DeKalb County anglers Turner Stanley and Cainnan Humphrey captured their second tournament victory of the season over the weekend, winning the junior division of the TBF Beast of the East on Lake Chickamauga.
The duo caught three fish weighing a combined 8.47 pounds to secure the championship. Stanley said the victory gives the teammates additional confidence as they work toward qualifying for state and national competitions.
“It gives us morality and helps our team and gives us confidence on how we can win more tournaments,” Stanley said.
Stanley said the pair focused on shallow, warm, rocky banks, using crankbaits and jigs to locate fish. Rather than relying on a single technique, the anglers worked different sections of the water with different presentations.
Humphrey said experimenting with baits while his partner used a successful approach helped them discover additional ways to catch fish.
“Trying new things helped me and him win, because if I was trying something while he was throwing something that was working, we were seeing if this and that would work or not,” Humphrey said.
Stanley said the teammates also cast in opposite directions to cover more water and determine where fish were responding. Their approach allowed both anglers to contribute to the winning catch.
Humphrey said the experience strengthened their ability to recognize which baits work best in different conditions.
“It boosts my confidence and it helps us learn how to throw different baits and where you should throw it,” Humphrey said. “It helps us get closer to our goals.”
The teammates now hope to carry their early-season success into larger competitions. Stanley wants to finish atop the tournament point standings and qualify for the national championship.
Humphrey said their ultimate goal is to win at both the state and national levels.
“I hope that we win State and go to Nationals and end up winning that and to win more tournaments and do better,” Humphrey said.