Clarks Hill Lake – January 7, 2018

D-96 2018 Season Qualifier Tournament

Group photo from left to right: 1^st place Russell Clark of Abbeville, SC / 2^nd place and ALX Big Fish winner Jonathan Botts of Abbeville, SC / 3^rd place Shane Abbott of Ninety Six, SC / 4^th place Truett Hill of Laurens, SC / 5^th place Danny Ashley of Donalds, SC.  / 6^th place Evan Buller of Lincolnton, Ga.

This was a cold day. Started out at 12 degrees and was at 34 degrees by the 4 pm weigh-in. Because of the cold we started out a 8am. Mostly sunny skies all day long and a wind out of the ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Clarks Hill Lake is at 9 feet below full pool with surface temp in the mid 40s.

There were 18 anglers fishing this Division 96 1-day qualifier tournament out of the Dorn Boating Facility near McCormick, SC.

First place, Russell Clark had 5 fish weighing 23.67 pounds that was anchored by a kicker fish at 5.86 pounds. His total weight takes the lead for the Level Performance Rod Big Sack Rod. Russell caught his fish on jigs fishing rocks in the middle part of the lake. The combined payback for first place and first place option pot earned Russell $610.

Jonathan Botts was second with 5 fish weighing 22.36 pounds which included the 9.45 pound tournament big fish. The big fish puts Jonathan in the lead for the ALX Rod Big Fish Rod. He caught his big fish on a Shad Rap fishing the upper part of the lake. The rest of his fish came on a jig or a medium diver crank bait fishing creek channels. Jonathan took home $448 for second place, second place option pot and big fish.

Shane Abbott took third place with 5 fish weighing 17.56 pounds which included a 4.73 pound kicker. Shane caught his fish on a jig fishing the lower part of the lake. He was targeting rocks and hydrilla. He won a total of $94 for third place.

Fourth place was Truett Hill with 4 fish weighing 9.38 pounds. Truett won a $25 coupon from WolfStone Tungsten for his fourth place finish.

Fifth place was Danny Ashley with 4 fish weighing 8.54 pounds that included a kicker fish of 5.45 pounds. Danny won an ALX Rod Hat and a $50 off coupon towards the purchase of an ALX Rod.

Evan Buller finished sixth with 5 fish weighing 8.29 pounds. Evan won an Level Performance Rod Hat for his sixth place finish.

The next D-96 tournament for the 2018 season is February 25, 2018 on Lake Murray out of Dreher Island State Park near Prosperity, SC.

Here’s how we finished:

Angler	# Fish	Big Bass	Penalty	Total Wt.	Points	Payout
1	Russell Clark	5	5.86	23.67	198	$610
2	Jonathan Botts	5	9.45	22.36	197	$448
3	Shane Abbott	5	4.73	17.56	196	$94
4	Truett Hill	4	4.32		9.38	195	WolfStone $25 0ff
5	Danny Ashley	4	5.45		8.54	194	ALX Hat $50 off
6	Evan Buller	5		8.29	193	Level Rod Hat
7	Chase Stewart	2	6.1		7.81	192	$0
8	Jay Treon	4	4.75		7.74	191	$0
9	John Wilson	2	4.76	190	$0
10	Steve Christie	2		4.73	189	$0
11	Rodney Chastain	1	3.83		3.83	188	$0
12	Jason Moyer	2		3.68	187	$0
13	Roger Farr	2		3.36	186	$0
14	Phil Morris	1	2.71	185	$0
15	Rodney Cromer	1	1.03	184	$0
16	Darren Taylor	0	0	50	$0
16	Jamie Satterwhite	0	0	50	$0
16	Brian Jones	0		0	50	$0

D-96 Angler of the Year Leaders for 2018 Season:

George Berry – 788 points

Joey Miller – 788 points

J. Treon – 766 points

Paul Selle – 762 points

R. Cromer – 758 points

ALX Rod Big Fish Leader for 2018 Season:

Jonathan Botts – 9.45 pounds Clarks Hill Lake, January 7, 2018

ALX Rods Big Fish Award for the 2018 Season (New ALX IKOS Series Rod for Season Big Fish Winner www.alxrods.com)

Jonathan Botts won an ALX IKOS Series Promise 7 Rod at the drawing on December 3^rd Lake Greenwood weigh-in.

Level Performance Rods Big Sack Leader for 2018 Season:

Russell Clark – 23.67 pounds Clarks Hill Lake, January 7, 2018

Andy Lake won a Level Rod at the drawing at the August 20^th Murray weigh-in.

Local Sponsors:

Our local sponsors will be providing products or money for products for the anglers fishing Division 96 tournaments. Please give them your support by looking to them first when considering your purchases. They are supporting you!

Palmetto Electrical Systems serving Greenwood, SC. Residential & Commercial Services – 30 years experience – Quality Service – Reasonable Prices – Free Estimates – Locally owned and operated by Mark T. Abbott – 8117 Highway 246 S, Ninety Six, SC – 864-227-8500

Kneece Investigations, LLC Saluda, SC www.kneeceinvestigations.com (864-445-3713) (one stop for both your Investigative and Surveillance Equipment needs)

ALX Rods Aiken, SC www.alxrods.com (866-628-5052) Email: [email protected] (ALX Rods are available locally at Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost (Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC & also stores in Summerville & Mt. Pleasant, SC), Cabela’s (Augusta, Ga. Greenville and Fort Mill, SC) Wacky Riggers (Salisbury, NC), Calyx Outdoors (Piedmont, SC) Grady’s Great Outdoors (Anderson, SC), Number 1 Tackle (Clearwater, SC) and direct at www.alxrods.com ) 3 ALX IKOS Rods are to be  awarded to D-96 anglers. 1 at a 1-day drawing – 1 at the 2-day drawing – 1 for the Big Fish of the Season

Antler Road On-Line Shopping – This is an on-line store with items your wives and female anglers will like with jewelry, bags and items for the home. www.antlerroad.com

WolfStone Tungsten is our local Columbia SC area tungsten manufacturer. WolfStone is providing the fishing industry with the best tungsten products at the best prices. Gift certificates will be provided at our tournaments this season. You can contact them and place orders through their facebook page with their web site www.wolfstonetungsten.net

 

Level Performance Rods: Rods designed and fished by FLW Pro Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, SC. See the complete line of these affordable rods at www.levelfishingrods.com (803-500-2354) Also Level Rods are at Palmetto State Armory Fishing Outpost Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC. 3 Level Rods are to be awarded to D-96 anglers. 1 at a 1-day drawing – 1 at the 2-day drawing – 1 for the Big Sack of the Season

Complete results and news on www.aba-sc.com and see your photos on ‘facebook’ at D-96 American Fishing Tour

Up Coming Tournaments:

Open Series Jan. 27, 2018    Keowee             South Cove

D-26  Jan. 28, 2018              Clarks Hill           Wildwood Park

Open Series Feb. 17, 2017    Murray              Dreher Island

D-25  Feb. 18, 2018             Hartwell             Green Pond

D-26  Feb. 18, 2018             Clarks Hill           Wildwood Park

D-96  Feb. 25, 2018             Murray              Dreher Island

SC Couples Mar. 3, 2018      Keowee             South Cove

D-25  Mar. 11, 2018             Russell               Hwy 72 Ramp

D-26  Mar. 11, 2018             Clarks Hill           Wildwood Park

D-96  Mar. 18, 2018             Clarks Hill           Dorn Facility

D-25  Mar. 25, 2018             Clarks Hill           Dorn Facility

D-96  Apr. 8, 2018               Russell               Hwy 72 Ramp

D-26  Apr. 14-15, 2018         Clarks Hill           Wildwood Park

D-25  Apr. 22, 2018             Hartwell             Green Pond

SC Couples Apr, 28, 2018     Hartwell             Green Pond

D-96  May 12, 2018             Bring A Youth      Greenwood State Park

SC Couples May 19, 2018     Russell               Russell State Park

D-25  May 19-20, 2018         Russell               Hwy 72 Ramp

D-96  May 20, 2018             Clarks Hill           Dorn Facility

D-96  Jun. 2-3, 2018            Greenwood         Greenwood State Park

SC Couples Jun. 9, 2018       Greenwood         One Stop Marina