SKA Lake Chatuge, GA Championship

25 anglers, mostly sporting Jackson boats, took the field at the SKA 2012 Championship on Lake Chatuge, GA under heavy winds and stormy skies. The two day event was the culmination of a six event season across Georgia and Alabama with a brand new Cuda 14 and the respect that comes along with the Angler Of the Year Title on the line.

Hanging in second place, I trailed the leader considerably and had the field breathing down my neck. Timing the fall bite with swimbaits and topwaters could mean big limits and help me make up some ground. Unfortunately, the strong fall bite was still a few weeks away and the fish were either inactive or roaming and scattered; anything but predictable. Sinking drop shot worms to suspended fish produced numbers, but not the quality I needed to overtake the leader. By far two of the toughest fishing days I have ever experienced, only a few anglers even managed to fill out their stringer. In the end, I fell just short of AOY and took third overall for the season. My first tournament season under my belt: a victory, a second place with big fish, and only finishing outside the top five once. I will take it. 2013 Angler Of the Year Title is firmly affixed in my sights!