Teply wins extremely tight tournament in Oklahoma
EUFAULA, Okla. – Joshua N. Teply won the Boater Division in a squeaker during the American Bass Anglers Open Series, Presented by Caymas Boats, Oklahoma Division 14 second part of a weekend doubleheader, held May 7, 2023, at Lake Eufaula, Okla.
Launching at South Point Cove in the town of Eufaula, Okla., Teply from Harrah brought in a 5-bass tournament limit for 13.38 pounds. He beat his nearest competitor by less than a quarter of an ounce or about 4.5 grams. He topped that sack with a 4.21-pound kicker.
“I found a shad spawn early in the morning and threw a buzzbait,” Teply advised. “I caught a keeper on my first cast and had a limit in 15 minutes. Then, I picked up a ChatterBait and started running the banks. I culled up twice. Later, I ran to the other side of the lake and threw a glide bait the rest of the day. I caught 12 keepers in all.”
Just four ounces separated the top four boaters. Only a bit more than eight ounces separated the top five finishers. One fat shad in the belly of a bass could have altered the standings in either the Boater Division or Co-Angler Division.
In second among the boaters, Marcus G. Downs from Midwest City also landed his 5-bass limit. He finished with 13.37 pounds. One of his fish weighed 4.33 pounds, giving Downs the Boater Division lunker title.
“I went to my first spot and got blown out by the wind, so I ran to another spot in the back of a cove with a rockpile,” Downs revealed. “I caught four bass in a row off the rock pile by dragging a worm. They were all within 20 yards of each other. I also caught a fish on a jig. I had a limit at 9:15 a.m. I lost about a 7-pounder at the end of the day.”
In third for the boaters, Eli H. Brumnett of Wagoner found three good keepers for 13.28 pounds.
“I found a shad spawn and caught the bass on a spinnerbait,” Brumnett detailed. “I caught about 40 keepers total around wind-swept boulders. I was fishing up shallow, in about 12 inches of water.”
Brent Haggard from Sallisaw caught his 5-bass limit for 13.13 pounds for fourth place among the boaters. Harmon G. Davis from Marlow followed in fifth place with five keepers going 12.85 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Terry M. Butts of Norman landed a 3-bass division limit to win with 7.65 pounds. Butts anchored the sack with a 3.82-pound kicker.
“I caught all my fish on a topwater frog in the morning,” Butts commented. “Then, we hit some docks. I tried throwing crankbaits, but nothing happened. I caught a total of nine keepers, all on the frog.”
Taking the second spot for the co-anglers, Julie D. Dodson Downs from Midwest City found three good keepers for 7.61 pounds, a bit more than a half-ounce off the lead. Most of that weight came from one 5.15-pound bucketmouth that won the tournament big bass honors.
“My big bass hit at about 9:30 a.m.,” J. Downs said. “I caught 20 bass all throughout the day and culled some.”
In third for the co-anglers, Bill J. Wiles from Arcadia brought in a 3-bass limit for 6.14 pounds.
“I caught all my fish on a shaky head,” Wiles stated. “We went to my boater’s first spot, but it didn’t pan out. The second spot didn’t pan out either, so my boater asked me if I had any spots. We went to one of my spots and I caught three keepers right away. Those were the only three keepers I caught all day, but I lost three keepers.”
Stephen D. Stewart of Fort Gibson found two keepers at 5.31 pounds, good enough for fourth place. Rounding out the Top 5 co-anglers, Lat Nichols from Deport, Texas, landed a limit for 4.79 pounds.
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.
