place on the boater side was Taylor Robbins of Conroe, TX.  Taylor was one of 3 boaters that managed to bring in 2 limits of fish for a total of 24.31-lbs over the weekend.

“I was throwing topwater and Sixth Sense crankbaits.  I came up here Monday just to learn my way around the lake and run the boat lanes.  I had never fished on this lake until this weekend.”  Said Taylor.  “I fished a couple areas on Monday and found some fish on Tuesday.  Those were the ones I went back to on both days.  I had some good bites and wasn’t able to land all of them yesterday and today.  Me and my co-anglers both.  I love the lake and I know it's in a slump right now but I’m looking forward to fishing it again next year and may even come back when the bite is on just to have some fun.”

Coming in 3rd for the boaters was Glen Freeman of Zwolle, LA. Glen also caught two-five fish limits, his total weight locking in at 22.69-pounds.

“We went up North in the wind and fished worms on deep ledges and points.  I ran about 25-30 miles and it was rough up there.  I stayed in the wind all day.  You can’t feel the Northwindhere where we are, but it was blowing pretty good.  Once you left out of here in the morning and got around the island it hit you right in the face. I culled 4 or 5 yesterday and 3 or 4 today.  Some of the bites were hard to feel but the fish were there,” said Glen.

4th place for the boaters was Kevin Lasyone with 22.66-lbs, just .03 oz behind Freeman. 

In fifth place was Michael Brewton with a 2-day total of 21.92-lbs.  Michael brought in a stud of a bass from Toledo Bend on day one at 9.03 lbs which landed his big bass honors for the weekend, an extra paycheck, and the Abu Garcia big bass award-winning a new Revo X reel.

For the co-anglers, Kevin Carter of Spring, TX was the only co-angler to catch 2 limits over the weekend.  Saturday at 7.16-lbs and Sunday with 7.54- lbs for a 2-day total of 14.70-lbs; giving him just under a 5-lb margin of victory.  For his weight, Kevin locked down the guaranteed $5000.00 check and the title of co-angler champion.

“I fished with Kevin Lasyone today and we ran everywhere.  We fished a lot of different stuff today.  We fished docks, we went shallow, just everything.  I had some fish early and he even loaned me some of the baits he was using, and I caught more fish.  Today was a lot different than yesterday with the sun all day.  We never saw it yesterday at all.  It just rained and kept it gloomy.  I had 2 good boaters, 2 good limits, and it kept me in the hunt.  I had a great day and really enjoyed fishing with him,” said Kevin.

Finishing in 2nd place was Mason Ouzts of Port Naches, TX.  Mason did it the hard way fishing all day on Saturday for one bite, but it was worth it at 5.03-lbs.  Mason then followed it up on Sunday with 1 fish for 4.80-lbs.  His 2-day total was 9.83-lbs and put him in 2nd place overall.

“I really don’t have much to say but it was a struggle on both days for me.  The first day we ran up by the bridge and I caught my keeper on a fluke.  Actually, that was the only bite I had.  Today I caught 3, but only one of them was a keeper.  I was throwing a big worm.  The first 2 were short, and the third one kept.  Both keepers were good fish and about the same size but that is all can tell you.  It’s not that I’m keeping anything from you there just wasn’t much that happened,” Mason stated

3rd place honors with 5 keepers brought in over the weekend was Michael Nantz of Ben Wheeler, TX with a total weight of 9.64-lbs.

“Tough weekend.  I needed one more keeper to have my 6-fish for the tournament, but they just wouldn’t cooperate.  I know the lake is fishing tough but it can’t be easy or we would all be fishing.  Yesterday was a good day and when I came on stage I thought I had a decent bag, then you told me I took the lead.  I was amazed.  I know you told me it had been tough on everyone, but I was expecting to be somewhere in the top 10, not leading.  Today the sun was out, and I just couldn’t get the bites that I needed.  It was cooler out, bright, and just after a front that’s never good,” said Michael.

Finishing 4th was Brian “Gunny” Schuler of New Orleans, LA with a total of 8.38-lbs.  Joseph Williams of Bridge City, TX finished in 5th place with 7.87-lbs.

The top anglers from this event advanced to the 2019 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the first week of April 2019 on Lake Eufaula, AL.

For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406. Online, see www.abaopenseries.com .

About American Bass Anglers: American Bass Anglers is committed to providing 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, the ABA Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.

American Bass Anglers, Inc. is supported by Triton Boats, Mercury Outboards, Hydrowave, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Best Western Hotels, Garmin, Maui Jim, Power Pole, Optima Batteries and GEICO. 

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© 2018 American Bass Anglers MBAA Since 1975 - All Rights Reserved American Bass Anglers, Inc Logos and other data within this website is the property of American Bass Anglers, Inc and may not be copied or reproduced without express permission of American Bass Anglers, Inc. American Bass Anglers, Inc PO Box 475 Athens, AL 35612 email: call us 256-232-0406. This web site is provided by ABA and resides on a server with 99.99% up time.