Team Roth increases lead at Military Tourney

LAGRANGE, Ga. – Dillon and Rickey Roth expanded their lead during the second day of the 31st annual Military Team Bass Tournament, presented by American Bass Anglers and Caymas Boats and held at West Point Lake on the Georgia-Alabama line on May 5, 2022.

On the second day of intense competition featuring 70 teams, the Roths brought in their second 5-bass daily tournament limit. This bag weighed 10.29 pounds. With the 11.88 pounds the team landed on Day 1, anchored by a 3.14-pound kicker, the Roths now lead with 22.17 pounds. They increased their lead from about four ounces to more than two pounds.

Holding second place after Day 2, solo angler Larry Spencer brought in 10 bass for 20.16 pounds. He sat in third after the first day with 11.02 pounds that included a 2.88-pounder. On Day 2, he added 9.14 pounds to his total to move up one spot.

Another solo angler, Sean Capes made a dramatic leap from 29th on Day 1 with five bass at 7 pounds, to third place with 10 bass tallying 19.97 pounds. Catching a 4.69-pounder, the second largest bass yet seen at the weigh station, helped give him a 12.47-pound bag on Day 2 to vault 26 levels.

Sitting in the fourth spot, Kenneth Ellis and John Howard landed a perfect two 5-bass daily tournament limits for 18.80 pounds. They held second on Day 1 with 11.64 pounds, including a 3.72-pound kicker, the third largest bass caught on Day 1. On Day 2, they brought in 7.16 pounds.

Jason Ray and Robert Hughes round out the top five after two days with 10 bass totaling 17.94 pounds. On the first day, they held fourth place with 10.45 pounds, but brought in the largest bass caught that day at 4.08 pounds. They caught 7.49 pounds the second day.

Robert Armbruster and Shawn Taylor hold sixth place with 10 bass for 17.60 pounds. They sat in 22nd place on Day 1 with 7.69 pounds. They brought in 9.91 pounds the second day.

Team Ables, Randy and Douglas, dropped a notch from sixth to seventh place with a perfect 10 bass two-day limit going 17.36 pounds. On Day 1, they brought in 9.46 pounds, including a 3.95-pounder, the second largest bass brought to the scales that day. They landed a 7.90-pound sack on Day 2.

Craig Fagan and Torrey Aiken occupy the eighth spot with two limits for 10 bass at 17.34 pounds. They held 25th place on Day 1 with 7.41 pounds and brought in 9.93 pounds the second day to skyrocket their team 17 slots.

Sitting in ninth place, Bart Brimhall and Mark Sullivan found two limits of keepers for 17.23 pounds. They sat in 17th place on the first day with 8.14 pounds. On the second day, they caught 9.09 pounds, jumping eight spots.

Holding 10th place, William Spencer and Michael Lango also found two limits of keepers weighing 17.20 pounds. They brought in 9.07 pounds on Day 1 and added 8.13 pounds the next day to move up two notches from 12th place.

Bryan McNeal and Jared Albright lead the lunker competition with a 5.31-pounder. They currently hold 12th place with nine bass at 17.07 pounds. They caught four bass weighing 4.82 pounds on Day 1 for 47th place and added 12.25 pounds to their second day sack.

Hosted by the city of LaGrange, Ga., the event launches out of the Pyne Road Mega Ramp. The tournament on West Point Lake continues through May 6. The public is invited to the weigh-in.

Military Team Bass Tournament Day 2 Results (PDF)

Surrounded by deep forests and rolling fields, West Point Lake extends 35 miles along the Chattahoochee River spanning the border with Georgia and Alabama. The lake offers anglers 525 shoreline miles to fish.

In 1975, American Bass Anglers began as the Military Bass Anglers Association, an organization dedicated to providing bass anglers in the military an opportunity to compete in tournaments with other military members. The Military Team Bass Fishing Tournament began in 1991 as a way to promote fishing and camaraderie among all branches of the military. In 2000, Morris Sheehan bought MBAA, renamed it American Bass Anglers Inc., and relocated it to Athens, Ala.

This event brings all service branches together for a fun-filled week of competition and ultimate Service bragging rights. Any active duty Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, National Guard, Reserve or Coast Guard member can participate in these tournaments. Families of military members, honorably discharged veterans, Department of Defense civilians, military contractors and retired military members may also fish this event. 

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.