Madison County Teens Take Bassmaster Win On Hartwell

Logan Fisher and Will Hart spent hundreds of hours on Lake Hartwell during the past five-plus months of shutdowns and social distancing, and they proved the time spent was anything but a diversion.

Fisher and Hart, who live in Danielsville, won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series event at Lake Hartwell presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on Sunday. Their three-bass limit of 10-lbs., 5-ozs., was top in the 95-team field that made its way to Green Pond Landing for the event.

Fisher and Hart, both 15-year old sophomores at Madison County High School, won $1,025 for the Red Raiders’ bass fishing team with the victory. The top-12 teams took home part of a $3,535 purse for their school squads. Chase Hubbell and Brent May, of Strawberry Crest High School in Dover, Fla., finished second with 9-11. The duo won the Big Bass Award and a $100 prize for their high school team, with a 6-7.

This is the second year Fisher and Hart have competed together but the first time they’ve been on the water in a Bassmaster high school derby this season. The series had tournaments on Louisiana’s Toledo Bend on Jan. 26 and on Alabama’s Smith Lake on March 1 but has been on hiatus since then as COVID-19 restrictions prevented larger groups from gathering for events like the one Sunday on Lake Hartwell.

The teens said it was exhilarating to win—and on local water at that—after months of downtime.

“Fishing is just about all we’ve been able to do,” Fisher said. “This felt great.”

Hartwell Bass On The Fall Feed

The teens, along with boat captain Chad Hart (Will’s dad), began their day at Hartwell Dam. After a 10-minute run and five minutes of pitching a blue fluke-type lure, a 3-lb. spotted bass bit. Thirty minutes later, Logan added a 5-lb. largemouth that had the anglers feeling good about their chances.

“But it died after that,” Will Hart said. “It was a struggle until about 2 o’clock when we finally caught our third.”

That bass, a spot in the 2-lb. range, gave the Madison County team a limit, but they weren’t sure it was heavy enough to win the tournament.

“I thought we might be Top 10,” Fisher said, “But no way did I think we would win first place. That was a surprise.”

It also was a key into the first national championship tournament they’ll fish together. That event is scheduled for Oct. 22-24 (Location TBA), and Hart knows from experience it’s a “tough” event. He competed in the championship last year, finishing 44th overall with previous partner Levi Seagraves.

“Hopefully this time, Will and I can win it,” Fisher said.

Sunday’s tournament, which was hosted by Visit Anderson, originally was scheduled to be held Aug. 8 on Lake St. Clair in Michigan. It was postponed and relocated, however, due to restrictions on crowd size at the time in that state.

Logan Fisher and Will Hart won the Bassmaster High School event on Lake Hartwell.

2020 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Title Sponsor: Mossy Oak Fishing

2020 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Presenting Sponsor: Academy Sports + Outdoors

2020 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2020 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + OutdoorsPremier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Ranger Boats, Talon, Yamaha

2020 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + OutdoorsSupporting Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Garmin, Carhartt, Huk Performance Fishing, Mossy Oak Fishing, Rapala, TNT Fireworks

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2 and The Pursuit Channel), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship, new Huk Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX presented by Abu Garcia and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.