April Qualifier, Grand Lake 2009

To no suprise conditions were once again turbulent on Grand Lake O' the Cherokee! With wind gusts up to 40 mph and temperatures hovering at 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it was a rough day for the ABT. Weights were lower than expected but quite a few limits were brought in. The team of Russ Taylor and Ryan Toomer took the victory with 12 pounds, 4 ounces. They credit there sucess to a Rogue in the mid-lake area. In second was Mook Miller and Taylor Denniston with 11 pounds, 8 ounces. Third place was split between Jerid Jones and the team of David Whitmire and Hunter Lake, they both had 11 pounds even. The smoke has cleared for the points race of 2009 and the team of Taylor & Toomer completed one of the most consistent seasons in memory. "Mom always told me go big or go home," said Toomer. "So I did." Taking big bass was Whitmire and Lake with a 3 pound, 15 ounce toad. That does it for the 2008 - 2009 season. You can see full points results at 2009 ABT qaulifier points. 

 Big Bass: David & Hunter 3 pounds, 15 ounces

March Qualifier, Lake Ouachita 2009

Skies were sunny and the temperature was warm for the second qualifier of the spring semester. Fishing was slow but the team still managed to have a great time in beautiful west-central Arkansas. The team of Russell Taylor and sub Joel Vincent managed to bring in a limit of bass that weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces. The two took victory with their limit. They credit their success to the spinner bait in the South Fork region of the lake. With the point's race tightening up, it was a key victory for the team of Taylor and Toomer. Jerid Jones and sub Chris Jackson took second with three fish weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces. "It was tough to loose by ounces, but we got big bass so points wise we tied first place," Jones said. They credit their success to a Shad Rap in the mid-lake area. Rounding out the top three was team Bodie Drake and Jessie Gentry. They managed three fish weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Points couldn't be tighter between these top three teams as they head into the final event at Grand Lake on April 5th.

 Big Bass: Jerid  & Chris 4 pounds, 2 ounces

 February Qualifier, Lake Eucha 2009

 Lake Eucha proved to be one of the best stops the team has made as everyone caught fish and three fish over five pounds was weighed. Taylor Denniston and Mook Miller took the victory by 1 pound, 1 ounce over Jerid Jones and Calvin Vaughan. The dynamic duo credit their success to the jig in 5-10 feet of depth. Included in their stringer was a 6 pound, 3 ounce hawg. Denniston said "Everything just went perfect, we didn't lose a fish all day." Everything went perfect indeed as their total weight was 18 pounds, 2 ounces. Jones and Vaughan credit their success to the jig as well. "It was fun catching a bunch of fish, we thought we would have had it covered with our bag, just goes to show you that you never know in fishing," Vaughn said. They tipped the scales with 17 pounds, 1 ounce. Rounding out the top three was the Ramey Bros. Coming to the scales with 12 pounds, 7 ounces. They credit their success to the rattle trap.

Big Bass: Taylor & Mook 6 pounds, 3 ounces