New ABA Trail on the REZ!!!!

[JayLaw]

ABA is coming to the REZ! http://www.americanbassanglers...n=129 Mike Murphy has started a district at Ross Barnett. Personally i would like to see this trail succeed on this lake that is so dominated by team events. Its a good chance to allow anglers to fish by themselves as well as the possibility of having a draw (co angler). I plan to make the trip up there a few times a year especially since he is having back to back events which makes the travel worth the cost. Mike is a stand up individual and has a lot to offer, its a good trail that is nationally recognized and has a good points system, with a decent payback for a "full field of 20+boats". Those looking for a good trail to fish I would recommend givin this new division a shot. First two events are next weekend.

[Scott McGehee]

thanks for the heads up! Good to see a few more individual events here.

[frogfish202]

"full field of 20+boats".???

[jlrskeeter75]

was looking at the dates and wondering about the format bc I've never fished an ABA and no nothing about it. Some events are 2day and some aren't. What's that about?

[JayLaw]

All the events are 1 day individual events- except the final event is a true 2 day format. Some directors set up back to back one day events to allow those who travel the opportunity to get two tournaments in on the same weekend.

The "full field" of 20 boats is for points purposes only, if 20 or more boats are present then full points are awarded to the winner beginning at 200 for 1st, 199 for 2nd, 198 for 3rd.... If only 15 boats show up then the points for that event begin at 195 for 1st, 194 for 2nd, 193 for 3rd... Most districts are averaging between 15-45 boats per event.

Co-anglers (if any show up- and will be a draw in the am to see who they ride with) compete along the same lines as boater and compete for the same points, and are entitled to get half a day fishing their selected waters if they choose to (this does not mean they are entitled to run the trolling motor)- though they can be on the front deck and or run the trolling motor if they work that out with their boater- and assume all responsibilities if any damage occurs.

Your best 4 one day events and your 2 day event (which is the last event of the year) are added up for your points total within that division. The top points holder from each division will compete for a fully rigged triton against the other districts angler of the years. This year i belive they had 84 AOYs competing for a fully rigged 21 foot triton at the natioanls.

It's basically a nationally sanctioned trail with a long list of sponsors, with a 3 day national championship (next year is on Lake Murray, SC). Once a member you can fish any ABA district you choose as a boater or a co angler, though you must compete in 4 one day event and a 2 day event within the same division to compete for that divisions AOY.
Entry fees are 70.00 and is a good trail for individual competition and is nice to have a bring your boat use your boat policy and allows for co anglers a chance to get on the water as well. Our division down here rarely sees any co anglers while other districts will have 10-15 co anglers show.

More can be found at http://www.americanbassanglers.com