Memphis Johnson and Bryson Seal of Alabama’s Good Hope Fishing Team have taken the lead on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Clarks Hill Lake with a total of 12 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.
July 25, 2025
Johnson and Seal lead Day 1 at Junior Championship with 12 pounds 3 ounces
EVANS, Ga. — Memphis Johnson and Bryson Seal from Alabama’s Good Hope Fishing Team took the lead at the 2025 Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Clarks Hill Lake by catching a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. Their catch included the big fish of the day, a 7 pound, 13 ounce largemouth that pushed them from middle of the pack to a one-ounce lead over second place.
In a tightly-packed leaderboard, the Florida duo of Cullen Sanders and Trace Sanders of the Liberty County Jr. Anglers are second with 12-2 and Parker Smith and Carson Randan from Tennessee’s Scotts Hill High School Anglers Junior Division are third with 12 pounds even. Four other teams topped the 10-pound mark and a big fish or two on Saturday could allow many other teams to challenge for the victory. On the day, 71 teams – more than half the field – brought limits to the scales, and 103 teams caught at least one keeper bass.
Day 1 leaders Johnson and Seal, both 14 years old, have been fishing as a team for three years, but had not previously visited Clarks Hill. They reported a tough practice, which produced four keepers each day, but found ample clues to put them in position to claim the lead.
In what at first seemed to be a disappointment, their starting spot was taken by other competitors when they arrived in the morning, so they slid over to a nearby point that had also demonstrated potential. After cycling through multiple areas throughout the morning, on the third trip to that point, around noon, the big one bit.
“At first I thought it was a catfish,” said Seals, who caught it. “But then I saw it and didn’t know what to do. It dove back down but eventually we got it into the boat.” He declined to identify what made that point distinctive, or what type of lure the monster bass bit. The fish was, however, a massive difference-maker, culling out a 14-ounce bass and vaulting them into the lead. The pair call Smith Lake, a noted spotted bass factory, their home waters, but their bag today included one spot and two largemouth.
They don’t have much of a cushion, merely a single ounce, but Johnson and Seal said that their goal tomorrow is to bypass the allure of smaller fish and search for the three quality bites that will seal the victory.
Sanders and Nobles likewise had never been to Clarks Hill and struggled through an unproductive practice, but multiple moves today helped them dial in a pattern that produced 20 fish. They believe that they can repeat that success tomorrow, and derive confidence from the quality of their catch.
“I know that (the first place team) had that big fish, but that makes me feel better because that could be luck,” Nobles said.
Sanders added: “We’re going to go back out and do the same thing we did today.”
The second place team of Sanders and Nobles could not be reached in time for publication.
Smith and Randan are 3 ounces out of the lead and rode a multifaceted approach to weigh in three quality cookie cutter largemouths.
“We caught three good keepers off the bat,” Smith reported. Then on our second spot we culled out two 2-pounders with 4-pounders and later we added another 4-pounder. We have an area that’s holding some big fish so we’re going to start there and swing for the fences. Hopefully we’ll seal the deal.”
He reported that they started the day by throwing frogs around docks, but when that didn’t pan out they pivoted and caught the majority of their fish in 20 or so feet of water “with deeper swimbaits and scoping baits, minnows.”
Tomorrow’s weather at Clarks Hill is expected to be similar to what the young anglers experienced today – sunny, with minimal breeze and temperatures pushing into the mid- to upper-90s. The full field of 120 teams will launch from the Wildwood Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 2:30 and the winning team will be crowned at the conclusion of weigh-in.
Visit Columbia County is hosting the events.
2025 Bassmaster Junior Championship 7/25-7/26
Clarks Hill Lake, Evans GA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Memphis Johnson – Bryson Seal Good Hope Fishing Team – AL 0
Day 1: 3 12-03 Total: 3 12-03
2. Cullen Sanders – Trace Nobles Liberty County Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 12-02 Total: 3 12-02
3. Parker Smith – Carson Randan Scotts Hill High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 12-00 Total: 3 12-00
4. Greyson Harper – Garreson Currie Topeka Jr Hawgs 0
Day 1: 3 11-14 Total: 3 11-14
5. Kendal Ward – Coleton Bradley New Mexico At Large 0
Day 1: 3 11-06 Total: 3 11-06
6. Hayes Henderson – Caden Harris Headland Jr High School – AL 0
Day 1: 3 11-02 Total: 3 11-02
7. Bennett Bullard – Kei Blaylock Trader Bills 0
Day 1: 3 10-03 Total: 3 10-03
8. Andrew Ziegler – Henry Freter Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets 0
Day 1: 3 09-14 Total: 3 09-14
9. Brady Williams – Miles Kearney Pickens County Jr. Dragons Fishi 0
Day 1: 3 09-08 Total: 3 09-08
10. Kannon Wood – Jackson Randall Jr Gulf Port High School 0
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
11. Weston Bouchikas – Luke Hoskinson Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 09-00 Total: 3 09-00
12. Kole Wingfield – Kline Wingfield Arkansas Youth Anglers Junior 0
Day 1: 3 08-15 Total: 3 08-15
13. Olivia King – Harper Krohn D’iberville Hs Warrior Bass Nati 0
Day 1: 3 08-14 Total: 3 08-14
14. JT Cross – Jake Paradis L/A Junior Bassmasters – ME 0
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
14. Sullivan Kraft – Jude Pfeiffer Port City Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
16. Colton Willging – Brody Heacock Dubuque Bass 0
Day 1: 3 08-06 Total: 3 08-06
17. Tommy Richards – Denver Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 08-02 Total: 3 08-02
18. Hayden VanWinkle – Ryan Skiles Rocky Mtn Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Total: 3 08-01
19. Christopher Cox Jr. – Gage Chlomoudis Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
20. Owen Stephens – Max Roy Russell County Jr Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
21. Easton Trotter – Cooper Thomas Rehobeth Jr High School Team 0
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
22. Brady Wells – Zeke Brock Bath County Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
23. Cort Elrod – Riverside Middle School 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
24. Will Crisman – Reed Crisman Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Total: 3 07-05
25. Piers Picou – Central Catholic – LA 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
26. Coop Caldwell – Konnor Macoubrie Team Fishing 4 Life 0
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
26. Easton Dickens – Isaiah Crockett New River Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
28. Layne Shoffiett – Jackson Lee Notre Dame Junior Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 06-13 Total: 3 06-13
28. Easton Gray – Carter Shinn Trader Bills Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 06-13 Total: 3 06-13
30. Maddox Shaffer – Myles Shaffer Junior Garrett Bass Slayers 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
31. Avery Watkins – Bentley Mchenry Wilson Christian Academy Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
32. Heston Hoffman – Samuel Holland Topeka Jr Hawgs 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
32. Jaxon Mcdaniels – Colin Nicholson Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
34. Grayson Tassone – Cole Bryant Port City Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 2 06-09 Total: 2 06-09
35. Lem Tate – Baylor Mccuiston West Union Bass Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Total: 3 06-07
36. Brayen Barnhill – Reed Abrams 757 Bass 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
37. Alden Breland – Jaxon Godbold Vancleave High School 0
Day 1: 1 06-05 Total: 1 06-05
38. Colby Christopher – Hudson Mcclure Oconee Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
38. Crews Mcferrin – Colin Bourne Karns Jr High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
40. Caleb Gurley – Keegan Smith Palmetto Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
41. Hunter Beach – Austin Jefferson Denver Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
42. Truman Duhamell – Drake Wray Indian Creek Junior Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
42. Kort Roberts – Katera Roberts Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
44. Carsen Sands – Dylan Shook Michigan A1 Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
45. Cullen Simon – Easton Stanley Little Cypress Mauriceville Jr 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
46. Bentley Brown – Lawton Rollison Dixie Junior Bassmasters – FL 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
46. Carson Stevens – Wesley Osuna Franklin County Jr Bass Team – T 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
48. Kallen Williams – Caden Wingfield 863 Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
49. Luke Mcandrew – Brody Witmer Sml Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Total: 3 05-08
50. Gunner Robbins – Drew Smith Livingston Academy Junior Bassma 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Total: 3 05-07
51. Lane Nickles – Kohan Branyon Palmetto Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
52. Reese Forbes – Mason Grantham Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
53. Camden Baker – Asher Hart Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
54. Chase Rogers – Rogan Alderman Bath County Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
55. Walker Brogdon – Pershing Glenn Gca Backlashers 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Total: 3 05-00
55. Cody Hails – Aiden Espinoza Denver Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Total: 3 05-00
57. Deacon Keefe – Brayden Blair Reeths Puffer High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 3 04-15 Total: 3 04-15
58. Granger Brasuell – Jude Nichols Aybn Northern Junior 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
58. Bayne Robinson – Kade Stephenson Brookland Bass Bandits Jr 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
60. Kenny Beale Jr – Henry Beale Foothills Jr. Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 04-13 Total: 3 04-13
60. Gabe Holshouser – Gunner Edwards Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 04-13 Total: 3 04-13
62. Jax Fuhrman – Max Decker Hawghead Bassmaster Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
62. Case Thorn – Rodee Owen Lone Star Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
64. Vegas Iaconelli – Wally Peer Iv Bass Nation Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
65. Brady Terry – Graham Hall Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
66. Colt Carmean – Gunner Vargeson Susquehanna Valley Jr Fishing Te 0
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
67. Tahlen Thomas-Hamm – Grifinn Thomas-Hamm Southside Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
68. Drew Oberhoffer – Cale Richman Dubuque Bass 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
69. Isaac Sprouse – Will Sprouse Gaffney Jr High School Fishing T 0
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
70. Cody Aliff – Jon Parker Pope Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03
71. Bryson Agee – Gage Brasher Good Hope Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-00 Total: 3 04-00
72. Brandon Carter – Cooper Potts Mt. Zion Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 03-14 Total: 1 03-14
73. Colton Miller – Landon Lynch Brunswick Academy – VA 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
74. John Brown – Blaine Summers Indiana Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 03-12 Total: 3 03-12
75. Jacob Murphy – Mason Peeler Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
76. Jake Morgan – Miles Krieger Eureka Youth Club 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Total: 2 03-03
77. Burke Sorenson – Braden Royse Eureka Youth Club 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
78. Jones Thode – Luca Docken Hutchinson High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
78. Bill Young – Andrew Young Wolfe River Juniors 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
80. Liam Johnson – Blaine Grassl Southern Illinois Future Jr Angl 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
81. Deacon Nyland – Isaiah Blattner Zeeland Fishhawx 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
82. Knox White – Grayson Sanford Mt. Juliet Fishing – Juniors 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
83. Tj Mcqueen – Brayden Zohner Jackson County Homeschool 0
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
83. Bryce Stilen – Brett Nightingale Scott West Juniors 0
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
85. Owen Williams – Jase Quattlebaum Rehobeth Jr High School Team 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Total: 2 02-02
86. Kaysen Smith – Jonah Osment Crescent High School Jr. Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
86. Conner White – Drake Highsmith Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
88. Brystol Marsh – Madison Riley Junior Garrett Bass Slayers 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
89. Jack Jaracy – Mason Maat Ct Bass Thunder 0
Day 1: 2 01-14 Total: 2 01-14
90. Tripp Jackson – Trig Mchone Meigs Middle School Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
91. Jackson Feild – Camden Moody Mecklenburg Co Junior Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
92. Brantley Faulkner – Christian Roche Piedmont Youth Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
93. Carsen Feinberg – Grant Klein New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
93. Oliver Williams – Corvin Katzban Eagleton Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
95. Ryan Baas – Kade Baas Dubuque Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
95. Troy Cunningham – Austin Shroyer Mahomet Seymour Hs Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
95. Joseph Eskew – Nathan Banach Off The Hook Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
98. Marshall Hyatt – Cooper Orton Good Hope Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
99. Fisher Arnold – Jackson Caudill Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
99. Dixon Heflin – Toby Potts Bedford County Youth Bass Club – 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
101. Colt Teague – Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
102. Carter Kulpa – Elliot Weeks Hartley’s Hawgs Piglets 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
103. Alexandre Tardif – Lucas Reid New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 00-04 Total: 1 00-04
104. Briar Blackwood – Colt Green Good Hope Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Rhett Corley – Cole Cawthon Northwest Rankin Jr Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Brayden Coussou – James Horne Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Jase Cox – Bentley Oldfield Bath County Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Lliam Crisman – Wyatt Trihey Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Cason Curry – Jaxon Curry Rocky Mtn Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Blayne Gansner – Mathias Phipps Festus Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Jace Gilliam – Jett Gilliam Wayne Pioneers Junior Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Liam Jeddry – Garret Bertuzzi Team Outcast Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Broghan Kuhns – Rylee Brunson Junior Wildcats 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Micajah Pickette – Brantley Rice Munford Fishing – Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Kaidyn Ruark – Hunter Helton Bath County Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Mason Samson – Luke Warbin Wmrhs Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Kolton Scarlett – Hunter Nugent Frederick County Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Kam Sessions – Jasper Keogh Riley’s Catch 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Slade Smith – Landon Grigg Aybn Northern Junior 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
104. Grace Whiting – Mackenzie Vote Rogers High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 71 255 550-00
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71 255 550-00