Rutland Wins on Lake Mitchell
ATHENS, Ala. –Michael “Chris” Rutland won the 2021 Bass Pro Shops Open Series Alabama South Division tournament, held March 20th on Lake Mitchell. Running out of Higgins Ferry Park in Clanton, AL the Wetumpka, AL angler caught five bass weighing 15.66 pounds including a 4.05-pound kicker spotted bass. For the Boater Division victory, Rutland took home a check for $2400 for his win and an additional $470 for the big bass award.
“I fished the upper half of the lake today and caught my fish on a jig, a swimbait, and a spinnerbait. I was targeting rock with current around it. I didn’t have my first fish until 9:00am.” Rutland said.
In second for the boaters, Lance Poe of Jemison, AL landed a five-bass tournament limit going 13.92 pounds.
“I caught my fish up the river also on a spinnerbait and a jig in the current.” Poe said.
Mark McCaig of Oxford, AL took third for the boaters with five bass going 13.36 pounds.
“I also caught my fish today up river on rocks with a spinnerbait and a jig.” McCaig said.
Finishing fourth, Kenny Carroll of Opelika, AL landed a five-bass limit for 12.54 pounds. Jason Nixon of Wetumpka, AL rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 11.97 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Dalton “Chase” Osborne of Phenix City, AL won with three bass going 11.62 pounds including a 4.51-pound kicker largemouth bass. He pocketed a check for $950 for his win and an additional $155 for the big bass award.
“I caught my fish today up the river on a chatterbait and a jig. The big largemouth came on the chatterbait pretty early and I caught two good spots on a jig. We probably caught sixty fish today. The fish were stacked.” Osborne said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Barry Jones of Verbena, AL brought in three bass weighing 8.08 pounds.
“I caught my fish on a spinnerbait and a jig up the river in the current.” Jones said.
Joseph Chilcott of Crestview, FL placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 7.56 pounds.
“We were fishing the north end just like everyone else and I caught my fish on a spinnerbait and a shaky-head. “Chilcott said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, John Burt of Pike Road, AL brought in three bass for 6.94 pounds. Charles Jackson of Opp, AL finished in fifth place with three bass for 6.54 pounds.
Slated for April 3rd, 2021 the next tournament will be held on Lay Lake out of Beeswax Creek Park in Columbiana, AL. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2022 Ray Scott Championship to be held at Lake Eufaula in April, 2022.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com
About the American Bass Anglers - American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler while offering an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and all their bass tournament trails visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops, Triton Boats, Nitro Boats, Tracker Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Monster Energy Drinks, Garmin, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Engel Coolers, REKS Sunglasses and Power-Pole.
