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Garrett Enders (right) and Cody Huff of Bethel University maintain the lead on the second day of the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops held on Tenkiller Lake out of Tahlequah, Okla., with a two-day total weight of 32 pounds, 4 ounces.
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — One spot, two anglers, one giant lead, and an incredibly short period of time. That’s what the final day of the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops could come down to Saturday.
Or, maybe, that’s only what will have worked for Days 1 and 2.
“We had ’em all by 7:30 [a.m.] today,” Cody Huff said of the five-fish bag that kept Huff and his Bethel University teammate Garrett Enders on top of the pack Friday with 15 pounds, 10 ounces to compliment their Day 1 hit for a total 32-4 and 6-2 lead over their nearest competitors.
The field for Saturday is narrowed to 12 teams who will face off for the Championship title and a Top 4 ranking, which will move them on to the College Bracket set for Aug. 14-16 on Milford Lake out of Junction City, Kan. That’s where they will split up to compete individually in a bracket-style, catch-and-release competition where eight will be cut down to the one who will be awarded a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, set for March 15-17 on the Tennessee River hosted at Knoxville.
Tenkiller Lake continued to test teams with searing heat, no wind and finicky fish as the Bethel seniors repeated their performance in front of the crowd in the tournament hosted by Northeastern State University and Tour Tahlequah.
“Moving day” did seem some swings but the Top 7 from Day 1 all made it through to the finale. Big movers who made the Top 12 include Tanner Ward of Kent State, fishing singly and filling the 12th spot after a move from 45th place on Day 1 with a bag of 12-2 for a total of 16-9. Right along with him from 44th place came Thad Simerly and Ethan Shaw of Bryan College with 12-3 for a 16-11 total.
The heartbreaker of the day saw home Northeastern State University team Taylor Hamburger and Carson Smith draw a blank and drop from fourth to 15th place and out of the running.
Swings both big and little will be on the minds of the top duo from Bethel as they launch Saturday with 11 bulls-eyes on their backs and a near miss from 2017 Championship, when they missed the Top 4 by a few ounces.
“We’re just going to go out and fish,” Enders said.
An early morning bite and teamwork have carried them this far. Thursday they filled their livewell early and spent the rest of the day watching others pull in their fish. When the boys hit their hot spot first thing on a clear, 72-degree morning Friday they caught a fish on their second cast and kept the action going.
Teamwork was key, said Enders.
“Cody flipped into a brushpile and caught one and he went back and pulled off his fish, and I flipped in there and by the time I took care of mine he was ready and we caught three just like that,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the partnership deal I don’t know if we would have been able to keep them going like that.”
The pair pulled six off their morning spot, moved on, and again sweated out the rest of the day targeting similar types of cover without another bite.
Miserably hot weather continued with a 106-degree high (and 112 heat index) on Tenkiller Friday with just enough breezes to raise hopes for a minor respite that never came.
Saturday’s forecast calls for a few more clouds and a little less heat with a high in the mid 90s. It’s a minor weather change, and Huff and Enders don’t expect their fish to move.
“They’ve been there for a month and a half,” Huff said. “We know they’re around there.
“If they don’t hit early we’ll just stay on it, slow down, try different things. We’ll sit there and try to scrounge them out.”
Second-place anglers Cole Burdeshaw and Peyton McCord of Auburn University said they are confident about pulling in another five and they will let the cards fall from there.
“They have a pretty big lead, but we’ll get a limit and just see what happens,” Burdeshaw said. “We’ll be alright.”
Rounding out the Top 5 are Lucas Murphy and Nolan Hitt of Grand Valley State University, brothers Thor and Mitch Swanson of Bemidji State in fourth and Bradley Dunagan and Nick Ratliff of Campbellsville University in fifth.
Carhartt Big Bass moved up from 5-9 to a 6-3 that came to the boat for sophomore Hayden Bartee of Alabama’s Jefferson State University. It was caught off an offshore brushpile on a Strike King Structure Head with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog.
“She come up and jumped once and about gave me a heart attack,” Bartee said.
Overall Big Bass, determined after Saturday, will land a $500 Carhartt gift certificate.
The contest continues Saturday with takeoff at 6 a.m. CT from Cherokee Landing State Park. The final weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at Northeastern State University Beta Field in Tahlequah. Fans are encouraged to come early and enjoy the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo featuring interactive sponsor displays and free giveaways from 1-5 p.m. All activities are free and open to the public.
2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, ABU Garcia, Berkley, Huk
2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Mossy Oak Fishing, Phoenix Boats, Livingston Lures
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Tenkiller Lake – Cherokee Landing State Park – Tahlequah, OK
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz PTS
1 Garrett Enders – Cody Huff Bethel University 5 4 15-10 10 9 32- 4 500.00
2 Cole Burdeshaw – Peyton McCord Auburn University 5 4 15- 0 8 6 26- 2 496.32
3 Lucas Murphy – Nolan Hitt Grand Valley State University 4 4 13- 3 9 9 25-10 492.65
4 Thor Swanson – Mitch Swanson Bemidji State University 5 4 11-13 9 8 21-12 488.97
5 Bradley Dunagan – Nick Ratliff Campbellsville University 3 2 6-14 8 7 21- 5 485.29
6 Ty Cox – Alden Keel Jr Blue Mountain College 2 2 6- 7 7 7 21- 3 481.62
7 Dustin Nash – Gregory Green Northwestern State University 5 5 13- 5 8 8 20-14 477.94
8 Dillon Harrell – Colby Bryant Sam Houston State University 2 2 4- 6 7 7 20- 4 474.26
9 Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 4 4 11- 5 6 6 17- 9 470.59
10 Hunter Louden – Seth Roberts Bethel University 1 1 1-10 5 5 17- 6 466.91
11 Thad Simerly – Ethan Shaw Bryan College 5 5 12- 3 7 7 16-11 463.24
12 Tanner Ward – Kent State University 5 5 12- 2 7 7 16- 9 459.56
13 Carter McNeil – Cole Floyd Bethel University 4 4 9- 6 7 7 15- 6 455.88
14 Conner Choate – Hunter DeSplinter UW – Platteville 3 3 8- 6 5 5 15- 3 452.21
15 Taylor Hamburger – Carson Smith Northeastern State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 14-15 448.53
16 Lee Mattox – Anderson Aldag University of Alabama 4 3 8-15 6 5 14-14 444.85
17 Hunter Sales – Tristan Stalsworth Carson-Newman University 2 2 4- 7 6 6 14- 7 441.18
18 Nick Marsh – Jarrod Layton Adrian College 2 2 5-10 4 4 14- 1 437.50
19 Kory England – Matt Baker Arkansas Tech University 3 3 7-14 5 5 14- 0 433.82
20 Logan Parks – Lucas Lindsay Auburn University 5 5 11-10 6 6 13-14 430.15
21 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Jefferson State 2 2 9- 1 4 4 13-13 426.47
22 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee LSU Shreveport 1 1 3- 6 4 3 13-11 422.79
23 Justin Barnes – Adam Carroll University of Montevallo 2 2 6- 2 4 4 13- 8 419.12
24 Jacob Daily – Andrew Deloney University of Alabama 2 1 6- 2 4 2 13- 3 415.44
25 Tyler Rivet – Jared Bascle Nicholls State University 5 5 12-10 5 5 12-10 411.76
26 Tyler Craig – Spencer Lambert U. of Louisiana at Monroe 3 3 8- 3 5 4 12-10 408.09
27 Jordan Hartman – Hunter McKinley Murray State University 1 1 2- 5 6 5 12- 7 404.41
28 Hunter Reifschneider – Jonathan Klaes University of Dubuque 4 4 9-11 5 5 11-15 400.74
29 Miller Spivey – Chandler Sickafoose Wallace State Hanceville 2 1 9- 0 3 2 11-15 397.06
30 Gavin Lagle – Atom Ward Indiana University Southeast 0 0 0- 0 4 4 11-14 393.38
31 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 3 3 7- 1 5 5 11-12 389.71
32 Josh Dugger – Jake Dugger Arkansas Tech University 1 1 3- 7 3 2 11- 5 386.03
33 Nick Inzeo – Nick Montilino Murray State University 2 2 6- 0 4 4 11- 3 382.35
34 Ben Stone – Greyson Williams Lander University 2 2 5- 4 4 4 10-15 378.68
35 Nathan Bell – Cole Sands Bryan College 1 1 2-13 3 3 10-11 375.00
36 Mitchell Jennings – Roy Zhang Auburn University 2 2 4- 8 5 4 10- 9 371.32
37 Jarred Jones – Devin Mobbs Jacksonville State University 1 1 1-13 4 4 10- 6 367.65
38 Bennett Pierce – Austin Phillips Arkansas Tech University 4 4 9-14 4 4 9-14 363.97
39 Cully Scroggins – Nathon Portch Bethel University 1 1 2- 1 4 3 9-14 360.29
40 Alex Murray – Trent Manuel McNeese State University 2 2 5- 9 4 4 9- 9 356.62
41 Evan Slentz – Colin Slentz Lander University 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7 352.94
42 Austin Miles – Cooper Brown Colorado State University, Pueblo 2 2 5- 0 4 4 9- 7 349.26
43 Matthew Cross – Mekiah Jack Middle Tennessee State University 4 4 9- 6 4 4 9- 6 345.59
44 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 1 1 2- 6 4 4 9- 3 341.91
45 Cody Stahl – Reese Kingston SCAD 1 1 2-12 3 3 9- 2 338.24
46 Dakota Cantrell – Austin Moore Campbellsville University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 8-11 334.56
47 Spencer Hahn – Ben Wanke University of Wisconsin 2 2 4- 1 4 4 8-10 330.88
48 Jake Biram – Rhett Meyer Oklahoma State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 8- 7 327.21
49 Patrick Pelt – Logan McEwen Auburn University 1 1 2- 2 4 4 8- 7 323.53
50 Dalton Childers – Blake Spradlin Auburn University 2 2 5-15 3 3 8- 6 319.85
51 Cullen Lamm-Hoover – Jules Williams Hampden-Sydney College 1 1 2- 0 4 3 8- 3 316.18
52 Dustin Jones – Dalton Smith Campbellsville University 1 1 3-10 3 3 7-10 312.50
53 Dillon Bryant – Dustin Wagner Patrick Henry Comm College 2 2 3- 8 3 2 7- 5 308.82
54 Carson Leber – Tyler Bounds Chico State 1 1 4-11 2 2 7- 3 305.15
55 John-Michael Brattlof-Cody Barchenger Stephen F Austin State University 1 1 1-10 3 3 7- 2 301.47
56 Ben Barrus – Tyler VanBrandt Adrian College 2 2 4-12 3 3 7- 0 297.79
57 Joseph Bruener – Nathan Doty McKendree University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 6-14 294.12
58 Jackson Carrell – Kyle Pasket Sam Houston State University 2 2 4-15 3 3 6-12 290.44
59 Daniel Smathers – Jack Reed Liberty University 3 2 6-11 3 2 6-11 286.76
60 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan Louisiana Tech 1 0 1-11 3 2 6- 7 283.09
61 Cole Walker – Wilson Smith Bethel University 1 1 3- 2 2 2 6- 3 279.41
62 Jacob Shannon – Brandon Murphy University of Texas at Tyler 2 2 6- 2 2 2 6- 2 275.74
63 Connor Whisenant – Carter Henderson Texas A&M University 2 2 3-15 3 3 5-15 272.06
64 Brennan Soileau – Garrett McDonald Louisiana Tech 2 2 3-12 3 3 5- 9 268.38
65 Reid Conner – Joshua Butts Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 5- 7 2 2 5- 7 264.71
66 Travis Blenn – Jake Hoselton Kansas State 0 0 0- 0 2 2 5- 4 261.03
67 Joe McClosky – John-Austin Welch Bethel University 2 2 3- 7 3 3 5- 4 257.35
68 KJ Queen – Brad Ableman Bethel University 1 1 2- 7 2 2 5- 4 253.68
69 Chris Walter – Jacob Gress Indiana University 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4-14 250.00
70 Travis Howard – Sam Carris Tennessee Tech University 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11 246.32
71 Cade Reeder – Will Harding Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 4-10 2 2 4-10 242.65
72 Zachariah Edwards – Drew Douglas University of Central Oklahoma 2 0 4- 8 2 0 4- 8 238.97
73 Branden Newcome – Michael Shughart West Virginia University 1 1 4- 8 1 1 4- 8 235.29
74 Caleb Dennis – Hunter Presley Central Alabama Comm College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 7 231.62
75 Shane Campbell – Ethan Jones McKendree University 2 2 4- 4 2 2 4- 4 227.94
75 Hunter Stewart – Luke Slaton U. of North Georgia 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 4 227.94
77 John Moore – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 1 1 4- 4 1 1 4- 4 220.59
78 Ryan Fox – Stephen Jesso Penn State 0 0 0- 0 2 1 4- 2 216.91
79 Mark Moran – Brandon Robinson Glenville State College 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 1 213.24
80 Nathan Ragsdale – Jerimiah Freelund University of Georgia 0 0 0- 0 2 2 4- 0 209.56
81 Chad Sweitzer – Matthew Featherston Chico State 1 1 4- 0 1 1 4- 0 205.88
82 Ryan Nevil – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 1 1 2- 2 2 2 3-15 202.21
83 Kyler Chelminiak – Ricky Harris Bethel University 1 1 3-13 1 1 3-13 198.53
84 Luke Potter – Stephen Thomas Lamar University 0 0 0- 0 1 0 3-12 194.85
85 Conner Fogg – Chandler Fogg Bryan College 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3 191.18
85 Parker Humber – Carlos Welch Itawamba Comm College 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3 191.18
87 Thomas Robbins – Kevin Lukens Michigan State University 1 1 3- 2 1 1 3- 2 183.82
88 Crosley Welch – Hayden Lee Missouri State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-15 180.15
89 Michael Whiteacre – Romolo Rabasi Ohio State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-14 176.47
90 Johnny Ledet – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2-10 172.79
90 Trevor McKinney – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10 172.79
92 Mason Beatty – Jacob Keith East Texas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.44
92 Tristan McCormick – Dakota Pierce Bethel University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.44
92 Taylor Morten – Austin Porter Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 8 165.44
95 Drew Elrod – Luke Byerly U. of Tennessee 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 5 154.41
95 Micah Speights – Clay Kepley UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 5 154.41
95 Trent Turner – Kyle Weems Louisiana Tech 1 1 2- 5 1 1 2- 5 154.41
98 Thomas Milstead – Jared Turnbloom University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 4 143.38
98 Zach Vielhauer – Will Andrie Kansas State 1 1 2- 4 1 1 2- 4 143.38
100 Tyler Robinson – Ben Seaman Clarkson University 1 1 2- 3 1 1 2- 3 136.03
101 Cole Buser – Marquz Perez New Mexico State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 2 132.35
101 Ryan Kent – David Brashear Georgia Southern 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 2 132.35
103 Caleb Gibson – Tyler Winn Northeastern State University 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 125.00
103 Denver Satterlee – Landon Smith Calhoun Community College 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1 125.00
103 Kyle Stafford – Evan Wieber Polk State College 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 1 125.00
106 Blake Albertson – Adam Puckett Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97
106 Josh Bean – Caden Watson Tennessee Tech University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97
106 Jonathan Kelley – Joseph Castelluccio Coastal Carolina 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-15 113.97
106 Jarrett Robertson – Brandon Smith Tarleton State University 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15 113.97
110 Jacob Anderson – Christopher Lewis University of Wisconsin 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-14 99.26
110 Logan Brewster – Chase Dawson U. of Tennessee 1 1 1-14 1 1 1-14 99.26
112 Andrew Wolfe – Colin Steck University of Wisconsin 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13 91.91
113 Noah Garnett – Tyler Pendergrass Wallace State Hanceville 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-12 88.24
114 Jeffrey Hopkins – Austin Handley Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-11 84.56
115 Hunter Freeman – Wesley Banks U. of Louisiana at Monroe 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-10 80.88
115 Jack Hippe – Nick Czajka Adrian College 1 1 1-10 1 1 1-10 80.88
117 Mike Anderson – Zachary Schnepf UW-Oshkosh 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Collin Bode – Josh Perrin Sam Houston State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Will Brown – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Coleton Caldwell – Chandler Robertson UMKC School of Dentistry 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Drew Coker – Clayton Childs U. of North Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Evan Coleman – Josh Soroka Texas State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Jacob Foutz – Jake Lee Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Matt Garfield – Zack St John University of Minnesota Duluth 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Luke Gillund – Jack Kons Bemidji State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Wesley Griner – Justin Sisavath University of Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Spencer Guthrie – Ryan Kennedy Kennesaw State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Josh Hart – Ben Dominque Clemson University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Cantley Krafft – Ethan Morrison Virginia Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Jonathan Linder – Dallas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Harbor Lovin – Evan Bramhill Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Johnathan Peck – Griffin Heffington Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Sloan Pennington – Hunter McCarty U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Dalton Price – Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Brian Volkernick – University of Maine 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
117 Rickey Wood Jr – Coastal Carolina 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0 0.00
BIG BASS
Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee Bossier City, LA 5- 9
2 Zeke Gossett – Hayden BarteeCROPWELL, AL 6- 3
TOTALS
Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 183 171 488-12 7
2 179 168 464-13 8
Smith and Hamburger Fish Through Adversity
When Taylor Hamburger and Carson Smith weighed 14-lbs and 15-ounces of Tenkiller Lake bass today for day one of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, you’d have thought these local anglers had it easy.
Hamburger and Smith go to school here at Northeastern State University (NSU), the hosting campus for the 2018 National Championship here in eastern Oklahoma. When the National Championship location was announced for Tenkiller, their home lake, the NSU anglers knew they had an incredible opportunity.
As today’s weigh-in concluded, Hamburger and Smith were sitting in 4th place, but the day was anything but easy. Carson Smith is fishing through a finger injury he sustained in a freak accident last week, and both anglers had to stay focused after a disappointedly slow start to their day.
“I was at work last week sitting on top of a forklift,” said Smith. “The forklift had a pinch point that my right hand was hanging on to. When the forklift rose up, it smashed my pinky on my right hand, which is also my casting hand. Ultimately, the doctors had to amputate half of my pinky finger.”
While his mind was first on his own well being, Smith’s thoughts immediately jumped to the National Championship and how this injury would affect his performance.
“The accident happened exactly one week ago – a week before the biggest tournament of my life,” said Smith, a senior studying Environmental Health and Safety. “Of course I was stressing out. I was thinking, oh no, am I even going to be able to fish? The day after the accident my whole hand was hurting incredibly bad, but I still went and dug a fishing rod out of the boat to make a few casts. It was painful, but I knew I’d be able to work through it.”
That’s an impressive example of a college athlete dedicated to their craft and willing to play hurt. But the NSU Riverhawk’s difficulties didn’t end there, they also had to labor through a slower than expected start to their day one.
“We didn’t have a keeper in the boat until 11:00 today,” said Hamburger, a sophomore studying construction management here in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. “It took us half the day, but when we got that first keeper bite it really clued us into how we needed to be fishing. After some running and gunning, we had five solid keepers and laid off our fish around 1:00 p.m.”
One Bass, Two Bags of Ice, And A Great Attitude
Ben Seaman and Tyler Robinson left what are arguably the two greatest summer bass fisheries in America, The St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain, to drive 26 hours to hot, humid, and gorgeous Lake Tenkiller for a chance to compete against student anglers from 77 other universities at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.
And so far, after three brutally tough days of practice, they’ve only caught one keeper-sized bass from this Eastern Oklahoma fishery.
But don’t feel bad for them. This highly likeable team from Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY floated in the pre-dawn darkness before the start of the first day of competition with two bags of ice to keep their livewell water nice and cool, and a boatload of laughs and great attitude.
“Be honest with us, are we the best looking guys out here?” laughed Seaman an engineering major.
“No really, we’re thrilled to be here. We love talking to all the other college anglers. They’re such great guys, and Carhartt has been so awesome,” he smiled. “They gave us free shirts and shorts at the banquet last night, and they do so much to organize a great event. We can’t wait to go home and tell people how well Carhartt, B.A.S.S., and all of the sponsors treated us.”
But before they make the 26 hour drive back home with Seaman’s dad, Murray, a recently retired engineer who gladly helps with everything from the long drive to packing their lunch, Ben and Tyler have to figure out Tenkiller’s super stingy summertime bass from water temperatures higher than they’ve ever seen.
“There’s no doubt the 90-degree water here has us mentally spun-out just a bit,” says Seaman. “This water is literally 22 degrees warmer than what we left behind at Champlain and the St. Lawrence. We’ve never seen water this warm in our lives. Plus, we’re used to fishing around big underwater boulders surrounded by milfoil, but there’s not any vegetation at all here on Tenkiller.”
The two are fishing fanatics who spend countless hours dropping Gajo soft plastics on the heads of super-sized St. Lawrence smallmouth with tremendous success, but here at Tenkiller, a ¾ ounce Strike King structure jig generated their only bite in practice.
“We’re going to start the day with the only thing we’ve had any success with so far – dragging that heavy jig in 25 feet of water,” says Seaman.
They’ll also start the day by keeping plenty of ice handy to keep their livewell water cool with optimistic hopes of catching more than they have so far in practice.
But, no matter what today or the rest of this National Championship brings forth for Seaman and Robinson at the weigh-in, they’ve already caught proper perspective and a winning attitude that will happily carry them 26 hours back home, and even further in life.
Triple Digit Heat and Stingy Fishing at College Championship
Heavy clouds and air temps in the low 80s at Lake Tenkiller were a welcomed reprieve from a sweaty week thus far on the clear water mountainous reservoir that’s been very stingy to give up 5-bass limits for most teams during practice for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Two of the talented young anglers that are feeling the approaching 100-degree heat and a lack of bites are Josh Bean and Caden Watson, who piloted their Toyota Tundra 12 hours from Tennessee Tech, where Bean is studying wildlife and fisheries, and Watson is a civil engineering major.
“We’ve talked to 20 or 30 other teams, and they all say it’s a grind. Not one of those teams told us they were able to catch a limit of bass during any of the practice days so far,” says Bean.
Bean and Watson’s struggles certainly aren’t a result of not working hard, or exploring just about every depth and logical mid-summer lure in the boat.
“We’ve fished from 5 to 60’ feet deep, and thrown everything from football jigs, to Whopper Ploppers, flutter spoons, swimbaits, and a big worm, and still haven’t caught a limit of bass,” says Watson.
No strangers to deep, rocky, relatively clear water reservoirs, the two qualified for this week’s Carhartt Bassmaster National Championship by catching their fish on a drop shot at Cherokee Lake near the Smokey Mountains in East Tennessee.
“Surprisingly, we actually caught more fish yesterday when it was sunny, than we did today under the clouds. Typically, you’d expect just the opposite on a clear water reservoir, but I think the fish roam more to chase bait here under these clouds,” says Watson.
If sunshine will help the bite, Watson and Bean can count on their catch rates to improve. Forecasts are calling for temps of 100, 104, and 100 the next three days on Lake Tenkiller, with hardly any clouds and light winds.
That’s a recipe that typically means you better catch ‘em really early in the morning, have plenty of ice in your livewells and boat cooler, lots of water to drink, and a mental focus as rock solid as Tenkiller’s shoreline to do well in this particular college derby.
Certainly, if practice is any indication, this one’s gonna be a smokin’ hot grind for the 136 talented teams from 78 different colleges and universities that are in Eastern Oklahoma working hard and pursuing their passion in triple digit heat.
The NEW Missile Baits Bomb Shot from ICAST 2018
Here is a look at the newest addition to the Missile Baits line up…. the Bomb Shot.