Johnson Wins Bass Fishing League Tournament on Wheeler

DECATUR, Ala. (April 11, 2022) – Boater James Johnson of Trinity, Alabama, caught five bass Sunday weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Bass Fishing League Tournament on Wheeler Lake. The tournament, hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division. Johnson earned $4,963 for his victory.

“For the past couple of weeks my fish had been staying out on the river channel,” Johnson said. “I had several shell beds that they were on, but I couldn’t get them to bite. I threw a shaky-head rig just to try to get a bite, and I caught one close to 3 pounds, and then one that was 6 pounds, 12 ounces, so I just didn’t put the shaky-head down.”

Johnson said he caught 14 fish – all keepers – on flats near Decatur during the course of the tournament, which Johnson described as “very slow.” His biggest five, however, provided him with a sought-after win.

“I’ve had four or five top top-five finishes in BFL and Toyota Series tournaments, but I never could get the win,” Johnson said.

“I don’t typically get nervous at the scales, but during weigh-in I went out to the parking lot and stayed away from the stage,” Johnson continued. “I kind of knew I had a chance. And I ended up finally getting that trophy that says ‘Champion.’ To get this win was special to me.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

                1st:        James Johnson, Trinity, Ala., five bass, 24-2, $4,963
                2nd:       Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 20-0, $1,981
                3rd:       Casey Martin, Brownsboro, Ala., five bass, 19-8, $1,322
                4th:        Chad Hall, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 19-2, $925
                5th:        Chris Webb, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 18-6, $793
                6th:        Hunter Brewer, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 18-4, $927
                7th:        Brad Vice, Tanner, Ala., five bass, 17-12, $660
                8th:        Mason Smith, Danville, Ala., five bass, 17-10, $594
                9th:        Lavoyd Lemmond, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 17-5, $528
                10th:     Shawn Diehl, Harvest, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $462

Mitchell Gowen of Decatur, Ala., had a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $535. Paul Lamon of Trinity, Alabama, won the Co-angler Division and $2,248 Sunday after catching five bass weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

                1st:        Paul Lamon, Trinity, Ala., five bass, 18-10, $2,248
                2nd:       Alex Gault, Flintville, Tenn., five bass, 15-10, $991
                3rd:       Jason Bladow, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-2, $662
                4th:        Briar Terry, Moulton, Ala., four bass, 13-9, $462
                5th:        Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 13-7, $396
                6th:        Chase Owens, Elkmont, Ala., five bass, 12-6, $363
                7th:        Bradley Mealer, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $330
                8th:        Donald Cawthon, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 11-14, $297
                9th:        Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 11-13, $264
                10th:     Matt Cameron, Southside, Ala., five bass, 10-15, $231

Lamon caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 7 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $267.

After three events, Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tennessee, leads the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 739 points, while Craig Johnson of Trinity, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 716 points.