Bill Brown of Grand Junction, Colo., maintains the lead on Day 2 of the the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Divisional presented by Magellan Outdoors on Lake Mead held out of Henderson, Nev., after bringing in 13 pounds, 6 ounces for a two-day total weight of 34-1.
April 7, 2016
Utah Wins State Title At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional
HENDERSON, Nev. — Utah won the competition between 11 western states Thursday, claiming the state title at the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors.
Utah’s winning effort got a boost from Bill Brown, who maintained his individual lead in the tournament that concludes Friday.
Utah won the state title by virtue of a tie-breaking rule. The teams from Utah and Nevada both caught 335 pounds, 15 ounces after two days of competition. In the event of a tie, the angler with the heaviest single-day catch earns his state the title. That Utah angler was Brown, who caught 20-0 on Day 1.
Utah won a Triton 189 TrX with a trailer, accessories and a Mercury 150 Pro XS. The total package value is $33,340.
Idaho claimed third place with 326-4, while Washington took fourth with 277-12 and Colorado placed fifth with 271-8.
Utah anglers hold down the top four spots on the individual leader board. Brown holds a narrow lead, with Travis Graham in second with 31-5, Mike Lavallee in third with 30-4 and Ben Byrd in fourth with 29-5.
“Most of these guys (from Utah) fish clear water and are very skilled on this type of water,” said Rick Culver, president of the Utah B.A.S.S. Nation.
That’s an understatement, actually. Lake Mead is downstream on the Colorado River from Lake Powell, the home lake for Utah.
“We have a lot of tournaments on Powell and it fishes the same way,” continued Culver. “So things just naturally fell into place for us.”
Brown caught a limit weighing 13-6 on Day 2 by using the same strategy as Day 1. He is fishing the middle portion of the lake where bass are just beginning to spawn.
“I went back to the same area thinking I could catch the bass I lost there yesterday,” said Brown, a member of the Top of Utah Bass Anglers.
On Day 1, Brown lost enough bass in the 4-pound range to draw him back. His choice of lures is the reason why.
“I’m fishing a topwater lure and you get your fair share of missed strikes,” he said. “The bass are hitting short, and I am having to try and catch them twice.”
The slaphappy bass are getting a second cast from a leadhead jig. He is flipping the lure along shoreline tules when not using it behind the topwater. On the upside the lure imitates baitfish, and spawning bass usually strike aggressively to defend their beds.
“It’s a very niche bite, and I realize there are risks,” he continued. “But for me a topwater is a confidence bait that I feel very comfortable using for spawning bass.”
The tournament began Wednesday with a full field of 212 anglers representing B.A.S.S. clubs from 11 states. After two days, the field has been trimmed to the Top 21 anglers and the three highest-ranking boaters and non-boaters from each state.
Friday’s round will determine the overall winner and the qualifiers for the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors. The top angler from each state advances to the championship.
The Livingston Lures Leader Award was presented to Brown. He earned the $250 bonus by leading the tournament on Day 2.
Callville Bay Resort and Marina is tournament headquarters. Anglers depart at 6:15 a.m. PT and return for the weigh-in beginning at 2:30 p.m.
2016 Academy Sports & Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors 4/6-4/8
Lake Mead, Henderson NV.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Brown Grand Junction, CO (UT) 10 34-01 0
2. Travis Graham De Beque, CO (UT) 10 31-05 0
3. Mike Lavallee Sandy, UT (UT) 10 30-04 0
4. Ben Byrd Moab, UT (UT) 10 29-05 0
5. Jason Hickey Weiser, ID (ID) 10 29-01 0
6. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID (ID) 10 28-06 0
7. Roger Mezenen Morgan, UT (UT) 10 28-06 0
8. Anthony Salazar Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 28-05 0
9. Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV (NV) 10 28-02 0
10. Kalib Lund Glendale, AZ (AZ) 10 27-14 0
11. Nate Caldwell Ft Collins, CO (CO) 10 27-01 0
12. Bubba O’Neill Evanston, WY (WY) 10 26-09 0
13. Nicholas Fitzsimmons Lyle, WA (OR) 10 26-09 0
14. David Naugle Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 26-05 0
15. Justin Campbell Pasco, WA (WA) 10 26-04 0
16. Brandon Genova Denver, CO (CO) 10 25-12 0
17. Jesse Milicevic Henderson, NV (NV) 10 25-06 0
18. Mark Lassagne San Ramon, CA (CA) 10 25-05 0
19. Ron Mace Kennewick, WA (WA) 10 25-04 0
20. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (WA) 10 25-01 0
21. Darrell Ocamica Payette, ID (ID) 10 24-14 0
22. Rick Culver Taylor, UT (UT) 10 24-12 0
23. Jason Hemminger Oxnard, CA (CA) 10 24-10 0
24. Jason Crone Kalispell, MT (MT) 10 24-08 0
25. Bill Golightly Preston, ID (WY) 10 23-14 0
26. David Mays Portland, OR (OR) 10 23-13 0
27. Sean Minderman Spokane, WA (WA) 10 23-13 0
28. Matt Fish Pasco, WA (WA) 10 23-12 0
29. Brent Shores Boise, ID (ID) 10 23-09 0
30. Kevin Wiggins Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 23-07 0
31. Jim Davis Eagle, ID (ID) 10 23-04 0
32. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO (CO) 10 23-04 0
33. Dane Lawrence Butte, MT (OR) 10 23-01 0
34. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID (WY) 10 22-10 0
35. Greg Taylor Tucson, AZ (AZ) 10 22-06 0
36. Tucker Cappella Alcova, WY (WY) 10 22-05 0
37. Steve Lund Glendale, AZ (AZ) 10 22-04 0
38. Jay Evans Corvallis, MT (MT) 9 22-03 0
39. Byron Chaves Tyler, TX (OR) 10 22-01 0
40. Dan Jordan Camas, WA (OR) 10 21-15 0
41. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (CO) 10 21-12 0
42. Rodney Brown Sacramento, CA (CA) 10 21-07 0
43. Asa Stephenson Henderson , NV (NV) 8 21-05 0
44. Patrick Davis Henderson, NV (NV) 10 21-04 0
45. Reid Smith Bozeman, MT (MT) 10 21-04 0
46. Chase Colby Heber City, UT (UT) 10 21-01 0
47. Jacob Russell Tucson, AZ (AZ) 10 20-15 0
48. Randy Campbell Sandia Park, NM (NM) 7 20-13 0
49. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT (MT) 9 20-10 0
50. Sean Andrachick Marion, MT (MT) 10 20-08 0
51. Don Dethloff Jr Coeur d Alene, ID (ID) 8 20-08 0
52. David Smith Sr Albuquerque, NM (NM) 10 20-02 0
53. Joe Raftery Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 20-02 0
54. Mike Dominick Alberton, MT (MT) 7 19-12 0
55. Mitch Ratchford Kennewick, WA (WA) 7 19-09 0
56. Tony Shuyler Eagle , ID (ID) 10 19-06 0
57. Kent Thomson Millville, UT (UT) 8 19-02 0
58. Ron Welch Corona, CA (CA) 10 19-00 0
59. Gary Collins Moorpark, CA (CA) 9 17-12 0
60. Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA (CA) 8 17-05 0
61. Garry Harner Milliken, CO (CO) 8 17-02 0
62. David Flemming Highlands Ranch, CO (CO 8 16-15 0
63. Kelly Lee Twin Falls, ID (ID) 8 16-13 0
64. Alan Zamora North Las Vegas, NV (NV 10 16-10 0
65. Joe Johnson Orem, UT (UT) 8 16-08 0
66. Bryan Kurata Thousand Oaks, CA (CA) 8 16-08 0
67. Moe Gutierrez Albuquberque, NM (NM) 10 16-06 0
68. Gerald Kimzey Willcox, AZ (AZ) 8 16-05 0
69. Kim Pfaff Deer Lodge, MT (MT) 7 15-15 0
70. Derek Phillips Castle Rock, CO (CO) 8 15-09 0
71. Mark Hilyer Libby, MT (MT) 9 15-08 0
72. Randell Bell Elephant Butte, NM (NM) 7 15-02 0
73. Richard Shaff Jr Richland, WA (WA) 6 14-13 0
74. Pete Acosta Brighton, CO (CO) 7 14-13 0
75. Brian Bolander Scottsdale, AZ (AZ) 7 14-10 0
76. Stephen Tauriello Las Vegas, NV (NV) 8 14-08 0
77. Rhett Fornof Midway, UT (UT) 10 14-06 0
78. Jason Hooper Salem, OR (OR) 8 14-02 0
79. Chris Gilkison Bakersfield, CA (CA) 7 13-13 0
80. Travis Jarvis Wilder, ID (ID) 8 13-12 0
81. James Hawkes Apache Juntion, AZ (AZ) 6 13-10 0
82. William Barkley Kalispell, MT (MT) 6 13-04 0
83. Todd Gentzel Colorado Springs, CO (C 8 13-00 0
84. Andy Bravence Globe, AZ (AZ) 7 12-14 0
85. Kenny Oldham Coalville, UT (WY) 5 12-13 0
86. Jason Virgil Hermiston, OR (OR) 6 12-09 0
87. JL Neal Bend, OR (OR) 5 12-07 0
88. Johnny Johnson Farmington, NM (NM) 7 11-12 0
89. Robert Gritski Goldendale, OR (OR) 5 11-11 0
90. Mark Warren Castle Rock, CO (CO) 6 11-08 0
91. Jonathan Lumper Kennewick, WA (WA) 5 11-07 0
92. Don Welch Morgan Hill, CA (CA) 6 10-05 0
93. Lloyd Gilreath Sr Boise, ID (ID) 4 10-04 0
94. Stan Fisher Trout Creek, MT (MT) 5 09-09 0
95. Dan Betz Hood River, OR (OR) 5 09-08 0
96. Jon Kelley Arvin, CA (CA) 3 09-07 0
97. Jeremy Percifield Kennewick, WA (WA) 5 09-01 0
98. Joe Ramirez Bayard, NM (NM) 4 08-07 0
99. Chris James Tacoma, WA (WA) 3 07-14 0
100. Rick Mason Glendale, AZ (AZ) 4 07-14 0
101. Thomas Edwards Gilbert, AZ (AZ) 4 07-09 0
102. Joe Cole Coalville, UT (WY) 4 07-07 0
103. Earl Conway Albuquerque, NM (NM) 5 07-00 0
104. Wade Macias Gallup, NM (NM) 3 05-15 0
105. Mario Carreon Las Cruces, NM (NM) 3 05-15 0
106. Donnie Gatling Albuquerque, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 67 437 1024-12
2 65 427 962-15
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132 864 1987-11
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
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State Lbs-Oz
1 UTAH 335-15
2 NEVADA 335-15
3 IDAHO 326-04
4 WASHINGTON 277-12
5 COLORADO 271-08
6 ARIZONA 271-02
7 OREGON 270-06
8 CALIFORNIA 264-12
9 MONTANA 259-15
10 NEW MEXICO 176-11
11 WYOMING 173-11
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
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WASHINGTON
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Justin Campbell Pasco, WA 10 26-04 0
2 Ron Mace Kennewick, WA 10 25-04 0
3 David Kromm Kennewick, WA 10 25-01 0
4 Sean Minderman Spokane, WA 10 23-13 0
5 Matt Fish Pasco, WA 10 23-12 0
6 Mitch Ratchford Kennewick, WA 7 19-09 0
7 Richard Shaff Jr Richland, WA 6 14-13 0
8 Jonathan Lumper Kennewick, WA 5 11-07 0
9 Jeremy Percifield Kennewick, WA 5 09-01 0
10 Chris James Tacoma, WA 3 07-14 0
IDAHO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jason Hickey Weiser, ID 10 29-01 0
2 Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 10 28-06 0
3 Darrell Ocamica Payette, ID 10 24-14 0
4 Brent Shores Boise, ID 10 23-09 0
5 Jim Davis Eagle, ID 10 23-04 0
6 Don Dethloff Jr Coeur d Alene, ID 8 20-08 0
7 Tony Shuyler Eagle , ID 10 19-06 0
8 Kelly Lee Twin Falls, ID 8 16-13 0
9 Travis Jarvis Wilder, ID 8 13-12 0
10 Lloyd Gilreath Sr Boise, ID 4 10-04 0
OREGON
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nicholas Fitzsimmons Lyle, WA 10 26-09 0
2 David Mays Portland, OR 10 23-13 0
3 Dane Lawrence Butte, MT 10 23-01 0
4 Byron Chaves Tyler, TX 10 22-01 0
5 Dan Jordan Camas, WA 10 21-15 0
6 Jason Hooper Salem, OR 8 14-02 0
7 Jason Virgil Hermiston, OR 6 12-09 0
8 JL Neal Bend, OR 5 12-07 0
9 Robert Gritski Goldendale, OR 5 11-11 0
10 Dan Betz Hood River, OR 5 09-08 0
ARIZONA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kalib Lund Glendale, AZ 10 27-14 0
2 Greg Taylor Tucson, AZ 10 22-06 0
3 Steve Lund Glendale, AZ 10 22-04 0
4 Jacob Russell Tucson, AZ 10 20-15 0
5 Gerald Kimzey Willcox, AZ 8 16-05 0
6 Brian Bolander Scottsdale, AZ 7 14-10 0
7 James Hawkes Apache Juntion, AZ 6 13-10 0
8 Andy Bravence Globe, AZ 7 12-14 0
9 Rick Mason Glendale, AZ 4 07-14 0
10 Thomas Edwards Gilbert, AZ 4 07-09 0
WYOMING
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bubba O’Neill Evanston, WY 10 26-09 0
2 Bill Golightly Preston, ID 10 23-14 0
3 Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 10 22-10 0
4 Tucker Cappella Alcova, WY 10 22-05 0
5 Kenny Oldham Coalville, UT 5 12-13 0
6 Joe Cole Coalville, UT 4 07-07 0
NEW MEXICO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Randy Campbell Sandia Park, NM 7 20-13 0
2 David Smith Sr Albuquerque, NM 10 20-02 0
3 Moe Gutierrez Albuquberque, NM 10 16-06 0
4 Randell Bell Elephant Butte, NM 7 15-02 0
5 Johnny Johnson Farmington, NM 7 11-12 0
6 Joe Ramirez Bayard, NM 4 08-07 0
7 Earl Conway Albuquerque, NM 5 07-00 0
8 Wade Macias Gallup, NM 3 05-15 0
9 Mario Carreon Las Cruces, NM 3 05-15 0
10 Donnie Gatling Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
CALIFORNIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Lassagne San Ramon, CA 10 25-05 0
2 Jason Hemminger Oxnard, CA 10 24-10 0
3 Rodney Brown Sacramento, CA 10 21-07 0
4 Ron Welch Corona, CA 10 19-00 0
5 Gary Collins Moorpark, CA 9 17-12 0
6 Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA 8 17-05 0
7 Bryan Kurata Thousand Oaks, CA 8 16-08 0
8 Chris Gilkison Bakersfield, CA 7 13-13 0
9 Don Welch Morgan Hill, CA 6 10-05 0
10 Jon Kelley Arvin, CA 3 09-07 0
MONTANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jason Crone Kalispell, MT 10 24-08 0
2 Jay Evans Corvallis, MT 9 22-03 0
3 Reid Smith Bozeman, MT 10 21-04 0
4 Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 9 20-10 0
5 Sean Andrachick Marion, MT 10 20-08 0
6 Mike Dominick Alberton, MT 7 19-12 0
7 Kim Pfaff Deer Lodge, MT 7 15-15 0
8 Mark Hilyer Libby, MT 9 15-08 0
9 William Barkley Kalispell, MT 6 13-04 0
10 Stan Fisher Trout Creek, MT 5 09-09 0
UTAH
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bill Brown Grand Junction, CO 10 34-01 0
2 Travis Graham De Beque, CO 10 31-05 0
3 Mike Lavallee Sandy, UT 10 30-04 0
4 Ben Byrd Moab, UT 10 29-05 0
5 Roger Mezenen Morgan, UT 10 28-06 0
6 Rick Culver Taylor, UT 10 24-12 0
7 Chase Colby Heber City, UT 10 21-01 0
8 Kent Thomson Millville, UT 8 19-02 0
9 Joe Johnson Orem, UT 8 16-08 0
10 Rhett Fornof Midway, UT 10 14-06 0
COLORADO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nate Caldwell Ft Collins, CO 10 27-01 0
2 Brandon Genova Denver, CO 10 25-12 0
3 Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 10 23-04 0
4 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 10 21-12 0
5 Garry Harner Milliken, CO 8 17-02 0
6 David Flemming Highlands Ranch, CO 8 16-15 0
7 Derek Phillips Castle Rock, CO 8 15-09 0
8 Pete Acosta Brighton, CO 7 14-13 0
9 Todd Gentzel Colorado Springs, CO 8 13-00 0
10 Mark Warren Castle Rock, CO 6 11-08 0
NEVADA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Anthony Salazar Las Vegas, NV 10 28-05 0
2 Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV 10 28-02 0
3 David Naugle Las Vegas, NV 10 26-05 0
4 Jesse Milicevic Henderson, NV 10 25-06 0
5 Kevin Wiggins Las Vegas, NV 10 23-07 0
6 Asa Stephenson Henderson , NV 8 21-05 0
7 Patrick Davis Henderson, NV 10 21-04 0
8 Joe Raftery Las Vegas, NV 10 20-02 0
9 Alan Zamora North Las Vegas, NV 10 16-10 0
10 Stephen Tauriello Las Vegas, NV 8 14-08 0
