Danner scores Big Bag to Win 5k
TAVARES, Fla. – Rick H. Danner won the Boater Division in the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Florida Central Division 6 final regular season tournament, held April 29, 2023, on the Harris Chain of Lakes northeast of Orlando.
Launching at the Hickory Point Recreational Facility in Tavares, Fla., Danner from the hosting down of Tavares brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 26.61 pounds. He capped that catch with a 7.25-pound mossback. That big fish pushed his average to an impressive 5.32 pounds per fish and put a check for $5,200 in his pocket.
“I fished three lakes, Eustis, Dora, and Beauclair,” Danner detailed. “I caught most of my fish by throwing a white Z-Man Jackhammer ChatterBait over eelgrass. I also did some flipping the Kissimmee grass. I culled twice. The bites were few and far between, but they were mostly big fish.”
In second among the 78 boaters, Kennie L. Steverson from Umatilla also landed his 5-bass limit. Steverson finished with 22.53 pounds, topped by a 7.61-pounder. He picked up a check for $1,050.
“I stayed in Lake Harris dragging a Carolina rig over shell bars all day,” Steverson revealed. “I caught 12 bass and didn’t lose any fish that would have put me over the top.”
Michael K. Porter of Winter Haven took the third spot for the boaters. He landed a 5-bass limit going 20.65 pounds including a 7.92-pound kicker. He earned $800 for the effort.
“I stayed in Lake Harris all day and caught a few good ones that put me over the hump,” Porter reported. “I caught my biggest fish in the middle of the day against a bank.”
In fourth place for the boaters, Jeremy D. Smith of Auburndale also topped 20 pounds. He brought in five good keepers for 20.40 pounds. Rounding out the Top 5 boaters, Jeff M. Fosdyck, another Umatilla angler, landed five keepers for 18.64 pounds.
In a day that saw many huge bass hit the scale, Daniel C. Monahan from Melbourne topped them all. He finished in eighth place among the boaters with four bass at 17.60 pounds, but one of them weighed 8.88 pounds, just about half of his tally. Monahan’s big fish won the tournament lunker title. He collected $400 for eighth place and another $780 for the lunker, giving him a total of $1,180 in winnings.
“I was dragging a worm on Lake Beauclair at about 9:30 a.m. when the big bass hit,” Monahan explained. “I fished that lake all day.”
In the Co-Angler Division, Angelo Flores of Dade City landed a 3-bass division limit to win with 10.85 pounds, one of four co-anglers to top the 10-pound plateau. Flores anchored that bag with a 4.85-pounder to finish with a 3.62-pound average. He pocketed $1.400 for the win.
“My partner wanted to go to Lake Apopka,” Flores remarked. “We stayed there all day. I caught my fish by winding a ChatterBait over the grass flats. I culled twice.”
In second for the co-anglers, Ubaldo “Uby” J. Rosell from Davenport found three keepers for 10.60 pounds, just four ounces off the lead. He topped that sack with a 4.74-pounder. He went home with a check worth $650 in his pocket.
“I caught three bass by dragging a worm in Lake Dora and three by flipping on Lake Harris,” Rosell recalled. “Those were the only six fish I caught. I culled once. I fished pretty clean and didn’t lose any fish, but I did miss a few bites.”
Right behind in third for the co-anglers, Edwin R. Rivera from Ocoee landed a 3-bass limit for 10.39 pounds, a little more than seven ounces behind the winner. Rivera collected $500 for third place.
“We stayed on Lake Harris all day,” Rivera said. “First thing in the morning, I got three bites and that was it for me all day.”
The top four co-anglers all broke into double digits with less than 11 ounces separating them. In fourth, Patrick E. Miller from Leesburg caught three good keepers for 10.18 pounds. He anchored that sack with a 5.59-pound kicker. Landing in fifth, Kyle L. Stafford of Lakeland landed a 3-bass limit going 8.96 pounds, topped by a 5.14-pounder.
Scott D. Lafaver came down from Auburn, N.Y. to finish 23rd for the co-anglers with two bass at 6.69 pounds. However, one of his fish, a 5.66-pounder, took the division big bass honors. Lafaver picked up $310.
“I caught the big bass on a crankbait in the middle of the afternoon,” Lafaver said. “We were fishing Lake Eustis.”
The division will hold it’s 2-day championship event Sept. 9-10 on the Harris Chain. That tournament will run out of the Venetian Gardens landing, located at 201 E. Lake Harris Drive in Leesburg. To register for that event, CLICK HERE.
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.
