Andrew Canulette
PARIS, Tenn. — When soaking rains and cold temperatures moved across western Tennessee earlier this week, people wondered how the changing weather would affect fishing in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake.

On Wednesday at Paris Landing State Park, Ken Thompson and Brad Weese provided the answer.

Though the duo has only fished together less than a year, they looked like lifelong partners. The team from the Angler’s Choice Team Trail boated a five-bass limit that totaled 24 pounds, 10 ounces and gave them a solid lead after the opening round of the national team championship.

Weese, who is from Petersburg, W.Va., caught the two biggest bass of their creel; each weighed approximately 6 1/2 pounds. Thompson, of Raysburg, Pa., provided the rest of the weight with a 4-pounder and two 3 1/2-pound bass. They didn’t catch many fish in practice rounds when the weather was extremely disagreeable, but found three spots today that lit up after they ditched their initial fishing area earlier in the morning.

“We complement each other in that we both like fishing the same style,” Thompson said. “If I’m doing something, I know he can do it. And if he has something working, I can fish the same way. We’ll hit those same spots tomorrow. There are fish out there.”

Thompson and Weese comprised one of only four two-person teams weighing-in more than 20 pounds of bass on Wednesday. Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst of the Sylacauga Big Bucks Buddy Trail in Alabama are in second place with a limit of 22-8. They are closely followed by Ty Faber and John Gardner of the Ultimate Bass Team Trail in Colorado, third with 22-0, and Derrick and Dustin Compton of the (South) Carolina Bass Challenge Team are fourth with 20-3.

Twenty-five teams are within 10 pounds of Thompson’s and Weese’s lead. In all, 159 of the 186 teams registered in the Bassmaster Team Championship caught at least one bass today, and 58 of them had limits.

Surprisingly, Faber and Gardner, who currently are in third place, were without a limit. They caught four bass on all day, two of which came among their first casts of the day. One of the throws boated a 6-10 lunker to boost the bag.

“This is our first time here, so we don’t know the lake at all,” Gardner said. “So this was good fishing for us today. There were a lot of fish (on our spot,) and we literally stayed on it all day.”

With 160,000 acres to explore, Kentucky Lake offers plenty of territory for anglers to cover. But Faber and Gardner may have found what some pundits said would be the key to success in this tournament — a spot that replenishes itself throughout the day.

“When you don’t have another spot to go to, you stay where you are,” Faber joked.

“So we’ll start in the same spot again tomorrow, for sure,” Gardner said.

McCaig and Hurst had the big bass of the day — an 8-3 lunker that Hurst said was caught on a crankbait following the shad bite on Kentucky Lake. Both men said they didn’t catch much in practice, but felt like it would take at least 20 pounds a day to make the cut after Thursday’s action.

“This is the Tennessee River, so you know it’s going to take a good weight to win,” McCaig said. “The first place we started today, we caught an 8-pounder, then a 4-pounder. So why leave?”

“We had three spots in mind, we hit one, and it produced,” Hurst said. “Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow.”

Rain Monday and Tuesday gave way to partly cloudy skies, 50 degree air temperatures, and slack winds on Wednesday. Conditions are supposed to be significantly colder for Thursday’s fishing, after which the team champions will be crowned.

The Top 3 teams will qualify for the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off to be held on Friday and Saturday, also on Kentucky Lake. In that event, each angler fishes individually, teammate against teammate. The competitor who brings in the heaviest daily catches will earn the final available space in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic when it is held in March on Lake Conroe outside of Houston, Texas.

This week’s event marks the third year B.A.S.S. has held a team championship. The tournament is composed of winning pairs from team trails throughout the U.S. that are sanctioned by B.A.S.S.

In all, 194 teams from 31 states and one Canadian province are represented.

The Day 2 launch will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing State Park, and weigh-in will follow at 2:30 p.m.

The Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship is hosted by the Henry County Alliance.

TOURNAMENT STANDINGS
Place Name Day 1
Fish / Weight Total
Fish / Weight
1
Ken Thompson – Brad Weese
Anglers Choice
5 / 24-10 5 / 24-10
2
Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst
Big Bucks Buddy Trail
5 / 22- 8 5 / 22- 8
3
Ty Faber – John Gardner
Ultimate Bass TT
4 / 22- 0 4 / 22- 0
4
Derrick Compton – Dustin Compton
Carolina Bass Challenge
5 / 20- 3 5 / 20- 3
5
Tim Grein – Richard Cooper
Anglers Choice
5 / 19- 3 5 / 19- 3
6
Kris Colley – Adam Bain
Airport Marine
5 / 18-15 5 / 18-15
7
David Caylor – Robbie Pelt
Alabama Bass Trail
5 / 18- 6 5 / 18- 6
8
Seth Davis – Brent Butler
Chattanooga Bass Association
5 / 18- 1 5 / 18- 1
9
Dustin Bishop – Kyle Lear
Fishers of Men
5 / 17-14 5 / 17-14
10
Kyle Kempkers – Brett Haveman
BBT Bass R Us
5 / 17- 8 5 / 17- 8
11
Dylan Hays – Jimmy Mize
Arkansas Bass Team Trail
5 / 17- 2 5 / 17- 2
12
Josh Greer – Robert Greer
Anglers In Action
4 / 16-13 4 / 16-13
13
Dustin Neat – Mark Wethington
NTBA
5 / 16- 1 5 / 16- 1
14
Josh Busby – Timothy Taylor
Ozark Mountain TT
5 / 15-14 5 / 15-14
15
Cole Hyder – Joel Saunders
PBC TT
5 / 15-11 5 / 15-11
16
Jake Beem – Cade Alsbury
Anglers In Action
5 / 15- 5 5 / 15- 5
17
Steve Drinnon – Paul Vaccaro
Fishers of Men
4 / 15- 2 4 / 15- 2
18
Timothy Dube – Kevin Miller
NH BN TT
5 / 15- 1 5 / 15- 1
18
Jeremy Gordon – Philip Gordon
Morristown Marine
5 / 15- 1 5 / 15- 1
20
Josh Wray – Donald Wray
Ozark Mountain TT
5 / 14- 9 5 / 14- 9
21
Jay Hulsey – Kyle Hulsey
Ozark Mountain Team Trail
5 / 14- 4 5 / 14- 4
22
Jason Walcott – Jimmy Vanden Berg Jr
West Michigan Bass
4 / 14- 2 4 / 14- 2
23
Larry Bullock – Roger Caldwell
Alabama Bass Trail
5 / 14- 1 5 / 14- 1
23
Shawn Skobel – Logan Crayton
Fishers of Men
5 / 14- 1 5 / 14- 1
25
Stacey Poynter – Rodney Lucas
Fishers of Men
5 / 13-14 5 / 13-14
26
Rick Imler – Robert Newlon
Great Lakes Largemouth Series
5 / 13-13 5 / 13-13
27
Truett Hill Jr – Chris Coleman
FOM
5 / 13-11 5 / 13-11
28
Jason McFarland – Michael Carter
NTBA
5 / 13- 9 5 / 13- 9
29
Vaughn Capasso – Chris Capasso
IL BN TT
4 / 13- 7 4 / 13- 7
30
Rex Chambers – Brent Crow
Alabama Bass Trail
4 / 13- 5 4 / 13- 5
31
Keith McDeerman – Von Dilbeck
Morristown Marine
3 / 13- 0 3 / 13- 0
32
Chad Schroeder – Chase Schroeder
McNider Marine
5 / 12-15 5 / 12-15
33
Lee Bishop – Mike Miller
Fishers of Men
4 / 12-15 4 / 12-15
34
Scott Jones – Dustin Cauthon
Arkansas Bass Team Trail
5 / 12-13 5 / 12-13
35
Jeff Gee – Steve Majewski
AC Tournament Trail
5 / 12-10 5 / 12-10
36
Kelly Jones – Roger Satterfield
Ozark Mountain TT
5 / 12- 9 5 / 12- 9
37
Chris Darby – Danny Gwinn
Arkansas Bass Team Trail
5 / 12- 7 5 / 12- 7
37
Ben King – Tim Hickson
Anglers In Action
5 / 12- 7 5 / 12- 7
37
Jarrod Sherwood – Jeff Yorks
MI – Team Bass
5 / 12- 7 5 / 12- 7
37
Jesse Wiggins – Jordan Wiggins
Alabama Bass Trail
5 / 12- 7 5 / 12- 7
41
Brian Funkhouser – Kenneth Reed
IN BN TT
5 / 12- 6 5 / 12- 6
42
Mark O’Brien – Ryne Sanders
AC Tournament Trail
5 / 12- 4 5 / 12- 4
43
Fred Ingalls II – Mark Allen
Upstate Anglers
5 / 12- 2 5 / 12- 2
44
Steve Singleton – A.L. Needham Jr
Fishers of Men
5 / 12- 1 5 / 12- 1
45
James Ward – Sam Musicck
Anglers Choice
5 / 12- 0 5 / 12- 0
46
Nathan Burgess – Brent Riley
Carolina Bass Challenge
3 / 11-14 3 / 11-14
47
Dell Mettlen Jr – Justin Harris
KS BN TT
5 / 11-13 5 / 11-13
48
Joe Magnatta – Dennis Carter
Lakeland Bassmasters TT
4 / 11- 9 4 / 11- 9
49
Ron Fabiszak Jr – Ron Nelson
D&R Sports Team Trail
4 / 11- 8 4 / 11- 8
50
Derrell Potter – Bill Benford
Fishers of Men
5 / 11- 3 5 / 11- 3
51
Robert Grike – Eric Nelson
James River Priority
5 / 11- 2 5 / 11- 2
51
Wayne Vaughan Jr – Mitch Blankenship
James River Priority
5 / 11- 2 5 / 11- 2
53
Don Ingram – Ronnie Grant
NTBA
4 / 11- 2 4 / 11- 2
54
Christopher Risner – Timothy Eaton
2015 Champ – D&R Sports Team Trail
5 / 11- 1 5 / 11- 1
55
Lance Walker – Brad Wilemon
Fishers of Men
4 / 11- 0 4 / 11- 0
56
Dillon Tucker – Greg Tucker
Alabama Bass Trail
4 / 10-12 4 / 10-12
57
Rogne Brown Jr – Cary Dotson
Chattanooga Bass Association
4 / 10- 8 4 / 10- 8
58
Eric Kiliszewski – Edwin Ammerman
West Michigan Bass
5 / 10- 7 5 / 10- 7
59
Bret Hoeksema – Shawn Martinie
BBT Bass R Us
4 / 10- 3 4 / 10- 3
59
Timmy Poe – Jeremiah Kindy
Arkansas Bass Team Trail
4 / 10- 3 4 / 10- 3
61
Bryan Baker – Darren Baker
Joe Bass TT
3 / 10- 3 3 / 10- 3
61
Dan Parker – Mark Sexton
IA BN TT
3 / 10- 3 3 / 10- 3
63
Dalton Bobo – Lonnie O’Neal
Alabama Bass Trail
3 / 10- 2 3 / 10- 2
64
Chuck James – Brad James
Chattanooga Bass Association
3 / 10- 1 3 / 10- 1
65
Dale Duncan Jr – Donny Woody
Carolina Bass Challenge
4 / 9-12 4 / 9-12
66
Luke Jarman – Bobby Morgan
Joe Bass TT
3 / 9-12 3 / 9-12
67
Buster Lilly Jr – Travis Lilly
White Pine Marine Tournament Trail
3 / 9- 4 3 / 9- 4
68
Rick Johnston – Joe Brantley
Ozark Mountain TT
2 / 9- 4 2 / 9- 4
69
Mickey Anderson – Bo Boltz Jr
James River Priority
3 / 9- 0 3 / 9- 0
70
Marty Giddens – Joshua Stracner
Big Bucks Buddy Trail
4 / 8-14 4 / 8-14
71
Darrin King – Mark Mahaffey
Joe Bass TT
3 / 8-14 3 / 8-14
72
Tyler Moberly – Christopher Howard
Morristown Marine
3 / 8-11 3 / 8-11
73
Nicholas Bodsford – Richard Owen
James River Priority
4 / 8- 5 4 / 8- 5
74
Martin Elshout – Mark Price
Fishers of Men
4 / 8- 3 4 / 8- 3
75
Bo Chappell – Wayne King
Carolina Bass Challenge
4 / 8- 1 4 / 8- 1
76
Brad Hickinbottom – Brian McCay
Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit
3 / 8- 1 3 / 8- 1
77
Mickey Lewis – Duane Ritter
TN BN TT
3 / 7-15 3 / 7-15
78
Jake Deeds – Stacey Burson
Media Bass
3 / 7-14 3 / 7-14
79
Skyler Schultz – Richard Schultz
Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit
4 / 7-12 4 / 7-12
80
Bryant Copley – Steve West
Anglers Choice
3 / 7- 7 3 / 7- 7
81
Matthew Dyer – Ross TenHarmsel
West Michigan Bass
3 / 7- 4 3 / 7- 4
82
Tim Coffey – Mitch Lewis
NTBA
3 / 7- 1 3 / 7- 1
83
Wesley Cashwell – Shane Doughtie
Carolina Bass Challenge
3 / 6-15 3 / 6-15
84
Michael Milton – Paul Sharp
Morristown Marine
2 / 6-14 2 / 6-14
85
Sean Hoernke – Curt McCauley
TX BN TT
3 / 6-10 3 / 6-10
86
Chris Glover – Chris Alexander
AC Tournament Trail
2 / 6-10 2 / 6-10
86
Matt McCoy – Dennis Davis
IN BN Team Trail
2 / 6-10 2 / 6-10
88
Joe Raftery – Tom Martin
NV BN TT
3 / 6- 8 3 / 6- 8
89
Jeston Anderson – Robbie Robinson
Alabama Bass Trail
2 / 6- 7 2 / 6- 7
90
Jonathan Spivey – Derick Livingston
Carolina Bass Challenge
3 / 6- 0 3 / 6- 0
91
Tony McCraw – Penny McCraw
Fishers of Men
2 / 5-13 2 / 5-13
92
Mack Cook – Patrick Cook
Carolina Bass Challenge
2 / 5-12 2 / 5-12
93
Douglas Polasek – Dan Hatchew
West Michigan Bass
2 / 5- 9 2 / 5- 9
94
Samuel Fish – Justin Hamner
Alabama Bass Trail
1 / 5- 9 1 / 5- 9
95
Don Heiser – James Sells
Joe Bass TT
2 / 5- 8 2 / 5- 8
96
Mitch Miles – Scott Sawyers
Anglers Choice
2 / 5- 6 2 / 5- 6
97
Harold Black – Lacy Burnette
Anglers Choice
2 / 5- 5 2 / 5- 5
97
Brian Thompson – Eric Hammond
Anglers In Action
2 / 5- 5 2 / 5- 5
99
Brad Nappier – Brian Nappier
Fishers of Men
2 / 5- 4 2 / 5- 4
100
Joel Lee – Steve Hadley
Dockside Marine
2 / 5- 1 2 / 5- 1
101
Chris Dover – Robert Fowler
Carolina Bass Challenge
2 / 4-14 2 / 4-14
102
Mike Williams – Duane Jacobs
Bassmania Team Trail
1 / 4-13 1 / 4-13
103
Jess Caraballo – Mark Condron
CT BN Team Trail
2 / 4-12 2 / 4-12
103
David Crumpton – Tim Trahan
Arkansas Bass Team Trail
2 / 4-12 2 / 4-12
105
Nick Vitullo – Jarrett Knize
AC Tournament Trail
1 / 4-11 1 / 4-11
106
Vince Loschiavo – Brandon Blystone
Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit
2 / 4- 9 2 / 4- 9
107
Jake Boomer – Jason Bryan
Northwest Bass
2 / 4- 5 2 / 4- 5
108
Jeff Seamans – Terry Algier
DE BN Team Trail
1 / 4- 2 1 / 4- 2
109
Casey Warren – Wesley Carroll
Carolina Anglers Tournament Trail
2 / 4- 0 2 / 4- 0
110
Ryan Butler – Dustin Lippe
Anglers In Action
1 / 4- 0 1 / 4- 0
110
Shawn Lolley – Davy Lolley
Alabama Bass Trail
1 / 4- 0 1 / 4- 0
112
Scott Henley – Neil McDonald
Carolina Bass Challenge
1 / 3-15 1 / 3-15
113
Brian McCarter – Jason Fowler
NTBA
1 / 3- 9 1 / 3- 9
114
Wayne Moyher – Craig Powers
Morristown Marine
2 / 3- 7 2 / 3- 7
115
Curtis Richardson – Brad Arnott
Renegade Bass
1 / 3- 7 1 / 3- 7
116
Duane Poole – Mike Merz
Upstate Anglers
1 / 3- 6 1 / 3- 6
117
Gus Kneidinger – Jason Kneidinger
Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit
1 / 2-15 1 / 2-15
118
Brett McLean – Mac McLean
Carolina Bass Challenge
1 / 2-12 1 / 2-12
119
Todd Sosebee – Steve Postell
Carolina Bass Challenge
1 / 2-11 1 / 2-11
120
Russ Padgett Jr – Meredith Havird
Carolina Bass Challenge
1 / 2- 2 1 / 2- 2
121
Juddie Revels III – David Oxendine
Carolina Bass Challenge
1 / 2- 0 1 / 2- 0
122
Jay Cranney – Travis Jewell
Ultimate Bass Team Trail
1 / 1-15