Daniel Gray Hangs On To Win B.a.s.s. Nation Divisonal On Buggs Island
Hailing from Butler, Pa., Gray placed sixth on Day 1 and then took over the lead on a tough Day 2 after plucking two bass — both weighing 4-1 — off a spot where he had caught a 5-pounder in practice. The key area was a sandy bar extending off a clay bank right outside a small creek.
After trying other areas in the morning, Gray returned to his key area around mid-morning on Day 3 and caught a couple more keepers that sealed his victory by a 1-pound margin.
“Today, I had a great boater (William Goots of the Virginia team), and we went to his spots in the early morning, where I caught two keepers off deeper brushpiles,” Gray said. “Then he said ‘Whatever you want to do.’”
“We went to my spot, and I can’t believe it happened — it was great.”
On the brushpiles, Gray caught his fish by flipping Texas rigged plastics. His best colors were green pumpkin and watermelon red. On the sandy bar, he fished 3 1/2-inch tubes goofy rigged — essentially a weedless arrangement using a 1/4-ounce jig head.
A member of Pennsylvania’s Extreme Anglers bass club, Gray caught four bass for 10-5 on Day 3. He also broke 10 pounds on Day 1 (10-4) and had the Big Bass for Day 2 (4-1).
Overall, the Day 3 weights were better than Day 2. The average fish was a little less than 2 pounds. The Top 10 had 18 pounds or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 7 to 12 pounds for their total weight. Only six anglers boasted limits.
Gray not only won the overall tournament; he also topped the Pennsylvania team, which finished three spots behind first-place Virginia, the host state. The Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation state team had two anglers in the Top 10 and won the state competition by a margin of 15-1. Virginia had 181 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Delaware with 166-10, and New Jersey with 149-15.
Gray earned an invitation to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, November 6-8 on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. Other state winners were Greg Alexander, Delaware; Brian Trieschman, Maryland; Michael Sentore, New Jersey; Rodney Rice, Virginia; Randy Huffman, West Virginia.
Essential to Virginia’s team victory was the performance of high school anglers Brandon Strayer and James Graves, who finished 15th overall and third on the Virginia team. Their limit of 11-9 was the largest of Day 2 and the second-largest of the tournament.
High School anglers only fish on Days 2 and 3, so their performance was particularly impressive.
“This is our fourth Divisional this year, and we’ve seen it in every one where the high school team has played a key role in the winning team’s (collective performance),” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart. “Strayer and Graves had two good days of fishing on a fishery that was tough, and they ended up third on their team in two days, not three. The high schoolers are playing a huge part in what the teams do.”
Ronald Littleton’s 5-pound, 1-ounce bass won the Carhartt Big Bass honors, a $500 prize awarded to the biggest bass of the tournament. Gray won the $250 Livingston Lures Leader award, which goes to the Day 2 leader.
The next divisional in which anglers will earn berths into the championship is the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional to be held August 13-15 on Indiana’s Lake Monroe. More information is available on Bassmaster.com
2014 BASS Nation MidAtlantic Divisional 6/25-6/27
Kerr Rervoir, Buggs Island VA.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Daniel Gray Butler, PA (PA) 11 28-11 0
2. Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ (NJ 12 27-11 0
3. Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA (PA) 12 25-08 0
4. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 12 24-14 0
5. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD (DE) 14 24-07 0
6. Rodney Rice Narrows, VA (VA) 10 22-06 0
7. Brian La Clair Denton, MD (DE) 11 22-04 0
8. Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA (VA) 11 19-12 0
9. Mark Hogan Milford, DE (DE) 11 19-02 0
10. Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ (NJ) 10 18-14 0
11. Bobby Smith Laurel, DE (DE) 11 18-13 0
12. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD (MD) 9 18-04 0
13. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ (NJ) 9 17-13 0
14. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD (MD) 9 17-12 0
15. VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA (VA) 8 17-11 0
16. Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH (WV) 10 17-09 0
17. Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE (DE) 8 17-03 0
18. John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ (NJ) 8 16-08 0
19. Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE (DE) 8 15-08 0
20. John Conway Henrico, VA (VA) 7 15-04 0
21. James Goins Baltimore, MD (MD) 8 15-03 0
22. James Dingess Barboursville, WV (WV) 8 14-09 0
23. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD (MD) 7 14-01 0
24. Cavin Young Prince George, VA (VA) 7 14-00 0
25. William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA (VA) 8 13-14 0
26. Roger Castillo Goode, VA (VA) 7 13-13 0
27. Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA (VA) 6 12-05 0
28. Mark Mounts Washington, PA (PA) 7 12-01 0
29. Dave Menard Henrico, VA (VA) 6 12-01 0
30. Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ (NJ) 6 11-12 0
31. Damien McMahon Pilot, VA (VA) 8 11-11 0
32. Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 6 11-10 0
33. Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV (WV) 5 11-06 0
34. Tim Stump Dover, DE (DE) 5 11-01 0
35. Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY (NJ) 5 10-15 0
36. Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA (VA) 5 10-09 0
37. Dion Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 6 10-08 0
38. Jon Blaine Frederick, MD (MD) 5 10-07 0
39. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ (NJ) 4 10-02 0
40. William Goots Reidsville, NC (VA) 4 09-15 0
41. Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD (MD) 5 09-04 0
42. Eddie McNeil Poca, WV (WV) 5 08-15 0
43. David Price New Windsor, MD (MD) 5 08-12 0
44. Brian Keister Atco, NJ (NJ) 5 08-12 0
45. Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ (NJ) 4 08-10 0
46. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD (MD) 4 08-10 0
47. PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA (PA) 3 08-07 0
48. Bob Austin Marydel, DE (DE) 5 08-06 0
49. Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 4 08-06 0
50. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA (PA) 3 08-02 0
51. Shelton Walters Felton, DE (DE) 5 07-15 0
52. Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA (PA) 5 07-12 0
53. DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE (DE) 4 07-09 0
54. Corey Gue Kenova, WV (WV) 4 07-06 0
55. Jeff Hall Butler, PA (PA) 4 07-05 0
56. Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 3 07-04 0
57. Mike Morris Dover, DE (DE) 4 07-01 0
58. Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ (NJ) 3 07-00 0
59. Matt Becker Finleyville, PA (PA) 4 06-15 0
60. Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD (MD) 4 06-05 0
61. Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA (NJ) 3 06-03 0
62. Jim Fields Camden, DE (DE) 3 06-01 0
63. Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ (NJ) 3 05-11 0
64. Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA (PA) 7 05-08 0
65. Bart Keck Finleyville, PA (PA) 2 05-08 0
66. Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD (MD) 3 05-05 0
67. William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV (WV) 3 05-01 0
68. Andrew Sams Easton, MD (MD) 3 04-13 0
69. Tony Keller Charleston, WV (WV) 3 04-12 0
70. Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA (PA) 3 04-06 0
71. Tommy Ford Leslie, WV (WV) 2 03-08 0
72. Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV (WV) 2 03-07 0
73. MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD (MD) 2 03-07 0
74. Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA (PA) 2 02-09 0
75. WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV (WV) 1 01-05 0
76. Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD (DE) 1 01-04 0
77. NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ (NJ) 0 00-00 0
77. Bradley West Vincent, OH (WV) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 167 339-01
2 4 142 257-08
3 6 141 278-12
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18 450 875-05
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
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State Lbs-Oz
1 VIRGINIA 181-11
2 DELAWARE 166-10
3 NEW JERSEY 149-15
4 PENNSYLVANIA 134-06
5 MARYLAND 129-07
6 WEST VIRGINIA 113-04
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
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DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 14 24-07 0
2 Brian La Clair Denton, MD 11 22-04 0
3 Mark Hogan Milford, DE 11 19-02 0
4 Bobby Smith Laurel, DE 11 18-13 0
5 Ronald Littleton Seaford, DE 8 17-03 0
6 Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE 8 15-08 0
7 Tim Stump Dover, DE 5 11-01 0
8 Bob Austin Marydel, DE 5 08-06 0
9 Shelton Walters Felton, DE 5 07-15 0
10 DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE 4 07-09 0
11 Mike Morris Dover, DE 4 07-01 0
12 Jim Fields Camden, DE 3 06-01 0
13 Don Denault Jr Delmar, MD 1 01-04 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 9 18-04 0
2 Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 9 17-12 0
3 James Goins Baltimore, MD 8 15-03 0
4 Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 7 14-01 0
5 Jon Blaine Frederick, MD 5 10-07 0
6 Douglas Zittle Thurmont, MD 5 09-04 0
7 David Price New Windsor, MD 5 08-12 0
8 Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 4 08-10 0
9 Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD 3 07-04 0
10 Al Fiorille Mt Airy, MD 4 06-05 0
11 Jeremy Mathias Monrovia, MD 3 05-05 0
12 Andrew Sams Easton, MD 3 04-13 0
13 MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD 2 03-07 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Michael Sentore Gloucester City, NJ 12 27-11 0
2 Jerrod Lloyd Millville, NJ 10 18-14 0
3 Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 9 17-13 0
4 John Mcgraw Bordertown, NJ 8 16-08 0
5 Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ 6 11-12 0
6 Russell Awad Brooklyn, NY 5 10-15 0
7 Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 4 10-02 0
8 Brian Keister Atco, NJ 5 08-12 0
9 Darren Brooks Wenonah, NJ 4 08-10 0
10 Eric Bennet Forked River, NJ 3 07-00 0
11 Cliff Humpreys Philadelphia, PA 3 06-03 0
12 Randy Baran Old Bridge, NJ 3 05-11 0
13 NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ 0 00-00 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Daniel Gray Butler, PA 11 28-11 0
2 Mike Moran Ruffsdale, PA 12 25-08 0
3 Mark Mounts Washington, PA 7 12-01 0
4 Richard Lane Pittsburgh, PA 6 11-10 0
5 PA HS-Gower/ Mertz Lewisburg, PA 3 08-07 0
6 Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 3 08-02 0
7 Ken Baumgardner Monongahela, PA 5 07-12 0
8 Jeff Hall Butler, PA 4 07-05 0
9 Matt Becker Finleyville, PA 4 06-15 0
10 Todd Caddy Carnegie, PA 7 05-08 0
11 Bart Keck Finleyville, PA 2 05-08 0
12 Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA 3 04-06 0
13 Jerry Meadows Uniontown, PA 2 02-09 0
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Rodney Rice Narrows, VA 10 22-06 0
2 Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA 11 19-12 0
3 VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA 8 17-11 0
4 John Conway Henrico, VA 7 15-04 0
5 Cavin Young Prince George, VA 7 14-00 0
6 William Hubbard Ridgeway, VA 8 13-14 0
7 Roger Castillo Goode, VA 7 13-13 0
8 Greg Hylton Martinsville, VA 6 12-05 0
9 Dave Menard Henrico, VA 6 12-01 0
10 Damien McMahon Pilot, VA 8 11-11 0
11 Tyler Trent Nathalie, VA 5 10-09 0
12 William Goots Reidsville, NC 4 09-15 0
13 Christopher Napier Virginia Beach, VA 4 08-06 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 12 24-14 0
2 Jerry Burkhart Belpre, OH 10 17-09 0
3 James Dingess Barboursville, WV 8 14-09 0
4 Kenneth Hackworth Charleston, WV 5 11-06 0
5 Dion Bright Fairmont, WV 6 10-08 0
6 Eddie McNeil Poca, WV 5 08-15 0
7 Corey Gue Kenova, WV 4 07-06 0
8 William Kennedy Mineral Wells, WV 3 05-01 0
9 Tony Keller Charleston, WV 3 04-12 0
10 Tommy Ford Leslie, WV 2 03-08 0
11 Joshua Cross Elizabeth, WV 2 03-07 0
12 WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon Clendenin, WV 1 01-05 0
13 Bradley West Vincent, OH 0 00-00 0
