ATHENS, Ala. – Todd Pierce of Tyler, TX won the American Bass Anglers Open Series Texas East Division, held March 24th at Lake Palestine.

Running out of Flint, TX, the 70-boat field left at 7:00 AM. For the boaters, 14 places were paid out and it took 11.06 pounds to make the cut.

Pirce caught a five-fish limit weighing 23.70 lbs with a healthy 6.04-pound kicker.   For the boater division victory, he took home a check for $5000.

“I started out North of here in a little ditch and was able to get 4 to start the day.  I left there and came a little south and my next bite came around 9 AM.  That finished my limit.  I caught the next one on a bed, turned back around, and caught 6 more.  I knew where one of the beds was but the rest of them I had to guess on because I couldn’t see them.  I culled every fish I caught earlier that morning and had a great day today.” Said Pierce.

In second for the boaters, Kenneth Moore of Red Oak, TX landed a five-bass limit weighing 19.32 lbs held up by a beautiful 8.51 lb kicker.  He collected a check for $1400.

“It was a rough day for me.  I started at the dam and nothing happened for us.  I put a bit of a pattern together just running around and trying to figure them out. Later in the afternoon it came together with some better bites and I was able to get them in the boat to come in with what I had.  It was a grind, but it worked out.  I was just a little shy today.” Said Moore.

Trent Menees of Saginaw, TX took third for the boaters with a limit of five bass weighing 17.07 lbs and took home a check for $950.00

“I found most of my fish on beds.  6 or 7 of them.    I found them during practice and I knew that some of the guys would have done the same.  With the wind blowing the way it was on Friday I tried to find fish in protected water where it was still calm.  I knew it was going to be breezy today out of the south again and the plan worked.  I fished in some grass today but mainly just sight fished.”  Said Trent.

In fourth, Albert White of Crosby, TX had a solid bag for 16.61 lbs, and Darrell Lyons of Hemphill, TX came in with a solid bag of 14.68 lbs to take the fifth-place honors.

In the Co-Angler Division, Chris Pearson of Marthaville, LA blew past the field with a monster 3 fish limit at 14.22 lbs, anchored by his 6.32 lb bass.  His performance filled his pocket with a check for $1600 on the win.

“I started out the day the wrong way.  I lost my first bite and she was probably 4 lbs.  We left that area and went north where I landed my first keeper about 15 minutes later.  I had my limit around 1:30. All my fish were caught on a Senko.  If I had landed everything that bit I may have had 2 lbs more than I did bu4 14 is not too bad with 3 fish.” Said Chris.

Taking second for the co-anglers was Tom Brouillette of Garland, TX weighing a 3-fish limit for 11.75 lbs. His placement earned him a check for $600.  Tom had a very nice anchor weight in his bag earning top honors for the co-angler big bass with a 7.88 lb kicker, earning another check for $290.00.

“We went up to Kickapoo and roughly 20 minutes in to the day the big one blew up on a frog.  I caught her in the grass and it was so wadded up we thought she had gotten off.  I dragged it all up to the side of the boat and my boater started pulling it all apart and there she was.  He picked her up, I took her and put her in the livewell and never really got a good look at her.  I didn’t realize she was that big until we got back to the dock and pulled her out to bring her to the scales.  My other 2 keepers came off a trick worm.” Stated Tom.

Robbie Carson of Carrollton, TX placed third among the co-anglers. He had three fish weighing in at 9.73 lbs to earn a check for $450.

“I caught my fish on frogs from 2 or 3 spots on the lake.  I had a limit and did manage to cull once but I fished clean and didn’t lose any bites.” Stated Robbie.

In fourth place among the co-anglers, Thomas Helsley of Duncanville, TX brought in two fish for 8.56 lbs.  Thomas was the first co-angler of the day to scale a big bass at 7.06 lbs and held the bar high for most of the afternoon.  Joe Embry of Tyler, TX landed a limit of 3 bass for 8.53 lbs and finished in fifth place.

The biggest bass for the boaters was caught by Blake Whatley of Harlton, TX. Weighing in at 8.81 lbs for $710. “I caught her on a beaver.  She was on a bed on the back side of a log.  Of course she wrapped up and I didn’t think I was going to get her out but she finally did and by then she was worn out and I just dragged her to the net,” said Whatley.

Slated for June 30th, the next divisional tournament will be held on Lake of the Pines launching from Johnson Creek.  At the end of the season, the best anglers from across the nation advance to the 2019 Ray Scott Championship, slated for the first week of April, 2019 on Lake Eufaula, AL.

For more information on this tournament, call Chris Wayand, tournament manager, at 256-230-5627 or ABA at 256-232-0406.

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 offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the ABA Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.