The first event for the ABA 2023 Nevada Region was held today on Lake Mead out of Hemenway Harbor. We had a fantastic turnout with a total of 30 teams fishing. Lake Mead hasn’t had any fishing pressure for a long time, and I know a lot of teams were looking forward to getting back on Lake Mead.
Before I get to the results from today, I had a situation brought to my attention while I was weighing fish that I did not handle with the proper urgency that it merited. Being a fairly new tournament director, I expect to have challenges and issues come up that need to be solved and situations that come up that I will need to handle in the proper way. One of those situations happened today and I failed in every way to handle it correctly.
Mr. Shawn Herring and Mr. Jonathon Jackson I apologize for not handling your situation with the urgency it deserved. I since have personally spoke to both of you and expressed to you that this can’t and won’t ever happen again to any team that fishes any of my events.
Johnathon Schuyler and Adam Cacal thank you for helping out your fellow angler.
The Results.
I had mentioned to a friend yesterday that it would take over 15lbs to win today. I had pre-fished a couple of days this week and knew the potential to weigh in a good bag was out there to catch.
The winner of our first event of 2023 is Justin Kerr fishing solo today. Justin brought in a 5 fish limit that weighed 16.73 anchored by a 5lb largemouth. Justin said he caught 20 or more fish all out of one area. Justin 1st place cash money is $1725, Big Fish Money of $696, Top 5 Money of $232, and an additional $300 from the tournament director sponsor. Justin takes home a total of $2,953 today.
Jason Bryan and Markos Avalos take the #2 spot today with a weight of 13.65. We take home 1st place money of $1075, Top 5 Money of $174, and a $100 gift certificate to the Boulder City Tackle Store. Taking home, a total of $1,349.
3rd Place goes to Kent Stoker, fishing solo today Kent brought in a bag weighing 12.83 earning him $747. 3rd Place money of $560, Top 5 Money of $87, and a $100 gift certificate to the Boulder City Tackle Store.
The team of two Steve’s, Steven Heck and Steven Toureillo nab the 4th place spot today with a 5 fish limit of smallmouth that paid them $100 for having the largest limit of smallmouth caught. They also received Top 5 Money of $87, and 4th place money of $320 for a total of $478.
Aaron Leon and Justin Phillips were holding onto big fish honors, that is until Justin Kerr weighed in. Aaron and Justin take 5th place with a limit of bass weighing in at 12.57 including the 2nd biggest bass of the day. A 4.54 largemouth. 2nd biggest bass paid them $464, Top 5 Money paid $58, and they also weighed in the largest limit of largemouth earning them an additional $100. With 5th place money of $310, bringing their total to $903.
The final place paid was 6th place today going to Dean & Ryan Yamagata. Dean & Ryan weighed in 12.27 earning them $300.
First out the Money, which is $200 gets is paid to Clayton Meyer and Bryan Ledford. They had 5 fish limit and a weight of 12.24. This $200 is provided by one of our newest sponsors. Baird’s Beard Oil. Thank you, Jeff Baird.
Roy Hawk placing in 20th place had the 3rd biggest bass a 3.71, which earned him a brand new Dobyns rod, supplied by Mr. Don Iglinski and family. Thank you, Don.
The smallest limit of the day was caught by Gary Freeman and Roy Chalhoub. Gary and Rob had 5 fish weighing a grand total of 6lbs even. This $200 is Sponsored by Twisted Hemp. Thank you, Mike Luiere.
Overall, the fishing was pretty good. Every team brought fish to the scales, including 23 teams having a full limit.
The largest smallmouth limit and largest largemouth limit were won this week so the $100 for each will not rollover into the next event but will be $100 each again for the Jan 21st Event.
I apologize to everyone who were at the awards presentation today, having the awards in the parking lot in the dark was not any fun at all. This being the first event being held from Hemenway Harbor presented some challenges that will have to be worked out for the next event.
Thank you to all the teams who fished today, I hope everyone had a great time and hope to see you all back here again on the 21st of January 2023.
Thanks to all of our sponsors, Baird’s Beard Oil, Jakes Lure Joint, Mtn Pine Construction, Eternal Lithium, Snap Towing, Boulder City Tackle Store, Twisted Hemp. We couldn’t have the payouts we do without your generous support, Thank you