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Locals Take Charge At Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship On Guntersville

Billy Sharp (left) and Kevin Stubblefield lead Day 1 of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville with 27 pounds, 6 ounces.

Photo Ronnie Moore/B.A.S.S

Dec. 9, 2015

Locals Take Charge At Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship On Guntersville

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GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — After a two-day pre-tournament practice period that saw most of the 197-boat field from around the country struggle, it only makes sense that two local teams shot to the top of the leaderboard during Wednesday’s opening round of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville.

Billy Sharp and Kevin Stubblefield, who qualified for the event through the Alabama Bass Trail, brought five fish to the scales that weighed 27 pounds, 6 ounces and claimed the Day 1 lead. Stubblefield is from right here in Guntersville, while Sharp lives in Albertville, less than 30 minutes from the lake.

“We grew up here, and we’ve been fishing here since we were just kids,” said Stubblefield, who teamed with Sharp to win the Alabama Bass Trail championship on nearby Lake Wheeler in October. “We were fishing history today, places we’ve fished before. We stayed off of them in practice, and the fish were on some of them today.”

Practice was tough for Sharp and Stubblefield just like it was for most of a field that includes anglers from as far away as Maine, Delaware, New Jersey, California and Canada. But when competition began, the leaders were aided by built-in knowledge of the lake and conditions that are slowly improving.

“We had kind of a hard time in practice,” Sharp said. “But the water is clearing up, and I think that’s helping us some.”

Sharp and Stubblefield were Boat No. 176 out of 197, meaning they were one of the last teams to leave the launch site at Lake Guntersville State Park during Wednesday’s takeoff that began at 6:30 a.m.

They weren’t sure they would get to their best spot before someone else did. But when they found the area vacant, they went to work quickly, catching much of their tournament-best weight by 7:45 a.m.

They’ll now have to sweat to see if they can win the race to their choice water Thursday.
“Some guys saw us catch them today, but we’ve got an early boat number for tomorrow (Boat No. 22 in the first flight),” Sharp said. “The plan is definitely to go right back where we caught them and hope for the best.”

The leaders’ catch of 27-6 was bigger than all but one daily catch recorded by the top bass pros in the world back in April during the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Guntersville. But it was less than a pound better than Wednesday’s second-place finishers.

The Guntersville husband-and-wife team of Kent and Shannon Ware, who qualified through the Fishers of Men Team Tournament Trail, brought 26-9 to the scales to position themselves just 13 ounces out of the lead.

Knowledge of Lake Guntersville helped the Wares keep track of the fish as the tournament drew near and conditions changed frequently throughout the fall.

“The fishing was good during pre-practice,” Kent Ware said. “But then they jerked the water down, and it got bad. Then it came up during the off-limits. It was good the first day of practice this week, and then the second day it wasn’t as good.”

Ware said it’s still changing now that the tournament is underway.

“Now the water has been sucked back down,” he said. “We’re just trying to adjust to the water level. We caught one of our biggest fish on the last cast today, so hopefully they’ll still be biting when we get back out there tomorrow.”

Behind the two local teams in third place is the Texas team of Dean Alexander and Thomas Martens with 23-14. Christopher Risner and Timothy Eaton of Michigan are in fourth with 23-10.

“Today fished different than practice,” Alexander said. “We had some grass fish. We had some offshore fish. We just kind of mixed it up between those two, and the offshore was definitely better.

“Practice was really tough, but I think the wind and cloud cover helped today.”

The tournament resumes Thursday with a full field of 197 boats leaving Lake Guntersville State Park at 6:30 a.m. and returning for the weigh-in back at the park at 2:30 p.m. The leading team after Thursday’s weigh-in will be crowned national team champions. Then on Friday and Saturday, the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will compete individually against one another in the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-off.

The winner of the individual competition will earn a bid to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.

live 2015 Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship

Lake Guntersville – Marshall County, AL, Dec 9 – 12, 2015

Weight Leader

Billy Sharp – Kevin Stubblefield
Albertville, AL
Weight: 27- 6

Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Leader (Daily)

Jay Hulsey – Kyle Hulsey
Ozark Mountain Team Trail
Weight: 8- 2

PlaceNameDay 1Total FishTotal Weight
FishWeight
1Billy Sharp – Kevin StubblefieldAlabama Bass Trail527- 6527- 6
2Kent Ware – Shannon WareFishers of Men Team Trail526- 9526- 9
3Dean Alexander – Thomas MartensTexas Bass Nation523-14523-14
4Christopher Risner – Timothy EatonD&R Sports Center Tournament Trail523-10523-10
5Blake Hall – Dustin ConnellAlabama Bass Trail522- 9522- 9
6Doug Brownridge – David ChongRenegade Bass Team Trail522- 6522- 6
7Curtis Lewis – Steve FairtraceFL BN Team Trail522- 2522- 2
8James Wall III – Jimmy Wall JrCarolina Bass Challenge522- 0522- 0
9Brent Crow – James MorganAlabama Bass Trail521- 8521- 8
10Jay Kendrick – Danny BishopFishers of Men521- 7521- 7
11Robert Crask – Richard DosseyUltimate Bass Team Tour521- 2521- 2
12Robert Lutes – Daylon SmithTop Stick Tour520- 9520- 9
13Jimmy Mason – Lance WalkerAlabama Bass Trail520- 5520- 5
14Donald Amsden – Edwin OilarAC Tournament Trail520- 4520- 4
15Joseph Lamar – Mac LamarAlabama Bass Trail520- 3520- 3
16Ben Reynolds – Brandon ReynoldsAnglers Choice520- 0520- 0
17Jay Hulsey – Kyle HulseyOzark Mountain Team Trail319-15319-15
18Chris Rutland – Coby CardenAlabama Bass Trail519-12519-12
18Don Warren Jr – Jeff SalmonAC Tournament519-12519-12
20Shawn Skobel – Logan CraytonFishers of Men519- 3519- 3
21Carter Day – Scotty GilleyChattanooga Bass Association519- 0519- 0
22Shawn Grover – Mark LodgeMaine BN – Man vs Bass518-15518-15
23Brent Algeo – Jim CopelandOzark Mtn Team Trail518- 7518- 7
23Jon Canada – Bo HunterAirport Marine Team Trail518- 7518- 7
25Brandon Gray – Robert PerkinsAnglers Choice518- 6518- 6
26Jason Wilson – Kelly LoganCarolina Bass Challenge518- 4518- 4
27Hunter Grounds – Tyson ShootAC Tournament Trail518- 1518- 1
28Wayne Vaughan Jr – Mitch BlankenshipJames River Priority518- 0518- 0
28Kevin Williams – Cliff WilliamsMcNider Marine518- 0518- 0
30Galen James – Anthony TownsendChattanooga Bass Association517-15517-15
30Jonathan Pelfrey – Jonathan BowlingTN Valley Team Trail517-15517-15
32Dan Mohn – Josh MohnIA BN Team Trail517-14517-14
33Stephen Humphrey – Tony CampanellNTBA517-13517-13
34Rickey Knight – Randall CarterAirport Marine Team Trail517-10517-10
35Andrew Lambert – Lacey LambertFishers of Men Team Trail517- 7517- 7
35Brian McCarter – Jason FowlerNTBA517- 7517- 7
37Rogne Brown – Cary DotsonChattanooga Bass Association517- 6517- 6
37Dan Miguel – Michael SlockiBassmania Team Trail517- 6517- 6
37Mike Sisco – Josh KritchJoe Bass Team Trail517- 6517- 6
40Damien Willis – Mark StewardAlabama Bass Trail517- 5517- 5
41Keith Dees – Tommy Walley JrAlabama Bass Trail517- 3517- 3
42Randy Despino – Kevin LasyoneH&W Marine Team Trail517- 2517- 2
43Nickolas LeBrun – Randy DeaverH&W Marine TNT517- 1517- 1
44Joshua Price – Eric SilverstrimTN BN Team Trail517- 1517- 1
45Keith Baird – Michael ThompsonIN BN Team Trail417- 0417- 0
46Justen Fain – James BrownFishers of Men516-15516-15
46Flannagan Fife – Royce Davis2014 Champs – Fishers of Men516-15516-15
48Todd Dixon – Larry SiskNTBA516-14516-14
49Mike Rains Jr – Taylor GortonAC Tournament Trail516-13516-13
50Nicholas Turner – Joe LayAlabama Bass Trail516-11516-11
51Tim Hurst – Mark McCaigAlabama Bass Trail516-10516-10
52Jeremiah Beatty – Clint BenbowCarolina Bass Challenge516- 7516- 7
53Matt McCoy – Dennis DavisIN BN Team Trail516- 6516- 6
54Tracy Phillips – Mark Vest516- 3516- 3
55Benny Roberts – Todd NidifferMorristown Marine Team Trail516- 2516- 2
56Shannon Denson – Webb CollumsFishers of Men Team Trail515-15515-15
56Michael Gibson – Dwayne HughesAnglers Choice Team Trail515-15515-15
58Rob Messenger Jr – John LevesqueNew Hampshire BN Team Trail515-12515-12
59Rick Imler – Scott NewlonGreat Lakes Largemouth Series515-10515-10
60Shane Gray – Pete HenryMedia Bass Teams515- 9515- 9
61Ronnie Siress – Daniel YorkAC Tournament Trail515- 6515- 6
61Allen Williford – Austin MooreIL BN Team Trail515- 6515- 6
63Jack Belt – JD KyleIN BN Team Trail515- 5515- 5
64Mel Hedrick Jr – Eduardo TrevinoIL BN Team Trail515- 4515- 4
65Trace Myers – Mandy MyersUltimate Bass Team Tour515- 3515- 3
66Josh Busby – Timothy TaylorJoe Bass Team Trail515- 2515- 2
67Al Gagliarducci – Sean LloydMA BN – Classic Rumble515- 1515- 1
68Chris Johnston – Lynn JohnstonRenegade Bass Team Trail515- 0515- 0
68Michael Sentore – Henry Mckee IVNJ BN Team Trail515- 0515- 0
70Kurt Mitchell – Alan DraperDE BN Team Trail514-13514-13
71Rusty Strickland – Chuck HemmAlabama Bass Trail514-12514-12
72John Knowles – Michael RezendesConnecticut Bass Nation514- 9514- 9
73Daniel Gray – Scott SirakosKeystone Bass Buddy Circuit514- 8514- 8
74Justin McClelland – Michael HubbardAnglers in Action514- 7514- 7
75Jacob Roundtree – Robert YniguezUltimate Bass Team Tour514- 5514- 5
76Eddie Levin – Cory HartfieldOhio BASS Nation Team Trail514- 4514- 4
77Timothy Chaffin – Curtis PoggenpohlPriority James River414- 4414- 4
78Tom Goins Sr – TJ Goins JrFishers of Men514- 1514- 1
78Frank Poirier – Warren PoirierJames River Priority Team Trail514- 1514- 1
80Ray Hogge – Kevin WhitehurstJames River Priority Team Trail514- 0514- 0
81Tom Rufenacht – Jimmy RufenachtFishers Of Men513-15513-15
82Shane Lineberger – Jerry LinebergerCarolina Bass Challenge513-14513-14
83Mike Goff – Kevin GoffWV Team Trail513-12513-12
84Ronald Cancilla – Leo CancillaKeystone Bass Buddy Circuit513-11513-11
84Justin Spraske – Joseph ParrottNH Team Trail513-11513-11
86Shaun Ford – Jeff ElliottD&R Sports Center Team Trail513-10513-10
86Michael Kopelic – Mark TowneKeystone Bass Buddy Circuit513-10513-10
86Johney Weaver Jr – Adam RossMedia Bass Team Trail513-10513-10
89Raymond Trudeau – Frederick GeorgeFL BN Team Trail513- 9513- 9
90Rob Genter – Darren PottsKeystone Bass Buddy Circuit413- 9413- 9
91Chad Allison – Derrick WrightJoe Bass Team Trail513- 8513- 8
91Justin Atkins – Drew LongAlabama Bass Trail513- 8513- 8
91Chris Atwell – Gary AtwellJames River Priority Team Trail513- 8513- 8
94Jason Buchanan – Terry KircusTexas Bass Nation513- 7513- 7
94Nick Runo – Dave TierneyNorth East513- 7513- 7
96Kevin Miller – Timothy DubeNH BN Team Trail513- 6513- 6
97Jeff Hampton – Ed RobertsAC Tournament Trail513- 4513- 4
97Chuck James – Brad JamesChattanooga Bass Association513- 4513- 4
99Greg Loveday – Timothy HatcherBig Bucks Buddy Trail513- 2513- 2
100Hunter Hamilton – Joshua GoanMorristown Marine Team Trail413- 2413- 2
101Todd Walters – Jason ThreadgillCarolina Bass Challenge513- 1513- 1
102Fred Ingalls III – Mark AllenUpstate Anglers413- 1413- 1
103Marc Deschenes – Ray WalshCarolina Anglers Team Trail512-15512-15
104Dennis Chavez – Donnie Coleman JrNV BN Team Trail512-12512-12
105Jody Hughes – Jim SmithPBC Tournament Trail512-10512-10
105Gregory Weber – Stewart WeberNTBA512-10512-10
107Wes Wiggins – Joshua WeeksMcNider Marine Ironman Tournament512- 9512- 9
108Cole Winn – Scott MartinCarolina Bass Challenge512- 8512- 8
109Craig Hodges – Blake NewtonNTBA512- 6512- 6
110Ashley Medley – Scott CliftOzark Mountain Team Trail512- 5512- 5
110Tony Woodard – Wally SzubaAnglers Choice512- 5512- 5
112Randy Brown – Greg BurrellMorris Town Marine412- 4412- 4
113Jeff Coble – David WrightAnglers Choice512- 3512- 3
114Kelly Power – Mark Wiese JrOzark Mountain Team Trail512- 2512- 2
115William Padgett Jr – Meredith HavirdCarolina Bass Challenge512- 1512- 1
115Nicholas Reeves – Chase ReevesFishers of Men Team Trail512- 1512- 1
117Steve Stewart – Johnny CreelFishers Of Men512- 0512- 0
118Eric Self – Tyler BeamCarolina Bass Challenge411-13411-13
119Andrew Larson – Matt BeckerFishers of Men Team Trail511-12511-12
120Michael Kazmierczak – Mike PappasIL BN Team Trail511-11511-11
121Jimmy Carruth – Paula CarruthMedia Bass Team Trail411-11411-11
122Bryan Baker – Darren BakerJoe Bags Team Trail511- 9511- 9
123Steven Thames – Zachary WeimerFL BN Team Trail411- 8411- 8
124Johnny Robinson – Jamie JoinerOzark Mountain511- 7511- 7
125Mack Cook – Patrick CookCarolina Bass Challenge411- 7411- 7
125Thomas Gavin – Bobby WinnCarolina Bass Challenge411- 7411- 7
125Steven Majewski – Jeffrey GeeAC Tournament Trail411- 7411- 7
128Kyle Kempkers – Brett HavemanBBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail311- 7311- 7
129Wayne Cox – Jimmy HarrisonAlabama Bass Trail511- 6511- 6
130Jeffrey Richey – Howard RicheyMcNider Marine Ironman Tournament511- 5511- 5
131Robert Flowers – Taylor SmithNorthwest Bass511- 4511- 4
131Justin Romines – Cory StuartFishers of Men511- 4511- 4
133Kurt Kahl – Mike FeldermannAC Tournament Trail411- 3411- 3
134Eric Deering – Adam KaufmannWABTA511- 1511- 1
135Bryan Welch – Mark InmanCarolina Anglers Team Trail411- 1411- 1
136Tom Campagna – Chris LucasAnglers Choice511- 0511- 0
137Jon Richardson – Tom StinsonMedia Bass Team Trail410-10410-10
138John Hodges – Chris ColleyBig Bucks Team Trail310-10310-10
139Martin Elshout – Mark PriceFishers of Men510- 9510- 9
139Mark Mounts – Matthew FarrabeeKeystone Bass Buddy Circuit510- 9510- 9
139Chad Pilson – Elliot PilsonAnglers Choice510- 9510- 9
142Terry Weaver – Doug DrysdaleJoe Bass Team Trail510- 8510- 8
143Reggie Pickett – Larry KirkCarolina Bass Challenge49-1349-13
144Eric Bozeman – Thomas ProudfootCarolina Bass Challenge39-1239-12
145Paul Vandentoorn – Nate WestrateBBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail39-1139-11
146Charlie Signorino – Bill KellmanUpstate Anglers49- 949- 9
147Chris Marshall – Josh GardnerCarolina Bass Challenge39- 939- 9
148Byron Albrecht – Jason WindhamTX BN Team Trail59- 759- 7
149Steve Lund – Dylan MaxonTotal Bass Addicts Team Trail39- 739- 7
150David Barnes – William CentraMaine BN – Man vs Bass49- 649- 6
151Kendal Beaty – Marion TiptonTN Valley Team Trail49- 449- 4
152Mark Warner – Jeffrey Nolte39- 139- 1
153Paul Drake – Brad DrakeMedia Bass Team Trail38-1238-12
154Josh Wray – Donald WrayAnglers in Action – Trail48-1048-10
155Marty Giddens – Chris StuddardAirport Marine58- 858- 8
156Joshua Moore – Ty HumphriesH&W Marine TNT48- 548- 5
157Mike Layton – Scooter LilleyAnglers Choice47-1547-15
158Jeffrey Lokken – Jennifer Lokken47-1447-14
159Mike Bird – Ted RoperUltimate Bass Team Tour37-1337-13
159Keith Speece – Myles IrelandCarolina Bass Challenge37-1337-13
161Tom Statler – Dillon StatlerJoe Bass Team Trail47-1147-11
162Thomas Hardwick III – Tommy WilliamsCarolina Bass Challenge47- 947- 9
163John Mackey – Derek YamamotoUltimate Bass Team Tour37- 937- 9
164Paul Rice Jr – Bruce MorganFishers of Men Team Trail37- 837- 8
165Terry Jones II – Jason StevensDockside Marine Tournament Trail36- 936- 9
166Dan Parker – Troy BerntgenIA BN Team Trail16- 016- 0
167Marc Alain – Pierre Hugues LussierRenegade Bass Team Trail55-1255-12
168Jarrod Sherwood – Jeff WiedermanTeam Bass35-1235-12
169James Brown – John Williams IVJoe Bass Team Trail25-1125-11
170Kavan Maybee – Michael SmithJoe Bass Team Trail25-1025-10
171Bradley Gunter – Stan GunterCarolina Bass Challenge25- 325- 3
172Wayne Frierson – Ronnie MuellerCarolina Bass Challenge24-1524-15
172Kevin Gruppen – Tom OverholtBBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail24-1524-15
174Scott Addis – Terry CoxPBC Tournament Trail24-1424-14
175Tommy King – Clayton KingCarolina Bass Challenge24-1124-11
176Mark Osgood – Jedediah HarrisMaine BN – Man vs Bass24- 824- 8
176Jason Self – Dan SchmidtTotal Bass Addicts24- 824- 8
178Edward Bauer – Matthew BishopIN BN Team Trail14- 214- 2
179Glenn Harrison – Rusty DarnellJoe Bass Team Trail23-1323-13
180Charlie Machek – Scott WileyAnglers Choice23-1123-11
181Keith Estes – Woo DavesJames River Priority23- 923- 9
181John Welborn – Wesley SamsAlabama Bass Trail23- 923- 9
183Anthony Liles – Ricky BridgersFishers of Men Team Trail13- 813- 8
184Douglas Eubank – Daniel Eubank JrAnglers Choice12-1512-15
184John Myers Jr – John Myers IIIFishers of Men Team Trail12-1512-15
186Kyle Smith – Bill Jenkins JrMorristown Marine Team Trail12-1012-10
187Riley Macdonald – John MacdonaldBassmania20- 020- 0
188Billy Berthiaume – Casey BakerTN Valley Team Trail00- 0
188Clifford Bunch – Gary PilkentonMorristown Marine00- 0
188Brian Collard – Gary PrestonMedia Bass Team Trail00- 0
188Robert Guest – David HeatherlyCarolina Bass Challenge00- 0
188Kevin Jennings – DJ HicksFishers of Men Team Trail00- 0
188Peter Marrocco – Pat MarroccoBassmania Team Traili00- 0
188Eric Nelson – Robert GrikePriority James River00- 0
188James Shockey III – David CrawfordFishers of Men00- 0
188Christopher Sinclair – Caleb ConnerCarolina Bass Challenge00- 0
188Brad Webb – Clay PowersJames River Priority Team Trail00- 0

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