Utah angler Thomas Nokes wins the 2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional with a three-day total weight of 33 pounds, 15 ounces on Shasta Lake, California.
May 10, 2019
Final Round Surge Lifts Thomas Nokes To Narrow Win In B.A.S.S. Nation Regional
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REDDING, Calif. — Following two consistent performances on the first two days of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional on Shasta Lake, Thomas Nokes saved the best for last and mounted a final-round rally that propelled him to a three-day winning weight of 33 pounds, 15 ounces.
For his victory, Nokes earned $5,000 and a spot in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, to be held Nov. 6-8 on Lake Hartwell, South Carolina.
The Riverton, Utah, boater placed 14th on Day 1 with a five-bass limit catch of 10-12 and then advanced to 10th on Day 2 by adding a limit that went 10-1. Today, Nokes added 13-2 — the biggest catch of the day — to surge up the standings and overtake Day 2 leader Taylor Smith by a 5-ounce margin.
Nokes was the top boater for the Utah B.A.S.S. Nation state team, which finished third in the event’s team competition. Most of his fish came on what he described as an old-school tactic, but today it offered a tremendous opportunity that he leveraged to the fullest.
“I started out this morning doing the same thing I’d been doing all week — using a 1/4-ounce dart head with a Berkley Power Worm,” he said. “I got a random big fish — a 4-pounder — off a point that I had worn out for the last three days. It just happened to be there today.”
Nokes said he and his nonboater got their limits fairly quickly by fishing main-lake points. Unsatisfied with his weight, he knew he needed to make something big happen, so he relocated to Shasta Lake’s Pitt Arm and immediately got to work.
“We rolled in and made a few casts, and they were there,” Nokes said. “We landed on a big topwater bite and the fish were busting shad in the backs of little tiny cuts. We spent about three hours whooping and hollering and catching fish.
“It was a mess; we had tied-up stuff all over the boat, broken lines and baits, but it was fun. We took a long time culling things out and we’d regroup until the fish would come back up somewhere else and we’d go over there and get them.”
Nokes caught his schooling fish on a bone-colored Zara Super Spook. The fish seemed to respond best to a speedy retrieve.
Once he felt comfortable with his day’s productivity, Nokes returned to Bridge Bay Marina early. With a potentially winning limit in his livewell, he was taking no chances.
“We came back down here around 1 o’clock (an hour before weigh-in) and sat at the dock for an hour to make sure we made it in time,” Nokes said.
Smith, who hails from Spokane Valley, Wash., caught a limit that weighed 10-8 and finished with a second-place tournament total of 33-10. He began the final round by focusing on spotted bass early with a River2Sea Whopper Plopper, a Reaction Innovations Vixen and a Lucky Craft Sammy. This pattern yielded one keeper before Smith transitioned to his largemouth pattern.
“After my nonboater got his limit, I ran my largemouth stuff and flipped all day,” Smith said. “I was flipping a Texas-rigged Senko.”
Smith was the top boater for the Idaho B.A.S.S. Nation state team.
Nate Caldwell of Fort Collins, Colo., finished third with 32-3. Topping the Colorado B.A.S.S. Nation state team, Caldwell rose from 26th on Day 1 to eighth on Day 2 before rising to third on the strength of his final-round limit that weighed 11-1.
“I was throwing 3.3 Keitech swimbaits on a 1/4-ounce white head for spawning spotted bass that I couldn’t see,” Caldwell said. “Occasionally, I’d follow up with Ned rigs and drop shots. I caught some nice largemouth in practice, but I abandoned the pattern of running pockets because everyone was doing it. I just played the numbers game and tried to cull up. I caught 75 to 100 fish a day.”
Trevor Scott of Windsor, Co. won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with his 7-4.
Jonathan “J.B.” Bryson of Las Vegas, Nev., completed the wire-to-wire victory in the nonboater division with daily weights of 8-3, 7-11 and 5-13 for a tournament total of 21-11. His was a simple strategy of drop shotting a Keitech Easy Shiner to secure a couple of keepers and then switching to a larger drop shot with a 7-inch Zoom Trick Worm.
“My boaters put me on fish, so I just tried to whack as many as I could,” he said. “I wasn’t going for the big giant fish; I was just going for numbers.”
The tactics did produce one big bass, however. Bryson won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for the nonboater division with his 4-1.
2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional 5/8-5/10
Lake Shasta, Redding CA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Thomas Nokes Riverton, UT (UT) 15 33-15 0
2. Taylor Smith Spokane Valley, WA (ID) 15 33-10 0
3. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO (CO) 15 32-03 0
4. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR (OR) 15 32-01 0
5. Steve Tosh Modesto, CA (CA) 15 31-15 0
6. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID (ID) 15 31-15 0
7. Levi McNeill West Valley City, UT (W 15 31-13 0
8. Trevor Scott Windsor, CO (CO) 15 31-09 0
9. Kory Ray Lebanon, OR (OR) 15 31-03 0
10. Joe Cole Coalville, UT (WY) 15 31-02 0
11. Gabriel Litterell Coer D’Alene, ID (ID) 15 31-00 0
12. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO (UT) 15 30-06 0
13. Jason Virgil Hermiston, OR (OR) 15 29-11 0
14. Steve Lund Glendale, AZ (AZ) 15 29-10 0
15. Kelly Kellogg Kelso, WA (WA) 15 29-09 0
16. Tate Brown Orem, UT (UT) 15 29-08 0
17. Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV (NV) 15 29-08 0
18. Tim Rawlings Malad City, ID (WY) 15 29-07 0
19. Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, NM (NM) 15 29-07 0
20. Zack Holwerda Maricopa, AZ (AZ) 15 29-00 0
21. Kelvin Ratchford Kennwick, WA (WA) 15 28-10 0
22. Cole Schneider Rathdrum, ID (ID) 15 28-08 0
23. Kenneth Cleveland Bakersfield, CA (CA) 15 28-08 0
24. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT (MT) 15 28-07 0
25. Stephen Roth Kalispell, MT (MT) 15 28-00 0
26. Dick Watson Alta Loma, CA (NV) 15 26-15 0
27. Charles Cornelison Placerville, CA (CA) 15 26-10 0
28. Randell Bell Elephant Butte, NM (NM) 15 24-14 0
29. Jacob Russell Tucson, AZ (AZ) 10 19-01 0
30. JJ Gibbs IV Lake Havasu City, AZ (A 10 18-15 0
31. Josh Ragan Rathdrum, ID (ID) 10 18-14 0
32. Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM (NM) 10 18-13 0
33. Wade Headrick South Jordan, UT (UT) 10 18-11 0
34. Douglas Jones North Las Vegas, NV (NV 10 18-10 0
35. Bill Brown Grand Junction, CO (UT) 10 18-09 0
36. Brian Kennemer Bakersfield, CA (CA) 10 18-08 0
37. Jay Evans Missoula, MT (MT) 10 18-08 0
38. Robert Gritski Pendleton, OR (WA) 10 18-07 0
39. Justin Campbell Pasco, WA (WA) 10 18-06 0
40. Tyler Ivie Farr West, UT (UT) 10 18-06 0
41. Bryson Mort Post Falls, ID (MT) 10 18-05 0
42. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (CO) 10 18-04 0
43. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ (AZ) 10 18-04 0
44. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (WA) 10 18-02 0
45. Jason Hickey Weiser, ID (ID) 10 18-02 0
46. Kevin Melford Camarillo, CA (CA) 10 17-15 0
47. Christian Gladfelter Albuquerque, NM (NM) 10 17-14 0
48. David Withee Pueblo West, CO (CO) 10 17-13 0
49. Brett Felter Malad, ID (WY) 10 17-12 0
50. Randy Carroll Litchfield Park, AZ (AZ 10 17-12 0
51. Justin Orr Elephant, NM (NM) 10 17-12 0
52. Zach Barnes Boise, ID (ID) 10 17-11 0
53. Nathan Tumelson Lewiston, ID (ID) 10 17-10 0
54. Tom Geffert Pine, AZ (AZ) 10 17-07 0
55. Travis Whitney Kennewick, WA (WA) 10 17-05 0
56. Frank Scarla McMinnville, OR (OR) 10 17-04 0
57. Stanley Fisher Trout Creek, MT (MT) 10 17-03 0
58. Mike Borjia Henderson, NV (NV) 10 17-03 0
59. Josh Marthaller Salem, OR (OR) 10 17-03 0
60. Gene Batey Jr. Pasco, WA (WA) 10 17-02 0
61. Kevin Wiggins Winterheaven, NV (NV) 10 17-02 0
62. Andrew Parsons Ione, CA (CA) 10 17-02 0
63. Clint Johanson Benton City, WA (WA) 10 17-00 0
64. Taylor Hulstrom Pinehurst, ID (ID) 10 16-15 0
65. Greg Mcwhorter Truth Or Consequences, 10 16-14 0
66. Jason Crone Kalispell, MT (MT) 10 16-14 0
67. Cory Miller Lebanon, OR (OR) 10 16-13 0
68. Jake Anderson Richland, WA (WA) 10 16-13 0
69. Bruce Harris Oakdale, CA (CA) 10 16-13 0
70. Gregg Price Farmington, NM (NM) 10 16-12 0
71. Joshua Powell Libby, MT (MT) 10 16-11 0
72. Ryan Sparks Beaverton, OR (OR) 10 16-10 0
73. Steven Sepulveda Oakdale, CA (CA) 10 16-09 0
74. Ron Raymond Paso Robles, CA (CA) 10 16-09 0
75. Donovan Allphin Provo, UT (UT) 10 16-08 0
76. Dusten Stewart Roy, UT (WY) 10 16-03 0
77. Ryan Yamagata Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 16-03 0
78. Brent James St George, UT (NV) 10 16-01 0
79. Stephen Tauriello Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 15-15 0
80. Elli Hubbard Las Vegas, NV (NV) 10 15-15 0
81. Mark Hilyer Libby, MT (MT) 10 15-15 0
82. Raymond Archer Greeley, CO (CO) 10 15-15 0
83. Dan Jordan Camas, WA (OR) 10 15-12 0
84. Rick Mason Glendale, AZ (AZ) 10 15-12 0
85. Patrick Davis Henderson, NV (NV) 10 15-11 0
86. Mark Warren Kiowa, CO (CO) 10 15-10 0
87. Scott Rich Ogden, UT (WY) 10 15-09 0
88. Chad Hullinger West Valley, UT (WY) 10 15-08 0
89. Andrew Miller Los Lunas, NM (NM) 10 15-06 0
90. Kevin Ford Eugene, OR (OR) 10 15-06 0
91. Stephen Way Security, CO (CO) 10 15-04 0
92. Brent Shores Boise, ID (WY) 10 15-03 0
93. Paul Morley Kaysville, UT (UT) 10 15-03 0
94. Brent Daybell West Jordan, UT (WY) 10 15-00 0
95. Dave Lee Mesa, AZ (AZ) 10 14-13 0
96. Shawn Hilton Phoenix, AZ (AZ) 10 14-13 0
97. Jason Hemminger Oxnard, CA (CA) 10 14-12 0
97. Steve Zumwalt El Paso, TX (NM) 10 14-12 0
99. Perry Flot Lasalle, CO (CO) 10 14-07 0
100. Mike Larsen Bluffdale, UT (UT) 10 14-05 0
101. Chase Colby St. George, UT (UT) 10 14-05 0
102. Robert Christensen Wallace, ID (MT) 10 14-03 0
103. Jon Webb Centennial, CO (CO) 10 14-02 0
104. Derek Phillips Larkspur, CO (CO) 10 14-00 0
105. Ron Wiseman Pendleton, OR (OR) 10 13-10 0
106. Tracy Dursteler Blackfoot, ID (WY) 10 13-09 0
107. Jake Boomer Spokane Valley, WA (ID) 10 13-06 0
108. Richard Cowley Columbia Falls, MT (MT) 10 13-04 0
109. Earl Conway Albuquerque, NM (NM) 10 12-13 0
110. Travis Archer Covington, WA (WA) 5 12-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 110 550 988-14
2 109 545 934-15
3 28 140 265-08
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247 1235 2189-05
2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional 5/8-5/10
Lake Shasta, Redding CA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jonathan Bryson Las Vegas, NV (NV) 9 21-11 0
2. Ryan Gutierrez Weiser, ID (ID) 9 20-10 0
3. Kody Johnson San Tan Valley, AZ (AZ) 9 19-05 0
4. Stanley Beebe San Luis obispo, CA (CA 9 19-04 0
5. Luke Johns Folsom, CA (CA) 9 19-03 0
6. Gary Schipporeit Westminster, CO (CO) 9 19-01 0
7. Luke Davidson Centennial , CO (CO) 9 18-07 0
8. Brad Hauf Elephant Butte, NM (NM) 9 18-07 0
9. Addam Gross Pendleton, OR (WA) 9 18-07 0
10. Nathan Pratt Albuquerque, NM (NM) 9 18-07 0
11. Andy Hackett Colorado Springs, CO (C 9 18-02 0
12. James Hollingshead Clarkston, WA (WA) 9 18-02 0
13. Austin Johnson Noxon, MT (MT) 9 17-14 0
14. Scott Seros Bend, OR (OR) 9 17-12 0
15. Stephen Kujawa Libby, MT (MT) 9 17-12 0
16. Kyle Graham North Ogden, UT (WY) 9 17-11 0
17. Dave Cole Roy, UT (WY) 9 17-10 0
18. Greg Pink Montrose, CO (UT) 9 17-04 0
19. Jake Weaver Columbia Falls, MT (MT) 9 17-02 0
20. Jesse Ortega Las Vegas, NV (NV) 9 17-02 0
21. Jordan Schwartzkopf Peoria, AZ (AZ) 9 17-01 0
22. Don Evans Canon City, CO (CO) 9 17-00 0
23. Jared Hoffman Coeur D’alene, ID (ID) 9 17-00 0
24. Marc Caldwell Rifle, CO (UT) 9 16-15 0
25. Nick Wood Yreka, CA (OR) 9 16-08 0
26. Chris Gilkison Bakersfield, CA (CA) 9 16-04 0
27. Jake Morrison Scottsdale, AZ (AZ) 9 15-10 0
28. Justin Dodd Kennewick, WA (WA) 9 15-04 0
29. Michael Hill Carlsbad, NM (NM) 6 11-08 0
30. Andrew Ingold Missoula, MT (MT) 6 11-07 0
31. Josh Unruh Sparks, NV (WY) 6 11-07 0
32. Jesse Boggs Mountain Home, ID (ID) 6 11-06 0
33. Brian Velasquez Yuma, AZ (AZ) 6 11-05 0
34. Riley Hansen Park City, UT (UT) 6 11-05 0
35. Randy Austin Cedar City, UT (UT) 6 11-04 0
36. Jason Billmaier Las Vegas, NV (NV) 6 11-04 0
37. Kong Moua Sacramento, CA (CA) 6 11-01 0
38. Jeremy Stewart Clinton, UT (WY) 6 11-00 0
39. Ryan Morford Coeur D’ Alene, ID (ID) 6 11-00 0
40. Joshua Needleman Napa, CA (CA) 6 10-14 0
41. Mark Faber Pagosa Springs, CO (UT) 6 10-14 0
42. Chuck Harrison Ft Collins, CO (CO) 6 10-14 0
43. Chris Fisher Moriarty, NM (NM) 6 10-13 0
44. Christopher Campbell Kalispell, MT (MT) 6 10-11 0
45. Waylon Reynolds Jarales, NM (NM) 6 10-11 0
46. Mark Shepard Kaysville, CO (UT) 6 10-10 0
47. Robert Maglio Kennewick, WA (WA) 6 10-09 0
48. Andrew Hays Henderson, NV (NV) 6 10-08 0
49. Jim Mclaughlin Bakersfield, CA (CA) 6 10-07 0
50. Michael Simon Sr. Henderson, NV (NV) 6 10-07 0
51. Bobby Preece Las Cruces, NM (NM) 6 10-06 0
52. Jess Pottenger Harrison, ID (ID) 6 10-05 0
53. Garry Harner Milliken, CO (CO) 6 10-05 0
54. Clint Everett Surprise, AZ (AZ) 6 10-04 0
55. Clif Gallagher Lehi, UT (WY) 6 10-04 0
56. Colton Crawford Mcminnville, OR (OR) 6 10-04 0
57. Dan Skillings Bend, OR (OR) 6 10-04 0
58. Jerry Lake Cottage Grove, OR (OR) 6 10-03 0
59. Jon Pollock Lakewood, CO (CO) 6 10-03 0
60. Austin Bentz Hermiston, OR (OR) 6 10-02 0
61. Tim Meeks Elk Grove, CA (CA) 6 10-02 0
61. Wesley Tanner Missoula, MT (MT) 6 10-02 0
63. Chaunteil` Carte Damascus, OR (WY) 6 10-00 0
64. Clay Williams Athol, ID (ID) 6 10-00 0
65. Nathanial Kimberling Coeur D Alene, ID (ID) 6 09-15 0
66. Michael Rathe Colorado Springs, CO (C 6 09-15 0
67. Katie Tanner Coeur D’alene, ID (MT) 6 09-14 0
68. KC Stone Farr West, UT (UT) 6 09-14 0
69. John Steinhilber Santa Barbra, CA (CA) 6 09-12 0
70. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV (NV) 6 09-12 0
71. Nick Andrews Roy, UT (WY) 6 09-12 0
72. Dean Yamagata Las Vegas, NV (NV) 6 09-11 0
73. Zach Taylor Kimberly, ID (UT) 6 09-11 0
74. Lane Robinson Hayden, ID (ID) 6 09-11 0
75. Mike Liska Espanola, NM (NM) 6 09-10 0
76. Jakobe Akins Coeur D Alene, ID (ID) 6 09-09 0
77. Walter Haltom Malad City, ID (UT) 6 09-09 0
78. Kenneth Sitton Albany, OR (OR) 6 09-08 0
79. Nicholas Forbush Heber, UT (WY) 6 09-08 0
80. Richard Sainz Truth Or Conquenses, NM 6 09-08 0
81. Toby Tafoya Gallup, NM (NM) 6 09-08 0
82. Joel Skinner Glendale, AZ (AZ) 6 09-07 0
83. Richard Hoitinga Buckeye, AZ (AZ) 6 09-06 0
84. James Robey Pasco, WA (WA) 6 09-06 0
85. David Vega McCammon , ID (WY) 6 09-06 0
86. Skyler Keeton Pasco, WA (WA) 6 09-03 0
87. Jose Torres Tucson, AZ (AZ) 6 09-01 0
88. Steve Larsen Henderson, NV (NV) 6 09-01 0
89. Scott Jamison Burbank, WA (WA) 6 09-01 0
90. Ronald Chambers Tonto Basin, AZ (AZ) 6 08-15 0
91. Jake Hansen Bozeman, MT (MT) 6 08-15 0
92. Sean Sullivan Henderson, NV (NV) 6 08-14 0
93. Justin Whisler Bonney Lake, WA (WA) 6 08-13 0
94. Tom Mcart Jr Albany, OR (OR) 6 08-12 0
95. Steven Mazur Lolo, MT (MT) 6 08-12 0
96. Matthew Antonich Post Falls, ID (ID) 6 08-10 0
97. Robert Beck Keizer, OR (OR) 6 08-10 0
98. Greg Jager Kennewick, WA (WA) 6 08-08 0
99. Micah Hart West Richland, WA (WA) 6 08-05 0
100. Keith Truett Lebanon, OR (OR) 6 08-05 0
101. Mel Biggs Manteca, CA (CA) 6 08-03 0
102. Mark Torrez Camarillo, CA (CA) 6 08-03 0
103. Steve Mawson Mesa, AZ (AZ) 6 08-03 0
104. Lee Johnson Artesia, NM (NM) 6 07-13 0
105. Bryan Crosby Clinton, UT (UT) 6 07-10 0
106. Chris Harvey Idaho Falls, ID (WY) 6 07-09 0
107. John Romanin Wolcott, CO (CO) 6 07-01 0
108. Lynn Irwin Las Vegas, NV (NV) 6 06-09 0
109. Sheldon Jones Missoula, MT (MT) 4 05-12 0
110. Cody Ralph Thornton, CO (CO) 3 04-14 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 110 330 583-13
2 0 325 550-05
3 0 84 156-12
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110 739 1290-14