Jake Lee (left) and Jacob Foutz of Bryan College maintain their lead on the second day of the 2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Bemidji out of Bemidji, Minn., with a two-day total weight of 34 pounds, 10 ounces.
Bryan College Lions Extend Lead In Bassmaster College National Championship
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BEMIDJI, Minn. — Jake Lee and Jacob Foutz of Bryan College not only held the top spot, but extended their lead at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Bemidji. They caught a two-day total of 34 pounds, 10 ounces of bass and hold a 4-13 lead over their nearest pursuer.
After coming to the scales on Thursday with only four fish, Lee and Foutz knew if they managed to get five bites that they would have the quality to back up their performance on the first day. Instead of coming up one fish short of their five-bass limit, they filled it and managed to accumulate their daily total of 18-4 before 10:45 a.m.
“We knew yesterday that today would be a better day because of the conditions,” Lee said. “Our area was blown out as soon as the day started on Thursday, so with hardly any wind today, we knew it would be fine.”
Lee and Foutz managed to find an area away from crowds of other anglers and where bass were willing to cooperate. They are the only team in the Top 12 that isn’t fishing the Stump Lake region of this fishery.
“The first two hours of practice we fished this area and caught three 4-pounders,” Foutz said. “We never caught another bass after that. We knew we were going to live or die in this area so that’s what we’ve done.”
The duo played it safe after catching 18 pounds by returning to the ramp at 11 a.m. and never moving until they weighed their fish at 2:30 p.m. It may be an unorthodox approach to preventing a disaster, but with a limit like that they knew there was no reason to risk it.
Chasing the Bryan College teammates are Cole Floyd and Carter McNeil of Bethel University. They moved from third place into the runner-up position and did so by staying consistent. With 14-12 on Thursday and 15-1 today, they are in the hunt.
“We opted to start on a spot we found later in the day on Thursday,” Floyd said. “We had four big ones within the first 45 minutes. We left and went to Stump Lake to fill our limit.”
They have relied on numerous tactics to catch their 10 bass this week and they chalked up their pattern as strictly “junk fishing.” The strategy propelled them to second place.
The local favorites from Bemidji State University, brothers Thor and Mitch Swanson dropped to third place, and they felt fortunate to have filled their limit. At 11:30 a.m. they only had two bass in their livewell and weren’t sure if it would be enough to make the Top 12. Instead they are in the thick of the battle and are 7-3 behind the leaders.
Bethel University boasts another team in the Top 4 with Garrett Enders and Cody Huff moving from 12th into fourth. Tyler Firebaugh and Chad Sweitzer of Chico State sit in fifth, Josh Worth of Colorado Mesa University is in sixth, Hunter McCarty and Sloan Pennington of the University of North Alabama are in seventh, Brian Pahl and John Garrett of Bethel University are in eighth, Patrick Walters and Tyler All of the University of South Carolina are in ninth, John Duarte and Chesley Alford of Coastal Carolina University are 10th, Sam Carris and John Berry of Tennessee Tech University are 11th and Tyler Craig and Spencer Lambert of the University of Louisiana-Monroe took the final spot and will leave the dock in 12th on Saturday.
Not only are these 12 teams battling for a National Championship title on Saturday, but the Top 4 teams will advance to a bracketed competition for a single spot in the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods as well as entry into all nine Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens next year.
Lee and Foutz of Bryan College brought the big bag of the tournament to the scales on Friday with their five-bass limit weighing 18-4.
Logan Laprarie and Aaron Belgard still hold the top spot for the big bass of the event because of their 6-6 giant from Thursday.
The Top 12 will take off from Paul Bunyan Park at 6 a.m. CT. Weigh-in will take place at the park at 2:30 p.m.
The event is hosted by Bemidji State University and Visit Bemidji.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops
8/10/2017 – 8/12/2017
Lake Bemidji – Paul Bunyan Park – Bemidji, MN
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Jacob Foutz – Jake Lee Bryan College 5 5 18- 4 9 9 34-10
2 Cole Floyd – Carter McNeil Bethel University 5 5 15- 1 10 10 29-13
3 Thor Swanson – Mitch Swanson Bemidji State University 5 5 11-11 10 10 27- 7
4 Garrett Enders – Cody Huff Bethel University 5 5 13- 2 10 10 25- 8
5 Tyler Firebaugh – Chad Sweitzer Chico State 4 4 11- 4 9 9 25- 5
6 Josh Worth – Colorado Mesa University 5 5 13- 7 9 8 24-10
7 Hunter McCarty – Sloan Pennington U. of North Alabama 5 4 13-12 10 9 24- 4
8 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 4 4 9- 4 9 9 23-15
9 Patrick Walters – Tyler All University of South Carolina 5 5 16- 2 10 10 23-12
10 John Duarte – Chesley Alford Coastal Carolina University 3 3 11- 0 8 8 23- 4
11 Sam Carris – John Berry Tennessee Tech University 5 5 10- 5 10 10 23- 2
12 Tyler Craig – Spencer Lambert University of Louisiana at Monroe 4 4 11- 2 9 9 22- 7
13 Daniel Kennedy – Cody Stahl SCAD 3 3 9-13 6 6 22- 5
14 Nick Ratliff – Luke Patterson Campbellsville University 5 4 13-10 10 9 22- 4
15 Tyler Rivet – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State University 4 4 10-10 8 8 22- 4
16 Brody McWilliams – Tristan Gold Indiana University 3 3 7- 5 8 8 21-13
17 Cole Sands – Nathan Bell Bryan College 5 5 13-14 9 9 21-13
18 Brady Bowden – Tyler Pennington Faulkner University 5 5 16- 5 6 6 19- 6
19 Trent Newman – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 4 4 12- 4 9 9 19- 2
20 Stetson Overton – Cason Kelley Tarleton State University 4 4 8- 2 9 9 17-13
21 Chase Chastain – Andrew Fisher Jacksonville State University 2 2 6- 8 5 5 17- 4
22 Noah Pescitelli – Sean Hall SCAD 4 4 7-13 9 9 17- 2
23 Corey Neece – Nick Hatfield Tusculum College 3 3 12-10 4 4 15-10
24 Jake Dorony – Hunter Scharphorn Lake Superior State University 3 3 4- 9 7 7 15- 3
25 Austin Handley – Caleb Wozniak Auburn University 2 2 5-12 7 7 15- 0
26 Sheldon Rogge – Travis Blenn Kansas State University 3 3 9- 7 6 6 14- 9
27 Rick Couch Jr – John Kaufman U. of Central Florida 1 1 2- 7 6 6 14- 8
28 J T Russell – Chase Grubbs University of Montevallo 1 1 3- 4 5 5 14- 5
29 John Jay – Grant Pietsch Texas A&M University 4 4 9- 2 7 7 14- 3
30 Justin Seeton – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 3 3 7-15 7 7 14- 0
31 TJ Tucker – Bennett Pierce Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 13-14
32 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 2 2 6- 3 5 5 13-12
33 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum Texas Tech University 4 4 11- 3 5 5 13- 7
34 Austin Carr – Justin Carr Heartland Community College 0 0 0- 0 5 5 13- 6
35 Luke Gillund – Robby Troje Bemidji State University 3 3 7- 1 6 6 13- 2
36 Justin St Onge – Ryan McLaughlin Haywood Community College 1 1 3- 1 6 6 12-13
37 Anderson Aldag – Lee Mattox University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 3 3 12-10
38 Lawrence Kuznik – Dakota Moore University of Louisiana at LaFayette 0 0 0- 0 3 3 12- 3
39 Hunter Ward – Stewart Ward Central Alabama Comm College 2 2 2-13 6 6 12- 3
40 Matt Brown – DJ Barber Bryan College 2 2 3-12 4 4 11-11
41 Keegan Russell – Lake Superior State University 3 3 7- 5 5 5 11- 5
42 Collin Cropp – Louie Dazzo U. of Wisconsin Whitewater 0 0 0- 0 4 4 10- 7
43 Tanner Ward – Kent State 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10- 5
44 Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 2 2 4- 9 5 5 9-15
45 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 3- 1 2 2 9- 7
46 Ben Stone – Collin Smith Lander University 0 0 0- 0 4 4 9- 4
47 Dawson Cranford – Charles Norris University of Louisiana at LaFayette 1 1 1-13 4 4 9- 4
48 Jacob Louis – JT Russell McKendree University 2 2 6- 2 3 3 9- 2
49 Michael Rollert – Corbin Davis Texas A&M University 1 1 3- 5 3 3 9- 2
50 Jacob Wall – University of Oregon 1 1 3- 1 4 4 9- 1
51 Zane Loveday – Denver Satterlee Calhoun Community College 2 2 3- 4 4 4 8- 3
52 Austin Mize – Parker Davis U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 3 3 7-11
53 Benjamin Hager – Noah Shaver UNC Charlotte 2 2 4-12 4 4 7-11
54 Andrew Warbington – Brant Lewis University of West Alabama 4 4 7- 7 4 4 7- 7
55 Jonathan Kelley – Max McQuaide Coastal Carolina University 1 1 1- 2 4 4 7- 4
56 John Moore – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0 4 4 7- 2
57 Jesse Erb – Gavin Oswalt University of Pittsburgh 0 0 0- 0 3 2 6-10
58 Luke Parlow – Brad Burton Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 4 4 6- 8
59 Baylor Ronemus – Cole Tinsley Clemson University 2 2 6- 8 2 2 6- 8
60 Jacob Harris – Tyler Smith Southeast Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 7
61 Ryan Winchester – Tyler Black Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 6
62 Reed Foster – Colt Benedict Dallas Baptist University 4 4 4-14 5 5 6- 6
63 Dillon Harrell – Dustin Moreno Sam Houston State University 1 1 2-12 2 2 6- 6
64 Hunter Freeman – Thomas Soileau University of Louisiana at Monroe 3 3 3-13 5 5 6- 2
65 Nicholas Moore – Sean Solomon Southeast Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6- 1
66 Joshua Butts – Reid Conner Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 6- 0 2 2 6- 0
67 Brandon Black – Chase Christie University of West Georgia 0 0 0- 0 1 1 5-14
68 Brandon Bland – Spencer DeFoor U. of South Alabama 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5-10
69 Matthew Bowden – Barton Courtney Texas Tech University 1 1 1- 3 2 2 5- 9
70 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-13
71 Lance Freeman – Cameron Brooks Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 4- 4
72 Evan Owrey – KJ Queen Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 2
73 Max Gresham – Zack Blake Valdosta State University 2 2 3-15 2 2 3-15
74 Michael Fisher – Brandon Padilla Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3-13
75 Dylan Kear – Dalton Price Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3-12
76 Connor Chapman – Jaron Deal Kennesaw State University 1 1 3-10 1 1 3-10
77 Chandler Robertson – Austin Culbertson University of Missouri 0 0 0- 0 1 1 3- 7
78 Crosley Welch – Matt Fielder Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 4
79 Gregory Green – Dustin Nash Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-14
80 Tristan Thomas – Ty Johnston U. of North Georgia 1 1 0- 0 2 2 2-11
81 Austin Butler – Will Gentry Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-11
82 Paul Davis – Shane Parker Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-10
83 Dalton Childers – Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 7
84 Justin Guarnaccio – Michael Tesch University of Wisconsin Stout 1 1 1- 6 2 2 2- 7
85 Zachary Ramsey – Joshua Rockefeller Augusta University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-11
86 Gavyn Bridges – Dylan Anderson UT Chattanooga 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
86 Qiurun Chen – Johns Hopkins University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
86 Hunter Louden – Cully Scroggins Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
86 Hunter Mills – Hunter McKinley Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
86 Brock Wilke – Brady Faust McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS
Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Deville, LA 6- 6
2 Sheldon Rogge – Travis Blenn St George, KS 4-14
TOTALS
Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 241 239 601- 7 21
2 166 164 429-11 11