American Bass Anglers District 45 kicked off its 2009/2010 season Sunday on Toledo Bend at Pirates Cove Marina. Boats left Pirates Cove facing a 15 to 20 mph northeast wind and scattered rain.  The cold air and north wind dropped water temperatures close to the 70 degree mark.  The weather changed the fishing as the grass flipping bite seemed to die out over night but a few anglers made the necessary adjustments to fool some of the finicky post front Toledo Bend bass.   

Anacoco angler, Tony Clemens, ran his Evinrude powered Triton Tr-21 to main lake pockets to score his first victory of the 2009/ 2010 season.  Clemens fished Stanley spinnerbaits around the grass to catch his 14.05 stringer. Clemens’ bag was the only limit caught during the tournament.  Clemens said he tried other baits like rat-l-traps, topwater, and texas rigs but the spinnerbait caught every fish he boated on Sunday.  Tony’s bag included the American Rodsmiths’ Big Bass of the Tournament.  Tony received an American Rodsmiths’ flipping stick for catching the big bass of the tournament.

Darrell “Toot” Reeves of Moss Bluff took home the second place plaque Sunday with 3 fish weighing 7.88 lbs.  Toot fished the Pirates Cove area out of his Mercury powered Champion.  Spinnerbaits also accounted for all of Reeves’ fish on Sunday.  Toot fished ¾ oz Stanley Wedge spinnerbaits around and over the grass. Reeves is sponsored by Lake Area Marine in Lake Charles, Champion and Mercury.

Third place honors went to Jay Landreneau of Lake Charles. Jay fished from his Yamaha powered Skeeter to catch 3 keepers weighing 7.23.  Landreneau fished the six mile area of Toledo Bend using a variety of baits.  Topwater baits and spinnerbaits fooled Landreneau’s fish.

ABA District 45 will hold its next tournament November 1 on Toledo Bend at Pirates Cove Marina.  District 45 would like to thank Becky and the gang at Pirates Cove Marina for their hospitality and the great plate lunches and food they prepared.  We would also like to thank American Rodsmiths for the big bass rod they provided. For more information on ABA District 45 go to www.fishabt.com.

The ABA American Fishing Tour is the largest national amateur circuit in the United States.  The ABA hosts over 1000 tournaments per year around the country culminating to the AFT National Championships.  The National Championships will be held on Kentucky Lake in the Fall of 2010.  Anglers will compete for over $150,000.00 in cash and prizes at the AFT Nationals.  For more information go to www.americanbassanglers.com.