Pittman takes co-angler crown at Pickwick

Mississippi co-angler wins AFS event

FLORENCE, Ala. — Tripp Pittman of Holly Springs, Miss., won the Co-angler Division of the FLW American Fishing Series event on Lake Pickwick with a three-day total of 39 pounds, 6 ounces.

For his win he collected $7,680.

During the week Pittman fished with pros Craig Taylor, Reginald Pickett and today he got to fish with “the man,” pro winner Randy Haynes.

“This is unreal,” Pittman said after his win. “I only had two fish at 1 o’ clock and Randy said, `let’s go get you some fish,’ and he moved to a place and let me throw in there until I finished my limit. He really is a great guy.”

On the first two days Pittman fished a spinnerbait and a Chatterbait around shallow grass. On day one he caught the biggest bass weighed in on the Co-angler Division, a 6-pound, 13 ounce bass that fell for a Chatterbait.

Today, while fishing with Haynes, Pittman used a Carolina rigged Anaconda worm in an Okeechobee craw color.

“I had three great partners and I can’t thank Randy enough for taking the time to let me catch those fish,” Pittman said.

Miller second



Randy Miller of Athens, Ala., finished second with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 15 ounces worth $3072.

Miller’s daily pros included Greg Johnson, Dale Walker and William Davis.

On day one he fished schooling fish with Basstrix hollow shad swimbait and a DT-10 crankbait.

On day two he stayed with the Basstrix and then added in a Texas-rigged Brush Hog.

Today, while fishing with Davis, Miller went deep with a DD-22 in chartreuse with a blue back.

Grubbs third



Craig Grubbs of Tishomingo, Miss., finished third with three-day total of 34 pounds, 9 ounces for $1,536.

Grubbs’ success came on a locally made Benson Bug, which is a ¾-ounce football-head jig trailed with a Strike King Rage Craw tied to 20-pound test Trilene fluorocarbon.

Reynolds fourth



Mitch Reynolds of Petal, Miss., finished fourth with a three-day total of 34 pounds, even worth $1,344.

Reynolds finish helped him clinch the Co-angler of the Year in the Southeast Division of AFS. He is now qualified for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Goggins fifth

Rounding out the top five in the Co-angler Division was Anthony Goggins of Auburn, Ala., with a three-day total of 33-9 worth $1,152.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers in the FLW American Fishing Series on Lake Pickwick:

6th: Bill Kisiah of Muscle Shoals, Ala., three-day total of 32-5, $960

7th: Daniel Hinkelman of Conyers, Ga., three-day total of 32-3, $768

8th: Lyn Melton of Florence, Ala., three-day total of 30-13, $691

9th: Wendell Johnston of Belfast, Tenn., three-day total of 25-11, $614

10th: Daniel Costley of Memphis, Tenn., three-day total of 24-1, $538