Open Series Events Scheduled for March 18, 2023
ATHENS, Ala. – Competitors in Alabama and Virginia divisions will fish American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, events on March 18, 2023.
The Alabama South Division 2 will fish Lake Logan Martin for the second division event of the season. The anglers will run out of Lincoln Landing, located at 740 Travis Drive in Lincoln, Ala. To register for this tournament CLICK HERE
Sometimes called “The Lake of a Thousand Coves,” Lake Logan Martin covers 15,263 acres near Pell City, Ala. It offers anglers more than 275 shoreline miles. Impounded in 1964, the lake runs for more than 48 miles along the Coosa River and drops to more than 110 feet deep in places.
A perennial favorite for lunker largemouths, Lake Logan Martin produces good numbers of bass in the 4- to 6-pound range with some breaking into double digits. The lake produced largemouth approaching 15 pounds in the past. The lake can also produce some spotted bass exceeding six pounds.
During a June 25, 2022, division tournament on Lake Logan Martin, Ezekiel P. Gossett from Pell City, Ala. won the Boater Division with a 5-bass tournament limit going 13.68 pounds. He finished with a 2.74-pound average per fish.
“I caught three bass in the grass on a swim jig and two on a swimbait in about 10 feet of water,” Gossett stated. “I caught 10 fish and stayed fairly close to the ramp.”
Finishing third for the boaters in that event, John L. Kellett from Odenville landed a 5-bass limit going 11.94 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 3.89-pounder that took the tournament lunker title.
“I threw a little bit of everything,” Kellett commented. “All five of my weigh fish came on different lures. I caught seven fish with only that one good one. The big fish hit a jerkbait at about 11 a.m.”
In the Co-Angler Division during that 2022 event, Kenny D. Moore of Salem, Ala. landed a 3-bass division limit for 6.29 pounds. He capped his catch with a 2.21-pound kicker.
“We didn’t go too far from the landing,” Moore recalled. “I caught all of my fish on either a worm or a jig. We fished in 10 feet of water or less all day. We fished really close to the bank, casting out away from the bank to the drop-off.”
Brian K. Umstead from New Brockton, Ala. took third for the co-anglers in his first time to ever fish the lake. He brought in three bass at 6.06 pounds, topped by a 2.54-pound kicker that won division big bass honors.
“We went upriver and fished a couple creeks,” Umstead detailed. “I caught my first bass on a shaky head. I caught my other two fish on a jerkbait late in the day.”
Other hot baits in that event included Carolina rigs, Texas-rigged worms, Zoom Ultra-Vibe Speed Craws, Pop-R topwater baits and wacky worms.
The division then goes to Lay Lake on April 22, 2023. That tournament runs out of Beeswax Creek Landing, located at 245 Beeswax Creek Road off Highway 145 near Columbiana, Ala.
The Virginia Division 19 heads to Lake Gaston. The anglers will run out of Summit Landing, located at 400 Bluebird Road in Littleton, N.C. To register for this tournament, CLICK HERE
Straddling the Virginia-North Carolina border, Lake Gaston covers about 20,300 acres. The reservoir runs about 35 miles along the Roanoke River and offers anglers more than 350 miles of shoreline.
Lake Gaston ranks as one of the best bass lakes in North Carolina or Virginia. Good populations of largemouth and spotted bass feast upon abundant bluegill, threadfin shad, alewife, gizzard shad and herring. The lake produces many 4- to 6-pound largemouth and some in the 7- to 10-pound range. Historically, it produced bass exceeding 14 pounds.
During a May 7, 2022, division tournament, Evan S. White from Roanoke Rapids, N.C. won the Boater Division with a 5-bass tournament limit going 17.97 pounds. That gave him a 3.59-pound average.
“I caught all of my fish sight fishing,” White detailed. “I flipped the beds all day and caught about 10 fish.”
Finishing third among the boaters, Shane D. Doughtie, also from Roanoke Rapids, found five good keepers for 14.97 pounds. One of them weighed 5.03 pounds and earned the tournament lunker title.
“I was sight fishing all day with craw baits,” Doughtie said. “I just threw the baits into the beds.”
In the Co-Angler Division during that 2022 tournament, Glenn E. Eskin of Henderson, N.C. landed his 3-bass division limit for 7.29 pounds. He padded that sack with the division big bass, a 3.60-pounder.
“I caught six fish total,” Eskin recalled. “Mainly, I threw a weightless green pumpkin Senko or an off-white Senko.”
Other hot lures in that 2022 event included flukes, brush hogs, weightless soft plastics and beaver baits fished around docks.
The Virginia Division 19 returns to Lake Gaston on April 23, 2023. The anglers will again run out of Summit Landing.
For more information about this tournament, call Tournament Director Rodney Michael at (256) 497-0967.
Anglers can sign up to fish ABA Open Series divisional events and a 2-day division championship. In a Pro/Am format, boaters fishing the Open Series pay $210 in entry fees for each divisional 1-day tournament. Co-anglers pay $105 per 1-day event.
The top 20 percent of registered boaters and co-anglers will receive cash payouts based on the total number of entries. If at least 60 boaters enter the tournament, the Boater Division winner will receive a minimum of $5,000.
In addition, anglers may qualify for bonus money offered by such tournament sponsors as Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, the T-H Marine Atlas Awards program and Power Pole. See each manufacturer’s website for details, rules and qualifications for more information on their contingency programs.
Anyone who wishes to fish an ABA event, must become an ABA member. ABA members can receive discounts from some sponsors. For example, Optima Batteries will give ABA members 25 percent off and free shipping on any battery. Membership costs $35 a year, but anglers can save money by signing up for multiple years. A life membership costs $450.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, T-H Marine, Power Pole, RT Outdoors, 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.
