Gainesville, GA (April 4, 2024) – After opening the event with back-to-back bags over 24 lbs., Bassmaster Pro Chris Johnston weighed his lightest limit of the event at 16.50 lbs., but his 65.38 lbs. total was more than enough to win the inaugural Touring Anglers Association event on Lake Lanier. Forty-seven anglers competed in what is billed as the “World’s Largest Jackpot Tournament,” and rightfully so. Johnston took home a first-place prize of $65,000 for the win and an additional $5,000 for the event’s largest bass, at 8.11 lbs.
Photo Credit: Shane Durrance
Ironically, it took both hands to hold his cash stuffed envelopes, which so many weekend anglers strive to leave the lake with. When asked about the prize on stage, Johnston responded, “We get envelopes of cash back home in Canada, but they aren’t worth NEAR what these are! What a great event and a great time we’ve had here on Lake Lanier this week.”
David Williams brought in the only bag over 20 lbs. on the final day, with a five bass limit good for 22.64 lbs. He was also the only angler to see his weights increase each day of the three-day event. That impressive haul was enough to move him from 5th to 2nd, garnering him a $30,000 payday. According to Williams, “I had a phenomenal week, and absolutely loved the format of the event, everything went really well on and off the water.”
Rising star, Emil Wagner also made a solid run on the final day, improving his standing from 4th to 3rd, with a catch of 19.59 lbs., earning a check of $25,000. Wagner targeted spawning spotted bass exclusively, looking on shallow flat points, and giving credit to a shaky head and Berkley General for doing all the work. Wagner added, “This was a super fun event and I can’t wait for the next one!”
Cold and windy conditions did a number on the shallow bass and made it tough on many of the competitors that had faired so well with them on the first two days. Bassmaster Pro, Drew Cook managed a five bass limit of 16.76 lbs., sliding down from 2nd to 4th. Major League Fishing Pro, Jared Lintner also lost a little ground to the conditions, weighing his lightest bag at 16.25 lbs. and rounding out the Top Five, yet still earning a check for $15,000.
Finishers 6th through 12th were as follows:
6. Corey Johnston 57.21 lbs. - $10,000
7. Cazwell Anderson 56.39 lbs. - $10,000
8. Jeff Gustafson 53.84 lbs. - $10,000
9. Rob Jordan 52.86 lbs. - $10,000
10. Joey Cifuentes 52.42 lbs. - $10,000
11. William Fletcher 51.41 lbs. - $10,000
12. Jimmy Millsaps 49.54 lbs. - $10,000
Full results can be found at: https://touringanglersassociation.com/leaderboard/
About TAA:
TAA is focused on a limited technology, high-stakes event, with low overhead and 100% payback, similar to the local “derbies” many fans of fishing are longing for. The entry fee is $5,000 and the competition is stout, with many Bassmaster and Major League Fishing touring pros, as well as local aces, going head-to-head for a big payday. More details can be found at: https://touringanglersassociation.com/
