Quad State Bass Club

SABBA Tournament Report - by Melvin Dunn

I wanted to share a recap and some exciting highlights from the S.A.B.B.A. 2026 Mega Bucks tournament, which took place at Lake Ferguson in Greenville, Mississippi. This remarkable lake, a 1,400 acre oxbow formed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stretches a full ten miles and proved to be an incredible host for the event. The top prize each day was an impressive $9,000 awarded to the team with the heaviest five-fish stringer.

Leading up to the tournament, various trails fished Ferguson and reported impressive five-fish limits from 18-20+ pound sacks, with practice reports described as absolutely “INSANE.” Lake levels hovered around 22-24 feet, water temperatures ranged from 76 to 82 degrees, and bass were being caught in every stage: pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. Anglers were pulling in 5-6lb bass all over the oxbow. The pre-tournament meeting buzzed with excitement, and late registration saw a line of eager competitors, a sure sign the lake was fishing exceptionally well.

Day 1 kicked off with a prayer and a thrilling blast off, with teams departing in numerical order. By the afternoon, the fairgrounds were alive with family, friends, and community members as teams brought their catches to the scales. Master of Ceremony Jim Austin emceed the weigh-ins, fueling the crowd’s excitement as several teams weighed in sacks between 14 and 17 pounds. When local bass hammers Eddie and Quentel Gibson dropped 18.57 pounds on the scales, cheers erupted. The excitement peaked as Hawkins and Hawkins weighed in a massive 22.36lb sack, capturing Day 1 honors and the $9,000 top prize.

Day 2 saw all official weights reset, and intense competition resumed. Team Hawkins set an early benchmark at 14.63lbs, but Arrington and Wells soon brought 15.20lbs, Johnson and Leggett landed 15.36lbs, and Lasiter briefly took the lead with 16.01lbs. Perkins and Johnson upped the ante with a 19.15lb sack, but it was Cunningham and Portee, weighing in a spectacular 22.37lb stringer, who clinched the Day 2 honors and another $9,000 prize.

A special shout out goes to S.A.B.B.A. for organizing such a fantastic, family-friendly event, and to Eddie and Quentel Gibson, as well as the Greenville community, for their outstanding support. The Calcutta/side pot, which combines the weights from both days, paid out a whopping $14,000 this year! When you tally it all up—$9,000 each day plus the $14,000 side pot—the total payout was $32,000.

As Jim Austin eloquently put it, “Where can you fish as a weekend warrior and make that kind of money? Nowhere!” For those looking to compete in 2027, remember your blast off number is tied to your registration number, so register early when the tournament director announces the date. Official results are posted .LIVE.

In closing, saving just $10 a week for a year would have covered the entry fee for the 2026 tournament and give you a shot at the $18,000 official payout and the $14,000 side pot. Hoping for a 100-boat field in 2027—come on, y’all! See you soon.

Best regards,
Melvin

QUAD State Bob Sandlin Tournament recap by Melvin Dunn:

Thomas Cambell Sr, is smiling from heaven.

I wanted to take a moment to share some highlights and insights from the recent Quad State Thomas Cambell Memorial Fishing Tournament held at Bob Sandlin. It was a truly special event, and I’m sure Thomas Cambell Sr is smiling from Heaven seeing the spirit and camaraderie among all the participants.

The excitement kicked off Friday night when 57 teams packed into Double C Outdoors for registration, filling the room with laughter and stories about the fantastic weather and impressive catches during practice. Afterward, everyone gathered at the Hampton for a complimentary meal, a lively raffle, and a review of the tournament rules. Many teams left buzzing with confidence, eager for the next day and boasting about the creel size limits.

As seasoned tournament anglers know, weather has a way of shaking things up on competition days. Day one started off chilly, with drizzle and temperatures in the 50s. The wind quickly intensified, shifting from a gentle southern breeze to a strong northern gust. But did these 57 teams give up? Not a chance! They showcased resilience, adapting to every challenge thrown their way. By the 3 pm weigh-in, 48 teams arrived with sacks in hand, and 17 teams boasted a kicker over four pounds. The competition was fierce, requiring at least a 14 lb minimum to break into the top five. Congratulations to KC Doyle and Robert Hawkins of the Bass Hookers, who brought in a remarkable 8.76-pound kicker to secure Big Bass honors for the day.

Day two threatened to be problematic with a potential fog delay, but thanks to a terrific call by tournament director Jimmy Brown, everything went smoothly. As the teams launched, conditions reversed completely—bluebird skies and gentle southern winds. While post-frontal weather can be tough on anglers, this group proved their skill once again. The 2 pm weigh-in saw several impressive bags between 10 and 15 lbs., but Chris Phillips and Mitchell Scott of the Metro Area Bass Club wowed the crowd with a stunning 19.26 lb. sack—a standout achievement anywhere in the country.

Special thanks go out to the surrounding counties for their warm hospitality and generous sponsorship. We especially appreciate Double C Outdoors, Vaughn Catfish, Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Sure Stay Inn, Kistler Rods, Ark Rods, and Victor Hawkins, as well as all those who contributed to making this event memorable.

Here’s how the top finishers stacked up:

1. Metro Area Bass Club: Chris Phillips – Mitchell Scott (31.85 lb.) $5000.00

2. Metro Area Bass Club: Tyrone Phillips (31.58 lb.)

3. Fishing Tradition Bass Club: Victor Hawkins – Melvin (30.35 lb.)

4. Dallas Bass Hookers: KC Doyle – Robert Hawkins (26.92 lb.)

5. Metro Area Bass Club: Eugene Moore III – Eugene Moore Jr. (26.03 lb.)

6. Osprey Bass Club: Pat Henderson – Cameron Henderson (25.64 lb.)

7. Fishing Tradition Bass Club: Willie King – John Johnson (25.52 lb.)

8. Dallas Bass Hookers: Ed Larkin – Siran Bailey (24.21 lb.)

9. Metro Area Bass Club: Mike Loggins – Byron Shell (23.73 lb.)

10. Fishing Tradition Bass Club: Mark Perkins – June Perkins (23.38 lb.)

Looking ahead, Greers Ferry in October promises to be an ideal event for youth and families. It’s a wonderful opportunity for fun and fellowship—reminding us that teaching someone to fish is a gift for a lifetime. As you plan for the 2026 Greers Ferry Tournament, consider renewing your membership with one of the participating clubs, recruiting a new member, and marking your calendar early. Take advantage of Quad State discounts at the hotels or explore the abundance of Airbnb’s and cabins in the local communities for a comfortable stay.

Thank you again, Mr. Thomas Cambell Sr, for your vision and legacy, and thanks to everyone who helped make this tournament such a success. Hope to

Special thanx to our loyal sponsors:

-DOUBLE C OUTDOORS
-KISTLER CUSTOM RODS
-VICTOR HAWKINS

QSBC 2026 Bob Sandlin Spring Bass tournament is a wrap…..stand by for complete weigh in results

Day 1 weigh-in pics….. Big bass was 8.05 ( Weather was absolutely awful)

Images from Friday night’s tournament kickoff meeting and awesome tribute to QSBC founder Thomas Campbell Sr

Day 1 weigh-in. Big bass 8.05 lbs

Day 1 blast off …. in the rain