October 22, 2011:              LAKE HAMILTON: BEAUTIFUL BUT CHALLENGING

The 2011 ARKANSAS B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT was held on beautiful Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas on October 21 & 22 out of the Arkansas Game & Fish Ramp with weigh-in at the AG&F Facility at the ramp. Lake Hamilton is a great fishery and had given up a one day total weight of 16+ pounds a few weeks prior to our tournament. Fishermen were excited to get on the water to prefish and learn the secrets of the lake but, they were greeted to seasonal weather changing pattern with a cold front moving thru during the earlier part of the week. With 150 anglers participating in this year’s tournament, they were confronted with some of the toughest conditions of fall fishing but overall, they were able to adapt and catch 503 fish. The first day results showed just how tough the fishing was with Jack Woods leading with a total of 8.07 lbs while 12th place was 5.81 lbs. Arkansas Valley Bass Masters lead day one with a team weight of 22.89 pounds with two teams tied for second place with 20.87 pounds.
The second day results showed that the fishing had improved with more 5-fish limits being brought in and with heavier weights.
Results for the 2011 ABFN State Championship Tournament:
Individual:

1st Place – Kavan Maybee (Green Forest Bass Club) 15.86 lbs.
2nd place – Jack Wood (Anvil Jaw) 14.54 lbs.
3rd place – Keith Alton (Team ArkOutdoors.com) 14.50 lbs.
4th place – Dylan Hayes (N Little Rock Bass Anglers) 13.89 lbs
5th place – Billy Graves (Arkansas Hawg Hunters) 13.43 lbs.
6th place – Joey Korte (Anvil Jaw) 12.79 lbs.
7th place – Roger W. Morris (NW Arkansas Bassmasters) 12.12 lbs
8th place – Terry Smith (Arkansas Valley Bassmasters) 11.13 lbs.
9th place – Tim Dycus (Stuttgart Bass Club) 11.10 lbs.
10th place – Samual Sorrells (Saturdays Bass Club) 10.91 lbs.
11th place – Harvey Horne (NW Arkansas Bassmasters) 10.67 lbs.
12th place – Josh Wray (Green Forest Bass Club) 10.62 lbs.
13th place – Barry Hester (Arkansas Valley Bassmasters 10.49 lbs.

Big Bass: .Billy Graves with a 4.67 lb. lunker.

Team: More Pics on Lake Hamilton

1st place – Green Forest Bass Club 45.38 lbs.
2nd place – NW Arkansas Bassmasters 37.68 lbs.
3rd place – Anvil Jaw 36.84 lbs.

The ABFN State Championship Tournament is held annually for the clubs throughout our state to compete for individual and club championship honors and to make the top 12 state team member roster that will represent ABFN at the 2012 B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT being held in Louisiana during June 4-8, 2012. The state team will compete against the other states in our division (Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, & Mississippi) for team and individual honors. The top finisher from each state will then advance to the B.A.S.S. FEDERATION NATION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT to vie for the chance to fish the B.A.S.S.MASTERS CLASSIC. This year, Josh Wray will be representing ABFN at the BFN Championship Tournament being held November 3-5 on the Ouachita River in Monroe, LA.
I want to say thanks to all our sponsors, the Hot Springs A&P Commission, the Arkansas Game & Fish, and the ABFN Executive Board. All of you helped us to make this tournament a success this year.
Thanks to our sponsors: Bass Cat, Okuma, Deep South Rods, Hummingbird, Minn Kota, Culprit, Redneck Remedy’s.

Jim Alexander
President
Arkansas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation
(501) 269-1368