CLANTON, Ala. (Sept. 30, 2013) – Chris Rutland of Wetumpka, Ala., weighed in a two-day total of 10 bass totaling 27 pounds, 14 ounces Sunday to win the Bass Fishing League Bama Division Super Tournament on Lake Mitchell. For his victory, Rutland earned $4,732.
“I practiced Thursday and Friday and I thought I had them dialed in,” said Rutland. “We had a front come through, and in my opinion it shut the fish down. I only caught six keepers the first day. But I caught two nice fish late that really keyed me in to how the fish had changed.
“Most of the fish were in the backs of the feeder creeks,” continued Rutland. “Most of the top 14 were running up below Lay Lake dam and fishing current, so I had the lower lake to myself. I like fishing fast, and I covered a lot of new water Sunday and concentrated on the backs of feeder creeks.
“I probably caught 15 keepers on Sunday,” said Rutland. “The last fish I caught was about a 4 1/2-pound spotted bass, and that pretty much sealed the deal.
“I was elated when I won,” said Rutland. “I’m really proud of the decisions that I made and that I didn’t lose any fish.”
Rutland said he caught his fish swimming a Big Bite Baits Cane Thumper around shad and on a Big Bite Baits Real Deal Craw in isolated grass mats in the backs of feeder creeks. Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 25-15, $2,366
3rd: Adam Bain, Talladega, Ala., 10 bass, 24-14, $1,577
4th: Bo Hunter, Gardendale, Ala., 10 bass, 23-13, $1,104
5th: Steve Callins, Deatsville, Ala., 10 bass, 22-8, $946
6th: Paul Anthony, Dawson, Ga., 10 bass, 22-8, $888
7th: Dalton Bobo, Northport, Ala., 10 bass, 22-1, $789
8th: Brian Randall, Lake View, Ala., nine bass, 20-11, $710
9th: Tim Hurst, Oxford, Ala., nine bass, 19-12, $631
10th: Joshua Herren, Pinson, Ala., 10 bass, 19-5, $552
Griffin McDonough of Birmingham, Ala., weighed in a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 19 pounds even Sunday to win $2,366 in the co-angler division. Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Jay Galimore, Auburn, Ala., eight bass, 17-14, $1,183
3rd: David Burnett, Birmingham, Ala., nine bass, 17-8, $790
4th: Jacob Hays, Elmore, Ala., 10 bass, 17-7, $552
5th: Scott Noles, Woodland, Ala., nine bass, 17-5, $473
6th: Terry Pennington, Auburn, Ala., nine bass, 15-0, $434
7th: Robert Volinic, Peachtree City, Ga., nine bass, 14-5, $394
8th: Gary Marlowe, Montgomery, Ala., 10 bass, 14-3, $355
9th: Alex Pruitt, Bessemer, Ala., five bass, 13-6, $315
10th: Keith Burnett, Alabaster, Ala., seven bass, 13-1, $276
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia, Ga. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.