Tournament Reports October 2020

David Lowery, of Milledgeville, won the Bass Pro Shops ABA Open Series Georgia Division tournament, held Sept. 12 on Lake Sinclair. Running out of Dennis Station, David caught five bass that locked in the scales at 13.73 pounds. For the Boater Division victory, Lowery took home a check for $2,200.

“I caught two good fish this morning on topwater early, and then I couldn’t get bit anymore, so I ran way up the Oconee River and started punching a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Craw in the hydrilla,” Lowery said.

David Lowery won the Sept. 12 ABA Open on Sinclair with 13.73 pounds.

In second for the boaters, Matt Henry, of Milledgeville, landed a five-bass limit going 11.40 pounds.

“It was a grind today. I started off down the lake, then moved up to the mid-lake area and caught my fish on topwater all day today. I was throwing a frog, a buzzbait and a walking bait. I probably caught around 20 keepers, but the fish were almost all the same size,” Henry said.

Mike Blackshear, of Macon, took third for the boaters with five bass going 11.34 pounds.

“I caught my fish way up the Oconee River today. I couldn’t get bit on topwater, so I threw a spinnerbait and also a Texas-rig on the edge of grassbeds,” Blackshear said.

The big-bass award for the boaters went to Deacon Collins, of Tyrone, for a big bass that weighed 5.59 pounds. Collins collected $350 for the big bass award.

Deacon Collins with big fish.

“I caught that big bass on a shaky head in a brushpile first thing this morning,” Collins said.

In the Co-Angler Division, Michael Mincey, of Mansfield, won with three bass going 7.87 pounds, which also included a 5.17 big bass for the co-anglers. Mincey collected a check for $700 for the win and $100 for the big-bass award.

“I caught my fish on swim jigs and buzzbaits today. It was a better morning bite and became a grind after lunchtime today. I caught that big bass on a swim jig around 10 a.m.,” Mincey said.

Taking second for the co-anglers, Hugh Phillips, of Kathleen, brought in three bass weighing 6.92 pounds.

“I caught my fish on a swim jig and spinnerbait today. I did catch one fish on a speed worm, but my big fish came on a swim jig in the grass,” Phillips said.

Tony Adams, of Tifton, placed third among the co-anglers with three bass going 6.09 pounds.

“I caught fish and lost fish on a ChatterBait today. I lost four fish that would’ve helped me win today. I even broke off on a fish in the hydrilla with monofilament line that I switched to because I was pulling the ChatterBait out of their mouths with braid,” Adams said.