By Greg McCain
Good things happen for Chad Miller when the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation visits Lake Martin.
Three years ago, the organization staged its season-ending championship on the sprawling Tallapoosa River impoundment, and Miller walked away with the 2014 win. He repeated that title when the B.A.S.S. Nation returned to Martin over the weekend (Nov. 3-4).
Miller, a member of the Rumbling Waters Bass Anglers who lives in nearby Eclectic, earned his second state championship with a two-day total of 27.16 pounds. The tournament was staged out of Wind Creek State Park near Alexander City.
Miller easily outdistanced the second-place competitor, Jack White, bringing over 13 pounds to the scales each day. White, of Lake Tuscaloosa Bassmasters, finished with 24.89. West Alabama Bass Fishermen’s Association member Rickey Dunn took third place with 23.18.
Francis Beard capped off a dominant season by winning the state tournament on the co-angler side and also being named Angler of the Year among non-boaters. Beard, of Neely Henry Bassmasters, caught a three-fish limit each day that weighed a total of 17.74, nearly six pounds ahead of second-place finisher Chandlers Teems, of Coosa Valley Bassmasters. Teems totaled 11.78. Tim Ward, of Marathon Bass Club, claimed third with 11.53.
Among boaters, Danny Grantham earned Angler of the Year honors. Grantham is a member of LA PO Boys.
Miller, a member of the Rumbling Waters Bass Anglers who lives in nearby Eclectic, earned his second state championship with a two-day total of 27.16 pounds. ABN photo
Miller used his experience on the lake to pinpoint fish in brushpiles and on docks. His second-day catch included the Academy Sports+Outdoors Big Fish, a 6.57-pound largemouth.
Miller said he made a “milk run of about 100 brush tops” each day that ran from Wind Creek to Parker Creek to near Real Island.
Over the two-day tournament, Miller said he caught 9 of 10 fish weighed in on a Strike King jig trailed with a Big Bite Baits Swimming Mama trailer. He caught the remaining fish walking a Spook. He caught most of his fish in deeper brushpiles out to about 15 feet but did catch a few off docks, including a largemouth of about four pounds that topped his limit on day one.
“I caught a lot of fish Friday, but today was a lot tougher,” Miller said. “I didn’t catch near as many although I managed to catch the big fish and lost a couple more bigger fish.”
Miller said the two bigger largemouth that he lost Saturday would have likely pushed his total for the day over 18 pounds.
In taking second place among boaters, White caught bass early both days on a spinnerbait and on a Whopper Plopper. When that bite died, he turned to a jig and big worm around docks.
Making the state team for the 4th time, White said he caught his limits each day fishing “down the lake, mostly on docks.”
On the co-angler side, Beard continued to rely on the Carolina rig – he called it his “confidence” bait – for the win. He caught five of the six fish he weighed in the tournament on a C-rig with a green pumpkin Baby Brush Hog. He won this year’s second qualifier, fished on Lay Lake, on the same rig.
Beard made the state team for the third straight year but claimed his first AOY title. His season included finishes of 2nd, 1st, 2nd, and about 30th in the four qualifiers, and he held a commanding lead in the AOY race entering the state championship.
“I didn’t get many bites, but I managed to get the right bites each day,” Beard said.
Beard, who caught the Day One big fish with a 4.51 largemouth, fished behind Miller on Friday and with Curtis Coleman, of Pro Line Bassmasters, on Saturday.
Miller said he made a “milk run of about 100 brush tops” each day that ran from Wind Creek to Parker Creek to near Real Island.
Finishing out the top ten among boaters were Marty Giddens (22.87; Wiregrass Bassmasters), Kyle Glasgow (22.83; Winfield Bassmasters), Bruce Sargent (22.60; Birmingham Bass Club), Steven Ingram (22.33; Kowaliga Bassmasters), Larry Bullock (21.88; New Line Bass Club), Joey Aderhold (21.02; Birmingham Bass Club), and Tony Hogan (20.98; New Line Bass Club).
Other top finishers among co-anglers were Michael Restifo (11.12; Birmingham Bass Club), James Sweazer (10.72; Tiger Bassmasters), and William Wood (10.41; Pro Line Bassmasters).
In addition to the overall win and second-day big fish, Miller also figured in the top total boat weight each day. He and Beard combined for the top total Friday, and Miller and Luke Glasgow, of the Winfield Bassmasters, totaled the top weight Saturday.
Sponsorship continues to help fuel the success of the Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation, and Plemons would like to thank all sponsors who support the organization. They include Academy Sports+Outdoors, Airport Marine, Office Partners, NetBait, Shell, Hammer Rods, Livingston Lures, Daiwa, Transducer Shield & Saver, and StrikeZone. Alexander City Parks and Recreation hosted the tournament.
Greg McCain is a freelance writer, a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association, and a member of the Belgreen Bass Club, an Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation chapter near Russellville. In addition to producing content and photos for this website, his articles are also found monthly in Alabama Outdoor News and periodically in Great Days Outdoors, Alabama Game & Fish, and Crappie NOW online magazine.
