Jamie Laiche of Gonzales, La., maintains the lead Friday with 30 pounds, 4 ounces, during the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River held out of Monroe, La.
Nov. 6, 2015
Louisiana’s Jamie Laiche holds on to lead on Ouachita River
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MONROE, La. — The conditions changed on the second day of the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River, but the first-day leader did everything the same and managed to stay on top of the field. Louisiana’s Jamie Laiche added 13 pounds, 14 ounces, ending Day 2 with 30 pounds, 4 ounces and a 1 1/2-pound lead.
“I did the exact same thing,” said Laiche, “but I didn’t get that big bite like I did yesterday. I caught a ton of fish, but the size wasn’t there.”
The air temperature dropped 5 degrees from yesterday, and the Monroe area got an inch of rain. The final day should bring more rain and even cooler temperatures.
None of those weather changes bother Laiche.
“I have the opinion that if it affects me, it’ll affect everybody else,” he said, calmly. “If the Lord feels like it’s my time, I’ll find ’em.”
Laiche, who’s a member of the Ascension Area Anglers in Louisiana, is trying to earn a return trip to the Bassmaster Classic. He qualified for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, where he came in 38th place. If he wins the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Saturday, he’ll get a chance to compete on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Laiche doesn’t actually have to win the championship; he only has to win his division. Each state is represented in the championship by its top angler, and several states make up each division. The Central Division has proved to be the toughest here on the Ouachita River, with three of the Top 4 overall spots from that division. Laiche is trying to fend off Albert Collins of Texas, who’s currently in second place overall, and Doug Thompson of Arkansas, currently in fourth. All three anglers are tested and true; all three have qualified for the Classic before. And all three are within 6 pounds of each other.
“Any one of us would represent the Central well at the Classic,” said Laiche. “They are some of the best anglers out there. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Laiche, who is fishing out of a small boat that helps him navigate the shallow backwaters and stumpfields, tops out at 28 miles per hour. As the leader of the tournament, he’ll go out first at takeoff on the final day.
“They’ll all be passing me,” Laiche said with a laugh. “But it’s not how fast you get there; it’s how much you come back with.”
Other division leaders who are trying to hold on for one more day to earn a Classic berth are Paul Mueller, Connecticut, in the Eastern Division; Fabian Rodriguez, Maryland, Mid-Atlantic; Greg Vance, Iowa, Northern; John Proctor, South Carolina, Southern; and Levi McNeill, Wyoming, Western.
Vance made up serious ground on the second day when he brought in a 13-pound, 11-ounce bag, vaulting him to the top of the Northern Division. Vance is one of the youngest competitors in the field at only 21 years old.
Vance’s bag was topped by only Laiche’s (13-14) and Albert Collins’ (14-8). But Vance did manage to catch the biggest bass of the day, a 4-pound, 3-ounce largemouth.
Whether Laiche pulls off a victory on Saturday or not, he’s already the winner of the Livingston Lures Leader Award. The leader on Day 2 wins a $250 package from Livingston Lures.
Competition resumes at Forsythe Park in Monroe, La., Saturday at 6:15 a.m. CT. The event concludes at the weigh-in, also at Forsythe Park, at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. Tune in to Bassmaster.com for updates and for live streaming of the weigh-ins.
2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/5-11/7
Ouachita River, Monroe, La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler
1. Jamie Laiche
2. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (Cntrl) 10 28-09 0
3. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE (MidAt) 10 26-08 0
4. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR (Cntrl) 10 24-02 0
5. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT (East) 10 22-10 0
6. Greg Vance Dubuque, IA (North) 10 22-07 0
7. Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK (Cntrl) 8 21-11 0
8. Levi McNeill West Valley, UT (West) 10 20-12 0
9. John Proctor Conway, SC (South) 10 20-09 0
10. Billy Lemon Jr Sand Springs, OK (Cntrl 10 19-07 0
11. Joaquim Maria Lopes Evora PORTUGAL (Cntrl) 10 19-07 0
12. Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY (South) 10 19-00 0
13. Chad Shutty Northern Cambria, PA (M 10 18-14 0
14. Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA (East) 10 17-15 0
15. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI (North) 10 17-11 0
16. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT (East) 10 17-10 0
17. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT (West) 10 17-07 0
18. David Watson Sullivan, IN (North) 10 16-15 0
19. Davick Hansen Clinton, UT (West) 10 16-07 0
20. Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM (West) 10 16-06 0
21. Samuel Ferroni POGGIO A CAIANO PRATO I 9 16-00 0
22. Brian Harold McGaheysville, VA (MidA 10 16-00 0
23. Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC (South) 10 15-15 0
24. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (North) 10 15-10 0
25. Dave Andrews Hudson, MA (East) 10 15-10 0
26. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (West) 10 15-09 0
27. Kieron Samkin Gillitts SOUTH AFRICA 10 15-07 0
28. Dan Brown Joliet, IL (North) 10 14-15 0
29. Donald Adcock Richland, MS (Cntrl) 9 14-14 0
30. Michael McMahon Hackettstown, NJ (MidAt 10 14-11 0
31. Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN (North) 7 14-04 0
32. Jami Fralick Martin, SD (North) 10 14-03 0
33. Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ (West) 8 14-02 0
34. Cesar Ventura Pecellin Munoz Badajoz SPAIN (East) 10 13-13 0
35. Marcelo Lozano San Luis Potosi MEXICO 9 13-11 0
36. Jerome Pape Milford, IA (Cntrl) 10 13-11 0
37. Samuel Bounds Jr Charleston, WV (MidAt) 9 13-07 0
38. Casey Smith Macedon, NY (East) 10 13-05 0
39. Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY (South) 9 13-00 0
40. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV (MidAt) 8 12-12 0
41. Matthew Roberts Pulaski, IA (Cntrl) 7 12-09 0
42. Bruce Cooke Greendale ZIMBABWE (Mid 10 12-09 0
43. Brad Durden Atlanta, GA (South) 9 12-08 0
44. Wayne Black San Mateo, FL (South) 10 12-05 0
45. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT (East) 8 11-11 0
46. Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI (North) 8 11-11 0
47. Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA (West) 8 11-01 0
48. Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN (West) 7 10-13 0
49. Brent Shores Boise, ID (West) 8 10-08 0
50. Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL (South) 6 10-02 0
51. Brian Croteau Blackstone, MA (East) 6 09-09 0
52. Kory Ray Lebanon, OR (West) 8 09-06 0
53. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (West) 7 08-13 0
54. Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA (MidAt 5 07-13 0
55. Robert Williamson Gorham, ME (East) 4 05-02 0
56. George Barnes Cambridge, MA (East) 4 04-04 0
57. Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV (West) 2 03-15 0
58. Jackie Barber West , TX (MidAt) 3 03-09 0
59. Stephen Kanowski Shorncliffe AUSTRALIA 2 03-00 0
——————————
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 263 462-12
2 38 245 414-02
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84 508 876-14
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
——————————
State Lbs-Oz
1 CENTRAL 198-05
2 WESTERN 155-03
3 NORTHERN 143-12
4 EASTERN 131-09
5 MID-ATLANTIC 126-03
6 SOUTHERN 121-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
——————————
NORTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Greg Vance Dubuque, IA 10 22-07 0
2 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 10 17-11 0
3 David Watson Sullivan, IN 10 16-15 0
4 Samuel Ferroni POGGIO A CAIANO PRATO I 9 16-00 0
5 Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH 10 15-10 0
6 Dan Brown Joliet, IL 10 14-15 0
7 Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN 7 14-04 0
8 Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 14-03 0
9 Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI 8 11-11 0
CENTRAL
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 10 30-04 0
2 Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX 10 28-09 0
3 Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 10 24-02 0
4 Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK 8 21-11 0
5 Billy Lemon Jr Sand Springs, OK 10 19-07 0
6 Joaquim Maria Lopes Evora PORTUGAL 10 19-07 0
7 Donald Adcock Richland, MS 9 14-14 0
8 Marcelo Lozano San Luis Potosi MEXICO 9 13-11 0
9 Jerome Pape Milford, IA 10 13-11 0
10 Matthew Roberts Pulaski, IA 7 12-09 0
WESTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Levi McNeill West Valley, UT 10 20-12 0
2 Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 10 17-07 0
3 Davick Hansen Clinton, UT 10 16-07 0
4 Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM 10 16-06 0
5 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 10 15-09 0
6 Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ 8 14-02 0
7 Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA 8 11-01 0
8 Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN 7 10-13 0
9 Brent Shores Boise, ID 8 10-08 0
10 Kory Ray Lebanon, OR 8 09-06 0
11 David Kromm Kennewick, WA 7 08-13 0
12 Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV 2 03-15 0
EASTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 22-10 0
2 Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA 10 17-15 0
3 Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 17-10 0
4 Dave Andrews Hudson, MA 10 15-10 0
5 Cesar Ventura Pecellin Munoz Badajoz SPAIN 10 13-13 0
6 Casey Smith Macedon, NY 10 13-05 0
7 Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT 8 11-11 0
8 Brian Croteau Blackstone, MA 6 09-09 0
9 Robert Williamson Gorham, ME 4 05-02 0
10 George Barnes Cambridge, MA 4 04-04 0
SOUTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Proctor Conway, SC 10 20-09 0
2 Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY 10 19-00 0
3 Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC 10 15-15 0
4 Kieron Samkin Gillitts SOUTH AFRICA 10 15-07 0
5 Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY 9 13-00 0
6 Brad Durden Atlanta, GA 9 12-08 0
7 Wayne Black San Mateo, FL 10 12-05 0
8 Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL 6 10-02 0
9 Stephen Kanowski Shorncliffe AUSTRALIA 2 03-00 0
MID-ATLANTIC
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 10 26-08 0
2 Chad Shutty Northern Cambria, PA 10 18-14 0
3 Brian Harold McGaheysville, VA 10 16-00 0
4 Michael McMahon Hackettstown, NJ 10 14-11 0
5 Samuel Bounds Jr Charleston, WV 9 13-07 0
6 Brad Weese Petersburg, WV 8 12-12 0
7 Bruce Cooke Greendale ZIMBABWE 10 12-09 0
8 Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA 5 07-13 0
9 Jackie Barber West , TX 3 03-09 0
