Fishing as a Co-angler in a draw format event has its advantages, as well as its challenges, especially in a multi-day event. 46 anglers in the Co-angler division of ABA Weekend Bass Series would experience both aspects during the Divisional Championship on Lake Kissimmee August 16-17, 2014.
Dewitt Matthews of Clermont, FL took the day 1 lead with a 12.34-lb., 3 bass limit. A 7.39-lb Kissimmee toad anchored his day 1 bag.
Point’s leader August Carnahan of Celebration, FL came in 2nd place on day 1. His 3 bass limit weighed 10.46 lbs.
Ike Gray of Kissimmee, FL sat in 3rd place, weighing an 8.98-lb., 3 bass limit.
Billy Brokaw of Haines City, FL finished in 4th place for the day. His 3 bass weighed 8.31 lbs.
Ocala, FL’s Cale Dukes rounded out the Top 5 with a 7.90-lb., 3 bass limit.
Challenges for Day 2
One of the challenges Co-anglers face in multi-day tournaments is being able to duplicate their weights from day 1, if they did well. On day 2, Boater and Co-angler pairings are shuffled. This prevents anglers from fishing together back-to-back days.
Day 1 leader Dewitt Matthews felt the pressure of only catching one fish on day 2. Fortunately for Matthews, that one fish weighed 7.65 lbs., and was enough to hold on for the win.
Mike Wisnewski holds up his 8.34-lb. Big Bass
“The first day we fished shell beds with a Rat-L-Trap where I caught 2 fish early”, stated Matthews in a post-tournament interview. He caught his biggest bass on day 1 flipping, and stated he never had another bite after 10:30 in the morning. He also caught his fish on day 2 flipping the outside edge of Kissimmee Grass lines.
Mike Wisnewski of Melbourne, FL experienced one of those advantages of fishing as a Co-angler on day 2. After weighing only 4.40 lbs. on day 1, he came back on day 2 with a 13.03-lb., 3 bass limit. Anchoring that bag was an 8.34-lb. lunker that won Wisnewski the event’s Big Bass award. His total of 17.43 lbs. landed him in 2nd place.
Robert Smith of Leesburg, FL also had a better 2nd day. He followed his 3.71-lb. day 1 bag with a 12.68-lb. sack on day 2. A 7.36-lb toad anchored Smith’s day 2 bag, and helped him to a 3rd place finish with 16.39 lbs.
Ike Gray finished in 4th place. Gray’s 7.18-lb. day 2 limit gave him a 16.16 2-day total.
Rounding out the Top 5 was August Carnahan. He weighed in a 4.78-lb. day 2 limit, giving Carnahan a 15.24-lb. 2-day total.
Carnahan Narrowly Wins Co-Angler of the Year Title
Winning an Angler of the Year title is no easy task, even as a Co-angler. You have to continuously finish in the top of the standings throughout the season.
Fishing his 1st full season in the Weekend Bass Series, August Carnahan was able to stay consistent enough to win the Co-Angler of the Year title. The race was a tight one, but he finished the season with 1460 points.
Mike Wisnewski finished a very close 2nd in the Co-Angler of the Year standings. In his 1st year fishing the Weekend Bass Series, Wisnewski was actually more consistent through the season than Carnahan. Livewell troubles at one of the events caused Wisnewski’s fish to die, penalizing Wisnewski of valuable points. He would have won the title by 1-point had there not been any penalty. He finished the year with 1455 points.
Robert Smith rounded out the Top 3 with 1414 points.
For winning the Co-Angler of the Year title, Carnahan receives a sponsorship package where his entry fees will be paid for the 2015 season. He also gains an automatic birth to compete for $50,000 at the Ray Scott Championship on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, AL November 12-15, 2014, regardless of how he finishes at the Regional Championship.
The Regional Championship will take place on Lake Toho October 17-18, 2014. The Top 40 anglers from 5 divisions; Florida, Alabama South, Tennessee East, Georgia, and South Carolina are invited to fish in the Regional Championship. More information on the event can be found on the Events Page.
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