Josh Ray weighs over 22 pounds to Win the Pro Side of the Mr. Bass of Arkansas opener on Lake Hamilton
1st place: Josh Ray accepts the new custom “Mr. Bass of Lake Hamilton” trophy and tells the crowd of almost 200 how he caught his impressive 22.68lbs from the cold stingy Lake Hamilton. He explained he started deep close to 40′ throwing an A-Rig and had a limit real quick, but it wasn’t until later in the day when he made an adjustment and moved shallow with a jerkbait to upgrade a couple times to solidify his massive stringer. Josh earned the guaranteed $4,000.00 and had the days second big bass worth $250.00 presented by American Termite and Pest.
2nd place: Long time Mr. Bass of Arkansas angler Ryan Williams who had 16.78lbs of beautiful Lake Hamilton largemouth earning him a cool $1150.00.He commented catching his fish on jerkbaits and crankbaits. He didn’t get much practice but as most of you know Ryan doesn’t need a lot of that he is one of Arkansas’s very best!
3rd place: Always hammer Mark McDonnel with 14.54lbs commented catching his fish on A-Rigs, & Jerkbaits around deep and shallow brush. His haul brought him a nice $850.00. The best part about his day was he got in the C-Map Side Pot with a limited field earning him a C-Map provided HDS 12 Carbon worth another $3500.00!
4th SPENCER SHUFFIELD 14.38 $700.00
5th MATHEW HEDRICK 14.22 $550.00
6th QUINCY HOUCHIN 14.10 $460.00
7th RODNEY THOMASON 13.96 $430.00
8th JAMEY BLACK 13.86 $380.00
9th JEREMIAH KINDY 12.90 $350.00
10th DARBY STILES 12.36 $320.00
1st place on the Amateur side was Hunter Fant from Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Hunter fished with Barry Sutton who because of Hunter’s win will receive a free Entry to the March 11th Lake Dardanelle tournament. Barry is known for deep brush and jig fishing which fit very well with Hunter’s knowledge from his years of fishing on Lake Greeson. Hunter finished the day behind Barry fishing in 30 – 35 foot of water throwing a “Green” football jig catching 15.60lbs earning the guaranteed $2,000.00 on the co-angler side.
2nd place: MICHAEL JINKINS 9.62 $700.00
3rd place: CHRIS DARBY 8.30 $600.00
4th place: ROGER MORPHEW 8.26 $450.00
5th place: JOHN MURPHY 7.74 $350.00
6th place: AUSTIN HOLCOMB 6.82 $280.00
7th place: ROBERT MORPHEW 6.56 $250.00
8th place: ROBERT SCOTT 6.42 $225.00
9th place: CHRIS CAMPBELL 6.22 $215.00
10th place: BRANDON GATHRIGHT 5.60 $200.00