SENECA, S.C. (April 27, 2026) – Boater David Millsaps of Ranger, Georgia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 14 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the Bass Fishing League (BFL) tournament on Lake Keowee. The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division and the first of two events held over the weekend on Lake Keowee in a Savannah River Division double-header. Millsaps earned $2,140 for his victory.
Millsaps relied on a simple but methodical approach to secure the win at Lake Keowee, covering water with a jig and targeting a variety of structure throughout the day. Rather than locking into one specific pattern, he kept his approach versatile, fishing whatever looked productive in front of him.
“I took a jig and just fished everything in front of me,” Millsaps said. “Trees, docks, stumps – whatever I thought looked right.”
Focusing primarily on points that featured stumps, Millsaps was able to generate consistent bites by keying on those high-percentage areas. He said his strategy to fish thoroughly and not rush through spots allowed him to capitalize on opportunities that others may have overlooked. Millsaps leaned into a slow, patient style that matched the conditions and the mood of the fish.
“The key for me in this one was patience,” he said. “A lot of patience. I’m a slow fisherman – real slow. And I fished even slower in this one.”
Millsaps also credited a personal connection for playing a role in his success, noting that the jig he used came from his brother.
“My brother gave me the winning jig,” he said. “As a matter of fact, it’s the second one I’ve won on the jig he gave me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: David Millsaps, Ranger, Ga., five bass, 14-9, $2,140
2nd: Anthony Marks, Spartanburg, S.C., five bass, 14-7, $1,080
3rd: Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 13-15, $600
4th: Logan Mills, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 13-11, $500
5th: Andrew Allen, Waterloo, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $450
6th: Tim Watson, Martin, Ga., five bass, 13-1, $400
7th: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 12-5, $890 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
8th: William Bates, Alpharetta, Ga., five bass, 12-0, $380
9th: Logan Buttolph, Doswell, Va., five bass, 11-12, $370
10th: Cliff Humphreys, Candler, N.C., five bass, 11-6, $360
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boater Brian Tidwell of Seneca, South Carolina, earned the Big Bass Boater award honors with a 4-pound, 9-ouncer worth $200. Andy Burgess of Pickens, South Carolina, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,020 Saturday after bringing a three-bass limit to the scale that weighed in at 8 pounds even.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Andy Burgess, Pickens, S.C., three bass, 8-0, $1,020
2nd: James Johnson, Seneca, S.C., three bass, 7-3, $540
3rd: Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., three bass, 7-2, $350
4th: Mark Garrett, Lyman, S.C., three bass, 6-12, $250
5th: Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., three bass, 6-9, $212
5th: Randall McJunkin, Pickens, S.C., three bass, 6-9, $312
7th: Tyler Smith, Florence, S.C., three bass, 6-6, $200
8th: Jerry Lancaster, Fort Mill, S.C., three bass, 6-4, $190
9th: Noah Gurkin, Pelzer, S.C., three bass, 6-2, $185
9th: James Ezell, Mountain Rest, S.C., three bass, 6-2, $185
Randall McJunkin of Pickens, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 3-pound, 6-ounce bass worth $100.
https://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bfl-keowee-42726.html
Bass Fishing League (BFL) News