Tournament Reports – May 2022

Sean Alvarez Tops Field at Phoenix BFL on Hartwell

Sean Alvarez of Anderson, S.C., caught five bass weighing 21-lbs. 10-ozs. to win the Phoenix BFL event on Lake Hartwell. 

“When we got out on the water we had forecasts for high winds, and I was pretty excited,” Alvarez said. “I’m pretty old-school when it comes to some of my favorite styles of bass fishing. When that wind blows, I go right to my spinnerbait, and I knew I was going to be able to do that as long as the wind blew, and it would allow me to do it in areas where other fishermen were going to avoid.”

Alvarez, who lives on Lake Hartwell, said he had about 30 spots where baitfish were present that he was keying in on during the week leading up to the tournament. Windy conditions prevailed for three days prior to the competition, so Alvarez felt confident in his approach.

“The second cast of the morning landed me a bass that weighed 5-lbs., 12-ozs.,” Alvarez said. “Another dozen casts later, I caught a 4-pounder. It was nice to get two fish out of the same area.”

Alvarez said he was targeting postspawn largemouth that were feeding on main points outside of spawning areas. After his first stop, he relocated to another main point that produced a 4- and 5-pounder to add to his bag.

“I was just moving around trying to target active fish that were nose into the wind,” Alvarez said. “I never was able to cull up, but fish bit every place I went.”

Alvarez said he caught about 30 keepers during the course of the day on a modified BOOYAH spinnerbait.

“The action was just so fast,” Alvarez said. “It was just net the fish, grab the fish, throw it in the livewell and get back up and do it again.”

It’s hard enough to win one Berry’s tournament, but when you win back-to-back events on Oconee and Sinclair, that’s worth noting! It’s been said that Oconee and Sinclair has some of the best tournament anglers in the country, so kudos to Michael Farrow and Christopher Farrow for winning both the March 19 and April 2 events.

Ryan Frish, of Eatonton, didn’t have to split any prize money when he fished solo in the March 19 Berry’s tournament. This big girl weighed 7.51 pounds and bit a ChatterBait.