Harrell Sweeps Competition At Kerr Reservoir
HENDERSON, Va. – Ryan W. Harrell won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Virginia Division 19 tournament, held April 23, 2022, on John K. Kerr Reservoir.
Launching at Nutbush ramp near the town of Henderson, Va., the angler from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 18.76 pounds. He capped that catch with a 5.65-pound kicker that took tournament lunker honors. He collected $2,200 for the victory and a $360 bonus for the big bass.
“I caught my two biggest fish on a Texas rig,” Harrell commented. “The second biggest one was on the bed. The other fish I weighed in came on a Senko.”
In second among the boaters, William M. Warren of Elon, N.C. also landed his 5-bass limit. He brought 17.80 pounds to the scales with the biggest one weighing 5.04 pounds. That fish came in second in the tournament lunker competition. Warren went home $950 richer.
“I fished shallow all day,” Warren revealed. “I was flipping plastics. I saw a couple bass on the beds.”
Landing in third place for the boaters, James Cavin Young, Sr. of Prince George, Va. brought in five keepers for 17.54 pounds.
“I fished up shallow,” Young detailed. “I caught a couple on a spinnerbait and the rest on a wacky worm. I was fishing practically in the dirt. I could see the fish coming after the bait. I caught about 25 fish and caught them all day long. I culled about eight times.”
Tyler Trent of Brookneal, Va. placed fourth with five bass at 16.79 pounds, a bag worth $550. Rounding out the top five boaters, Trevor W. Holman from Durham, N.C. caught a 5-bass limit for 13.56 pounds with a 3.71-pound kicker.
In the Co-Angler Division, Matt Leicester of Hertford, N.C. landed a 3-bass division limit for 7.46 pounds. He anchored that bag with a 2.65-kicker.
“Everything I caught was either on a shaky head or a wacky-rigged Senko up shallow,” Leicester commented. “I started culling at about 10 a.m. I caught my last one at about 2:15 p.m. It was a small cull, but every little bit helps. I caught a total of six fish.”
Tim J. Gardner from Goldsboro, N.C. finished second among the co-anglers with three bass at 7.28 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 2.78-pounder that won the division big bass competition.
“I had a limit by 8:15 a.m., Gardner said. “I caught my first keeper on a spinnerbait, but everything else came off a Senko around bushes. I caught five fish and culled up once.”
In the third spot for the co-anglers, Scottie L. Smith of Clayton, N.C. found three good keepers. His bag weighed 5.40 pounds.
“I kept getting bites all day,” Smith recalled. “I culled twice. Most of my fish came on a spinnerbait. I caught one on a ChatterBait and one on a Senko.”
Gordon “Duke” H. Bevins from Aylett, Va. placed fourth in the division with a 3-bass limit going 4.10 pounds. Glenn E. Eskin of Henderson, N.C. followed with two keepers and 3.85 pounds.
The division next heads to Lake Gaston on May 7, 2022, for the third event of the season. The anglers will run out of Summit Landing, located at 400-424 Bluebird Road in Littleton, N.C. To register for this event, CLICK HERE.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Garmin Electronics, Power Pole, Lucas Oil, RT Outdoors, Sportsman Card, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.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, offering each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression.
For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Open Series, the American Fishing Tour, the American Couples Series, the annual Military Team Bass Tournament, and the Top 150 Solo Tour, all presented by Caymas Boats, visit www.americanbassanglers.com or call (256) 232-0406
This story was written by ABA staff writer John N. Felsher. To submit articles of interest email info@americanbassanglers.com.
