The Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional heads to Lake Martin out of Alexander, City, Ala., Feb. 4-6. The field of 225 pre-registered boats will make for one of the largest fields in B.A.S.S. history.
Feb. 2, 2016
Huge Field Registered For Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional
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ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Since its inception in 2011, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series has experienced as much growth as any competitive fishing trail in America.
Apparently, it’s still growing.
This week, the series brings its Southern Conference Regional to Lake Martin, a 44,000-acre fishery on the Tallapoosa River, with a gigantic field of 225 boats already pre-registered. With two anglers fishing per boat, it’ll make for one of the larger fields in B.A.S.S. history and the largest ever for a college event.
Competition days will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with takeoffs each day from Wind Creek State Park at 6:30 a.m. CT. Weigh-ins Thursday and Friday will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Wind Creek, and Saturday’s championship weigh-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Central Alabama Community College.
“The College Series tournaments have seen growth each year,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the college, high school and youth tournament series at B.A.S.S. “But this year’s field is more than 80 percent higher than the 124-boat field we had at last year’s Southern Regional. This surpassed any of our expectations and is a clear indication of how desirable the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series is.”
The young anglers are likely to have their skills tested by a fishery that has changed frequently throughout the winter.
Kelley Jaye, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro who resides in Dadeville, Ala., and has years of experience on Lake Martin, expects a tough tournament.
“I live right on the lake, and I’ve watched it the last few months come up 3 to 4 feet at a time, then fall back 5 feet,” Jaye said. “As it’s been happening, we’ve been getting big rains that have stained the water up really bad.
“It’s had the fish in a funk all winter.”
Team tournaments on Lake Martin tend to follow a familiar storyline this time of year. The majority of the field usually reverts to finesse tactics to target the lake’s massive population of spotted bass, and the team that’s fortunate enough to find a few bigger fish often comes out on top.
But Jaye doesn’t believe that will work for this event.
“I don’t think this is going to be a tournament where somebody is just going to get lucky and catch a big bag on a square bill (crankbait),” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a tournament where everybody uses a shaky head and weeds through the small fish to put together a good limit.
“I think it’ll come down to somebody working really hard with their electronics during practice to find some areas that will hold steady no matter what the conditions are like.”
Those conditions have been as erratic as usual for the Central Alabama region in late winter.
Major storm systems swept through the state on Tuesday, causing strong winds and heavy rains. So the lake the anglers fished Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday during practice could look a lot different by Thursday morning’s take-off if the rains have muddied the shallow areas.
To make matters worse, a cold front is supposed to follow the storms that will send nighttime temperatures into the low 30s and high 20s for the remainder of the tournament. Cold temperatures and muddy water are rarely a good combination.
“The temperature is supposed to drop, and that’s going to hit the field hard,” Jaye said. “For the bank beaters, it could be a really, really tough tournament.
“I think the anglers who’ll do best are the ones who concentrate on areas that aren’t going to be affected as much by the conditions — like deep rock points.”
Since many of the college anglers aspire to fish professionally someday, Jaye said the tournament could be good practice for the tougher side of the sport.
“It’s good for them to learn a little bit about what we go through,” he said. “They’ll get to see that you don’t always catch them wherever you go. This one will separate the pretenders from the contenders.”
A full field will fish Thursday and Friday, with only the Top 25 teams advancing to Saturday’s final round. That number could vary if the field size changes.
Feb. 2, 2016
HUK Performance Fishing To Title Winyah Bay Elite Event
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. today announced the expansion of its partnership with Huk Performance Fishing, as the company that makes high-performance fishing apparel is now the title sponsor for the Elite event April 7-10 at Winyah Bay out of Georgetown, S.C., as well as a premier sponsor of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro and all B.A.S.S. tournament circuits.
“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with a brand as strong as B.A.S.S. and are honored to be the title sponsor of an Elite Series event,” said Ben Verner, president of Huk. “We are excited to watch the very best anglers in the world compete at Winyah Bay in Georgetown – our hometown waters. It is an honor to support them with the most technically advanced and innovative performance apparel on the water today.”
B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin added, “B.A.S.S. is proud to have Huk as a member of our sponsor family. Bass anglers and fans are Huk customers, and the company’s commitment brings a strong presence to the ever-expanding sport of bass fishing. We look forward to continuing our joint efforts in growing our sport.”
Huk signed on as a supporting sponsor shortly after the Charleston-based company was launched in 2014. Now, it will be a premier-level sponsor of the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, and Costa Bassmaster High School Series.
The Huk line includes sun-protection shirts made of anti-microbial fabric with stain-release properties. Added mesh at the lower back helps keep anglers cool and comfortable, as the garments also are designed to allow a full range of motion for making casts at any angle.
The company also sells foul weather gear, jackets, sweatshirts, pants, boxers, caps, and gaitors.
Those attending Classic takeoffs March 4-6 at Grand Lake’s Wolf Creek Park and weigh-ins at Tulsa’s BOK Center will see the world’s best bass anglers sporting Huk apparel.
Additionally, the company will highlight its clothing during the Bassmaster Classic Outdoor Expo at Cox Business Center, and it will be the official merchandise vendor at B.A.S.S. Elite events.
Bass Edge’s The Edge – Episode 225 – Zack Birge
February 1, 2016
FLW Tour Angler and 2015 FLW Rookie of the Year, Zack Birge is featured on Bass Edge Radio presented by MegaWare KeelGuard. Zack discusses his approach to 2016 as well as off season fishing and hunting in this episode.
CHILDERS WINS FLW BASS FISHING LEAGUE SAVANNAH RIVER DIVISION OPENER ON LAKE KEOWEE PRESENTED BY POWER-POLE
Odell wins co-angler title
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SENECA, S.C. (Feb. 1, 2016) – Randy Childers of Anderson, South Carolina, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 7 ounces, Saturday to win the first FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) Savannah River Division tournament of 2016 on Lake Keowee presented by Power-Pole. For his victory, Childers earned $4,271.
“I decided to run straight to a mid-lake area where the corps (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) was discharging water back into the lake,” said Childers, who logged the second win of his BFL career. “The water they were releasing was warmer than the lake, which allowed me to fish shallower.
“I targeted rocks in a small cut,” Childers continued. “I swam a D&L jig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Super Chunk Jr. right under the surface unless I was out a little deeper, then I’d let it get out of sight before reeling back in.”
Childers said he also targeted docks in the area, but only if they had rocks under them. He caught eight keepers throughout the day.
“After the sun came out, I switched to an Ashley Craw-colored Knight’s Custom Lures Dock Buster Jig,” said Childers. “I fished it much slower than the D&L jig and let it hit the bottom. That approach really worked out well for me. I had all five stringer fish by 1 p.m.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-7, $4,271
2nd: Hunter Hill, Flat Rock, N.C., five bass, 11-13, $2,136
3rd: Jeremy Strong, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 11-8, $1,724
4th: Jack Howell, Westminster, S.C., five bass, 11-7, $997
5th: Mark Gibson, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 10-8, $854
6th: Todd Goade, Suwanee, Ga., five bass, 10-5, $783
7th: Ben Stone, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 10-4, $640
7th: John Nixon, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 10-4, $640
7th: Daniel Jackson, Townville, S.C., five bass, 10-4, $640
10th: B.J. Ballard, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 10-3, $498
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Collin Smith of Honea Path, South Carolina, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $595.
Bill Odell of Hodges, South Carolina, weighed in five bass totaling 10 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to earn $2,136 and win the co-angler division.
The top 10 co-anglers were:
1st: Bill Odell, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 10-6, $2,136
2nd: Conner Giella, Lincolnton, Ga., five bass, 9-11, $1,068
3rd: Brandon Brock, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 9-1, $712
4th: Dustin Shirley, Royston, Ga., five bass, 8-15, $439
4th: David Winters, Rock Hill, S.C., five bass, 8-15, $439
4th: Brandon Pilgrim, Central, S.C., five bass, 8-15, $439
7th: Shane Swann, Mars Hill, N.C., five bass, 8-14, $338
7th: Donnie Davis, Greer, S.C., five bass, 8-14, $338
9th: Willard Smith Jr., Anderson, S.C., five bass, 7-9, $285
Bryan Transon of Sherrils Ford, North Carolina, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division, a fish weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $297.
The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 6-8 Regional Championship on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 50 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the Costa FLW Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the BFL on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.
Feb. 1, 2016
Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels Presents First Elite Series Event Of The Season
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels will be the presenting sponsor for the first Elite Series event of 2016, set for March 17-20 in Palatka on Florida’s St. Johns River, B.A.S.S. announced today.
“Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels is synonymous with sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts,” said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We’re proud to have the company as the presenting sponsor for this first event, as well as a supporting sponsor.”
“As the original adventure tire brand, Dick Cepek is proud to expand its relationship with B.A.S.S. as the presenting sponsor of the Elite Series tournament at St. Johns River this year,” said Ken Warner, vice president of marketing for the company. “This is one of the most incredible stops on the tournament trail, and it’s great for us to have a special role in supporting the event and the anglers.”
Warner added that B.A.S.S. and its Elite Series competitors share the same adventurous spirit as the founder of the Ohio-based company. “Dick Cepek was a true outdoorsman,” he said. “He was an adventurer, and he developed tire and wheel products that could conquer any terrain that he and his friends encountered.”
The subsidiary of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. also will be a supporting sponsor for the seven other Elite tournaments, as well as the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, and Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Along with displaying its products and providing promotional material at B.A.S.S. events, the company is offering the Dick Cepek Rolling Forward Award to Elite Series anglers for the second year in a row. This competition centers around the race for Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, and awards $1,000 to the angler who makes the largest gain in the AOY standings from tournament to tournament.
This will be the fourth time that the Elite Series has visited the St. Johns River, a perennial favorite among the pros for its big-fish potential. Chris Lane won in 2014 with 90 pounds, 13 ounces in four days of fishing. On Day 2 alone, he brought in 37-9. Edwin Evers won with 77-1 in 2011 and Alton Jones with 75-9 in 2012.
Other 2016 stops include Winyah Bay (S.C.), Bull Shoals/Norfork, Wheeler Lake, Toledo Bend, BASSfest on Lake Texoma, Cayuga Lake, Potomac River, and Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wis.
“We believe the 2016 Elite Series lineup of lakes is the best we’ve ever put together,” said Akin. “Our Elite anglers will find a lot to love about it, and we are expecting to attract new fans in new places this year. That’s the key to growing the sport.”
About B.A.S.S.
BETTER DAYS ARE COMING (THEY’RE CALLED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY)PLANO’S NEW WEEKEND SERIES TACKLE BAGS DELIVER SLICK GOOD LOOKS, EXCEPTIONAL CAPABILITY AND VALUE TO WORKING ANGLERS[print_link] |
| Plano, IL (January 30, 2017) – The epic rock tune from the 80’s said it well, but probably should have incorporated at least one full verse about fishing: Yeah, we’re working for the weekend… and when it gets here we’re hitting the lake. And while we’re rewriting the song, let’s leave out that part about a new romance… although it does kind of rhyme with a few more bass.
Well, the point is that serious anglers who work for the weekends need serious gear to help maximize their enjoyment once those precious days roll around. Thankfully, Plano’s all-new Weekend Series includes 11 different tackle cases and bags, providing working anglers with visually exciting and highly practical tackle storage options that are true to the Plano name. And courtesy of super affordable prices, when the weekend does get here, we’ll have plenty of extra money left over for a few new baits to add to the bag.
Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bag (Model No. 413700: 3700 / Red) The new Weekend Series Tackle Bags are the largest in the Weekend Series and provide the greatest storage capacity and organizational capability. Available in staple 3600 and 3700 sizes, both bags incorporate a top-flap lid design that covers the main zippered compartment and bag front, providing ultra clean looks. The easy-opening buckles securing the flap are user friendly for any size hands, and provide quick access to the Weekend Series Tackle Bags’ accommodating main compartments. Inside, anglers will find ample room for up to four aptly sized Plano StowAway Utility Boxes – enough capacity for a load of favorite lures. Two additional large, zippered pockets exist on each end of these bags, while two more are protected beneath the flap on the front – perfect for stashing copious bags of soft plastics, spare spools and other essential gear. An extra measure of welcomed storage for pliers, sunglasses and such comes courtesy of three mesh utility pockets – one on each end and one along the back. A reinforced top-carry handle ensures reliable transport, while a padded shoulder strap is also provided for longer hauls to and from the truck or garage. An affordable tackle bag doesn’t have to be an ugly bag. Both 3600 and 3700 size Weekend Series Tackle Bags are available in attractive red, blue or green color schemes with contrasting accent panels and trims that match other product offerings in the Weekend Series.
Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bag (Model No. 413710: 3700 / Green) Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bags
Model Numbers, Colors, Exterior Dimensions & MSRPs Model No. 413620: 3600 / Blue (16.5”x9”x8.75”) / MSRP $29.99 Model No. 413610: 3600 / Green Model No. 413720: 3700 / Blue (19.5”x9.5”x10”) / MSRP $34.99 Model No. 413710: 3700 / Green Plano’s new Weekend Series Tackle Bags provide enhanced access tackle storage, exceptional durability and great looks at affordable prices – hallmarks of Plano’s all-new Weekend Series, which includes multiple sizes and colors of Tackle Bags, Softsider Tackle Bags, Tackle Cases, Speed Bags, and Worm Speed Bags, allowing anglers to build an overall customized tackle storage system for their specific needs. Learn more at www.planomolding.com. Don’t wait. Saturday’s almost here.
Plano Weekend Series Tackle Bag (Model No. 413720: 3700 / Blue)
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Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., wins the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open #1 held on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes out of Kissimmee, Fla. Strader brought 13 pounds, 1 ounce to Saturday’s weigh-in, giving him a three-day total of 50-5.
Jan. 30, 2016
Strader Wins A Squeaker At Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open
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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A slim 2 ounces separated winner Wesley Strader and his closest challenger, Cody Detweiler, in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain.
Strader finished with a winning weight of 50 pounds, 5 ounces to punch his ticket to the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, if he competes in the next two Southern Opens. Detweiler weighed in a three-day total of 50-3 to finish as the Open runner-up in the pro division.
Despite a tough practice, Strader bounced back with solid limits each day, including a 13-1 bag in the final round.
“I hadn’t caught a fish over 2 1/2 pounds in all of practice,” said Strader, who won the pro division grand prize of a Nitro Z20 bass boat with a Mercury Pro XS 225-horsepower outboard engine valued at $45,000.
The Spring City Tenn., angler credited the copper rose lenses of his sunglasses for helping him locate spawning fish in practice. When he didn’t have a bite by 11:15 the first morning, Strader ran to the spot where he saw the spawning fish the day before.
“I don’t know what happened overnight, but those fish showed up … and I caught them,” he said.
Throughout the week, Strader caught most of his fish on a Zoom Fluke or Speed Craw and an Old School Twin Spin topwater bait.
“Yesterday, I got on a little deal in some hydrilla and caught some on a (homemade bladed jig), so this morning I decided to start there,” he said. “So when I pulled up on that hydrilla bed, they were biting like crazy.”
Despite fishing in 58-degree water, Strader was able to coax bass into slamming the topwater bait. “Those fish came up and smoked it, so I caught every fish on that Twin Spin in about 20 minutes.”
Detweiler relied on a variety of lures to catch his bass throughout the week. He threw a Chatterbait in the rain the whole first day of competition, and when the weather turned sunny the next day, he threw a Humdinger swim jig and flipped a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver with a 1 1/2-ounce weight to isolated mats. He also relied on the swim jig and flipped the Sweet Beaver to mats the final day to catch a 15-8 limit.
Other Top 5 finishers in the pro division were Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., third place, 50-1; Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla., fourth, 48-2; and Chad Morgenthaler, Reeds Spring, Mo., fifth, 45-4.
Virginia Beach, Va., angler Chaz Carrington flipped a Big Bite Baits Yo Daddy to catch a three-fish 9-10 limit in the final round and win the non-boater division. His three-day total of 25-9 earned him the top prize of a Nitro z18/Mercury 150 Pro XS outboard rig valued at $30,000.
Brad Knight, Lancing, Tenn., and James Bailey, Warrenton, Va., tied for the $750 Big Bass Award on the pro side as both anglers caught 9-6 largemouths. Nathan Bloom, Winter Springs, Fla., weighed in an 8-14-pound largemouth to earn the $250 Big Bass Award on the co-angler side.
Strader received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for finishing as the top pro on Day 2. Finishing as the Day 2 leader on the co-angler side, Rob Walker of Deland, Fla., received a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
Stader also earner the A.R.E. Top Angler Award of $500 for being the highest-finishing angler using A.R.E. products.
Elite Series pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash award of $500.
The local hosts for the events are Visit Kissimmee and the Central Florida Sports Commission.
2016 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Kissimmee Chain of Lakes 1/28-1/30
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 15 50-05 200 $54,283.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 13-01
2. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 15 50-03 199 $20,267.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 5 15-08
3. Mark Rose West Memphis, AR 15 50-01 198 $15,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 17-15
4. Eric Panzironi Longwood, FL 15 48-02 197 $13,600.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 13-06
5. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 15 45-04 196 $11,867.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 11-00
6. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 43-01 195 $10,133.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 10-02
7. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 42-12 194 $9,033.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 13-13
8. Kazuki Kitajima Orlando, FL 14 40-09 193 $6,800.00
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 08-03
9. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 39-00 192 $5,067.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 07-09
10. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 12 36-00 191 $4,667.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 2 02-11
11. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 13 35-15 190 $4,267.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 3 04-06
12. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 12 34-00 189 $4,375.00
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 2 03-11
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BIG
Day
1 Brad Knight Lancing, TN 09-06 $0.00
2 James Bailey Warrenton, VA 09-06 $0.00
3 Eric Panzironi Longwood, FL 07-08 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 116 780 1720-01
2 108 737 1592-12
3 9 52 121-05
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233 1569 3434-02
2016 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Kissimmee Chain of Lakes 1/28-1/30
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chaz Carrington Virginia Beach, VA 9 25-09 200 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 05-07 Day 3: 3 09-10
2. Clint Harrison II Georgetown, TN 9 25-02 199 $6,533.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 08-06 Day 3: 3 09-14
3. Carlton Tipp Jr Grand Bay, AL 8 21-15 198 $4,933.00
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 3 11-00 Day 3: 3 05-09
4. Eric Davis Athens, AL 9 21-07 197 $3,333.00
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 3 06-12 Day 3: 3 04-15
5. Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 8 20-07 196 $3,317.00
Day 1: 3 11-10 Day 2: 3 05-13 Day 3: 2 03-00
6. Shane Byrom Newnan, GA 9 20-03 195 $2,933.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 10-09 Day 3: 3 03-02
7. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 9 19-09 194 $2,800.00
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 07-10 Day 3: 3 04-01
8. Tomas Gomez Kissimmee, FL 8 19-06 193 $2,667.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 11-06 Day 3: 2 02-03
9. Rob Walker Deland, FL 6 17-14 192 $2,533.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 3 08-15 Day 3: 0 00-00
10. Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 7 17-05 191 $2,267.00
Day 1: 3 10-04 Day 2: 3 04-00 Day 3: 1 03-01
11. Matt Justice Fair Play, SC 7 16-14 190 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 3 06-01 Day 3: 1 01-10
12. Gregory O’Neal Winchester, TN 7 16-10 189 $1,867.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 08-07 Day 3: 1 01-11
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BIG
Day
1 Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 08-14 $0.00
2 Brian Leitch Knoxville, TN 04-12 $0.00
3 Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 03-01 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 397 776-10
2 68 311 584-12
3 6 25 48-12
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167 733 1410-02
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA WINS FLW COLLEGE FISHING SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE OPENER ON CRESCENT LAKE
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BUNNELL, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2016) – The University of Central Florida team of Hunter McKamey of Geneva, Tennessee, and Kyle Oliver of Winter Garden, Florida, won the FLW College Fishing Southeastern Conference opener on Crescent Lake Saturday with five bass weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned the club $2,000 and advanced the team to the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
“It feels great to win this tournament and bring some prize money back to campus,” said McKamey, a junior majoring in marketing. “We felt confident coming into today and everything seemed to work out the way we wanted.”
“It’s Hunter and I’s last season together, so to qualify for the College Fishing National Championship is really exciting,” said Oliver, a junior majoring in business management. “Our college fishing career has been quite a run, but I think we’ve got some more left in us.”
The duo said they primarily flipped Cypress trees in Dunn’s Creek just north of Crescent Lake. They said they used one bait – a Backatya-colored Gambler Why Not – to put together their winning stringer.
“We hit a 300-yard stretch of water about six or seven times,” said McKamey. “We also focused on steeper banks, especially ones that were dropping off into 18 to 20-foot depths.”
The team said they caught 11 of 12 keepers along the stretch, with their kicker coming with just 30 minutes left in the event, from an isolated grass mat near the takeoff ramp.
“We used a ½-ounce weight on the Why Not which seemed to trigger a better reaction from the bass compared to the smaller weights that we heard other teams were throwing,” said Oliver. “The water was a little cold for this time of year, but the fish were still aggressive. Luckily the bigger ones pulled up for us.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2017 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: University of Central Florida – Hunter McKamey, Geneva, Tenn., and Kyle Oliver, Winter Garden, Fla., five bass, 22-3, $2,000 Club Scholarship
2nd: Florida Gulf Coast University – Beau Clymer and Hunter Bozeman, both of Ocala, Fla., five bass, 15-3, $1,000 Club Scholarship
3rd: East Carolina University – Austin Warmus and Michael Corbishley, both of Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 14-1, $500 Club Scholarship
4th: University of South Carolina – William Miller, High Point, N.C., and Ethan Ingle, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 13-14, $500 Club Scholarship
5th: University of South Alabama – M.J. Vihnanek, Walnut Hill, Fla., and William Knapp, Birmingham, Ala., four bass, 13-12, $500 Club Scholarship
6th: Daytona State College – James Oltorik and Thomas Oltorik, both of DeLand, Fla., five bass, 13-10
7th: Appalachian State University – Matthew Reid, Clayton, N.C., and Kelly Johnson, Sherrill’s Ford, N.C., five bass, 13-2
8th: University of Central Florida – John Larsen, Oviedo, Fla., and Justin Brown, Margate, Fla., five bass, 12-14
9th: Georgia College & State University – Zachary Bennett, Loganville, Ga., and Chase Williams, Milledgeville, Ga., three bass, 12-14
10th: Southwest Mississippi Community College – Logan Morel and Cole Nunnery, both of Smithdale, Miss., four bass, 12-10
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
This FLW College Fishing Southeastern Conference event was the first regular-season qualifying tournament in the Southeastern conference. The next event for Southeastern Conference anglers is a tournament scheduled for May 21 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama.
FLW College Fishing teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 15 teams from the annual FLW College Fishing Open will advance to the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
College Fishing is free to enter. All participants must be registered, full-time students at a college, university or community college and members of a college fishing club.
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing. Visit FLWFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.
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