Jamie Laiche of Gonzales, La., caught 38 pounds, 1 ounce to take the title at Ross Barnett Reservoir during the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional held out of Ridgeland, Miss., Friday.
June 12, 2015
Louisiana Angler, State Team Wins Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional
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RIDGELAND, Miss. — Overcoming a tournament handicap and applying angling ingenuity ranked ahead of a secret lure and technique for Jamie Laiche, overall winner of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional.
Laiche, of Gonzales, La., won the overall title on Ross Barnett Reservoir with a three-day weight of 38 pounds, 1 ounce. Billy Lemon, who led on Wednesday, finished second with 36-14.
Laiche registered for the tournament on Ross Barnett Reservoir as a nonboater, leaving him without the convenience and confidence of using his personal rig and its fish-catching accessories.
“I had at least 30 offshore ledges with specific areas the size of a car hood holding fish on each spot,” he said.
That was a handicap because Laiche stored all the potentially game-winning waypoints on his boat’s large-screen Lowrance HDS-9 Gen3. Laiche plotted the hot spots during practice.
Laiche removed the electronic graph recorder and rigged it to a makeshift, portable platform, complete with power cable and alligator clips. The idea was to power the unit using the batteries in his partner’s boat.
“I knew my boater wouldn’t have the waypoints stored, obviously, so I just brought them with me,” said Laiche, a member of the Ascension Area Anglers.
As the nonboater, Laiche spent his shared portion of Day 1 on the front deck. Within view was the portable graph that allowed him to make pinpoint casts to specific sweet spots holding bass. He caught a tournament-best 14 pounds, 15 ounces.
Laiche fished Thursday as a boater after his partner called in sick. He fished conservatively, hoping for an opportunity to compete from his personal boat on the final day. He got that chance after his final-day partner forfeited the right to use his boat.
The areas holding the winning fish were offshore ledges tapering from a depth of 3 to 12 feet. The sweet spot, as he called it, was the presence of gravel that attracted baitfish.
On cloudy days, Laiche found roaming bass feeding near the sweet spot with a Bandit 200 Series crankbait. Sunny conditions moved the bass stationary to the bottom. As a result, he switched to a Missile Baits Tomahawk, a ribbontail plastic worm rigged with a 1/4-ounce weight.
The regional tournament advances the top finishing anglers from eight states to the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Joining Louisiana’s Laiche and Lemon, of Oklahoma, are the following state winners: Doug Thompson, Arkansas; Preston Frazell, Kansas; Donald Adcock, Mississippi; Matt Roberts, Missouri; Jerry Pape, Nebraska; Albert Collins, Texas.
The state competition proved just as dramatic as the win by Laiche. His state won it by the slim margin of 1 pound, 3 ounces. Louisiana’s 14-angler team caught a collective weight of 273 pounds, 2 ounces. Oklahoma finished second with 271-14 and Mississippi came in third with 242-13.
The states competed for a Skeeter/ Yamaha boat, motor, trailer and accessories package valued at $33,340.
The event included a friendly competition between state championship high school teams from the region. Mentoring the youths and introducing them to a championship event was the goal. Braden Blanchard and Cade Fortenberry, students at St. Amant High School in Louisiana, won the high school title.
The next divisional tournament is the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional on the Monongahela River in West Virginia. The event is June 17-19 Stay tuned for Bassmaster.com for complete coverage.
2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional 6/10-6/12
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (LA) 15 38-01 0
2. Billy Lemon Sand Springs, OK (OK) 15 36-14 0
3. Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK (KS) 15 35-12 0
4. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (TX) 15 33-10 0
5. David Cavell Prairieville, LA (LA) 15 33-08 0
6. Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA (LA) 15 32-12 0
7. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR (AR) 14 32-05 0
8. John Soukup Jr Agra, OK (OK) 15 31-06 0
9. Benjamin King Garnett, KS (KS) 14 30-15 0
10. Donald Adcock Richland, MS (MS) 14 30-03 0
11. Brandon Lee Ratcliff, AR (AR) 15 29-08 0
12. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK (OK) 15 29-06 0
13. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX (TX) 12 27-10 0
14. Blake Betz Baton Rouge, LA (LA) 15 26-07 0
15. Chris Torkleson Sand Springs, OK (KS) 15 26-05 0
16. Doug Guins Lake Charles, LA (LA) 15 25-05 0
17. Chuck Halbert Jr West Helena, AR (MS) 10 25-03 0
18. Troy Morrison North Little Rock, AR ( 15 24-14 0
19. Frank Morton Purvis, MS (MS) 11 23-14 0
20. Creighton Sawyer Houston, AR (AR) 15 23-04 0
21. Chris Johnson Enid, OK (OK) 15 23-02 0
22. Samuel Anthony Independence, LA (LA) 14 23-00 0
23. Josh Wray Omaha, AR (AR) 15 22-11 0
24. Michael Valentine Laurel , MS (MS) 12 22-07 0
25. Mark Floyd Blue Mountain, MS (MS) 15 22-06 0
26. Jody Herring Meadville, MS (MS) 15 22-05 0
27. Jason Buchanan Burnet, TX (TX) 13 22-04 0
28. Wyatt Smith Stroud, OK (OK) 13 22-01 0
29. Jerry Pape Milford, IA (NE) 15 21-11 0
30. Kevin Vaughan Nowata, OK (OK) 10 21-06 0
31. Matt Roberts Pulaski, IA (MO) 15 21-03 0
32. Craig Torkleson Sand Springs, OK (KS) 15 20-11 0
33. Jeffery Lemoine Des Allemands, LA (LA) 15 20-10 0
34. Justin Foster Bude, MS (MS) 12 20-04 0
35. Kris Lee Coweta, OK (OK) 15 20-04 0
36. Mike Ford Peculiar , MO (MO) 9 20-01 0
37. Danny Carter Hernando, MS (MS) 13 19-11 0
38. Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR (AR) 10 19-04 0
39. Trevor Yates Norman, OK (OK) 10 18-15 0
40. Jeremy Tibben Stanton, IA (NE) 12 18-09 0
41. Jason Citta Hershey, NE (NE) 11 18-08 0
42. Paul Huse Omaha, NE (NE) 10 18-06 0
43. Aaron Olsen Lenexa, KS (NE) 13 18-06 0
44. Beau Branine Haysville, KS (KS) 13 18-03 0
45. Bo Middleton Lawton, OK (OK) 13 17-15 0
46. Will Major Port Allen, LA (LA) 10 17-14 0
47. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE (NE) 11 17-10 0
48. Richard Risewick Norton, KS (NE) 9 17-06 0
49. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR (AR) 12 17-06 0
50. HS-Cade Fortenberry/Braden Blanchard St Amant, LA (LA) 10 17-05 0
51. HS-Caleb Parker/Nathan Walley LAUREL, MS (MS) 9 17-03 0
52. Brandon Pedigo Durant, OK (OK) 12 16-11 0
53. Sam Leintz Linwood, KS (KS) 14 16-08 0
54. Jim Simpson Canyon, TX (TX) 11 16-04 0
55. Terry Reed Willils, TX (TX) 13 16-03 0
56. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA (LA) 13 15-11 0
57. Charlie Harrington New Cambria, MO (MO) 11 15-08 0
58. James McKee Springdale, AR (AR) 11 15-06 0
59. Ron Snyder Georgetown, AR (AR) 9 15-03 0
60. Jay Rogers Arlington, TN (MS) 11 14-13 0
61. Kyle Dragulski Mansfield, TX (TX) 13 14-12 0
62. HS-Cameron Pappen/Jesse Heflin Topeka, KS (KS) 10 14-04 0
63. HS-Joseph Bruener/Jack Garner Nacodgoches, TX (TX) 8 13-12 0
64. Trevor Rogge San Antonio, TX (TX) 11 13-11 0
65. Brad VanRiette Iola, KS (KS) 12 13-10 0
66. Jason Boswell Corning, IA (NE) 10 13-01 0
67. Brian Penning Wichita, KS (KS) 9 13-01 0
68. Ralph Leonard Tekamah, NE (NE) 8 12-13 0
69. Mark Boggs Beggs, OK (OK) 9 12-13 0
70. Jeff Saunders Kearney , MO (MO) 5 12-10 0
71. Larry Fralick Wichita, KS (KS) 9 12-04 0
72. Josh Stapleton Arlington, TX (TX) 9 11-07 0
73. Heath Willard Brookhaven, MS (MS) 7 11-05 0
74. HS-Tyler Eagan/Jason Thompson Lees Summit, MO (MO) 10 11-02 0
75. HS-Trevor Owens/Matthew Hasenfratz Ponca City, OK (OK) 9 11-00 0
76. Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS (MO) 8 10-15 0
77. Harold Stark Eldon, MO (MO) 8 10-10 0
78. Cary Beard Gonzalez, LA (LA) 8 10-09 0
79. Larry Brumley Topeka, KS (KS) 7 10-06 0
80. HS-Drake Vines/Brett Avery El Dorado, AR (AR) 8 10-05 0
81. Scotty Smith Taylor, AR (AR) 6 10-02 0
82. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK (OK) 8 10-01 0
83. Troy Montgomery Granbury, TX (TX) 7 09-08 0
84. James Parsons Topeka, KS (KS) 9 09-07 0
85. Darrin Herndon Soso, MS (MS) 6 09-02 0
86. Kyle Robertson Austin, AR (AR) 8 08-10 0
87. Chris Brokman Council Bluffs, IA (NE) 5 08-09 0
88. Jeff Hamilton Blue Springs, MO (MO) 8 08-06 0
89. Mike Jackson Cuba, MO (MO) 7 08-01 0
90. Felix Appelt Goliad, TX (TX) 5 08-01 0
91. Johnny Starks Wellington, KS (KS) 6 07-15 0
92. Joshua Alleman Gramercy, LA (LA) 6 07-11 0
93. Donald Switzer Clarinda, IA (NE) 5 07-10 0
94. Nick Carroccio Plano, TX (TX) 7 07-09 0
95. Cody Graff Glenvil, NE (NE) 6 07-07 0
96. Ken Caldwell Wylie, TX (TX) 4 07-02 0
97. Duane Crenshaw Irving, TX (TX) 4 06-11 0
98. Dusty Scott Rector, AR (AR) 6 06-01 0
99. Greg Voss Jefferson City, MO (MO) 4 05-11 0
100. John Blankenbeker Camdenton, MO (MO) 3 05-03 0
101. Faron Morris Clarksburg, MO (MO) 3 04-11 0
102. Dan Chickering Bloomfield, IA (MO) 4 04-08 0
103. Rob Werner Denham Springs, LA (LA) 5 04-05 0
104. Kevin Parker Sumrall, MS (MS) 3 04-01 0
105. HS-Cole Luetkenhaus/Nathan Kmiecik Progue, NE (NE) 3 03-07 0
——————————
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 55 363 623-03
2 46 352 536-08
3 47 375 622-14
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148 1090 1782-09
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
——————————
State Lbs-Oz
1 LOUISIANA 273-02
2 OKLAHOMA 271-14
3 MISSISSIPPI 242-13
4 ARKANSAS 234-15
5 KANSAS 229-05
6 TEXAS 208-08
7 NEBRASKA 183-07
8 MISSOURI 138-09
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
——————————
KANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK 15 35-12 0
2 Benjamin King Garnett, KS 14 30-15 0
3 Chris Torkleson Sand Springs, OK 15 26-05 0
4 Craig Torkleson Sand Springs, OK 15 20-11 0
5 Beau Branine Haysville, KS 13 18-03 0
6 Sam Leintz Linwood, KS 14 16-08 0
7 HS-Cameron Pappen/Jesse Heflin Topeka, KS 10 14-04 0
8 Brad VanRiette Iola, KS 12 13-10 0
9 Brian Penning Wichita, KS 9 13-01 0
10 Larry Fralick Wichita, KS 9 12-04 0
11 Larry Brumley Topeka, KS 7 10-06 0
12 James Parsons Topeka, KS 9 09-07 0
13 Johnny Starks Wellington, KS 6 07-15 0
OKLAHOMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Billy Lemon Sand Springs, OK 15 36-14 0
2 John Soukup Jr Agra, OK 15 31-06 0
3 Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 15 29-06 0
4 Chris Johnson Enid, OK 15 23-02 0
5 Wyatt Smith Stroud, OK 13 22-01 0
6 Kevin Vaughan Nowata, OK 10 21-06 0
7 Kris Lee Coweta, OK 15 20-04 0
8 Trevor Yates Norman, OK 10 18-15 0
9 Bo Middleton Lawton, OK 13 17-15 0
10 Brandon Pedigo Durant, OK 12 16-11 0
11 Mark Boggs Beggs, OK 9 12-13 0
12 HS-Trevor Owens/Matthew Hasenfratz Ponca City, OK 9 11-00 0
13 Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK 8 10-01 0
LOUISIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 15 38-01 0
2 David Cavell Prairieville, LA 15 33-08 0
3 Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA 15 32-12 0
4 Blake Betz Baton Rouge, LA 15 26-07 0
5 Doug Guins Lake Charles, LA 15 25-05 0
6 Samuel Anthony Independence, LA 14 23-00 0
7 Jeffery Lemoine Des Allemands, LA 15 20-10 0
8 Will Major Port Allen, LA 10 17-14 0
9 HS-Cade Fortenberry/Braden Blanchard St Amant, LA 10 17-05 0
10 Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 13 15-11 0
11 Cary Beard Gonzalez, LA 8 10-09 0
12 Joshua Alleman Gramercy, LA 6 07-11 0
13 Rob Werner Denham Springs, LA 5 04-05 0
NEBRASKA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jerry Pape Milford, IA 15 21-11 0
2 Jeremy Tibben Stanton, IA 12 18-09 0
3 Jason Citta Hershey, NE 11 18-08 0
4 Paul Huse Omaha, NE 10 18-06 0
5 Aaron Olsen Lenexa, KS 13 18-06 0
6 Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 11 17-10 0
7 Richard Risewick Norton, KS 9 17-06 0
8 Jason Boswell Corning, IA 10 13-01 0
9 Ralph Leonard Tekamah, NE 8 12-13 0
10 Chris Brokman Council Bluffs, IA 5 08-09 0
11 Donald Switzer Clarinda, IA 5 07-10 0
12 Cody Graff Glenvil, NE 6 07-07 0
13 HS-Cole Luetkenhaus/Nathan Kmiecik Progue, NE 3 03-07 0
MISSOURI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Roberts Pulaski, IA 15 21-03 0
2 Mike Ford Peculiar , MO 9 20-01 0
3 Charlie Harrington New Cambria, MO 11 15-08 0
4 Jeff Saunders Kearney , MO 5 12-10 0
5 HS-Tyler Eagan/Jason Thompson Lees Summit, MO 10 11-02 0
6 Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS 8 10-15 0
7 Harold Stark Eldon, MO 8 10-10 0
8 Jeff Hamilton Blue Springs, MO 8 08-06 0
9 Mike Jackson Cuba, MO 7 08-01 0
10 Greg Voss Jefferson City, MO 4 05-11 0
11 John Blankenbeker Camdenton, MO 3 05-03 0
12 Faron Morris Clarksburg, MO 3 04-11 0
13 Dan Chickering Bloomfield, IA 4 04-08 0
ARKANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 14 32-05 0
2 Brandon Lee Ratcliff, AR 15 29-08 0
3 Troy Morrison North Little Rock, AR 15 24-14 0
4 Creighton Sawyer Houston, AR 15 23-04 0
5 Josh Wray Omaha, AR 15 22-11 0
6 Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR 10 19-04 0
7 Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR 12 17-06 0
8 James McKee Springdale, AR 11 15-06 0
9 Ron Snyder Georgetown, AR 9 15-03 0
10 HS-Drake Vines/Brett Avery El Dorado, AR 8 10-05 0
11 Scotty Smith Taylor, AR 6 10-02 0
12 Kyle Robertson Austin, AR 8 08-10 0
13 Dusty Scott Rector, AR 6 06-01 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Donald Adcock Richland, MS 14 30-03 0
2 Chuck Halbert Jr West Helena, AR 10 25-03 0
3 Frank Morton Purvis, MS 11 23-14 0
4 Michael Valentine Laurel , MS 12 22-07 0
5 Mark Floyd Blue Mountain, MS 15 22-06 0
6 Jody Herring Meadville, MS 15 22-05 0
7 Justin Foster Bude, MS 12 20-04 0
8 Danny Carter Hernando, MS 13 19-11 0
9 HS-Caleb Parker/Nathan Walley LAUREL, MS 9 17-03 0
10 Jay Rogers Arlington, TN 11 14-13 0
11 Heath Willard Brookhaven, MS 7 11-05 0
12 Darrin Herndon Soso, MS 6 09-02 0
13 Kevin Parker Sumrall, MS 3 04-01 0
TEXAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX 15 33-10 0
2 Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 12 27-10 0
3 Jason Buchanan Burnet, TX 13 22-04 0
4 Jim Simpson Canyon, TX 11 16-04 0
5 Terry Reed Willils, TX 13 16-03 0
6 Kyle Dragulski Mansfield, TX 13 14-12 0
7 HS-Joseph Bruener/Jack Garner Nacodgoches, TX 8 13-12 0
8 Trevor Rogge San Antonio, TX 11 13-11 0
9 Josh Stapleton Arlington, TX 9 11-07 0
10 Troy Montgomery Granbury, TX 7 09-08 0
11 Felix Appelt Goliad, TX 5 08-01 0
12 Nick Carroccio Plano, TX 7 07-09 0
13 Ken Caldwell Wylie, TX 4 07-02 0
14 Duane Crenshaw Irving, TX 4 06-11 0
