Jeremy Dellinger (pictured) and Nathan Smith, from North Carolina’s Catawba Valley Community College, are leading after Day 1 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by Bass Pro Shops with 11 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
August 27, 2020

ANDERSON, S.C. — After a five-month layoff, the Catawba Valley Community College fishing program opened the third stop of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by Bass Pro Shops with a bang as two Red Hawks teams led the 115-boat field after Day 1 on Thursday.

Jeremy Dellinger and Nathan Smith hold the top spot after dropping a three-bass limit of 11 pounds, 9 ounces on the scales. They hold a 1-4 pound lead over teammates Lane Bailey and Adam Seagle.

The teams from the two-year college with an enrollment of 4,610 in Hickory, N.C., combined to weigh in six largemouth bass, passing on the spotted bass that Lake Hartwell is known for.

“It’s crazy,” Dellinger said. “We are just a little community college competing against the best fishing colleges in the country. Here we are, one and two (in the standings), a little community college leading the most prestigious tournament trail in college fishing. It’s insane.”

For Dellinger and Smith, the deep bite never materialized during practice, so they moved to shallow water and found an area that produced some fish that Dellinger thought would give them 7 to 8 pounds a day.

To their surprise, the area produced excellent quality.

“One of our biggest fish came up schooling in the middle of a pocket within throwing range,” Dellinger said. “It was one of those things that just happened to go right. And to do well in a tournament, you need some things to go right.”

A Lake Norman native, Dellinger said he isn’t sure if they can catch the same quality for the next two days but feels he has enough to stay near the top.

“If I can manage my fish the right way, I might be able to stretch it for three days,” he said. “But, I will need a couple of those luscious fish like I caught today.”

Bailey, a Lake Hickory native, said he and Seagle made a 15- to 20-minute run up the Tugaloo River where they caught mostly largemouth bass with a topwater bait around shallow cover.

While all of the fish they weighed were over 2 1/2 pounds for a total of 10-5, Bailey and Seagle missed a couple of key fish that would have given them a substantial lead.

“We had marked a bunch of areas in practice, and (Seagle) actually caught a 7-pounder on one of these banks. We went back to that bank today and the 7-pounder bit a topwater and I missed it. Then we lost one about 8 pounds. We should have had like 17 pounds.

“We missed five blow-ups on the topwater this morning, and we thought the day was over. But we just kept with it.”

Bailey and Seagle struggled to catch fish during their first 2 1/2 days of practice but stumbled upon some quality fish midway through the third day. That clued them in to a pattern Bailey believes can hold up for two more days.

Higher-than-normal water on Hartwell has helped the bite, Bailey said, but if the water drops he and Seagle’s bite may get tougher.

This week’s tournament at Lake Hartwell was originally scheduled for the end of March following the first two tour stops at Toledo Bend in January and Smith Lake in February, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought the season to a screeching halt. After an extended layoff, Thursday’s blastoff was a special moment for Bailey.

“When they started playing music right before blastoff, I got goosebumps,” he said. “Not many people in the country get to do this stuff, and we are blessed to get to do it.”

The move to a late-summer event threw another curveball for the anglers, as the decision was made to change the limit from five fish to three to ensure the health of the fish and fishery. With the three-fish limit, Bailey said largemouth are the key to success, despite the healthy spotted bass population.

“In a three-fish deal, you aren’t going to win it with spotted bass,” he said.

Grant Adams and Wil Rigdon from Campbellsville University in Kentucky claimed third place on Day 1 with a limit weighing 10-2, trailing the leaders by a little less than 1 1/2 pounds. The Clemson University duo of GL Compton and Matthew Sprouse sit in fourth with 10-1 — a limit that was anchored by a 5-14 largemouth that gave them Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day.

The full field will take off Friday at 6:45 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing. The weigh-in will be held back at Green Pond at 2:45 p.m. The Top 12 teams after Friday’s weigh-in will compete on Championship Saturday and will earn a spot in the 2020 National Championship to be held on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Florida Oct. 29-31.

The event is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

2020 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Lake Hartwell presented by
Bass Pro Shops 8/27-8/29
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Jeremy Dellinger – Nathan Smith CVCC 250
Day 1: 3 11-09 Total: 3 11-09
2. Lane Bailey – Adam Seagle CVCC 249
Day 1: 3 10-05 Total: 3 10-05
3. Grant Adams – Wil Rigdon Campbellsville University 248
Day 1: 3 10-02 Total: 3 10-02
4. GL Compton – Matthew Sprouse Clemson University 247
Day 1: 3 10-01 Total: 3 10-01
5. Jake Lee – Mason Cizek Bryan College 246
Day 1: 3 09-12 Total: 3 09-12
6. Brad Ableman – Wilson Smith Bethel University 245
Day 1: 3 09-11 Total: 3 09-11
7. Braden Perry – Aidan England Carson-Newman University 244
Day 1: 3 09-09 Total: 3 09-09
8. Cody Gregory – Levi Mullins Bethel University 243
Day 1: 3 09-03 Total: 3 09-03
9. George Fallon – George Gore Clemson University 242
Day 1: 3 09-00 Total: 3 09-00
10. Harbor Lovin – Zachary Martin Murray State University 241
Day 1: 3 08-12 Total: 3 08-12
11. Griffin Fernandes – Gunner Wilson Adrian College 240
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
12. Cole Sands – Conner Dimauro Bryan College 239
Day 1: 3 08-05 Total: 3 08-05
13. Drew Pridgen – Kaleb Brown Lander University 238
Day 1: 3 08-04 Total: 3 08-04
14. Grayson Morris – Jacob Pfundt University of Montevalllo 237
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
15. Dax Ewart – Kyle Palmer Bethel University 236
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
16. Hunter Bond – Bowman Davis Clemson University 235
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
17. Jarred Jones – Logan Tate Jacksonville State University 234
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
18. Colin Slentz – Evan Slentz Lander University 233
Day 1: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
19. Jason Zubris – Penn State University 232
Day 1: 3 07-02 Total: 3 07-02
20. Cal Culpepper – Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 231
Day 1: 3 07-02 Total: 3 07-02
21. Jacob Blumling – Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 230
Day 1: 3 07-01 Total: 3 07-01
22. Joshua DeKoning – Carter Ball Adrian College 229
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
23. Bryce Henley – Reese Kingston 228
Day 1: 3 06-13 Total: 3 06-13
24. Stephen Kinard – Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 227
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
25. Luke Lamb – Seth Roberts Bethel University 226
Day 1: 2 06-11 Total: 2 06-11
26. Garrett Warren – Snead State Community College 225
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
27. Hayden Gaddis – Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 224
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
28. Miller Spivey – Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 223
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
29. Weston Hollar – Wesley Gore University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
30. Zeke Gossett – Lucas Smith Jacksonville State 221
Day 1: 3 06-03 Total: 3 06-03
31. Cole Dodson – Trent Jones University of Montevallo 220
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
31. Emil Wagner – Ole Miss 220
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
33. Shane Nelson – Brayden Federer Adrian College 218
Day 1: 3 06-01 Total: 3 06-01
34. Caleb Lonca – Justin Eggers CVCC 217
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
34. Kollin Smith – John Wesley Wardlaw Emmanuel College 217
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
36. James Willoughby – Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 215
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
37. Jj Kocevar – Tanner Shriver Kent State University 214
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
37. Cole Zagrzebski – Ryan Bradway Western Michigan University 214
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
39. Hunter MCClaskey – Nicholas Gilbert King University 212
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
40. Jackson Staib – Baylor Howell Bethel University 211
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
41. Brian Linder – Nathan Thompson Minnesota State Univ Mankato 210
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
42. Zachary Asher – Jacob Klicman Kent State University 209
Day 1: 3 05-07 Total: 3 05-07
43. Weston Bison – Parker Wilton Lander University 208
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
44. Tyler Christy – Trey Schroeder McKendree University 207
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
44. Whit Edmonds – Bobby Long Lander University 207
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
46. Hayden Fuhr – Chase Carver Lander University 205
Day 1: 3 05-02 Total: 3 05-02
47. Calvin Currie – Tommy Teaster Lander University 204
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
48. Conner Giles – Christian Wright Bryan College 203
Day 1: 3 05-00 Total: 3 05-00
49. Jack Dice – LIBERTY UNIVERSITY 202
Day 1: 3 04-15 Total: 3 04-15
50. Matthew Davis – Cody Batterson Adrian College 201
Day 1: 3 04-13 Total: 3 04-13
51. Jake Maddux – Southern Union Community College 200
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
52. Dawson Cassidy – Gus Mclarry Texas AM Commerce 199
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
52. Joseph McClosky – Ryan Winchester Bethel University 199
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
52. Levi Sanchez – NATHAN SCHRADER Clemson 199
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
55. Austin Goins – Kirk Elijah Bryan college 196
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
56. Dalton Smith – Bradley Dunagan Campbellsville University 195
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
57. Cameron Rhodes – Jacob Witkowski Dallas Baptist University 194
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
58. Bryce Miller – Nick Crawford Kent State University 193
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
59. William Martin – Jack Baron University of Montevallo 192
Day 1: 3 04-07 Total: 3 04-07
59. Atom Ward – Gavin Lagle Indiana University Southeast 192
Day 1: 3 04-07 Total: 3 04-07
61. Sean Clayton – Owen Dimaio Clemson University 190
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
61. Trevor Harrill – Ty Leatherwood Appalachian State University 190
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
61. Chandler Jarrard – David Brashear Georgia Southern University 190
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
64. Shawn Coots – Luke Henderson Campbellsville University 187
Day 1: 3 04-05 Total: 3 04-05
64. Mitchel Goodin – John Jacobs Georgia Southern University 187
Day 1: 3 04-05 Total: 3 04-05
64. Mason Moore – Ryan Freeman Eastern Kentucky University 187
Day 1: 3 04-05 Total: 3 04-05
64. Wyatt Reid – Gehrig DeFronzo Erskine College 187
Day 1: 3 04-05 Total: 3 04-05
68. Zach Manneback – Jarrod Layton Adrain College 183
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
69. Austin Davis – Josh Howard Greenville Techincal 182
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
70. Curtis Dillon – Aaron Digh East Carolina University 181
Day 1: 3 04-02 Total: 3 04-02
71. Cy Casey – Daelyn Whaley Emmanuel College 180
Day 1: 3 04-01 Total: 3 04-01
72. Ty Black – Avry Thomason Georgia Southern University 179
Day 1: 3 04-00 Total: 3 04-00
72. Solomon Glenn – Hunter Ward University of Montervallo 179
Day 1: 3 04-00 Total: 3 04-00
74. Jack York – Cooper Thor Stephen F Austin State Universit 177
Day 1: 3 03-15 Total: 3 03-15
75. Bailey Bleser – Christian Hernandez Mckendree University 176
Day 1: 3 03-14 Total: 3 03-14
76. Andrew Fisher – Bennett Kudder Bryan College 175
Day 1: 3 03-12 Total: 3 03-12
76. Rob Lindsey – Justin Botts Bryan College 175
Day 1: 3 03-12 Total: 3 03-12
78. Tanner Barnes – Jordan Smallwood Campbellsville University 173
Day 1: 3 03-11 Total: 3 03-11
78. Cordell Beckman – Dru Johnson Greenville University 173
Day 1: 3 03-11 Total: 3 03-11
80. Ross Parris – Reed Green Lander University 171
Day 1: 2 03-11 Total: 2 03-11
81. Spencer Black – Lucas Oliver CVCC 170
Day 1: 3 03-08 Total: 3 03-08
81. Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 170
Day 1: 3 03-08 Total: 3 03-08
83. Britt Myers – Tyler Anderson Lander University 168
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
84. Nolan Yeager – Ethan LeGare Stephen F. Austin State Universi 167
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
85. Mark Harris – Reece Martin Dallas Baptist University 166
Day 1: 3 03-05 Total: 3 03-05
86. Alex Saxon – Andrew Brock Emmanuel College 165
Day 1: 3 03-03 Total: 3 03-03
87. Matthew Cummings – Joseph Woods Bethel University 164
Day 1: 3 02-14 Total: 3 02-14
88. Adam Puckett – Blake Albertson Murray State University 163
Day 1: 3 02-13 Total: 3 02-13
89. Tyler Lusk – Corey Waits Lander University 162
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
90. Alec Coffey – Kyle Roy Campbellsville University 161
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
91. Denver Monteith – Adam Watts Trevecca Nazarene University 160
Day 1: 2 02-09 Total: 2 02-09
92. Ethan Shaw – Tyler Price Bryan College 159
Day 1: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
93. Zachary Bowen – Thomas Millraney Bethel University 158
Day 1: 2 02-02 Total: 2 02-02
94. Austin Smith – Maddux Walters Carson Newman 157
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
95. Colby Hays – Logan Hawkins Campbellsville University 156
Day 1: 2 01-15 Total: 2 01-15
95. Cade Tootle – Thomas Mcelwaney Georgia Southern University 156
Day 1: 2 01-15 Total: 2 01-15
97. Matthew Benson – Garrett Ankerich Emmanuel College 154
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
97. Sam Shoemaker – Hayden Scott Adrian College 154
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
99. Griffin Phillips – Ethan King University of Montevallo 152
Day 1: 3 01-11 Total: 3 01-11
100. Ryan Park – Jon Johnston Murray State University 151
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
101. James Duncan – Blake Stringer Campbellsville University 150
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
102. River Lee – Hunter Muncrief Stephen F. Austin State Universi 149
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
103. Mark Wilson – Dylon Williams georgia southern 148
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
104. David Hendel – Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 147
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
104. Matthew Roberts – Alice Lloyd College 147
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
106. Bailey Fain – Preston Kendrick Bryan College 145
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
106. Tristan McCormick – Stevie Mills Bethel University 145
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
106. Weston Randall – Anthony Hunckler Appalachian State University 145
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
109. Garritt Coughenour – University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Troy Gibson – Adam Hope University of Louisville 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Jonah Gilbert – Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Griffin Heffington – Jacob Frazier Carson-Newman University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Tanner Maness – Chandlar Ellis Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Caleb Sheldon – Ben Kinney Lander University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
109. Brant Shuler – Blake Nalley Clemson University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00