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The father, Elmus Johnson of Smithville, won the Boater Division while his son Jayson won the Co-Angler Division. Drawing other partners, they could not fish together. Competitors could fish the 160,300-acre Kentucky Lake or 57,900-acre Lake Barkley.
Catching a few small fish, but only five keepers for the day, Elmus ended with 24.05 pounds to win $2,019. He greatly improved upon his 4.81-pound average with a 6.42-pounder.
"I caught one on a DD-22 and the other four on a 3/4-ounce black and blue jig fishing a ledge on the main lake in 12 to 15 feet of water," Elmus said. "I was just dragging it on the bottom."
Jayson brought in a three-fish division limit for 13.91 pounds. He anchored that bag with a 6.41-pounder to take division big bass honors. For the win, Jayson collected $1,009 with a $95 bonus for the sowbelly.
"I caught the big one first thing in the morning on a plum Old Monster worm," Jayson said. "I had my limit by 9 a.m. We fished in about 12 feet of water on the southern part of the main lake."
In second for the 38 boaters, Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs landed five bass for 22.78 pounds with one 6.19-pound kicker. He earned $1,009.
"I practiced two days and found six schools of big fish in 21 to 23 feet of water," Anderson explained. "Clouds today made them move to the tops of the ledges in 12 to 15 feet of water. I caught most of my fish on a 3/4-ounce custom-made 5-0 football jig. They are made by a friend of mine in Hawaii, hence the name."
Phillip Bates of Bon Aqua took third place with 21.83 pounds. He actually caught five bass weighing 22.33 pounds, but suffered a penalty. However, he did bring in the tournament lunker, a 6.46-pounder, winning $673 for third and a $190 bonus for the big bass.
"I caught the big fish on a football jig in about 10 feet of water," Bates said. "I also caught some fish on worms. We struggled most of the day. I caught the big one about an hour before the weigh-in. We went south, fishing the main lake in 10 to 15 feet of water.
Dan Isenhart of Fairview placed fourth with a five-bass tournament limit weighing 17.79 pounds. Chris Blackwell of Clarksville took fifth among the boaters with five bass going 15.65 pounds.
For second place in the Co-Angler Division, David De Jesus of Ashland City brought in three bass going 11.21 pounds. The ABA rookie anchored that bag with a 5.11-pounder, winning $505.
"We fished one spot for about 3.5 hours," De Jesus said. "I fished a 1-ounce football jig with a green pumpkin trailer. We were sitting in 15 feet of water and throwing into eight feet of water."
Cameron Trousdale, 18, of Rogersville, Ala., landed three bass going 10.92 pounds to finish third. He caught most of his fish on crankbaits or Carolina rigs.
"The fish were scattered throughout the lake," Trousdale said. "We caught some north and some south."
In fourth for the co-anglers, Richard Russell of Chapel Hill landed three keepers for 9.53 pounds with one 4.64-pounder. Jeff Stevenson of Decherd took fifth with three bass and 9.13 pounds.
About American Bass Anglers: The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide 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 and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, The American 150 Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.
