Big bass on Hamilton marks circuit record

Brian Stinson and partner Stacey Tuggle reeled in a Trader Bill’s Team Trail record 11.41- pound bass Sunday on Lake Hamilton in winning the circuit’s monthly tournament.

Stinson and Tuggle boated a five- bass limit of 19.75 pounds and collected $ 4,583.25. Runners- up Mike Mobley and Tony Nesterenko earned $ 1,593.15 with a limit weighing 19.38, including a single catch of 9.63 pounds. Bryce Minner and Tim Nesterenko placed third in both categories, boating a 7.97- pound fish in a limit weighing 14.93 pounds for $ 949.88.

“I think we were all kind of shocked.” said Trader Bill’s spokesman Phillip Kastner. “This entire time we offered a special bonus for anyone to catch a record bass. We assumed someone would do it at Degray or Ouachita. But the big story is we had three teams reel in some big bass on Lake Ham- ilton. ... The big bass was the biggest weighed in since we started the tournament 12 years ago.”

Stinson and Tuggle moved up to 15th place in the overall standings, led by Scotty Hardage and Ricky Owens ( 183.27 points) with Carl and Greg Carpenter second ( 179.50). The leading team at series’ end receives the circuit’s Angler of the Year prize.

Upcoming tournaments include May 6 on Greers Ferry Lake, June 10 on Lake Greeson and July 22 on Lake Dardanelle. The top 60 anglers qualify for the two- day championship round Sept. 15 and 16 with grand prize a Ranger TR- 177 bass boat with a Yamaha 115- horsepower engine.

“While the boat is the grand prize, I often think that the past winners enjoy the recognition of being angler of the year,” Kastner said. “They really enjoy holding that title over the other competitors year round.”