Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin of Georgia’s Emmanuel College are leading after Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops with 15 pounds, 14 ounces. 

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

May 4, 2023

NATCHITOCHES, La. — Each of the 135 teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops had eight hours to fish on Thursday, but Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin only needed about two hours to make their mark.

The duo from Georgia’s Emmanuel College had a limit of five bass in the livewell by mid-morning that weighed 15 pounds, 14 ounces. That was good enough for the Day 1 lead in this two-day collegiate derby in northwest Louisiana.

Holloway, a 20-year-old resident of Madison, Ga., said early success on the Red River boosted his and Martin’s confidence.

“We had everything we weighed today by about 9 a.m.,” Holloway said. “We didn’t make another cast after that. We had a small limit on a shad spawn really early today when we were fishing an oxbow. Then we went to this backwater area and the 2-pounders became 3-pounders.”

The backwater bite was consistent, too, with the tandem’s heaviest bass weighing 3-12. A quartet of smaller 3-pounders rounded out an exciting morning. They targeted a ditch in the backwater where water ebbed and flowed.

“It happened quickly and we didn’t beat up on them,” Holloway said. “There are fish there for tomorrow.”

Martin agreed.

“We found the spot in practice and there really hasn’t been reason to go anywhere else,” said the 20-year-old Lula, Ga., resident.

Seth Elkins and Dale Hansard of Jacksonville (Ala.) State University are in second place with a limit weighing 13-12. That included the day’s biggest bass — a 6-5 largemouth Hansard hooked near a tree stump.

“It was picture perfect, like something you’d see in a magazine,” Hansard said. “It fought like crazy, too. I wasn’t sure it was a bass at first because there are a lot of gar and gators around here … It catches you off guard when you catch something like that, especially since we were catching 1 1/2-pounders all day.”

Elkins and Hansard made a long run to Pool 5, which is filled with underwater wood. They said they’ll go there again Friday, looking to make up a few pounds and bring a trophy back to Alabama.

Rounding out the Top 5 are, third, Parker O’Bryan and Miller Dowling, University of Montevallo (Ala.), 11-15; fourth, Brayden Nichols and William Tew, LSU-Shreveport, 11-12; and fifth, Reid Farris and Colton Swize, Texas A&M, 11-10.

A total of 88 of the 135 teams caught a five-bass limit on Day 1 on this, the fourth tournament of the 2023 Bassmaster College Series schedule. The top 14 teams here qualify for the College National Championship which will be held later this year at a location yet to be announced.

Day 2 will begin with a 6:10 a.m. CT takeoff from Grand ECORE Recreational Arena. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. back at the arena, with full coverage on Bassmaster.com.

Following the two-day College Series event, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and the Junior Series will compete Sunday.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops 5/4-5/5
Red River, Natchitoches  LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Cole Holloway – Brandon Martin               Emmanuel College                    250
Day 1: 5   15-14   Total:   5  15-14
2.  Seth Elkins – Dale Hansard                   Jacksonville State University       249
Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
3.  Parker O’Bryan – Miller Dowling              University of Montevallo            248
Day 1: 5   11-15   Total:   5  11-15
4.  Brayden Nichols – William Tew                LSU – Shreveport                    247
Day 1: 5   11-12   Total:   5  11-12
5.  Reid Farris – Colton Swize                   Texas A&M University                246
Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
6.  Gus McLarry – Jared West                     Texas A & M Commerce                245
Day 1: 5   11-07   Total:   5  11-07
7.  Blake Bullock – John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain College               244
Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
8.  Tripp Bowman – Matthew Nesbit                LSU – Shreveport                    243
Day 1: 5   10-14   Total:   5  10-14
9.  Kaden Buchmann – Jared Hubbard               Lander University                   242
Day 1: 5   10-13   Total:   5  10-13
10. Cal Culpepper – Ryan Thomas                  University of Montevallo            241
Day 1: 5   10-12   Total:   5  10-12
11. Cole Rankin – Riley Faulkner                 Carson-Newman University            240
Day 1: 5   10-11   Total:   5  10-11
12. Nicholas Holtgrave – Colsyn Head             McKendree University                239
Day 1: 5   10-09   Total:   5  10-09
13. Kaden Proffitt – Cason Ragsdale              East Texas Baptist University       238
Day 1: 5   10-06   Total:   5  10-06
14. Trey Schroeder – Lane Stephens               McKendree University                237
Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
15. Hunter McClaskey – Landon Lawson             King University                     236
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
15. Levi Mullins – Matthew Cummings              Bethel University                   236
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
17. Caleb Dachenhaus – Sam Shoemaker             Adrian College                      234
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
18. Bryson O’steen – Ty Jackson                  Florida Gateway College             233
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
19. Morgan Miracle – Jake Thornbury              Campbellsville University           232
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
20. James Willoughby – Jacob Pfundt              University of Montevallo            231
Day 1: 5   09-10   Total:   5  09-10
21. Hayden Marbut – Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   230
Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
22. Tyler Cory – Scott Sledge                    University of Montevallo            229
Day 1: 5   09-08   Total:   5  09-08
22. Tommy Dunaway – Seth Jones                   Florida Gateway College             229
Day 1: 5   09-08   Total:   5  09-08
24. William Travis – Victor Alford               Bryan College                       227
Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
25. Jeremy Dellinger – Garrett Smith             Lander University                   226
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
26. Ryan Park – Sam Niemeyer                     Murray State University             225
Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
27. Wade Roberts –                               LSU – Shreveport                    224
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
27. Levi Thibodaux – Chance Shelby               LSU – Shreveport                    224
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
29. Ben Brockwell – Justice Gayhart              Kentucky Christian University       222
Day 1: 5   08-14   Total:   5  08-14
30. Cody Monlezun – Atlan Pfluger                Texas A&M University                221
Day 1: 5   08-13   Total:   5  08-13
30. Seth Slanker – Jackson Swisher               Florida Gateway College             221
Day 1: 5   08-13   Total:   5  08-13
32. Christian Turner – John Gray                 Coastal Carolina University         219
Day 1: 5   08-11   Total:   5  08-11
33. Turner Hart – Summer Dees                    Bryan College                       218
Day 1: 5   08-10   Total:   5  08-10
34. Brendan Vinton – Dalton Eury                 Catawba Valley Community College    217
Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
35. Chase Hubble – Brent May                     University of Florida               216
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
35. Jadon Spencer – Chase Martin                 Catawba Valley Community College    216
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
37. Parker Brown – Layton Brown                  Dallas Baptist University           214
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
38. Connor Jacob – Sam Smith                     Auburn University                   213
Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
38. Zach McNary – Mason Phillpotts               Grand Valley State University       213
Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
40. Carter Koza – Drew Pitts                     Carson-Newman University            211
Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
41. Harmon Marien – Jack Stephens                McKendree University                210
Day 1: 5   07-15   Total:   5  07-15
42. Corey Morris – Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       209
Day 1: 5   07-10   Total:   5  07-10
42. Zach Pocos – Trey Budach                     McKendree University                209
Day 1: 5   07-10   Total:   5  07-10
44. Carson Hickman – Jacob Dobbs                 Tarleton State University           207
Day 1: 5   07-09   Total:   5  07-09
45. Clay Osteen – John Mizell                    Tarleton State University           206
Day 1: 5   07-08   Total:   5  07-08
46. Matthew Zdrazil – Easton Lindus              Emmanuel College                    205
Day 1: 5   07-06   Total:   5  07-06
47. Max Heaton – Brooks Anderson                 Emmanuel College                    204
Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
48. Ashton Hehr – Trevor Johnston                Texas A&M University                203
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
48. Jordan Pennington – Andrew Oswalt            University of Montevallo            203
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
48. Kyle Zainitzer – Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         203
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
51. Evan Sutton – Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                200
Day 1: 5   07-02   Total:   5  07-02
52. Dylan Breaux – Joel Richard                  Nicholls State University           199
Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
52. Caleb Bridges – Matthew Dopp                 Bryan College                       199
Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
52. Ridge Rutledge – Ryan Daugherty              Campbellsville University           199
Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
52. Drake Sturgill – Beau Browning               University of Montevallo            199
Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
56. Brantley Anders – Cameron Dials              Kentucky Christian University       195
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
56. Russel Buffa – Dalton Mollenkopf             Adrian College                      195
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
56. Easton Fothergill – Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            195
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
56. Matt Short – Pruitt Lansdale                 Eastern Kentucky University         195
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
56. Gunner Whitaker – Mitch Johnson              Kentucky Christian University       195
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
61. Cody Domingos – Luka Strepacki               University of Tennessee             190
Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-15
62. Solomon Glenn – Briggs Alavezos              University of Montevallo            189
Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-14
62. Hank Sturm – Mitch Straffon                  Adrian College                      189
Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-14
62. William Vega – Will Emmert                   Sam Houston State University        189
Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-14
62. Dustin Weinberg – Sawyer Brady               Blue Mountain Christian Universi    189
Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-14
66. Brody Robison – Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            185
Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-14
67. Max Gosdin – Andrew Howell                   University of Montevallo            184
Day 1: 5   06-13   Total:   5  06-13
68. Wesley Smith II – Jacob Oliver               Catawba Valley Community College    183
Day 1: 4   06-13   Total:   4  06-13
69. Miles Smith – Zach Henderson                 Georgia College                     182
Day 1: 5   06-12   Total:   5  06-12
70. Giancarlo Russo – Remington Potter           Florida Gateway College             181
Day 1: 5   06-11   Total:   5  06-11
71. Tucker Siminak – Kyle Hopping                McKendree University                180
Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
72. Reece Keeney – Colby Kerr                    Kentucky Christian University       179
Day 1: 4   06-09   Total:   4  06-09
73. Zach Bushey – Brandon Traw                   Tarleton State University           178
Day 1: 5   06-08   Total:   5  06-08
74. Cy Lambert –                                 University of North Alabama         177
Day 1: 5   06-07   Total:   5  06-07
75. Justin Botts – Tim Herrmann                  Bryan College                       176
Day 1: 4   06-07   Total:   4  06-07
76. Trent Buchholz – Dakota Posey                Lamar State College Orange          175
Day 1: 5   06-05   Total:   5  06-05
76. Gavin Schmitz – Addison Sikes                University of Montevallo            175
Day 1: 5   06-05   Total:   5  06-05
78. Taylor McMullen –                            Emmanuel College                    173
Day 1: 4   06-05   Total:   4  06-05
79. Dylan Benson – Austin Rose                   East Texas Baptist University       172
Day 1: 5   06-04   Total:   5  06-04
80. Chris Baker – Elijah Kelley                  Kentucky Christian University       171
Day 1: 4   06-03   Total:   4  06-03
81. Drake Hemby – Szymon Piton                   Carson-Newman University            170
Day 1: 4   06-02   Total:   4  06-02
82. Carson Kamien – Tyson Verkaik                University of Florida               169
Day 1: 5   06-01   Total:   5  06-01
82. Cole Thompson – Rees Williams                University of North Alabama         169
Day 1: 5   06-01   Total:   5  06-01
84. Hunter Fillmore – Dylan Fogarty              Bethel University                   167
Day 1: 5   06-00   Total:   5  06-00
85. Cross Campbell – Ethan Thurston              East Texas Baptist University       166
Day 1: 4   06-00   Total:   4  06-00
86. Bryant Martin – Luke Batts                   LSU – Shreveport                    165
Day 1: 5   05-15   Total:   5  05-15
87. Brock Blazier – Benjamin Blank               Wabash Valley College               164
Day 1: 5   05-14   Total:   5  05-14
88. Tyler Cain – Cole Dodson                     University of Montevallo            163
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
89. Hunter Keller – Grant Harris                 Catawba Valley Community College    162
Day 1: 5   05-13   Total:   5  05-13
90. Wyatt Pearman – Dustin Bauer                 Campbellsville University           161
Day 1: 4   05-12   Total:   4  05-12
91. Trevor Easter – Clayton Easter               Tarleton State University           160
Day 1: 5   05-11   Total:   5  05-11
91. Cade Lipham – Caleb Coleman                  Drury University                    160
Day 1: 5   05-11   Total:   5  05-11
93. Carter Ball – Austin Tapley                  Adrian College                      158
Day 1: 5   05-10   Total:   5  05-10
94. Jaxson Freeman – Maxwell Trotter             McKendree University                157
Day 1: 5   05-07   Total:   5  05-07
95. John Karisny – Brodie Paige                  Louisiana Tech University           156
Day 1: 5   05-07   Total:   5  05-07
96. Matthew Dettling – Austin Wadzinski          University of Tennessee             155
Day 1: 4   05-06   Total:   4  05-06
97. Noah Trant – Evan Howe                       Northwestern State University (8    154
Day 1: 5   05-00   Total:   5  05-00
98. Brett Jolley Jr. – Cade Nettles              East Texas Baptist University       153
Day 1: 5   04-15   Total:   5  04-15
99. Brenton Godwin – Hunter Odom                 University of Montevallo            152
Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
100. Jacob Autry – Will Niebrugge                 Murray State University             151
Day 1: 4   04-13   Total:   4  04-13
101. Cooper Arthur – Luke Frankowicz              Louisiana Tech University           150
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
102. Spencer Brister – Roeh Burton                Lamar State College Orange          149
Day 1: 4   04-12   Total:   4  04-12
103. Colton Hill – Tomas Matual                   McKendree University                148
Day 1: 3   04-10   Total:   3  04-10
104. Derek Rodriguez Jr. – Mathias Dahline        Adrian College                      147
Day 1: 4   04-07   Total:   4  04-07
105. Thomas Mingle – Braxton Simmons              University of Tennessee             146
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
106. Seth Jenkins – TJ McKenzie                   Emmanuel College                    145
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
107. Stephen Bovia – Preston Madere               Louisiana Tech University           144
Day 1: 2   03-09   Total:   2  03-09
108. Riley Lawson – Dawson Burton                 Kentucky Christian University       143
Day 1: 3   03-04   Total:   3  03-04
109. Kreed Averhoff – Jordan Kalsbeek             Tarleton State University           142
Day 1: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
109. Lane Bailey – Justin Eggers                  Catawba Valley Community College    142
Day 1: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
111. Carter Smith – Gannon Stork                  Wabash Valley College               140
Day 1: 1   03-01   Total:   1  03-01
112. Justin James – Keegan Trahan                 Lamar State College Orange          139
Day 1: 3   02-14   Total:   3  02-14
113. Kyle Knoll – Luke Morgan                     Southern Union State Community C    138
Day 1: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13
114. Conner Giles – Christian Wright              Bryan College                       137
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
115. Sawyer McCullough – Hunter Bettner           Troy University                     136
Day 1: 2   02-05   Total:   2  02-05
116. Sid Wallace – Broxson Daigle                 Texas A&M University                135
Day 1: 1   02-02   Total:   1  02-02
117. Caleb Jacob –                                Illinois State University           134
Day 1: 2   01-15   Total:   2  01-15
118. Hunter Palmer – Eli Stevenson                Bryan College                       133
Day 1: 1   01-11   Total:   1  01-11
119. Hampton Shull – Landon Surrett               Lander University                   132
Day 1: 1   01-03   Total:   1  01-03
120. Fischer Barber – Tucker Jordan               Troy University                     131
Day 1: 1   01-01   Total:   1  01-01
120. Kaden Liles – Kolby Clark                    University of North Alabama         131
Day 1: 1   01-01   Total:   1  01-01
122. Zeb Roberts – Cabe Mackey                    Catawba Valley Community College    129
Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
123. Roy Crush – Hunter Hernandez                 Texas A&M University                128
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
124. Hunter Starling – William Vickery            Georgia Southern University         127
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
125. Luke Iles –                                  Northwestern State University       126
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
126. Jacob Butts – Mark Kershaw-Klara             USC Union                             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Carson Calvert – Austin Thomas               University of North Alabama           0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Marlee Churchman – Ty Gentry                 LSU – Shreveport                      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Cody Clifton – Robert Hunt                   Missouri State University             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Nathan Coffman – Garrett Mawalls             LSU – Shreveport                      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Logan East – Rob Lindsey                     Bryan College                         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Caleb Hart – Connor Vanderploeg              Grand Valley State University         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Connor Lynch – Domenic Bartel                Grand Valley State University         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Chandler Pruett – Wes Bailey                 Blue Mountain College                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
126. Rudy Worley – Fisher Overton                 Blue Mountain College                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        88       536       853-13
———————————-
88       536       853-13