Athe 2024 NBAA Championship is now in the books and we have yet another first time Champion. The Louisiana team of Sam Huckabee and Jake Deweese outlasted a talented field of one hundred plus teams, for three days to claim the coveted title. They were the only team to reach the fifty-pound mark, as they dropped the heaviest bag of the event, on the last day, at 20-12, to secure the win and finish with 50-10 for the week. The win earned them the trophies and a new aluminum Ranger 198P Boat with a 150-horsepower motor, trolling motor, electronics and a Ranger Trail Trailer, all valued at just over forty thousand dollars for the win. 
Finishing second was the team of Eric Turkowski and Jim Barczak, who led each of the first two days, but could not get that kicker bite on the last day, to put them over the top. Their final day weigh of 12-06 landed them at 45-15 for the week. 
The Oklahoma team of Clinton Downs and Ty Downs finished third with a healthy 45-08 for the week, earning them some nice cash and prizes. Fourth place belonged to the defending 2023 Champions, James and Gunner West. They made a strong showing with 43-03, but said they let too many good fish get away from them during the week. 
Rounding out the top five, was the team of Mark Trumble and Lance Roberts. They finished with 40-07 and claimed the fifth spot. There was cash and product prizes from second thru tenth place and then sponsor products from eleventh down to 20th place. It took 35-00 pounds to make the cut in 20th place for the week. We had some very close Big Fish awards as well, during the week. Each day there were cash prizes for the two heaviest fish weighed in. On Wednesday the honors went to Tony White and Shane Huber for their 5-15 lunker. Second Big Fish was from Eric Turkowski and Jim Barczak with a 5-10. Thursday Big Bass belonged to Mike Cannon and Chad Roberts with a nice 5-08. Ounces behind them was the team of Jason Allred and Nick Koschmeder with a 5-05 toad. Fridays Big Bass was another stud of 5-14 that belonged to Sam Huckabee and Jake Deweese. The second largest bass was 5-05 and belonged to Bryan Promes and Chris Wood. Each day the winners received $504 for the largest bass and $334 for the second largest Bass. Congratulations to all the winners.
Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas was a stingy lake and many of the smaller fish bit during the week, but most of the larger fish were hard to come by. There were numerous limits each day but the weights averaged right around the eleven to thirteen pound range most of the times. Many anglers said they were catching numerous small fish along with their keeper fish. Several also reported that they were able to cull multiple times each day. Most anglers reported catch9ing their fish mostly in shallow waters, ranging anywhere from one foot to five feet of water. Swimbaits, Frogs, Chatterbaits and spinnerbaits were all big producers. Small crankbaits, topwater baits and drop shots were also very productive for a lot of the teams. Many concentrated along the lily pads and grass lines while others worked shallow docks and pea-gravel banks to find their fish. Others found the stumps and logs had several fish on them as well. Overall, the lake really showed out and the anglers had a great time during their week-long stay. Several anglers even said that this was a “Bucket List Lake” for them and they had a great time trying to figure it out.
For Complete Results and more photos, please CLICK HERE.
