Former Auburn anglers dominate Wheeler event
By Greg McCain

Anglers associated with the Auburn University fishing team have long been a prominent force in Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation (ABN) events.

From the days of Jordan Lee and Shane Powell to more recent collegiate competitors like Logan Parks, the ABN leaderboard often features an Auburn angler at the top.

The current crop of Auburn fishing alumni upheld that tradition Saturday on Wheeler Lake in the final ABN qualifier of 2025. Former Tigers claimed the top three spots in the boater division, plus the Academy Sports + Outdoors Big Fish. Additionally, the father of one of the Auburn anglers scored a dominant win over the co-angler field.

(See the full gallery of weigh-in pictures at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCi9RW.)

“Fishing for Auburn was a great experience,” said boater winner Carson Maddux, of Birmingham. “The amount of talent on the team when I was there was crazy. Being surrounded by that many good anglers and traveling around helps speed up the learning curve.”

Maddux brought in a five-fish limit that weighed 21.12 for his first ABN title. He also jumped into first place in the boater Angler of the Year race as a result. He was followed in the Wheeler standings by Sam Hanggi, who had 20.41, and Connor Jacob, who boated 19.33. Jacob’s 5.54 largemouth was the Big Fish.

On the co-angler side, Matt Hanggi, Sam’s father, weighed a three-fish limit of 13.62 and easily took the title. The Hanggis also won the team competition with a combined 34.03 total.

“It was cool to see (Auburn anglers) sweep 1st-3rd, team title, co-angler title, and big fish,” Maddux said.

Starting hot, Maddux said he had about 18 pounds in the box by about 7 and then made a key cull at midday. The big largemouth weighed 5.37 and helped him overcome a dead fish penalty caused by a spit-up shad that clogged his livewell.

Maddux spent most of the day “within eyesight of the ramp” at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur. He caught most of his fish with a crankbait around shallow ledges and shell beds.

“It was classic Tennessee River, fishing ledges and shell beds,” he said. “I was probably fishing a little shallower than some people. I couldn’t see them very well but knew where they were. I would catch one and let them set up again. I could see them on side imaging. They were hugging the bottom.”

Sam Hanggi, who had a largemouth that weighed 5.41 among his total, said he and his father caught fish from the ramp area in Decatur to Wheeler Dam, targeting brushpiles, offshore cover, and ledges with a variety of baits, including jigs, crankbaits, hair jigs, and drop shots. Matt Hanggi said he caught his three weigh-in fish on a jig. His total included a 4.67 smallmouth.

“Mostly we were fishing ledges,” he said. “I was in the back working the bottom. Sam knows what to do. I’m just back there doing what he tells me to do. I just fling it as far as I can. I just got lucky and got three really good bites today.”

Jacob had to improvise to catch the big bass of the tournament after leaving his jig box at home. He dug out an old jig and took a used plastic trailer off another to fool the big largemouth “down toward Wheeler Dam.”

Rounding out the top 10 standings in the boater division were Donald Griffith (Wiregrass Bassmasters, 18.06); Randall Carter (Wiregrass, 17.69); Avery Padgett (Wiregrass, 16.64); Terry Ezzell (Belgreen Bass Club, 15.93); Pat Murray (Belgreen, 14.98); Ferlin Weeks (Belgreen, 14.56); and Scott Holmes (Birmingham Bass Club [BBC], 14.54).

Following Hanggi among top co-anglers were Martez McDuffie (BBC, 9.60); Todd Mowery (BBC, 9.32); Wallace Williams (BBC, 8.96); Jonathan Collins (Wiregrass, 8.85); Charles Rosato (BBC, 8.73); David Fincher (Wiregrass, 8.33); Johnny Clark (West Alabama Bass, 7.98); Cole Griffith (Wiregrass, 7.89); and Curtis Gossett (Shotgun Sports Supply, 7.80)

In the team standings following the Hanggis were Donald and Cole Griffith, Padgett and Fincher, Carter and William Spencer; Ezzell and Anthony McKee; Joe Lay and Chad Macks; Jake Childers and Nick Glenn; Ed Payne and Gossett; and Ferlin Weeks and Tyler Weeks.

Other winners:
Academy Drawing – Jeff Edmonds
Fishing 4 a Cure Bonus – Wallace Williams
AmFirst BassCash Bonus – Randall Carter

Greg McCain is a freelance writer from Russellville, AL, and a member of the Belgreen Bass Club. In addition to producing content for this website, his credits include articles in Georgia Outdoor News, the ACC Crappie Stix blog, the Cornfield Fishing Gear website, CrappieNOW online magazine, and Great Days Outdoors.