BANKS AND BEWLEY LAND 23 LBS TO TAKE WIN AT 2023 AIA SEASON OPENER
2023 Midway USA AiA Tournament Trail, presented by Pro-Guide Batteries
Lake of the Ozarks: March 5, 2023
Number of boats: 209
Total payback: $56,430
Places paid out: 34 overall, 2 big bass
The 2023 Midway USA AiA Tournament Trail, presented by Pro-Guide Batteries, is now underway. The 2023 season kicked off at Lake of the Ozarks, with 209 teams competing for valuable points towards the year end championship, where 1st place will win a 2024 Phoenix 819 boat package with a retail value over $60,000.
Over $56,000 in prize money was on the line on Sunday, with a 1st place prize of $10,000. Anglers can win up to $27,000 for 1st place this season, if fishing from a Phoenix Boat purchased from Anglers Port Marine (see website for details).
We want to thank all the anglers who participated in the 2023 AiA season kickoff. We hope you all had a great time and we're looking forward to the next Lake of the Ozarks event, which will be held on April 2nd. Enter now for an early boat number.
We also want to thank all of our great sponsors that contribute to the success of Anglers in Action. Please support those companies that support the tournaments you fish.
Brennan Banks, of Ozark, MO, and Bailey Bewley, of Ava, MO, topped the 209 boat field on Sunday with a massive 23.00 lb. bag of Lake of the Ozarks largemouth. Bailey & Brennan reported fishing the upper end of the lake, bouncing around to numerous spots with all of their fish coming on the jerkbait. Congratulations on your first AiA win!
Total Winnings: $10,000
Team Sponsors: BaitWrx, BoatWrx, F5 Custom Rods
Cole McFarland, of Linn Creek, MO, and Ryan Jordan, of Rocky Mount, MO, took 2nd overall on Sunday with 21.94 lbs. Cole and Ryan targeted the lower end of the lake, near the dam, covering lots of water with all of their fish coming on the a-rig.
Total Winnings: $7,500
Nathan Dietiker, of Columbia, MO, and Stewart Bigelow, of Linn Creek, MO, took 3rd place overall with a solid limit that weighed in at 20.47 lbs. Stewart and Nathan caught the majority of their fish early in the day on the a-rig, fishing around the mid-lake area.
Total Winnings: $5,000
LEW'S BIG BASS: Jay Beffa, of Festus, MO, and Andrew Haegele, of St. Louis, MO, landed the big bass of the event. The 7.21 lb. giant was caught in the Gravois Arm on a Crock-O-Gator Beaver Bug and 1/4 oz. football shaker head.
Total Winnings: $1,463
Tournament Payouts:
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS
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Thank you to all of our 2023 Anglers in Action sponsors:
Phoenix Boats / Midway USA / Pro-Guide Batteries / Aftco / Bajio Sunglasses / Lew's / Midwest Land Group: Land Agent - Justin Swast / Sunline / Gamakatsu / Anglers Port Marine / Bassing Bob / Fish Intel / Shore Tire Company / Shoreline Boat & RV Repair / American Baitworks / Power Pole / Russell Marine Products / Crock-O-Gator Bait Company / Bait Cave Customs / Vinyl Images / PurKleen / Gorilla Grip Gloves / Rogue Custom Apparel
