Cromer is ABA winner

Dixie Hornets dominate state junior tournament

Rodney Cromer of Pomaria won the Nov. 18 American Bass Anglers D-96 tournament on Lake Greenwood and carried home a check for $707.

Cromer weighed in a limit of five bass that tipped the scales at 17.97 pounds. He caught his fish from the middle and lower ends of the lake, fishing spinnerbaits around docks and flipping jigs around rocky structure.

Cromer’s catch included the day’s big fish, a 5.89-pound lunker, that hit a jig.

Sean Anderson of Leesville was second with a limit that weighed 15.09 pounds, worth $363. Ed Matthes of Columbia took third with a 10.93-pound limit, taking home $97. Mark Richardson of Irmo was fourth with three fish that weighed 9.77 pounds, cashing a check for $71.

Dixie Hornets win state junior championship

The Dixie High School Hornet Anglers won both age brackets at the BASS Junior Bassmaster State Championships on Nov. 3 at Lake Greenwood.

Ben Stone won the 15-18 age bracket with two fish that weighed 5.72 pounds. J.T. Rawski won the 11-14 age bracket with three fish that weighed 6.32 pounds.

Stone and Rawski will be part of the SC BASS Federation National State Team that is scheduled to complete next April on Tennessee’s Douglas Lake.

Seven junior clubs competed in the tournament.

Jody Perry of the Mid-Carolina Junior Bassmasters took second in the 15-18 age group with two fish weighing 5.34 pounds. Teammate Michael Morris was third with 4.52 pounds.

In the 11-14 age group, Dixie’s Ethan Lee took second with two fish weighing 5.32 pounds. Chase Norris of the Upstate Junior. Bassmasters was fourth with one fish, a 4.46-pounder, that was the tournament’s big fish.

Team Fat Cat wins at Wylie with 85.8 pounds

George Lindsay and Damon Gibson, fishing as Team Fat Cat, won the Nov. 3 Catawba Catfish Club tournament on Lake Wylie.

Lindsay and Gibson weighed in three catfish for a total of 85.80 pounds, bringing them $350.

Terry Springs, T.J. Springs and Kendrick Wright, fishing as Team Professional Hookers, were second with 73.60 pounds, taking home $210. Their catch included a 40.40-pound blue, caught by Terry Springs, that was the tournament’s big fish.

Allen Manning was third with 58.25 pounds, taking home $140. Sam Holder and Mike Durham, fishing as Team Overboard, were fourth with 55.55, and Team DMD — Mike Rape, Roger Rape and Davie Catoe — was fifth with 53 pounds.

Cobb, Rampey win at Keowee

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood and Jamie Rampey of Liberty carried home a $1,000 check for winning the Oct. 27 Clemson Bass Fishing Team Open on Lake Keowee.

Cobb and Rampey bested a field of 32 teams with 12.72 pounds, catching their fish in 40 to 80 feet of water on a drop-shot rig with a black Robo worm. They caught their fish, mostly spotted bass, at the mouth of creeks.

Keith Jones and Bo Morris of Walhalla came in second with 11.80 pounds. They also had the day’s big fish, a 3.57-pound bass, good for $440.

Roger Bentley and Gene McCall of Walhalla took third with 11.49 and won $330. Jack Howell of West Union and Randy Hancock of Walhalla were fourth with 11.01, taking $220. Brandon Addis and Christian Augspurger of West Union rounded out the top five with 10.92, winning $110.

Dixie High School wins at Greenwood

Dixie High School out of Due West had the top individual and caught the most fish as a team in a 3-team high school tournament Oct. 20 on Lake Greenwood.

Dixie’s Avery Gambrell took first place, and Dixie anglers weighed in 27 fish. Derek Freeman of T.L. Hanna had the day’s big fish at 4.17 pounds, the only one caught by a Hanna angler.

Thirteen fishermen from Ninety Six H.S. weighed in four fish.

BASS TOURNAMENTS

Carolina Anglers Team Trail

Lake Wateree, Nov. 24

1. Butch Williams-David Ethridge, 5 bass, 15.71 pounds, plus 6.88-pound big fish, $2,708. 2. Max Price-Joey Outlaw, 5, 15.21, $1,000. 3. Andy Owens, 5, 13.23, $500. 4. Tim Haven-Craig Haven, 5, 12.73, $250. 5. Barry Holloman-Joey Bramlett, 5, 12.50 pounds, $150. Second big fish: Mark Richardson-William Richardson, 5.78, $72.

Lake Wateree, Nov. 17

1. Kane Simpson-Tracy Simpson, 5 bass, 14.26 pounds, $530. Big fish: Pat Clark-Donald Hinson, 3.91 pounds, $50.

Lake Wylie, Nov. 17

1. Gordon Smith-Jared Kimak, 5 bass, 10.78 pounds, plus 2.51-pound big fish, $402. Second big fish: Jason McCall-Derek Vandershauf, 2.45 pounds, $18.

Lake Murray, Nov. 17

1. Howard Stephens-Mark McCormick, 5 bass, 21.19 pounds, plus 7.13-pound big fish, $258. Second big fish: Chad Hastings, 4.0, $12.