ATHENS, Ala. –Michael “Keith” Bardolf won the Bass Pro Shops Open Series Georgia Division tournament, held February 22nd on Lake Eufaula. Running out of Lakepoint Resort State Park in Eufaula, AL Keith caught five bass weighing 20.91 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Bardolf took home a check for $5200 for his win.
“I was fishing the south end of the lake during practice and I knew it was going to be a zoo on tournament day so I fished mid-lake today. I was targeting every stump and brush I knew about around 10ft deep. I caught all my fish before 11:00am and caught most on a brush-hog bumping off brush.” Bardolf said.
In second for the boaters, Ryan Horton of Palmetto, GA landed a five-bass tournament limit going 19.81 pounds.
“I caught my fish junk fishing on the south end of the lake. I was fishing docks, stumps, grass, anything that you could throw at.” Horton said.
Ryan Ingram of Phenix City, AL took third for the boaters with five bass going 18.68 pounds.
“I also caught my fish today on the south end of the lake. I was fishing road-beds using a spinnerbait between 16ft-18ft. I caught two of my fish on a crankbait also.” Ingram said.
The big bass award for the boaters went to Michael Smith of Andalusia, AL for a big bass that weighed 6.88 pounds
“I caught that big bass offshore on the south end of the lake.” Smith said.
Finishing fourth, Armando Ortiz of Phenix City, AL landed a five-bass limit for 16.99 pounds. Clayton Shoupe of Newton, AL rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 16.47 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Robert Enke of Phenix City, AL won with three bass going 5.61 pounds. He pocketed a check for $750 for his win.
“I caught my fish today on the south end of the lake on a jig in deep water.” Enke said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Harold Driver of Powder Springs, GA brought in only one bass weighing 5.13 pounds which also was big bass for the co-anglers. Driver collected a check for $140 for the big bass award.
“I caught that fish as I was reeling my jig back to the boat. It felt funny and that’s when I set the hook.” Driver said.
Julio Candelario of Midland, GA placed third among the co-anglers with two bass going 4.73 pounds.
“I caught my fish on a shakey-head on the south end of the lake.“ Candelario said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Russell Jones of Jonesboro, GA brought in two bass for 3.71 pounds. Jeff Grubbs of Palmetto, GA finished in fifth place with one bass for 3.71 pounds.
Slated for March 14th, 2020, the next tournament will be held on Lake Oconee out of Sugar Creek Marina in Buckhead, GA. At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance the 2021 Ray Scott Championship to be held at Lake Chickamauga in April, 2021.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti, tournament manager, at 256-230-5632 or ABA at 256-232-0406. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com
About the American Bass Anglers – American Bass Anglers is committed to providing low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler while offering an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and all their bass tournament trails visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by: Bass Pro Shops, Triton Boats, Nitro Boats, Tracker Boats, Mercury Marine, MotorGuide, Monster Energy Drinks, Garmin, T-H Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Engel Coolers, Maui Jim and Power-Pole.
