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Auburn claims wire-to-wire victory in Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University have won the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces. 

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

August 12, 2023

COUNCE, Tenn. — Thanks to an afternoon rally that produced several largemouth over 3 1/2 pounds, Auburn University’s Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut caught 18 pounds on Saturday to win the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces.

Smith and Marbut never trailed in the event, claiming the lead on Day 1 with a 20-8 bag before landing 15-4 on the second day.

Together, it is the duo’s second victory in a Bassmaster Championship event. Their first win was also in wire-to-wire fashion at the 2020 Bassmaster High School National Championship at Kentucky Lake.

After winning that tournament, Smith and Marbut had conversations about what it would be like to win the College Championship when they teamed back up at Auburn. They made that hope a reality in their first season reunited as partners.

“The last couple of years we have joked about winning both National Championships. For it to actually happen and our dreams to come true this week, it is unbelievable,” Marbut said.

This victory only adds to Smith’s already impressive resume. Along with his three High School Championship titles, he won the 2021 Bassmaster College Team of the Year title with partner Logan Parks as well as the Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open on Table Rock Lake.

The College Series Championship was an event Smith and Parks struggled with in their two attempts together, but Smith felt like this year at Pickwick would be different.

“We fished hard and, in the previous years I fished with Logan, we fished hard too but we didn’t get close,” Smith said. “This one felt different. This one felt special.”

With the victory, the Auburn anglers earned a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. Smith finished second to Tristan McCormick at the 2021 Bracket on the Alabama River by 3 ounces and he has been anxious to get back ever since.

“The last time I was there, it really hurt my feelings,” Smith said. “It will be good to be back and get another chance at it.”

History pays off for Auburn on final day

Entering Championship Saturday, Smith and Marbut had a feeling their best two spots were drying up. After catching around 12 pounds between the two areas before midday, they made the decision to scrap their game plan and move to a ledge that has historically produced for them.

“At 12 o’clock we had 12 pounds,” Marbut said. “For it to happen in the last hour and a half, it is crazy.”

In practice, they scanned this particular spot and found only a couple of bass occupying it, but when they needed it the most, the spot was loaded and Smith and Marbut were able to quickly upgrade their final total.

“We threw the trolling motor down and there were a ton of fish there. It was magical,” Smith said. “It was a place that got hit by the current really well. It was near the main channel and once the clouds came over, it seemed like the bass grouped up really well and started feeding.”

While the current was almost too strong on Day 2, Marbut and Smith noticed it slowed down on the final day, which helped the bite as well.

A sneaky, offshore game plan

Smith and Marbut stayed offshore all week, hoping to find less-obvious places other competitors would overlook. They had two areas that produced best, one deep and one shallow. Both were relatively close to takeoff at Pickwick Landing State Park.

“We had never fished those spots until this tournament,” Smith said.

The majority of their weight the first two days came from the deeper school of bass, which was located in about 20 feet of water with shells on the bottom.

“We caught almost all of our weight on the first day and a good bit of our weight the second day off of it,” Marbut said. “It was kind of up on a flat, away from where most people would scan. I think only one other boat found it.”

Their secondary, shallow school was in about 12 feet of water.

“It was way off the river,” Marbut said. “And that’s what we looked for. We focused on looking for sneakier stuff that not everyone would find.”

To catch their fish, they used a rotation of baits which included an unnamed 5-inch swimbait, a 3/4-ounce Picasso tungsten football jig with a Yamamoto Yama Craw trailer, a 3/8-ounce drop shot with a morning dawn colored Roboworm FAT straight-tail worm and a Damiki rig.

Mullins, Cummings fish magic docks to finish second

With a three-day total of 50-13, Levi Mullins and Matthew Cummings from Bethel University finished second. It was the duo’s second straight Top 12 in the College Championship — and while they came up just a little short of the win, they earned a spot in the Classic Bracket.

“I’ve watched three of my teammates go and start their careers there. Now we are going to have that opportunity. It is crazy to think about that.” Mullins said.

“Losing the National Championship is a rough feeling, but knowing you are going to the Bracket makes that a little easier,” Cummings added.

As hard as they tried, Mullins and Cummings could not find a consistent offshore bite during practice. So, on the first day, the Bethel duo ran down to a set of magical docks they have fished in the past and milked the area for three days, catching 18-5, 14-14 and 17-10.

The final day was tough, but they filled their limit two minutes before running back to weigh in.

Brush was a key piece of cover underneath several of the docks, and bream and shad were plentiful in the area. Mullins skipped a 3/8-ounce Missile Baits Ike's Mini Flip Out jig in Bamer craw with a Missile Baits Mini D Chunk trailer most of the week while Cummings threw a Texas-rigged Senko in green pumpkin with a 3/16-ounce weight.

On the final two days, a ChatterBait also produced important keeper bites.

“Those docks have saved our tails three times now in tournaments,” Cummings said.

One area carries Montevallo to third

With bags of 17-8, 15-4 and 16-7, Brody Robison and Jack Alexander from the University of Montevallo finished third with a total of 49-3. Robison and Alexander spent most of practice scanning offshore areas of Pickwick Lake and found one spot that produced the majority of their bag.

“It was a straight river ledge, but there was a hard spot that stuck out into the current,” Robison said. “It was a great place for shells to group up and it also made a good feeding area for white bass and bass. We hung out there and tried to get five bass and we did it somehow.”

A drop shot, Damiki rig and Strike King 10XD were their three best baits.

Bracket details

The Top 3 teams punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, details of which will be announced at a later date. Nick Dumke and Easton Fothergill from the University of Montevallo already claimed their spot by winning the Team of the Year title. Full coverage of the event will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The winner of the Bracket will compete in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa. Okla., and receive paid entry into the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully loaded Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   18-00   Total:  15  53-12
2.  Matthew Cummings - Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   249
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-14     Day 3: 5   17-10   Total:  15  50-13
3.  Brody Robison - Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            248
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   16-07   Total:  15  49-03
4.  Tyler Campbell - Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 247
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-06     Day 3: 4   14-06   Total:  14  48-09
5.  Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            246
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   15-12     Day 3: 5   14-00   Total:  15  48-01
6.  Joey Bissing - Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             245
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-15     Day 3: 5   16-00   Total:  15  47-11
7.  Adrian Urso - Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             244
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-11     Day 3: 5   15-07   Total:  15  47-08
8.  Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    243
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   14-12   Total:  15  47-00
9.  Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                242
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   19-02     Day 3: 5   15-12   Total:  15  46-09
10. Hunter Suchsland - Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      241
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-04     Day 3: 5   15-13   Total:  15  46-06
11. Tallis Morrison - Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     240
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   18-05     Day 3: 5   13-04   Total:  15  44-03
12. Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         239
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   12-15     Day 3: 3   09-01   Total:  13  41-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        60       459      1290-14
2        33       352       974-04
3        10        57       180-08
----------------------------------
103       868      2445-10

by AnglersChannel

Auburn's Smith, Marbut maintain lead on Day 2 of Bassmaster College Championship at Pickwick Lake

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University are leading after Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces. 

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

August 11, 2023

COUNCE, Tenn. — Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut find themselves in familiar territory after Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The Auburn University duo leads the 131-boat field with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces, and have a chance to pull off the wire-to-wire win, similar to their 2020 Bassmaster High School Championship victory at Kentucky Lake.

“This tournament is huge,” Smith said. “The High School National Championships were the biggest deal to me ever at the time. This one now is an even bigger deal to me. We want to make the Classic Bracket, and we are going to put our heads down and try.”

It was a much tougher Day 2 for Smith, Marbut and the rest of the teams on the water Friday. After catching 20-8 the first day, the Auburn anglers caught just 15-4. But they still lead Emmanuel University’s Tyler Campbell and Parker Guy by 1-9.

“It was a lot tougher today,” Marbut said. “We had a handful of places we thought we could get bites on, but we only ended up getting bites on one or two places. We expected it to be a lot tougher, but it really was a grind today.”

While many anglers were hoping for more current after practice, they may have received too much as the TVA pulled over 70,000 cubic feet per second out of Pickwick Lake.

“We could tell that it was stronger today,” Smith said. “Hopefully they turn it down a little bit so we can catch some fish.”

Using their forward-facing sonar, Marbut said they found the bass more scattered and suspended than they were on Day 1, where they noticed bass more on the bottom.

But Smith and Marbut still filled their limit by 10 a.m. Instead of the “fun” baits, like big crankbaits, Smith said they had to slow down and finesse fish on Day 2 with a drop shot, football jig and a small swimbait.

“It was nice that we caught some early,” Smith said. “We thought we could run a bunch of places and catch a couple more and upgrade, but that did not happen. The fish are diminishing every day it seems like.”

During the first two days, Smith and Marbut bounced around between several areas, but on Championship Saturday, Smith said they will likely be staying in their best areas most of the day.

“Tomorrow we are going to run a couple places we know have fish and pray to God we catch five good ones,” Smith said.

Coming into the day in ninth with 17-13, Guy and Campbell added 16-6 to jump into second with a total of 34-3. This is Guy’s second-straight Top 12 finish in the National Championship after placing fourth last year at Winyah Bay with teammate Brooks Anderson.

The Emmanuel team has also fished primarily offshore this week, mixing in some other patterns when the time is right.

“Today was crazy,” Guy said. “We made a big long run yesterday and today. We caught a big one yesterday but today it didn’t work. We came back here and we pulled in on one place, a typical ledge school, and caught a couple and caught a limit.”

After catching a big one on that spot, they went and fished a couple other areas to add a couple more key fish. On their best ledge, bass are sitting on top in 20 feet of water and then all the way down the drop into 28 feet of water.

The key for Guy and Campbell has been slowing down their presentations.

“Fishing slow is a big, big deal right now. I see a lot of people fishing really fast and throwing big moving baits. We tried to slow way down and get some of those bites that other people aren’t getting,” Guy said.

“We were able to pull in behind people and get bites,” Campbell added. “We were counting rocks.”

The University of Montevallo duo of Nick Dumke and Easton Fothergill moved into third with a two-day total of 34-1. After landing 18-5 on Day 1, the 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year added 15-12 on Day 2 to become the first Team of the Year to reach the final day of the National Championship since the award’s inception in 2018.

“We have yet to be in a position to win a big event like this and to be here and have a shot is something we have been dreaming about for a long time,” Dumke said. “It means the world to be here.”

So far this week, Dumke and Fothergill have focused most of their time offshore, hoping to save the shallow bass they found until the final day. The majority of their bass have come on one offshore area where they have a group of around 100 bass located. It isn’t a typical school, however, as these bass are spread out.

They also aren’t easy to catch, and Dumke and Fothergill threw six or seven different baits to land their final limit.

Braydon Kelley and Trey McMeen of East Texas Baptist University landed the Big Bass of the Day, a 7-0 largemouth. Cole and Clay Taylor of Lander University still hold Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 7-12 largemouth they caught on Day 1.

The Top 12 remaining teams will launch from Pickwick Landing State Park at 6 a.m. CT Saturday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 3 teams will punch their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, details of which will be announced at a later date. Dumke and Fothergill have already claimed their spot by winning Team of the Year. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The winner of the Bracket will compete in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa. Okla., and receive paid entry into the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully loaded Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   15-04   Total:  10  35-12
2.  Tyler Campbell - Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 249
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-06   Total:  10  34-03
3.  Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            248
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   15-12   Total:  10  34-01
4.  Matthew Cummings - Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   247
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-14   Total:  10  33-03
5.  Brody Robison - Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            246
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   15-04   Total:  10  32-12
6.  Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         245
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   12-15   Total:  10  32-07
7.  Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    244
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-03   Total:  10  32-04
8.  Adrian Urso - Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             243
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-11   Total:  10  32-01
9.  Joey Bissing - Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             242
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-15   Total:  10  31-11
10. Tallis Morrison - Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     241
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   18-05   Total:  10  30-15
11. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                240
Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   19-02   Total:  10  30-13
12. Hunter Suchsland - Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      239
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   14-04   Total:  10  30-09
13. Mike Pierlott - Max Pierlott                 UNC Charlotte                       238
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   14-15   Total:  10  30-09
14. Kaleb Brown - Cole Moulton                   Lander University                   237
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-03   Total:  10  30-07
15. Austin Parr - Hunter White                   Erskine College                     236
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   18-01   Total:  10  30-02
16. Dylan May - Carson Palmer                    Carson-Newman University            235
Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  29-09
17. Henry Mcpherson - Matthew German             University of Alabama               234
Day 1: 4   11-05     Day 2: 5   17-03   Total:   9  28-08
18. Tim Herrmann - Justin Botts                  Bryan College                       233
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   13-04   Total:  10  28-06
19. Hudson Choquette -                           University of Montevallo            232
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   13-07   Total:  10  28-01
20. Mason Hoke - Jayce Garrison                  Sam Houston State University        231
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   14-08   Total:  10  28-00
21. Dalton DeFelice - Connor Tonkel              Southwestern Michigan College       230
Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   11-07   Total:  10  27-09
22. Dalton Eury - Zeb Roberts                    Catawba Valley Community College    229
Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   12-02   Total:  10  27-05
23. Aric Szambelan - Tyler Flacke                Missouri State University           228
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 3   07-00   Total:   8  26-15
24. Ben Brockwell -                              Kentucky Christian University       227
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 4   13-11   Total:   9  26-09
25. Beau Browning - Drake Sturgill               University of Montevallo            226
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   11-06   Total:  10  25-10
26. Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         225
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 4   10-09   Total:   9  25-05
27. Cole Taylor - Clay Taylor                    Lander University                   224
Day 1: 4   18-12     Day 2: 2   06-02   Total:   6  24-14
28. Kyle Workman - Evan Barker                   Campbellsville University           223
Day 1: 4   10-08     Day 2: 5   14-06   Total:   9  24-14
29. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt              University of Montevallo            222
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 3   09-01   Total:   8  24-10
30. Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           221
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 4   10-12   Total:   9  24-10
31. Szymon Piton - Gavin Clevenger               Carson-Newman University            220
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 4   10-09   Total:   9  24-09
32. Hayden Pirman - Luke Chaddock                West Virginia University            219
Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 2   04-14   Total:   7  24-07
33. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert                   University of North Alabama         218
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 4   13-00   Total:   9  24-04
34. Dylan Fogarty - Hunter Fillmore              Bethel University                   217
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  24-04
35. Dylan Nutt - Carter Nutt                     University of North Alabama         216
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 4   11-12   Total:   9  23-13
36. Will Oberman - Wil Rigdon                    Campbellsville University           215
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 3   07-05   Total:   8  23-05
37. Anderson Jones - Max Muzones                 Lander University                   214
Day 1: 4   10-06     Day 2: 4   12-15   Total:   8  23-05
38. William Tew - Brayden Nichols                LSU - Shreveport                    213
Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  23-02
39. Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            212
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 4   08-07   Total:   9  23-00
40. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit                LSU - Shreveport                    211
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 3   08-03   Total:   8  22-12
41. Jared Hubbard - Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   210
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 4   08-05   Total:   9  22-09
42. TJ McKenzie - Seth Jenkins                   Emmanuel University                 209
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 2   04-11   Total:   7  21-00
43. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen              Coastal Carolina University         208
Day 1: 2   07-02     Day 2: 4   13-10   Total:   6  20-12
44. Tyler Hudson - Evan Mcnaughton               Western Kentucky University         207
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   8  20-08
45. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts                   LSU - Shreveport                    206
Day 1: 4   09-02     Day 2: 3   11-00   Total:   7  20-02
46. Hunter Townsend - Jonathan Wehner Jr         James Madison University            205
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 3   09-06   Total:   8  20-00
47. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley                  Kentucky Christian University       204
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  19-07
48. Gus McLarry - Jared West                     Texas A&M Commerce                  203
Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 5   13-10   Total:   7  19-05
49. Zachary Ward - Easton Bouma                  Drury University                    202
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 2   04-09   Total:   7  19-04
50. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       201
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 5   17-05   Total:   6  19-03
51. Sam Smith - Connor Jacob                     Auburn University                   200
Day 1: 4   09-14     Day 2: 3   09-05   Total:   7  19-03
52. Nate Kimberling - Matt Kavanaugh             University of Idaho                 199
Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 5   13-03   Total:   8  19-00
53. Jeremy Monda - Bryson O'steen                Florida Gateway College             198
Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 3   08-11   Total:   8  18-15
54. Ryan Lachniet - Clay Oberman                 Campbellsville University           197
Day 1: 2   05-00     Day 2: 5   13-14   Total:   7  18-14
55. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            196
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 4   09-13   Total:   8  18-14
56. Lane Clark - Adam Seagle                     Erskine College                     195
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 2   05-00   Total:   7  18-12
57. Jonah Potts - Drew Fromm                     Wabash Valley College               194
Day 1: 3   06-01     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:   8  18-11
58. Turner Hart - Summer Dees                    Bryan College                       193
Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   7  18-11
59. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter             McKendree University                192
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   7  18-05
60. Dylan Akins - Chase Carey                    Emmanuel University                 191
Day 1: 4   09-00     Day 2: 4   09-05   Total:   8  18-05
61. Brandon Martin - Cole Holloway               Emmanuel University                 190
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 1   01-13   Total:   6  18-04
62. Braylon Eggerding -                          Adrian College                      189
Day 1: 4   15-00     Day 2: 1   03-00   Total:   5  18-00
63. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens               McKendree University                188
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-08   Total:   6  17-15
64. Evan Fields -                                Campbellsville University           187
Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 3   10-05   Total:   6  17-15
65. Riley Faulkner - Cole Rankin                 Carson-Newman University            186
Day 1: 3   09-11     Day 2: 4   08-03   Total:   7  17-14
66. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara             USC Union                           185
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-04   Total:   6  17-11
67. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher               Florida Gateway College             184
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   03-00   Total:   6  17-07
68. Noah Vanderwall - Daniel Borrousch           Purdue University                   183
Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 3   05-15   Total:   8  16-13
69. Noah Trant - Evan Howe                       Northwestern State University       182
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 1   02-14   Total:   6  16-10
70. TJ Edwards Jr -                              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    181
Day 1: 2   09-05     Day 2: 2   07-05   Total:   4  16-10
71. Will Ahnen - Caleb Knoll                     University of Wisconsin-La Cross    180
Day 1: 5   11-10     Day 2: 2   04-15   Total:   7  16-09
72. Tyson Verkaik - Carson Kamien                University of Florida               179
Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 5   14-07   Total:   6  16-08
73. Aaron Jagdfeld - Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      178
Day 1: 4   12-08     Day 2: 2   03-14   Total:   6  16-06
74. Andrew Ready - Harley Collins                Webber International University     177
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 1   02-09   Total:   6  16-02
75. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   176
Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 4   09-02   Total:   7  16-01
76. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley                     Auburn University                   175
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 1   02-13   Total:   6  15-12
77. Nicholas Holtgrave - Colsyn Head             McKendree University                174
Day 1: 2   06-13     Day 2: 4   08-15   Total:   6  15-12
78. Grant Williams - Nathan MacDonald            Mississippi State University        173
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 1   01-12   Total:   6  15-10
79. Jake Thornbury - Morgan Miracle              Campbellsville University           172
Day 1: 2   06-06     Day 2: 4   09-00   Total:   6  15-06
80. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones                   Florida Gateway College             171
Day 1: 5   09-05     Day 2: 2   05-11   Total:   7  15-00
81. Chase Hubble - Brent May                     University of Florida               170
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   5  14-13
82. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer                     Murray State University             169
Day 1: 4   09-06     Day 2: 2   05-00   Total:   6  14-06
83. Hayden Scott - Jerry Brumbaugh Jr.           Adrian College                      168
Day 1: 1   03-01     Day 2: 5   11-03   Total:   6  14-04
84. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom                 University of Montevallo            167
Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 3   08-08   Total:   5  14-03
85. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale              East Texas Baptist University       166
Day 1: 4   10-05     Day 2: 2   03-11   Total:   6  14-00
86. Owen Januszewski - Matt Mosby                Adrian College                      165
Day 1: 2   04-12     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   5  13-05
87. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge                    University of Montevallo            164
Day 1: 4   07-05     Day 2: 3   05-14   Total:   7  13-03
88. Smith McGregor - Ben Ivey                    University of North Alabama         163
Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  13-01
89. Jordan Brewer - Sam Harvey                   Auburn University                   162
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  12-15
90. Reese Walters - Garrett Walters              University of Alabama               161
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  12-14
91. James Gillis - Blake Richards                Clarkson University                 160
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   6  12-09
92. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson             King University                     159
Day 1: 2   05-13     Day 2: 3   06-10   Total:   5  12-07
93. Caleb Dachenhaus - Sam Shoemaker             Adrian College                      158
Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 2   05-10   Total:   5  12-04
94. Landon Surrett - Hampton Shull               Lander University                   157
Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 2   07-06   Total:   4  11-15
95. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               156
Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  10-13
96. Merritt Arnold - Chance Schwartz             University of Montevallo            155
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  10-10
97. Cole Dodson - Tyler Cain                     University of Montevallo            154
Day 1: 2   04-01     Day 2: 3   06-04   Total:   5  10-05
98. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby               LSU - Shreveport                    153
Day 1: 2   05-05     Day 2: 2   04-10   Total:   4  09-15
99. Corey Yaden - Caleb Barrow                   Brewton-Parker College              152
Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  09-12
100. Stevie Mills - Brady Duncan                  Carson-Newman University            151
Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-08
100. Jackson Smith - Sawyer Williams              Bethel University                   151
Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-08
102. Andrew Blanton - Jamison Bagwell             Lander University                   149
Day 1: 4   09-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  09-07
103. Kyle Simmons - Brett Halstead                Kansas State University             148
Day 1: 1   02-10     Day 2: 3   06-12   Total:   4  09-06
104. Bennett Slinkard - Carty Shoen               Auburn University                   147
Day 1: 2   05-12     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   4  09-04
105. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas                  University of Montevallo            146
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-02   Total:   3  09-02
106. Brooks Anderson - Max Heaton                 Emmanuel University                 145
Day 1: 1   03-09     Day 2: 3   05-09   Total:   4  09-02
107. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt            University of Montevallo            144
Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 2   06-11   Total:   3  08-11
108. Cabe Mackey - William Hammond                Catawba Valley Community College    143
Day 1: 2   05-11     Day 2: 1   02-01   Total:   3  07-12
109. Luke Glasgow - Logan Barrett                 Mississippi State University        142
Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 1   02-06   Total:   3  07-10
110. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            141
Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  07-08
111. Eric Wawrzyniak - Dylan Crystaloski          Penn State University               140
Day 1: 1   02-06     Day 2: 2   04-15   Total:   3  07-05
112. Clayton Easter - Trevor Easter               Tarleton State University           139
Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 3   05-02   Total:   4  07-04
113. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual                   McKendree University                138
Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 2   04-04   Total:   4  07-03
114. Myles Steward - Trey Zagrzebski              University of Wisconsin-Stevens     137
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   07-02   Total:   2  07-02
115. Nick Redlin - Benjamin Redlin                University of Wisonsin-Plattevil    136
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 1   02-02   Total:   3  07-01
116. Braydon Kelley - Trey McMeen                 East Texas Baptist University       135
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   07-00   Total:   1  07-00
117. Braden Fairbanks -                           Kentucky Christian University       134
Day 1: 2   06-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  06-03
118. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard                   Jacksonville State University       133
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-15
119. Garrett Warren - Jake Peck                   Auburn University                   132
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 1   02-04   Total:   2  04-09
120. Nathan Lee - Chase Bolden                    University of Wisconsin-Plattevi    131
Day 1: 2   04-02     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-02
121. Jake Monti - Samuel Dunson                   UNC Charlotte                       130
Day 1: 1   04-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  04-00
122. Wes Bailey - Lake Norsworthy                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi    129
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   03-12   Total:   2  03-12
122. Blake Milligan - Matthew Parrish             Auburn University                   129
Day 1: 2   03-12     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  03-12
124. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry               West Virginia University            127
Day 1: 1   03-09     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  03-09
125. Christian Turner - John Gray                 Coastal Carolina University         126
Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  03-03
126. Fisher Hill - Paris Mccullers                Murray State College                125
Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-04
127. Jacob Silver -                               Western Carolina University         124
Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-03
128. Logan Plueger - Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            123
Day 1: 1   01-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  01-11
129. Mitch Johnson - Gunner Whitaker              Kentucky Christian University         0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
129. Giancarlo Russo -                            Florida Gateway College               0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
129. Zachary Verbrugge -                          Mohave Community College              0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        60       459      1290-14
2        33       352       974-04
----------------------------------
93       811      2265-02

by AnglersChannel

Auburn duo maximizes offshore bites to take Day 1 lead at Bassmaster College Series Championship on Pickwick Lake

Hayden Marbut and Tucker Smith of Auburn University are leading after Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with 20 pounds, 8 ounces. 

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

August 10, 2023

COUNCE, Tenn. — Taking advantage of the increase in current generation, the Auburn University duo of Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut claimed the Day 1 lead at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops by catching a limit of largemouth weighing 20 pounds, 8 ounces.

They hold a 9-ounce lead over Missouri State’s Aric Szambelan and Tyler Flacke, who fell just an ounce shy of breaking the 20-pound mark. Hayden Pirman and Luke Chaddock of West Virginia University are third with 19-9.

In 2020, Smith and Marbut were crowned Bassmaster High School National Champions on Kentucky Lake, leading that event from start to finish. Now, they have teamed up again at Auburn and continue to show they are a winning combination.

“It would be really cool to win both,” Marbut said. “We still have a lot of fishing left to do. We have two more days.”

So far, Pickwick has fished better than many teams had expected. Five bags over 19 pounds hit the scales on the opening day, and if the Top 12 cut was made today, Carson-Newman’s Dylan May and Carson Palmer would be the final team in with 16-15.

The improved numbers likely have a lot to do with the influx of rain from heavy thunderstorms that have moved through the area the last few days.

“(The Tennessee Valley Authority) was pulling about 30,000 (cubic feet per second) all week and they are pulling 50,000 today and are supposed to pull 55,000 tomorrow,” Marbut commented.

While it looked good on paper, there were plenty of lulls throughout the day for the Auburn team. Of the 30 areas they fished, only three produced bites. Still, Smith said the duo landed the majority of their weight by 9 a.m.

“We bounced around and hit a bunch of places, but it was tough during the midday,” Smith said. “We made one stop at the end of the day and caught a big one.”

Fishing mainly offshore ledges, the duo has found schools in about 12 feet of water all the way out to 20 feet of water. Of those schools, they said three are better than the rest, one in shallow water and the other two deep.

To catch their bass, they have been rotating through the standard ledge-fishing arsenal, baits like deeper-diving crankbaits, swimbaits and jigs.

“We have some that not everyone found,” Marbut said. “We scanned the whole practice and looked for some sneakier stuff that not everyone would be on.”

Using forward-facing sonar, Marbut and Smith have noticed most of their bass have been relating to the bottom of the ledge. Many of their spots don’t have baitfish around — and when a ball of shad does show up, it scatters the bass.

“We’ll see some bait come over the top of them and the bass will start chasing them. It kind of pulls them off the place, so it’s not really the best,” Smith said.

It was a slow start for Szambelan and Flacke. But when showers moved out of the area around midday, the bass began to bite and the Missouri State duo was able to take advantage.

“We stayed calm, kept our heads up and kept fishing,” Flacke said. “We had our final bag around 1.”

Similar to Smith and Marbut, Szambelan and Flacke are focusing on offshore ledges, finding more bass in the 12- to 15-foot range. A couple of baits, including a drop shot and small swimbait, produced most of their weight.

“We have a handful of spots, but they are all getting pressured by a bunch of different guys,” Szambelan said. “We found seven schools in practice. They were pretty good when we found them, but we were only able to hit one or two today.”

Forward-facing sonar has helped them pick off some of the bass that are suspended or roaming. Szambelan said it has been about 50/50 as to whether the bass were set up on the bottom or suspended.

While it didn’t go exactly as they planned, Pirman and Chaddock caught their 19-9 Day 1 limit in areas where they found success during practice.

After a lull, the West Virginia duo discovered a new pattern and was able to make a couple of key culls. They switched between deep and shallow areas and power fished with a couple of baits.

With more sun in the forecast Friday, they hope the secondary pattern will hold up.

Cole and Clay Taylor from Lander University in South Carolina caught a 7-12 largemouth to take Big Bass of the Day honors.

The full field will take off from Pickwick Landing State Park at 6 a.m. CT and return at 2 p.m. for weigh-in. The field will be cut to the Top 12 after the Day 2 weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Pickwick Lake
presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/10-8/12
Pickwick Lake, Counce  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith                 Auburn University                   250
Day 1: 5   20-08   Total:   5  20-08
2.  Aric Szambelan - Tyler Flacke                Missouri State University           249
Day 1: 5   19-15   Total:   5  19-15
3.  Hayden Pirman - Luke Chaddock                West Virginia University            248
Day 1: 5   19-09   Total:   5  19-09
4.  Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell              University of North Alabama         247
Day 1: 5   19-08   Total:   5  19-08
5.  Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley                  Kentucky Christian University       246
Day 1: 5   19-07   Total:   5  19-07
6.  Cole Taylor - Clay Taylor                    Lander University                   245
Day 1: 4   18-12   Total:   4  18-12
7.  Matthew Cummings - Levi Mullins              Bethel University                   244
Day 1: 5   18-05   Total:   5  18-05
7.  Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke               University of Montevallo            244
Day 1: 5   18-05   Total:   5  18-05
9.  Tyler Campbell - Parker Guy                  Emmanuel University                 242
Day 1: 5   17-13   Total:   5  17-13
10. Joey Bissing - Jackson Paden                 University of Tennessee             241
Day 1: 5   17-12   Total:   5  17-12
11. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander               University of Montevallo            240
Day 1: 5   17-08   Total:   5  17-08
12. Dylan May - Carson Palmer                    Carson-Newman University            239
Day 1: 5   16-15   Total:   5  16-15
13. Brandon Martin - Cole Holloway               Emmanuel University                 238
Day 1: 5   16-07   Total:   5  16-07
14. TJ McKenzie - Seth Jenkins                   Emmanuel University                 237
Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
14. Hunter Suchsland - Cade Ludwig               University of Nebraska-Lincoln      237
Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
16. Dalton DeFelice - Connor Tonkel              Southwestern Michigan College       235
Day 1: 5   16-02   Total:   5  16-02
17. Will Oberman - Wil Rigdon                    Campbellsville University           234
Day 1: 5   16-00   Total:   5  16-00
18. Mike Pierlott - Max Pierlott                 UNC Charlotte                       233
Day 1: 5   15-10   Total:   5  15-10
19. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt              University of Montevallo            232
Day 1: 5   15-09   Total:   5  15-09
20. Kaleb Brown - Cole Moulton                   Lander University                   231
Day 1: 5   15-04   Total:   5  15-04
21. Dalton Eury - Zeb Roberts                    Catawba Valley Community College    230
Day 1: 5   15-03   Total:   5  15-03
22. Tim Herrmann - Justin Botts                  Bryan College                       229
Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
23. Tyler Hudson - Evan Mcnaughton               Western Kentucky University         228
Day 1: 5   15-01   Total:   5  15-01
24. Braylon Eggerding -                          Adrian College                      227
Day 1: 4   15-00   Total:   4  15-00
25. Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         226
Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
26. Zachary Ward - Easton Bouma                  Drury University                    225
Day 1: 5   14-11   Total:   5  14-11
27. Hudson Choquette -                           University of Montevallo            224
Day 1: 5   14-10   Total:   5  14-10
28. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit                LSU - Shreveport                    223
Day 1: 5   14-09   Total:   5  14-09
29. Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            222
Day 1: 5   14-09   Total:   5  14-09
30. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara             USC Union                           221
Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
30. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens               McKendree University                221
Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
32. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher               Florida Gateway College             219
Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
33. Adrian Urso - Cole Hadlock                   Murray State University             218
Day 1: 5   14-06   Total:   5  14-06
34. Beau Browning - Drake Sturgill               University of Montevallo            217
Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
35. Jared Hubbard - Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   216
Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
36. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    215
Day 1: 5   14-01   Total:   5  14-01
37. Szymon Piton - Gavin Clevenger               Carson-Newman University            214
Day 1: 5   14-00   Total:   5  14-00
38. Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           213
Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
38. Grant Williams - Nathan MacDonald            Mississippi State University        213
Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
40. Lane Clark - Adam Seagle                     Erskine College                     211
Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
40. Noah Trant - Evan Howe                       Northwestern State University       211
Day 1: 5   13-12   Total:   5  13-12
42. Andrew Ready - Harley Collins                Webber International University     209
Day 1: 5   13-09   Total:   5  13-09
43. Mason Hoke - Jayce Garrison                  Sam Houston State University        208
Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
44. Smith McGregor - Ben Ivey                    University of North Alabama         207
Day 1: 5   13-01   Total:   5  13-01
45. Jordan Brewer - Sam Harvey                   Auburn University                   206
Day 1: 5   12-15   Total:   5  12-15
45. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley                     Auburn University                   206
Day 1: 5   12-15   Total:   5  12-15
47. Ben Brockwell -                              Kentucky Christian University       204
Day 1: 5   12-14   Total:   5  12-14
47. Reese Walters - Garrett Walters              University of Alabama               204
Day 1: 5   12-14   Total:   5  12-14
49. Tallis Morrison - Jonathan Hanna             Erskine College                     202
Day 1: 5   12-10   Total:   5  12-10
50. Aaron Jagdfeld - Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      201
Day 1: 4   12-08   Total:   4  12-08
51. Dylan Nutt - Carter Nutt                     University of North Alabama         200
Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
51. Austin Parr - Hunter White                   Erskine College                     200
Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
53. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen                    McKendree University                198
Day 1: 5   11-11   Total:   5  11-11
54. Will Ahnen - Caleb Knoll                     University of Wisconsin-La Cross    197
Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
54. Dylan Fogarty - Hunter Fillmore              Bethel University                   197
Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
56. Henry Mcpherson - Matthew German             University of Alabama               195
Day 1: 4   11-05   Total:   4  11-05
57. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert                   University of North Alabama         194
Day 1: 5   11-04   Total:   5  11-04
58. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter             McKendree University                193
Day 1: 5   11-03   Total:   5  11-03
59. Noah Vanderwall - Daniel Borrousch           Purdue University                   192
Day 1: 5   10-14   Total:   5  10-14
60. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               191
Day 1: 5   10-13   Total:   5  10-13
61. Hunter Townsend - Jonathan Wehner Jr         James Madison University            190
Day 1: 5   10-10   Total:   5  10-10
62. Merritt Arnold - Chance Schwartz             University of Montevallo            189
Day 1: 3   10-10   Total:   3  10-10
63. William Tew - Brayden Nichols                LSU - Shreveport                    188
Day 1: 5   10-08   Total:   5  10-08
64. Kyle Workman - Evan Barker                   Campbellsville University           187
Day 1: 4   10-08   Total:   4  10-08
65. Anderson Jones - Max Muzones                 Lander University                   186
Day 1: 4   10-06   Total:   4  10-06
66. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale              East Texas Baptist University       185
Day 1: 4   10-05   Total:   4  10-05
67. Jeremy Monda - Bryson O'steen                Florida Gateway College             184
Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
68. Turner Hart - Summer Dees                    Bryan College                       183
Day 1: 4   10-02   Total:   4  10-02
69. Sam Smith - Connor Jacob                     Auburn University                   182
Day 1: 4   09-14   Total:   4  09-14
70. Corey Yaden - Caleb Barrow                   Brewton-Parker College              181
Day 1: 3   09-12   Total:   3  09-12
71. Riley Faulkner - Cole Rankin                 Carson-Newman University            180
Day 1: 3   09-11   Total:   3  09-11
72. Stevie Mills - Brady Duncan                  Carson-Newman University            179
Day 1: 4   09-08   Total:   4  09-08
72. Jackson Smith - Sawyer Williams              Bethel University                   179
Day 1: 4   09-08   Total:   4  09-08
74. Andrew Blanton - Jamison Bagwell             Lander University                   177
Day 1: 4   09-07   Total:   4  09-07
75. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer                     Murray State University             176
Day 1: 4   09-06   Total:   4  09-06
76. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones                   Florida Gateway College             175
Day 1: 5   09-05   Total:   5  09-05
77. TJ Edwards Jr -                              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    174
Day 1: 2   09-05   Total:   2  09-05
78. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts                   LSU - Shreveport                    173
Day 1: 4   09-02   Total:   4  09-02
79. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            172
Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
79. James Gillis - Blake Richards                Clarkson University                 172
Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
81. Dylan Akins - Chase Carey                    Emmanuel University                 170
Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
82. Chase Hubble - Brent May                     University of Florida               169
Day 1: 3   07-11   Total:   3  07-11
83. Evan Fields -                                Campbellsville University           168
Day 1: 3   07-10   Total:   3  07-10
84. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            167
Day 1: 3   07-08   Total:   3  07-08
85. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge                    University of Montevallo            166
Day 1: 4   07-05   Total:   4  07-05
86. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen              Coastal Carolina University         165
Day 1: 2   07-02   Total:   2  07-02
87. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   164
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
88. Nicholas Holtgrave - Colsyn Head             McKendree University                163
Day 1: 2   06-13   Total:   2  06-13
89. Caleb Dachenhaus - Sam Shoemaker             Adrian College                      162
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
90. Jake Thornbury - Morgan Miracle              Campbellsville University           161
Day 1: 2   06-06   Total:   2  06-06
91. Braden Fairbanks -                           Kentucky Christian University       160
Day 1: 2   06-03   Total:   2  06-03
92. Jonah Potts - Drew Fromm                     Wabash Valley College               159
Day 1: 3   06-01   Total:   3  06-01
93. Nate Kimberling - Matt Kavanaugh             University of Idaho                 158
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
94. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson             King University                     157
Day 1: 2   05-13   Total:   2  05-13
95. Bennett Slinkard - Carty Shoen               Auburn University                   156
Day 1: 2   05-12   Total:   2  05-12
96. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom                 University of Montevallo            155
Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
96. Cabe Mackey - William Hammond                Catawba Valley Community College    155
Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
96. Gus McLarry - Jared West                     Texas A&M Commerce                  155
Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
99. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby               LSU - Shreveport                    152
Day 1: 2   05-05   Total:   2  05-05
100. Luke Glasgow - Logan Barrett                 Mississippi State University        151
Day 1: 2   05-04   Total:   2  05-04
101. Ryan Lachniet - Clay Oberman                 Campbellsville University           150
Day 1: 2   05-00   Total:   2  05-00
102. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard                   Jacksonville State University       149
Day 1: 2   04-15   Total:   2  04-15
102. Nick Redlin - Benjamin Redlin                University of Wisconsin-Plattevil   149
Day 1: 2   04-15   Total:   2  04-15
104. Owen Januszewski - Matt Mosby                Adrian College                      147
Day 1: 2   04-12   Total:   2  04-12
105. Landon Surrett - Hampton Shull               Lander University                   146
Day 1: 2   04-09   Total:   2  04-09
106. Nathan Lee - Chase Bolden                    University of Wisconsin-Plattevi    145
Day 1: 2   04-02   Total:   2  04-02
107. Cole Dodson - Tyler Cain                     University of Montevallo            144
Day 1: 2   04-01   Total:   2  04-01
108. Jake Monti - Samuel Dunson                   UNC Charlotte                       143
Day 1: 1   04-00   Total:   1  04-00
109. Blake Milligan - Matthew Parrish             Auburn University                   142
Day 1: 2   03-12   Total:   2  03-12
110. Brooks Anderson - Max Heaton                 Emmanuel University                 141
Day 1: 1   03-09   Total:   1  03-09
110. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry               West Virginia University            141
Day 1: 1   03-09   Total:   1  03-09
112. Christian Turner - John Gray                 Coastal Carolina University         139
Day 1: 1   03-03   Total:   1  03-03
113. Hayden Scott - Jerry Brumbaugh Jr.           Adrian College                      138
Day 1: 1   03-01   Total:   1  03-01
114. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual                   McKendree University                137
Day 1: 2   02-15   Total:   2  02-15
115. Kyle Simmons - Brett Halstead                Kansas State University             136
Day 1: 1   02-10   Total:   1  02-10
116. Eric Wawrzyniak - Dylan Crystaloski          Penn State University               135
Day 1: 1   02-06   Total:   1  02-06
117. Garrett Warren - Jake Peck                   Auburn University                   134
Day 1: 1   02-05   Total:   1  02-05
118. Fisher Hill - Paris Mccullers                Murray State College                133
Day 1: 1   02-04   Total:   1  02-04
119. Jacob Silver -                               Western Carolina University         132
Day 1: 1   02-03   Total:   1  02-03
120. Clayton Easter - Trevor Easter               Tarleton State University           131
Day 1: 1   02-02   Total:   1  02-02
121. Tyson Verkaik - Carson Kamien                University of Florida               130
Day 1: 1   02-01   Total:   1  02-01
122. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt            University of Montevallo            129
Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
123. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       128
Day 1: 1   01-14   Total:   1  01-14
124. Logan Plueger - Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            127
Day 1: 1   01-11   Total:   1  01-11
125. Wes Bailey - Lake Norsworthy                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas                  University of Montevallo              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Mitch Johnson - Gunner Whitaker              Kentucky Christian University         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Braydon Kelley - Trey McMeen                 East Texas Baptist University         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Giancarlo Russo -                            Florida Gateway College               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Myles Steward - Trey Zagrzebski              University of Wisconsin-Stevens       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
125. Zachary Verbrugge -                          Mohave Community College              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        60       459      1290-14
----------------------------------
60       459      1290-14

by AnglersChannel

Cifuentes notches second Bassmaster Elite Series win of season at Lake St. Clair

Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., has won the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a four-day total of 91 pounds, 8 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

July 30, 2023

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — A sure sign Joey Cifuentes III was in line to win his second blue trophy came when a 5-pound smallmouth jumped into his boat midway through Championship Sunday at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.

That bass helped “the Cowboy” claim his second victory of his rookie season on the Elite Series with a four-day total of 91 pounds, 8 ounces, outlasting Oklahoma’s Luke Palmer by 1-2 ounces.

The Clinton, Ark., pro caught 22-10, 24-0 and 21-1 the first three days before landing 23-13 on the final day. Including his acrobatic smallmouth, Cifuentes landed four smallmouth that weighed over 5 pounds on the final day.

“That is what you dream about, to have a Championship day like that,” Cifuentes said. “The conditions were perfect. I knew the fish were there and I got to fish really effectively. It was meant to be.

“It seemed like there were the perfect amount of fish there for me to win this tournament. It was great.”

Cifuentes’ first victory of the season came back in February at Lake Seminole, an event he led for the final three days. At St. Clair, he did not lead a day until it mattered the most.

“At Seminole, I had a pretty good lead, and that was way more stressful,” he said. “Here, all of these guys could have caught a really big bag and won. But I was trying to get to the top instead of holding the lead. The pressure here wasn’t even close to what it was on Seminole.”

All week, Cifuentes cruised around a large area on the Canadian side of St. Clair, targeting smallies that had transitioned into their summertime patterns. There was a healthy population of perch in the area and, maybe more importantly, he had it almost entirely to himself.

The majority of his weight was caught from 18 feet of water around cabbage grass with a drop shot he built with a 1/4-ounce tungsten weight and a brown back colored 3.6-inch Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm rigged on a No. 2 Berkley Fusion 19 drop-shot hook.

He pitched that to his smallmouth with a 7-foot Abu Garcia Fantasista X spinning rod and a new Revo spinning reel spooled with 10-pound Berkley X5 braid tied to an 8-pound Berkley fluorocarbon leader.

Every bass that entered the boat was first viewed on Garmin LiveScope and he would not make a cast if he didn’t see one on his screen.

Windy and wavy conditions out in the abyss prevented Cifuentes from effectively using his forward-facing technology on Day 3 but on the final day, calmer and brighter conditions prevailed.

After missing a couple to start the morning, Cifuentes caught his first 5-pounder and went on a flurry of big fish, which included his highlight-reel smallmouth.

“I can’t believe that fish jumped in the boat. It jumped right next to the boat and then jumped in the boat,” he said. “That is the way I want to land them every time if I can.

“I went to some waypoints I had that I didn’t get to fish yesterday, and in that one little spot, I caught all of my big fish. There was a good strip of cabbage that was about 100 yards long that they were sitting in.”

With bags of 22-0, 23-12, 22-11 and 21-15, Palmer finished as the runner-up with a four-day total of 90-6. During the first three days, the Coalgate, Okla., pro split his time between two sections of Anchor Bay, one more populated than the other.

The area with the fewest boats turned out to be his best area when the sun got to its highest point, and on Championship Sunday, Palmer decided to spend his entire day there. It was a slow start to the morning, but he worked his way to a limit around mid-morning before landing several 4-pound smallies in the afternoon.

Unfortunately, he just never got a really big bite and the bass never rose off the bottom for him to see with his LiveScope.

“All day long I knew I needed one more fish and I never got that bite today,” he said. “I’m not going to complain about it. It was a good week and it wasn’t meant for me to win. Joey did a heck of a job this week, and he had the big final day he needed. I’m not mad about a Top 5.”

Palmer threw a tube rigged on a 3/8-ounce or 1/2-ounce Great Lakes Finesse jighead as well as a Great Lakes Finesse Drop Minnow with a 3/16-ounce jighead. A drop shot with a Yum Warning Shot and a 5/16-ounce Rougarou tungsten weight also caught several key bass.

Japanese pro and fan favorite Takumi Ito finished third with a four-day total of 89-11 with bags weighing 21-12, 25-8, 20-6 and 22-1.

While he may not have won the trophy, Ito won the $2,000 prize for VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament with his Day 2 bag and won the $2,000 bonus for Phoenix Boat Big Bass of the Tournament with the 6-2 smallie he also caught on Day 2.

“It was so hard to find ‘Smallmouth Disneyland’ and I don’t know why,” he said. “Two times I found a school and the fish came into my boat and were easy to catch. I needed one more 5-pounder.”

Ito caught bass throughout the day and every smallie he had weighed over 4 pounds, but was unable to find another 5-pounder to bolster his bag.

A Neko-rigged worm with a 1/8-ounce weight was key to getting his smallmouth to bite in Anchor Bay as well as a 1/4-ounce drop shot with a variety of soft plastics including a 2-inch Ecogear Aqua Bug Ants.

Both Louisiana’s Greg Hackney and Cifuentes landed a 5-1 smallmouth and split the $1,000 prize for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of Day 4. Jason Christiestill has a firm grip on the $10,000 check for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the year with his 9-4 Lay Lake largemouth.

Hackney took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while South Carolina’s Bryan New earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Ito earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Day 1 leader Shane LeHew, who finished the event in 14th, claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

John Crews of Salem, Va., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.

South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 573 points. Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., is second with 572 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 532, John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 532 and Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 529.

Cifuentes leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 516 points, followed by Japanese pro Kyoya Fujita in second with 491 and Alabama’s Will Davis Jr. in third with 460.

by AnglersChannel

Palmer muscles his way into the lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake St. Clair

Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., is leading after Day 3 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a three-day total of 68 pounds, 7 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

July 29, 2023

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Boat problems are a regular annoyance for Elite Series anglers but had Luke Palmer not suffered mechanical issues during practice for the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair, he might have driven past the spot that has yielded over 22 pounds each of the past three days.

The Coalgate, Okla., pro landed 22 pounds, 11 ounces on Semifinal Saturday to take the lead with a three-day total weighing 68-7. He leads Arkansas rookie Joey Cifuentes III by 12 ounces and Japan’s Taku Ito by 13 ounces.

“It is weird for me to be leading a smallmouth deal,” Palmer said. “I’ve done well at Champlain. This place, we came here for the 2019 AOY Championship and I sucked. We came here in 2020 and I ended up 60th. I didn’t understand it. I was just doing stupid stuff.”

During practice, Palmer was running across the lake and suffered a motor issue that forced him to head back in to visit the service crew. After that quick pit stop, Palmer started fishing and landed two smallies over 5 pounds and a 4-pounder.

“I have stayed here close every day and it is working out,” he said. “I don’t want to jinx it, but it may have been a blessing in disguise.”

The tournament is setting up eerily similar to Palmer’s Elite Series victory at the Santee Cooper Lakes in April, where he made his way from 10th on Day 1 to the top spot on Day 3. At St. Clair, Palmer started in 12th with 22-0 on Day 1 before catching 23-12 to move into third place.

“I’m happy just to be in contention to win this one,” he said. “I had a super-good practice, which is normally a bad sign. But this one, this is a reverse role on it and it is working out.”

Palmer has started each day moving around a massive flat not far from takeoff, a flat that has been pressured by much of the field this week. Once the sun gets up, he has moved to what he feels is his best area and has been able to make key culls each day.

The bass on this particular spot have moved every day and it takes a little time for Palmer to relocate them.

“I’m not catching a ton of fish, but when you do catch one, they are normally better than average,” Palmer said. “They are just roaming. The area has some short sand grass and some taller cabbage. That might be what is keeping them there, but the perch are in there big time.”

The first two days, a drop shot was responsible for most of his bites, but he struggled to generate strikes with it on Day 3.

A couple of hours in, Palmer switched to a Great Lakes Finesse Drop Minnow on a 3/16-ounce jighead and landed two 4-pounders on back-to-back casts before 10 a.m. When the wind kicked up, he moved to his best spot and filled his limit.

“I got there and whack, I caught one around 5 pounds and I went a little further and caught another 5,” Palmer said. “And then I put the bait down and picked up a drop shot and kept having fish follow my stuff down. I got back to where a group of fish was and kept trying to find the right drifts. I picked up that bait again (and caught more).”

Strong winds and cloud cover followed early morning storms and lingered for much of the morning. But calmer, sunnier conditions are expected on Championship Sunday, which would play right into Palmer’s hands with the minnow presentation.

“If it gets slick calm, you boys might want to watch out,” Palmer said. “I figured them out in practice on that and when you get in the right area and find them, it can get wild in a hurry.”

The wind made life difficult for Cifuentes, who caught 21-1 to improve his total to 67-11. During the first two days, he used his forward-facing sonar to catch 22-10 and 24-0.

Throughout the week, he has been targeting smallies living in 18 feet of water in Canada.

“I was fortunate to catch a 5-pounder pretty quickly,” he said. “I caught some fish but didn’t get the quality. I had one more 4-pounder and everything else was 3 1/2. It was much tougher. The waves were so bad I couldn’t effectively use my LiveScope. But I was all in on the spot.”

A brown back-colored Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm rigged on a drop shot has caught most of his bass this week. To get above the grass in his area, he has used a 2-foot leader. The first two days, Cifuentes used a 1/4-ounce weight. But with the conditions, he needed a 1/2-ounce weight.

After landing 21-12 on Day 1 and then the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament at 25-8 on Day 2, Ito added 20-6 on Semifinal Saturday to land in third with a total of 67-10. Conditions also made it difficult for Ito, who preferred the calmer conditions from Day 2.

“I tried to find the big school of Disneyland bass, but strong wind was very hard on me. I couldn’t see them very well,” Ito said. “The morning wasn’t rough water, so I caught a couple of big ones. But strong winds in the afternoon ... no good. Very bad.”

Ito landed his biggest bass of the day during the calmer morning hours, a 5-pounder which he nicknamed “Zona Bass” after longtime Bassmaster LIVE host Mark Zona.

“Zona has muscles and a big body, and that bass was big with muscles,” he laughed. “So, I called it Zona Bass.”

Ito used basically the same techniques he used the first two days, mixing in a drop shot and a Neko rig. With the hefty breeze, he had to up his weight sizes on both in order to get a proper presentation.

“On Day 3, I fished the same spot as Day 2,” he said. “Today there was too much wind, so I used a 1/2-ounce weight on the drop shot and the Neko rig was a 3/16-ounce. Yesterday I used a 1/8- or 1/16-ounce Neko rig.”

Not only does Ito have control of the VMC Monster Bag, but he also holds Phoenix Boat Big Bass of the Tournament honors with the 6-2 smallie he landed on Day 2. Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz earned the $1,000 daily bonus on Day 3 with a 5-10 smallmouth.

South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 573 points. Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., is second with 572 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 532, John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 532 and Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 529.

Cifuentes leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 515 points, followed by Japanese pro Kyoya Fujita in second with 490 and Alabama’s Will Davis Jr. in third with 460.

The Top 10 remaining pros will launch from Brandenburg Park beginning at 7 a.m. ET on Championship Sunday and will return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. The winner will hoist the coveted blue trophy and earn the top prize of $100,000.

Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Saturday morning from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on FS1 before moving to Bassmaster.com until 2:45 p.m.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 7/27-7/30
Lake St. Clair, Chesterfield Township  MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            15  68-07  104
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   23-12     Day 3: 5   22-11
2.  Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             15  67-11  103
Day 1: 5   22-10     Day 2: 5   24-00     Day 3: 5   21-01
3.  Taku Ito               Chiba, JAPAN            15  67-10  102   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   25-08     Day 3: 5   20-06
4.  Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               15  67-02  101   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   20-12     Day 3: 5   23-03
5.  Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15  66-13  100
Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   22-01
6.  Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        15  66-03   99
Day 1: 5   22-09     Day 2: 5   22-13     Day 3: 5   20-13
7.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          15  65-15   98   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   20-04     Day 3: 5   23-11
8.  Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi  15  65-11   97
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   22-15     Day 3: 5   21-01
9.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            15  65-06   96
Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   22-10     Day 3: 5   21-10
10. Frank Talley           Temple, TX              15  65-04   95
Day 1: 5   22-08     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 5   21-01
11. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       15  65-00   94  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   22-04     Day 3: 5   22-05
12. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           15  64-11   93  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-09     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   20-04
13. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            15  64-07   92  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-03     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   20-06
14. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             15  64-05   91  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-03     Day 2: 5   18-14     Day 3: 5   21-04
15. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           15  63-14   90  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   23-13     Day 3: 5   20-15
16. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             15  63-09   89  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   22-02     Day 3: 5   21-00
17. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           15  63-09   88  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   21-05     Day 3: 5   21-04
18. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              15  63-03   87  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   20-12     Day 3: 5   21-07
19. Bryan New              Saluda, SC              15  63-02   86  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   23-12     Day 3: 5   19-00
20. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 15  62-09   85  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   21-02     Day 3: 5   21-13
21. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           15  62-03   84  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-14     Day 2: 5   19-09     Day 3: 5   18-12
22. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        15  62-02   83  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 5   19-06
23. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN             15  61-15   82  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   20-08
24. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           15  61-13   81  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   22-03     Day 3: 5   20-00
25. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            15  61-12   80  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   21-00     Day 3: 5   22-13
26. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15  61-09   79  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   22-12     Day 3: 5   20-03
27. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          15  61-08   78  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   21-06     Day 3: 5   19-04
28. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           15  61-06   77  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   21-05     Day 3: 5   21-03
29. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            15  61-02   76  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-05     Day 2: 5   22-04     Day 3: 5   16-09
30. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         15  60-13   75  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   22-03     Day 3: 5   20-05
31. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           15  60-13   74  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   21-12     Day 3: 5   18-09
32. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  60-13   73  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   21-05     Day 3: 5   19-09
33. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          15  60-01   72  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   19-10     Day 3: 5   18-05
34. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       15  59-14   71  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   19-14     Day 3: 5   19-02
35. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       15  59-07   70  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   20-08     Day 3: 5   18-08
36. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          15  59-06   69  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   20-00     Day 3: 5   19-02
37. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               15  59-01   68  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   22-12     Day 3: 5   17-01
38. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            15  58-14   67  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   21-07     Day 3: 5   17-09
39. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           15  58-08   66  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   19-15     Day 3: 5   20-01
40. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            15  58-07   65  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   22-07     Day 3: 5   17-05
41. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            15  58-01   64  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   21-06     Day 3: 5   17-12
42. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            15  57-14   63  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   20-01     Day 3: 5   17-07
43. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN           15  57-10   62  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   23-04     Day 3: 5   18-08
44. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             15  57-07   61  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   18-14     Day 3: 5   18-13
45. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          15  57-05   60  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   19-05     Day 3: 5   17-05
46. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            15  57-01   59  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   19-07     Day 3: 5   17-12
47. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              15  56-13   58  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   20-14     Day 3: 5   16-11
48. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR          15  56-04   57  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 5   15-08
49. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              15  56-01   56  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   18-05     Day 3: 5   17-04
50. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              15  55-07   55  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   20-09     Day 3: 5   16-11
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Bryan Schmitt            Deale, MD           06-01      $1,000.00
2   Taku Ito                 Chiba JAPAN         06-02      $1,000.00
3   Jacob Foutz              Charleston, TN      05-10      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       102       510      1936-00
2       102       510      1995-05
3        50       250       985-01
----------------------------------
254      1270      4916-06

by AnglersChannel

Robinson and Abbott score home-state victory in Bassmaster High School Championship on Lake Hartwell

Mitchell Robinson and Cody Abbott of South Carolina's Byrnes High School have won the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on historic Lake Hartwell with a three-day total of 33 pounds, 3 ounces. 

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

July 29, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Mitchell Robinson and Cody Abbott outlasted intense heat, a tough summer bite on Lake Hartwell and 480 other teams from across North America to win the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.

The 17-year-old incoming seniors from South Carolina’s Byrnes High School finished the three-day derby with nine bass weighing 33 pounds, 3 ounces. That haul included a 12-5 bag on Saturday — the second heaviest of the tournament. They were in third place after an 11-15 limit on Day 1 but dropped to fifth on Day 2 after catching 8-15.

That set them up for a rally on Saturday. It came early with a 5 1/2-pound largemouth they caught 10 minutes after takeoff.

“We knew this morning when we had that fish that we’d set ourselves up for a great day,” Robinson said. “You have to catch a kicker. If you don’t, you’re not gonna win. After that, it was a matter of just getting two more bites. We got the right ones.”

Robinson and Abbott live in the Spartanburg area about an hour up Interstate 85 from Green Pond Landing, where daily takeoffs and weigh-ins were held. They fish Lake Hartwell several dozen times a year, but the spot they frequented for some of the week’s best action was new to them.

“We were using crankbaits, a shallow-running (shad-colored Rapala) DT6,” Robinson said. “We’d throw it under bridges, on laydowns, rocks. You just had to burn it. The fish were pressured all week, so you had to make them want it. The big one came in about 6 feet of water, but there was a deep hole near this area that was anywhere from 20 to 50 feet. The fish were suspended. We’d throw to points and drops. We call them trains because you can see them lined on the Garmin LiveScope.”

When the teens needed another reliable bite, they went to brushpiles they plotted in practice; spots that held a steady stream of 3-pound bass. They relied on a weightless Zoom Trick Worm (green pumpkin) to boat bass in the brush.

“The bluegill would grab it and the bass would swim up there and eat it,” Robinson said.

This was the fourth time Robinson and Abbott qualified for Nationals, but their first Top 12 finish (their previous best was 14th).

They said competing on the final day — and coming from behind to win — was special.

“You really can’t describe this feeling,” Abbott said. “We sat in the hot seats waiting, and I almost couldn’t see I was shaking so badly. But when we won, it was a feeling you know you might not have again. You have to cherish this with the ones you love.”

That includes Tommy Abbott, the team’s boat captain and Cody’s dad. Saturday was Tommy’s 53rd birthday, and he couldn’t imagine a better present.

“This is incredible,” Tommy Abbott said. “They wanted this so bad … To come from a 2-pound deficit with a three-fish limit is next to impossible. But today, they went to work and brought it home. I’m so proud of them.”

The victory earned the teens a $5,000 scholarship to split, part of $22,950 in scholarship money awarded to the Top 12 teams at the championship.

South Carolina’s Bryson Gurley and Ethan Evatt finished second with 32-8, followed by Georgia’s Wyatt Richards and Colby Goforth with 30-14 and Alabama’s Avery Padgett and Ethan Young with 28-10.

Virginia’s Kasey Ferguson and Jakari Thomas, the Day 1 leaders, finished with the Big Bag of the Tournament with the 12-7 limit they weighed Thursday. That earned them the Hunter Owens Scholarship, $1,000 each, in memory of the former Louisiana high school angler who died in a car accident in 2019. They finished 12th place overall with 22-15.

Tennessee’s Ty Trentham and Chase McCarter won the $200 Big Bass Award, courtesy of the 6-15 largemouth they caught on Day 1.

This marked the 10th year B.A.S.S. held a national championship high school tournament, and the second consecutive year it’s been at Lake Hartwell. A total of 481 teams from 35 states and Canada competed.

Visit Anderson hosted the tournament.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented
by Academy Sports + Outdoors 7/27-7/29
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Mitchell Robinson - Cody Abbott              Byrnes High School - SC               0
Day 1: 3   11-15     Day 2: 3   08-15     Day 3: 3   12-05   Total:   9  33-03
2.  Bryson Gurley - Ethan Evatt                  Palmetto High School - SC             0
Day 1: 3   11-00     Day 2: 3   10-09     Day 3: 3   10-15   Total:   9  32-08
3.  Wyatt Richards - Colby Goforth               Pickens County High School - GA       0
Day 1: 3   11-01     Day 2: 3   12-00     Day 3: 3   07-13   Total:   9  30-14
4.  Avery Padgett - Ethan Young                  Zion Chapel High School - AL          0
Day 1: 3   11-14     Day 2: 3   09-08     Day 3: 3   07-04   Total:   9  28-10
5.  Presley Lannom - Trevor Sanford              Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   07-08     Day 3: 3   10-04   Total:   9  28-03
6.  Ty Trentham - Chase Mccarter                 Sevier County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 3   11-12     Day 3: 2   04-10   Total:   8  27-00
7.  Chase Logue - Carter Logue                   Argenta Oreana High School - IL       0
Day 1: 3   11-03     Day 2: 3   08-14     Day 3: 3   05-13   Total:   9  25-14
8.  Jacob Longlois - Slade Nunnally              Little Cypress-Mauriceville - TX      0
Day 1: 3   09-09     Day 2: 3   09-05     Day 3: 3   06-06   Total:   9  25-04
9.  Dylan Quilatan - Tommy Rust                  Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   10-01     Day 2: 3   08-01     Day 3: 3   06-13   Total:   9  24-15
10. Bryce Balentine - Bryce Dimauro              Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   09-14     Day 2: 3   09-00     Day 3: 3   04-15   Total:   9  23-13
11. Cole Martin - Josh Bowen                     Lakeside High School - AR             0
Day 1: 3   10-02     Day 2: 3   07-11     Day 3: 3   05-09   Total:   9  23-06
12. Kasey Ferguson - Jakari Thomas               Ringgold Bassin - VA                  0
Day 1: 3   12-07     Day 2: 3   06-03     Day 3: 3   04-05   Total:   9  22-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Ty Trentham  - Chase Mccarter             Sevier County High School - TN    06-15

HUNTER OWENS BIG BAG OF TOURN
Kasey Ferguson - Jakari Thomas          Ringgold Bassin - VA 12-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       312      1118      2048-13
2       274      1012      1803-13
3        11        35        87-00
----------------------------------
597      2165      3939-10

by AnglersChannel

Georgia's Richards and Goforth spring from seventh place into the lead at Bassmaster High School Championship on Lake Hartwell

Wyatt Richards and Colby Goforth of Pickens County (Ga.) High School are leading after Day 2 of the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on historic Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 23 pounds, 1 ounce. 

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

July 28, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — A total of 481 teams entered the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on Lake Hartwell, and now 12 remain to fish for a national title.

Wyatt Richards and Colby Goforth of Georgia’s Pickens County High School lead the pack with a two-day total of six bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce. They’ll try to finish the job Saturday when the remaining teams compete for a share of $22,950 in scholarships, including $5,000 to be split by the eventual winning duo.

Richards and Goforth climbed to the top of the leaderboard Friday with a 12-pound limit of three bass. That followed the 11-1 bag they weighed on Day 1, allowing them to vault from seventh place into the lead.

The incoming high school seniors said Hartwell fishes much like Georgia’s Lake Lanier, their home waters, and that’s eased their minds so far during two long, hot days. The 16-year-olds had more than 30 bites between them on Friday, which allowed them to upgrade throughout the morning until their catch slowed about 1 p.m.

“We have a good offshore bite going,” Richards said. “There are a lot of little spotted bass on the brushpiles, but you really have to focus on catching the largemouths out there to win these tournaments. We just grinded out there to find the best quality largemouth we could.”

Goforth said jerkbaits have produced their best bites so far.

“We’re seeing them (on the electronics), and catching them anywhere from 20 to 40 feet,” he said. “It’s about a half-mile spot we’re running.”

“They’re on those herring out there all day long,” Richards added. “If you can catch them schooling, it’s more power to you. But you can find singles too. It’s just a matter of getting them to bite in this heat.”

The local heat index climbed over 100 degrees again Friday and it is expected to do so for the third-straight day Saturday. Richards and Goforth said they too will repeat their pattern on Day 3, trying to capture more of the good fortune that put them in the pole position.

“It’s worked for two days,” Richards said. “I don’t see a reason to stray from it.”

Ty Trentham and Chase McCarter, of Sevier County (Tenn.) High School, are just behind the leaders with 22-6. The 6-15 kicker they caught Thursday helped them into ninth place on Day 1 and their 11-12 limit a day later moved them into second, only ounces out of the lead.

“That big fish we caught late yesterday really kind of put us on track,” McCarter said. “We’ve got something figured out.”

That, of course, makes it easier when choosing a game plan for the final day.

“We missed some bites today that would have made a difference,” Trentham said. “If we can get those bites tomorrow, it’ll be something else. We’ve seen some big fish.”

Trentham and McCarter maintain their lead for the $200 Big Bass Award, courtesy of that 6-15 largemouth. Day 1 leaders Kasey Ferguson and Jakari Thomas of Virginia still have the Big Bag of the Tournament with the 12-7 limit they weighed Thursday. The team with the biggest bag in the three-day derby will split a $2,000 scholarship.

Rounding out the Top 12 teams competing on Saturday are third, South Carolina’s Bryson Gurley and Ethan Evatt, 21-9; fourth, Alabama’s Avery Padgett and Ethan Young, 21-6; fifth, South Carolina’s Mitchell Robinson and Cody Abbott, 20-14; sixth, Illinois’ Chase and Carter Logue, 20-1; seventh, Florida’s Bryce Balentine and Bryce Dimauro, 18-14; eighth, Texas’ Jacob Longlois and Slade Nunnally, 18-14; ninth, Ferguson and Thomas, 18-10; 10th, Florida’s Dylan Quilatan and Tommy Rust, 18-2; 11th, Tennessee’s Presley Lannom and Trevor Sanford, 17-15; and 12th, Arkansas’ Cole Martin and Josh Bowen, 17-13.

This is the 10th year B.A.S.S. has held a national championship tournament, and the second consecutive year it’s been at Lake Hartwell.

The final day will begin with a 6:20 a.m. ET takeoff from Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The drive-through weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2:20 p.m. at the same location. Catch all the action on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

by AnglersChannel

Ito smashes monster bag to claim lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake St. Clair

Takumi Ito of Chiba, Japan, is leading after Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 4 ounces.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

July 28, 2023

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Easy.

That is how Japan’s Takumi Ito described catching 25 pounds, 8 ounces on Day 2 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair, claiming the lead in the process with a two-day total of 47-4.

The 2021 St. Lawrence River champion, who landed 21-12 on Day 1, leads Arkansas pro Joey Cifuentes III by 10 ounces and Oklahoma’s Luke Palmeris third with 45-12. With his performance Friday, Ito has now secured the Day 3 cut in every single northern smallmouth Elite Series event he has competed in.

“It was an awesome day,” said Ito, who speaks limited English. “I don’t know why, but many fish come in my boat. It was a crazy day.”

Ito said he caught almost 20 smallmouth over 4 pounds on the day, including a 6-2 smallie that took over the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament.

“I dropped my bait down, and (it bit) just like that. It is easy,” Ito said.

Ito’s Day 2 bag, which now leads the race for VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament, wasn’t something he thought was possible coming into the event. He was expecting 19 or 20 pounds would be a good day.

Unlike a lot of anglers who are moving around vast areas on the trolling motor, Ito has been bouncing from spot to spot with his outboard. He noticed the smallmouth hanging around several types of cover, including rock, sand and grass.

“It is isolated,” he explained.

Ito has caught bass in a variety of depths, from 8 feet all the way out to 15 feet, and has noticed crawfish and gobies floating in his livewell.

Cloudy conditions, along with a little wind, were present most of Day 1 across St. Clair — and while Ito was already in good position in 14th place, the calm and mostly sunny conditions across the lake Friday helped him immensely. With those conditions, he can see the bass easier on his forward-facing sonar.

“Calm, sunny and no wind, very good for me. I love it,” Ito said.

Using Japanese baits, including a shrimp-style bait and a drop-shot rig, Ito has mostly dropped vertically on the smallmouth he has caught with a couple coming on shorter casts. Ito mentioned putting a secret powder and secret liquid on his baits for added attraction power.

Although he returned to the same general area where he landed 22-10 on Day 1, Cifuentes fished all new water on the second day and landed 24-0.

“It was slow to start and I was catching little ones, but that is how my days go,” Cifuentes said. “I catch a lot of small fish going in and then I’ll catch a 4-pounder. I just stayed in there and kept working around, and then I caught a 5-pounder and then another 4. It was a good, solid day.”

After leaving his primary area around 12:30 p.m., Cifuentes made one final cull near the takeoff site to get to his final tally.

He has fished several events at Lake St. Clair before, but this is the first time Cifuentes is fishing this particular area. The best part is, he has it mostly to himself. His smallmouth are in a summer pattern and have been located around cabbage with a little rock in 18 feet of water.

He has been able to land the majority of his weight on a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm rigged on a drop shot.

“I don’t have any pressure around me,” he said. “It feels really good. I think I can expand on it even more. I didn’t catch any fish today on the same waypoints I did yesterday. If I find the right direction to expand, I can catch them. I don’t know if it can hold up for four days — it might be tough, but I am going to try.”

Palmer added 23-12 to his 22-0 Day 1 bag, moving from 12th place all the way to third. The winner of the Elite Series event on Santee Cooper in late April, he started Friday by catching a 5-pounder and several other smaller bass.

After bouncing around some, Palmer arrived at his best area and culled four times using a drop shot and a couple of soft plastics. That area is a place he has saved until the afternoon each day so far and has had mostly to himself.

Palmer feels the sun significantly improves the bite on that spot, but the challenge is relocating his smallmouth each day.

“If I can see them and they are 3 feet off the bottom, it is going to happen,” he explained. “It just takes a while to find them.”

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 582 points. Opelika, Ala., pro Kyle Welcher is second with 567 points, followed by Raceland, La., pro Tyler Rivet in third with 540, DeBary, Fla., pro John Cox in fourth with 532 and Cairo, Ga., pro Drew Cook in fifth with 530.

Cifuentes leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 515 points, followed by Kyoya Fujita of Japan in second with 492 and Alabama’s Will Davis Jr. in third with 460.

The Top 50 remaining pros will launch from Brandenburg Park at 7 a.m. ET Saturday and will return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. The Top 10 after Saturday’s round will advance to Championship Sunday for a chance to win the coveted blue trophy and $100,000.

Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on FS1 before moving to Bassmaster.com until 2:45 p.m.

Throughout the weekend, fans can enjoy the Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival, held in conjunction with the Elite Series event.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair 7/27-7/30
Lake St. Clair, Chesterfield Township  MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Taku Ito               Chuba JAPAN             10  47-04  104   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   25-08
2.  Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             10  46-10  103
Day 1: 5   22-10     Day 2: 5   24-00
3.  Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  45-12  102
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   23-12
4.  Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  45-06  101
Day 1: 5   22-09     Day 2: 5   22-13
5.  Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10  44-12  100
Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   21-14
6.  Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi  10  44-10   99
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   22-15
7.  Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            10  44-09   98
Day 1: 5   22-05     Day 2: 5   22-04
8.  Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  44-07   97
Day 1: 5   22-09     Day 2: 5   21-14
9.  Frank Talley           Temple, TX              10  44-03   96
Day 1: 5   22-08     Day 2: 5   21-11
10. Bryan New              Saluda, SC              10  44-02   95
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   23-12
11. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  44-01   94
Day 1: 5   22-03     Day 2: 5   21-14
12. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  43-15   93   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   20-12
13. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  43-12   92
Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   22-10
14. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           10  43-07   91
Day 1: 5   23-14     Day 2: 5   19-09
15. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  43-01   90
Day 1: 5   24-03     Day 2: 5   18-14
16. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  42-15   89
Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   23-13
17. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  42-12   88
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-11
18. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       10  42-11   87
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   22-04
19. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  42-09   86
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   22-02
20. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  42-05   85
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   21-05
21. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  42-04   84
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   20-04
22. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  42-04   83
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   21-12
23. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC         10  42-04   82
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   21-06
24. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  42-00   81
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   22-12
25. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  41-13   80
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   22-03
26. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  41-12   79
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   19-10
27. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  41-12   78
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   20-12
28. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN             10  41-07   77
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   20-03
29. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  41-06   76
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   22-12
30. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  41-05   75
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   21-07
31. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  41-04   74
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   21-05
32. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  41-02   73
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   22-07
33. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       10  40-15   72
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   20-08
34. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR          10  40-12   71
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   21-11
35. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 10  40-12   70
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   21-02
36. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       10  40-12   69
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   19-14
37. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  40-08   68
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   22-03
38. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  40-07   67
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   20-01
39. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  40-05   66
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   21-06
40. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  40-04   65
Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   20-00
41. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  40-03   64
Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   21-05
42. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  40-02   63
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   20-14
43. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  40-00   62
Day 1: 5   20-11     Day 2: 5   19-05
44. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  39-05   61
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   19-07
45. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN           10  39-02   60
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   23-04
46. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            10  38-15   59
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   21-00
47. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              10  38-13   58
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   18-05
48. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  38-12   57
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   20-09
49. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             10  38-10   56
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   18-14
50. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  38-07   55
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   19-15
51. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  38-05   54   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   21-13
52. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA             10  38-01   53   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   18-08
53. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        10  37-15   52   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-03     Day 2: 5   17-12
54. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN             10  37-15   51   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   18-08
55. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA           10  37-14   50   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   20-04
56. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  37-13   49   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   21-05
57. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC      10  37-12   48   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   18-12
58. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  37-11   47   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   20-02
59. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA  10  37-11   46   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   18-08
60. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  37-10   45   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   20-12
61. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             10  37-08   44   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   22-02
62. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            10  37-08   43   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   19-11
63. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  37-08   42   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   19-08
64. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  37-05   41   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   17-11
65. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  37-04   40   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   18-00
66. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                10  37-03   39   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 5   18-15
67. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA            10  37-01   38   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 5   18-13
68. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  37-00   37   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   19-01
69. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  36-13   36   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-10     Day 2: 5   16-03
70. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  36-09   35   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   19-00
71. KJ Queen               Conover, NC             10  36-05   34   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   18-00
72. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA    10  36-03   33   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   17-13
73. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ          10  36-01   32   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   19-14
74. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  35-14   31   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   19-02
75. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  35-12   30   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   19-01
76. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  35-12   29
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   18-15
77. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL          10  35-09   28
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   20-04
78. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  35-09   27
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   17-00
79. Mike Huff              London, KY              10  35-09   26
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   18-03
80. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  35-09   25
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   17-10
81. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  35-08   24
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   19-05
82. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  35-04   23
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   15-14
83. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN         10  35-04   22
Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   15-15
84. Bradley Hallman        Edmond, OK              10  35-03   21
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   18-11
85. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK             10  35-02   20
Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   15-15
86. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  35-01   19
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   16-06
87. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  34-14   18
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   16-15
88. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  34-12   17
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   15-12
89. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  34-09   16
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   17-14
90. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN    10  33-11   15
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   15-13
91. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  33-05   14
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   16-03
92. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  33-00   13
Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   16-15
93. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  32-14   12
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   15-05
94. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           10  32-12   11
Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   15-14
95. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  32-06   10
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   16-00
96. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                10  31-15    9
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   15-09
97. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          10  31-14    8
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   17-05
98. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC          10  31-04    7
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   14-13
99. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              10  31-00    6
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   17-13
100. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN          10  30-14    5
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   15-01
101. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  28-08    4
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   12-08
102. David Fritts           Lexington, NC           10  23-00    3
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   10-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Bryan Schmitt            Deale, MD           06-01      $1,000.00
2   Taku Ito                 Dalton GA JAPAN     06-02      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       102       510      1936-00
2       102       510      1995-05
----------------------------------
204      1020      3931-05

by AnglersChannel