Jason Wiley of Soperton, Ga won the American Bass Anglers Ram Truck Open Series Georgia Division tournament, held April 29th on Lake Sinclair.
Running out of Little River Park in Milledgeville, GA Jason caught five bass weighing 15.64 pounds. He anchored his win with a bass weighing 4.68-pounds. For the Boater Division victory, took home a check for $5000.
“I was fishing mid-lake down. I was fishing grass and docks. I caught two off a Pop-R, one on a frog, and two on a shaky-head worm. The better bites came around the grass.” Wiley said.
In second for the boaters, Frank Kitchens III of Oxford, GA landed a five-bass tournament limit going 15.59 pounds. He collected $1250 for his catch.
“I caught all my fish flipping shallow docks mid-way up the Oconee river. I didn’t lose any fish today.” Kitchens said.
James R. Golden of Covington, GA caught five bass weighing in at 15.25 pounds including a 5.98-pound big bass. For the third-place finish, he took home a check for $900, and an additional $670 for the boater big bass. Golden also caught his big bass on an Abu Garcia Revo reel and was awarded a new Abu Garcia Revo SX spinning reel for that lunker bass.
“I caught my fish flipping shallow docks. My fish didn’t turn on until after 10:00am this morning. I caught the big bass around 10:30am on a shallow dock as well, with a Revo bait casting reel.” Golden said.
Finishing fourth, Jason Mitja of Phenix City, AL landed a five-bass limit for 13.41 pounds.
Tim Howell of Ball Ground, GA rounded out the top five boaters with five bass at 13.07 pounds.
In the Co-Angler Division, Jeffrey Payne of Danville, GA won with three bass weighing in at 7.70 pounds. For the Co-Angler Division victory, he took home a check for $1200.
“I caught one on a chatter-bait, one on a spinnerbait, and one on a shaky-head down the lake. We started out in the grass today and I want to thank my boater, Jason Mitja, for putting me around fish. I have fished eight tournaments and I’m glad to have finally won one. I really enjoyed this event.” Payne said.
Taking second for the co-anglers, Michael Mincey of Zebulon, GA brought in a three-bass division limit weighing 6.98 pounds anchored by a 4.76-pound bass. He collected $400 for the effort and an additional $185 for the big bass.
“I caught my big fish on a shallow crankbait around 10:30am around shallow cover. I threw a black and blue tackle box at them. (laughing) My boater, Tim Greene, put me on them today and he was a great guy.” Mincey said.
Ray Holloway of Eatonton, GA placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 6.82 pounds. He earned $350 for his catch.
“I caught everything I weighed today on a 1/4oz shaky-head with a Zoom trick worm off the grass beds, not in the grass. The better fish came later in the day.” Holloway said.
In fourth place among the co-anglers, Buck Hilliard of Peachtree City, GA brought in three bass for 5.69 pounds.
Tim Adams of Powder Springs, GA finished in fifth place with three bass at 5.23 pounds. Tim Adams was also the Co-Angler Champion at the 2017 Ray Scott Championship a few weeks ago at Old Hickory in Hendersonville, TN.
Slated for June 17th, 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 2018 Ray Scott Championship, to be held on the Red River in Bossier City, LA.
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.ramopenseries.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 offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers, the Ram Truck Open Series, the American Fishing Tour or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
