Arkansas Angler Moves Into Lead At B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Lake Hartwell

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Tray Huddleston of Arkansas takes the lead on the second day of the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., with a two-day total weight of 29 pounds, 8 ounces.

Photo by Gettys Brannon/B.A.S.S.

Oct. 20, 2017

Arkansas Angler Moves Into Lead At B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Lake Hartwell

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ANDERSON, S.C. — Tray Huddleston is playing a waiting game with the bass on Lake Hartwell and so far he is winning. Saturday, he hopes to seal the deal by winning the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors.

The Arkansas construction worker caught 15 pounds, 5 ounces Friday, to move from second place into the lead. His two-day total is 29-8.

Huddleston, 32, and a member of the Natural State Bass Club, got this far after testing his bass fishing skills at the local, state and regional levels. The bass are testing his patience, however, at the championship.

Huddleston is fishing offshore areas where bass are staging to feed on schools of passing baitfish. The challenge occurs after the surviving baitfish move out of range.

“I can’t figure out how to catch the bass when they aren’t feeding on the baitfish,” he explained.

So far, that’s not too serious of a problem. Huddleston has dialed into a textbook, seasonal pattern on Hartwell. In fall, the structure-oriented bass move from deep water to shallower main-lake points to ambush the baitfish.

“Timing is everything, and I have to be ready without much notice when they finally show up,” Huddleston said.

He plans to stick it out in a tight rotation of three primary areas. Being patient and avoiding the temptation to move around too much is the plan.

Coincidentally, patience helped Caleb Sumrall move into second place. The Louisiana angler added a limit weighing 15-10 to complete his overall total of 26-15.

“I had a promising area with a lot of fish that I couldn’t get to bite,” he said. “So I hunkered down and realized that slowing down and being patient might be best.”

The longer he stayed in one area, the more fishing improved. Moving offshore was another wise move. Taking advantage of the same fall textbook pattern in play by Huddleston and other top anglers was the payoff. He hopes to continue that success tomorrow.

“I have a good school of bass that are concentrated in one area,” he said. “When they turn on I can catch them.”

The game changer today was a thick blanket of fog that drifted over the launch site at the 7:30 a.m. takeoff time. B.A.S.S. officials delayed the start by one hour for safety reasons.

That posed a challenge for the anglers. Many depended on a productive early-morning bite to jumpstart their day. Initially, Marty Giddens welcomed the one-hour delay.

“A topwater bite isn’t working for me like it is for most of the anglers,” said Giddens, the Day 1 leader.

The Alabama home and plumbing contractor is catching bass in shallow water. Sunshine pushes the bass tighter to cover and makes them easier to catch.

Abundant sunshine proved of no benefit for Giddens Friday. He managed to catch just 4-15, but it only dropped him to third place.

Winning the championship is only one goal of this competition. The Top 3 anglers, determined tomorrow, advance to the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Coincidentally, the world championship of bass fishing is on Lake Hartwell, March 16-18, 2018.

Competing are anglers from 47 states and nine nations from the continents of North America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. The field of 120 anglers is divided between boaters and nonboaters.

Mike Powell of Midway, Utah, claimed the nonboater title. The member of the Top of Utah Bassmasters scored the win with a two-day total of 23 pounds, 12 ounces.

Powell won a Skeeter TZX190 boat and trailer rigged with Yamaha SHO 150 Outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics.

The used truck sales owner also earned paid entries in the division of his choosing of the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens. He also received a Marshal spot for the Classic at Lake Hartwell. Powell will also compete tomorrow in the championship round as a boater.

The final day begins at 7:30 a.m. ET, with the competition ending at 3:45 p.m. The final launch and weigh-in are at Green Pond Landing and Event Center in Anderson County.

2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors
10/19-10/21
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Tray Huddleston        Russellville, AR        10  29-08    0
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   15-05
2.  Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  26-15    0
Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   15-10
3.  Marty Giddens          Eclectic, AL            10  22-08    0
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   04-15
4.  Mike Lavallee          Sandy, UT               10  20-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   07-11
5.  James Van Rooyen       Lidwigsdorf Windhoek NA 10  20-00    0
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   07-13
6.  Luke Gritter           Otsego, MI              10  19-15    0
Day 1: 5   08-14     Day 2: 5   11-01
7.  Wyatt Smith            Stroud, OK              10  19-09    0
Day 1: 5   08-11     Day 2: 5   10-14
8.  Rick Svoboda           Cockeysville , MD        9  19-00    0
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 4   06-01
9.  Matt Pangrac           Norman , OK             10  18-14    0
Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 5   05-08
10. Dean Silvester         Boonah Queensland AUSTR 10  18-11    0
Day 1: 5   08-06     Day 2: 5   10-05
11. Kalib Lund             Glendale, AZ            10  18-03    0
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   05-11
12. Mark Lodge             Alfred, ME               8  17-13    0
Day 1: 3   05-14     Day 2: 5   11-15
13. Jared Thompson         Marvell, AR             10  17-13    0
Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   06-06
14. Ken Golubjatnikov      Pittsford, NY           10  17-06    0
Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   08-05
15. Soshi Kataoka          Ohtsu-Shi Shiga-Ken Jap 10  17-02    0
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   07-04
16. Beau Govreau           Cedar Hill, MO          10  16-13    0
Day 1: 5   07-13     Day 2: 5   09-00
17. Jason Hooper           Salem, OR                9  16-01    0
Day 1: 4   05-02     Day 2: 5   10-15
18. Rick Hamer             Charleston, WV           8  16-00    0
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 3   05-06
19. Mike Seal              Richmond, IN            10  15-10    0
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 5   07-09
20. Larry Triplett         Castle Rock, CO         10  15-10    0
Day 1: 5   07-14     Day 2: 5   07-12
21. Kyle Fox               Lakeland, FL            10  15-00    0
Day 1: 5   09-05     Day 2: 5   05-11
22. Jamie Laiche           Gonzales, LA             9  14-14    0
Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 4   06-15
23. Tim Hartman            Effingham, IL           10  14-12    0
Day 1: 5   06-12     Day 2: 5   08-00
24. Nicholas Papotto       Meriden , CT            10  14-12    0
Day 1: 5   07-11     Day 2: 5   07-01
25. Tom Jessop             Dalhart, TX              7  14-07    0
Day 1: 3   04-13     Day 2: 4   09-10
26. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO      10  14-05    0
Day 1: 5   06-07     Day 2: 5   07-14
27. Craig Torkleson        Sand Springs, OK         9  14-04    0
Day 1: 5   05-12     Day 2: 4   08-08
28. Justy Varkevisser      Johannesburg SOUTH AFRI  8  13-09    0
Day 1: 5   09-05     Day 2: 3   04-04
29. Greg Alexander         Hebron, MD              10  13-08    0
Day 1: 5   05-09     Day 2: 5   07-15
30. Gary Bonnet            Borden, IN               8  13-02    0
Day 1: 3   05-03     Day 2: 5   07-15
31. Tim Johnston           Kalispell , MT           7  12-13    0
Day 1: 2   03-05     Day 2: 5   09-08
32. Tony Lind              Auburn , WA              9  12-12    0
Day 1: 5   07-03     Day 2: 4   05-09
33. James Gildea           Weston, MA              10  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   05-09     Day 2: 5   07-02
34. Justin Spraske         Ashuelot, NH             6  12-09    0
Day 1: 1   02-01     Day 2: 5   10-08
35. Tadd Johnson           Lakeview, MN             7  12-08    0
Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 2   02-13
36. Ed Berndt III          Grandon, WI              7  12-05    0
Day 1: 5   08-14     Day 2: 2   03-07
37. Chris Carnes           York, SC                10  12-02    0
Day 1: 5   06-00     Day 2: 5   06-02
38. Jordan Bellendier      Cedar Rapids, IA         8  11-15    0
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 5   06-07
39. Bryson Mort            Post Falls, ID           7  11-14    0
Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 2   03-15
40. Michael McAdams        Cincinnati, OH           8  11-14    0
Day 1: 5   07-14     Day 2: 3   04-00
41. Ben Bilott             Larimer, PA              8  11-09    0
Day 1: 5   07-07     Day 2: 3   04-02
42. Michael Sentore        Gloucester City, NJ     10  11-08    0
Day 1: 5   05-10     Day 2: 5   05-14
43. Ryan Lavigne           Gonzales, LA            10  11-07    0
Day 1: 5   05-14     Day 2: 5   05-09
44. Richard Hladky         Yankton, SD              9  11-06    0
Day 1: 5   07-02     Day 2: 4   04-04
45. David Collyer          Harare ZIMBABWE          7  11-03    0
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 2   03-02
46. Keith Webb             Virginia Beach, VA       6  10-03    0
Day 1: 5   09-02     Day 2: 1   01-01
47. Tim Carini             Marietta, GA             6  09-07    0
Day 1: 5   08-00     Day 2: 1   01-07
48. Mark Williams          Taylorsville, NC         5  09-04    0
Day 1: 3   06-11     Day 2: 2   02-09
49. Jay Hotzak             Auroro Ontario CANADA    6  08-11    0
Day 1: 4   05-12     Day 2: 2   02-15
50. Nick Wood              Yreka, CA                8  08-09    0
Day 1: 3   02-12     Day 2: 5   05-13
51. Jeff Thompson          Camby, IN                7  07-09    0
Day 1: 5   04-12     Day 2: 2   02-13
52. Kevin Wiggins          Las Vegas, NV            5  07-04    0
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 4   05-11
53. Alfredo Kury           San Luis Potosi MEXICO   6  07-04    0
Day 1: 3   03-11     Day 2: 3   03-09
54. Russell Phillips       Guilford, VT             6  06-05    0
Day 1: 3   03-01     Day 2: 3   03-04
55. Steve Vann             Goldsboro, NC            4  05-09    0
Day 1: 2   03-08     Day 2: 2   02-01
56. Brian Croteau          Blackstone, MA           4  04-11    0
Day 1: 4   04-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
57. Luigi Papa             6132 ITALY               3  03-15    0
Day 1: 1   01-03     Day 2: 2   02-12
58. Chris Barnett          Russellville, TN         2  03-12    0
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 1   01-14
59. Johnny Johnson         Farmington, NM           3  03-03    0
Day 1: 3   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
60. Ramon Menezes          Fernao Ferro PORTUGAL    2  02-12    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   02-12
61. Kent Priel             No Platte, NE            2  01-13    0
Day 1: 1   01-00     Day 2: 1   00-13
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        41       253       436-09
2        32       230       370-15
———————————-
73       483       807-08

2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors
10/19-10/21
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Mike Powell            Midway, UT              10  23-12    0  $49,835.00
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   09-06
2.  Mike Spurlock          Ripley, WV              10  18-04    0   $1,500.00
Day 1: 5   09-05     Day 2: 5   08-15
3.  Damien McMahon         Pilot, VA               10  16-07    0   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   06-15     Day 2: 5   09-08
4.  Brandon Rickman        Marietta, GA             9  15-06    0     $500.00
Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 4   06-05
5.  Michael Restifo        Hoover, AL               9  15-04    0     $500.00
Day 1: 4   08-11     Day 2: 5   06-09
6.  John Ryan              Troy, MI                 9  14-14    0     $250.00
Day 1: 4   07-13     Day 2: 5   07-01
7.  Dylan Fryer            Hervey Bay Queensland A  8  14-04    0     $250.00
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 3   06-03
8.  Steve Sage             Brownville, TN           9  12-14    0     $250.00
Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 4   04-15
9.  James Topmiller III    Orlando, FL              9  11-14    0     $250.00
Day 1: 4   05-02     Day 2: 5   06-12
10. Kevin Simon            Reserve, LA              6  11-12    0     $250.00
Day 1: 3   05-00     Day 2: 3   06-12
11. Jody Adkins            Navarre, OH             10  11-08    0     $250.00
Day 1: 5   06-08     Day 2: 5   05-00
12. Stewart Weber          Louisville, KY           9  11-03    0     $250.00
Day 1: 5   06-07     Day 2: 4   04-12
13. Brian Cogburn          Oakdale, CA              9  11-02    0
Day 1: 4   05-11     Day 2: 5   05-07
14. Garrett McCrackin      Jennings, OK             6  11-01    0
Day 1: 5   09-04     Day 2: 1   01-13
15. Chris Simons           Cromwell, CT             8  10-10    0
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 3   02-09
16. Allan Ross-Watt        Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA   6  10-10    0
Day 1: 4   07-09     Day 2: 2   03-01
17. Justin Dodd            Kennewick, WA            6  10-00    0
Day 1: 3   05-11     Day 2: 3   04-05
18. Chuck Harrison         Ft Collins, CO           7  09-10    0
Day 1: 4   05-04     Day 2: 3   04-06
19. Gavin Fraser           Bulawayo ZIMBABWE        7  09-08    0
Day 1: 5   06-11     Day 2: 2   02-13
20. Josh Cotier            Clinton, MA              6  09-04    0
Day 1: 2   03-13     Day 2: 4   05-07
21. Francesco Nucciarelli  Perugia ITALY            8  09-02    0
Day 1: 3   03-06     Day 2: 5   05-12
22. Steven Congdon         North Stonington, CT     6  09-00    0
Day 1: 4   06-00     Day 2: 2   03-00
23. Brian Velasquez        Yuma, AZ                 6  08-14    0
Day 1: 5   07-14     Day 2: 1   01-00
24. Brad Jamieson          Bradford Ontario CANADA  8  08-10    0
Day 1: 5   05-05     Day 2: 3   03-05
25. Rob Tipton III         Williamstown, NJ         6  08-08    0
Day 1: 5   04-08     Day 2: 1   04-00
26. Andre Fidalgo          Parreira PORTUGAL        5  08-07    0
Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
27. Eddie Charlton         Alma, IL                 3  08-07    0
Day 1: 3   08-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
28. Michael Liska          Espanola, NM             6  08-07    0
Day 1: 4   05-14     Day 2: 2   02-09
29. Kyle Power             Cape Fair, MO            6  08-07    0
Day 1: 3   04-11     Day 2: 3   03-12
30. Gregory Ruff Jr        Bloomington, MN          6  08-05    0
Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 4   05-14
31. Spencer Strope         Orchard, NE              7  08-04    0
Day 1: 2   02-06     Day 2: 5   05-14
32. Mark Faber             Pagosa Springs, CO       7  08-03    0
Day 1: 5   05-09     Day 2: 2   02-10
33. Nathan Tumelson        Lewiston, ID             6  08-02    0
Day 1: 2   02-08     Day 2: 4   05-10
34. Will Smith             Moncks Corner, SC        5  07-14    0
Day 1: 2   04-00     Day 2: 3   03-14
35. Logan DeGree           Redmond, OR              5  07-08    0
Day 1: 3   03-05     Day 2: 2   04-03
36. Jason Betourney        Bridgeport, VT           5  07-05    0
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 2   03-05
37. Artemio Campos         Nueva Rosita MEXICO      6  07-03    0
Day 1: 4   04-13     Day 2: 2   02-06
38. Bailey Madere          Madisonville, LA         6  07-03    0
Day 1: 4   04-12     Day 2: 2   02-07
39. Liam Blake             Fairport , NY            5  06-06    0
Day 1: 2   02-13     Day 2: 3   03-09
40. Chad Dorney            Macungie, PA             4  06-01    0
Day 1: 3   03-10     Day 2: 1   02-07
41. Mike Rennie            Pioche, NV               6  05-14    0
Day 1: 5   04-12     Day 2: 1   01-02
42. Brock Enmeier          Enid, OK                 5  05-14    0
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 2   01-14
43. Austin Johnson         Noxon, MT                3  05-13    0
Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
44. Frank Mixon            Abilene, TX              5  05-12    0
Day 1: 4   04-11     Day 2: 1   01-01
45. Grant Callaway         Bethel, DE               6  05-08    0
Day 1: 2   01-11     Day 2: 4   03-13
46. John Fisette           Bowdoinham, ME           2  05-06    0
Day 1: 2   05-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
47. Khris Williams         Mount Holly , NC         4  05-06    0
Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 1   01-07
48. Jim Burrows            Nashua, NH               4  05-00    0
Day 1: 2   02-15     Day 2: 2   02-01
49. Thinus Williams        Windhoek MEXICO          3  04-13    0
Day 1: 3   04-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
50. Luke Koch              Campbellsport, WI        4  04-12    0
Day 1: 1   01-04     Day 2: 3   03-08
51. Brett Daniel           Lamar, AR                2  04-11    0
Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 1   01-08
52. Kevin Mullins          Brooklyn, IN             3  04-00    0
Day 1: 1   01-06     Day 2: 2   02-10
53. Scott Spencer          Raleigh, NC              3  03-08    0
Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 1   01-04
54. Brian Wilson           Bloomfield, IA           2  02-10    0
Day 1: 1   01-03     Day 2: 1   01-07
55. Naoyuki Kosa           Tsu Mie JAPAN            2  01-13    0
Day 1: 1   00-12     Day 2: 1   01-01
56. Neal Normand           Gonzales, LA             1  00-13    0
Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
57. Charles Capehart       Olathe, KS               1  00-12    0
Day 1: 1   00-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
58. Jerry Johnson          Fremont, NE              1  00-10    0
Day 1: 1   00-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
59. Mark Pryal             Silver Springs, MD       0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        17       193       292-02
2        10       143       200-04
———————————-
27       336       492-06