Hartman Still Leads Elite Series Tournament On Lake Champlain

July 31, 2020
B.A.S.S. News - Archived

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Jamie Hartman of Russellville, Ark., added 20 pounds, 3 ounces to Thursday’s weight of 22-1 and retained the top spot in the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Lake Champlain with a two-day total of 42-4. Hartman ended Day 1 by stopping on a rocky point close to the tournament site and catching a 4-pounder 10 minutes before the 3 p.m. weigh-in began. Friday, he started on this spot and quickly lit up the BASSTrakk leaderboard by securing a solid limit of smallmouth in less than two hours.

“I took a lot of pressure off this morning in the first hour and a half, I had 18 1/4 pounds,” said Hartman, a New York native who moved away from his home state to pursue a career in professional bass fishing. “Then I figured I only needed two more 4-pounders, but it took all the way to the last two hours to do it.

“That spot was on my way to a big flat I wanted to fish in the lake’s north end, so I just said I’m going to start there and see if the fish were there, and they sure were. Hopefully, they’ll reload and I’ll get on them tomorrow morning.”

Having fished this spot in years past, Hartman said his nearly immediate bite on Day 1 told him the point held greater potential than he had anticipated. With Friday’s calm, clear conditions contrasting Thursday’s partly cloudy and increasingly breezy complexion, he started Day 2 expecting fireworks and the bass mostly cooperated. Hartman caught those early fish on a Carolina rig with craw bait on a 3/0 Owner extra-wide gap hook. He used a 1-ounce weight and a 3-foot leader, which helped him keep his bait above the grass.

“The spot had scattered grass and rock, so the Carolina rig was absolutely perfect, and my hookup to landing ratio is really good,” he said. “I said I was going to put it in my hand this week before we started because I lost so many fish last week [at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite on the St. Lawrence River]. I said I’m going to swing with the big one this time.

“I was using a steady retrieve and whenever I’d come through a patch of grass, I’d pop the rig to snap it out of that grass. They’ll whack it every time when I do that.”

By midmorning, he decided he was not going to upgrade on his starting point, so he made a move to avoid burning up too much of the spot’s population. Heading to his northern flat, he focused on scattered grass in about 10 to 15 feet.

“I didn’t want to keep hammering my starting spot,” Hartman said of his plan to manage the bass. “I didn’t even go back to it on the way in. I didn’t want to catch another one off that spot; I need them for tomorrow.”

When the Carolina rig failed to produce, Hartman went to a 1/2-ounce Riot Baits Lil’ Creeper jig with a swimbait trailer. He was again targeting smallmouth but ended up making a key cull with a largemouth around 2:30 p.m.

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in second place with 41-8. After anchoring his fourth-place Day 1 catch of 20-1 with a 5-4 largemouth, Feider added a limit of 21-7 Friday that included another huge largemouth that went 6-6. Feider caught Friday’s big fish by targeting boat docks with milfoil and flipping a 5/8-ounce Outkast Tackle jig with a chunk-style trailer. While largemouth on marina docks produced most of his Day 1 weight, today told a different tale.

“I did most of my damage this morning on smallies; I ended up weighing four smallies and one buckethead (largemouth),” Feider said. “My smallmouth spot was a grass point in 10 to 12 feet on a big flat. I caught two on drop shot and two on a crankbait.”

Koby Kreiger of Alva, Fla., is in third place with 40-1. After posting 18-1 Thursday, he added 22 pounds on Day 2. Noting that a Heddon Super Spook Jr. and two jerkbaits — a Lucky Craft Pointer 100 and a Megabass Vision 110 — produced his fish, Kreiger said today’s calm, sunny conditions plus a cleaner performance yielded a better sack.

“It slicked off, which made it easier for me to see the fish and for them to see my bait,” Kreiger said. “Yesterday, I jumped off a couple and today, I fished clean.

“I’m fishing a great big flat in 10 feet with isolated rocks and isolated grass patches on it. I can see them pretty far out with my Humminbird 360; that shows me what’s in front of the boat when I’m drifting.”

Feider is in the lead for Big Bass honors with his 6-6 largemouth.

  

2020 Bassmaster Elite Tournament at Lake Champlain 7/30-8/2
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  42-04  100
  Day 1: 5   22-01     Day 2: 5   20-03   
2.  Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  41-08   99   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   21-07   
3.  Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  40-01   98
  Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   22-00   
4.  Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  39-05   97
  Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   20-02   
5.  Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  39-01   96
  Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   19-13   
5.  David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  39-01   96
  Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   19-04   
7.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  38-15   94
  Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   19-02   
8.  Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            10  38-11   93
  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   21-08   
9.  Buddy Gross            Chickamauga, GA         10  38-08   92
  Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   17-06   
10. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  38-06   91
  Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   17-14   
11. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  38-06   90
  Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   18-10   
12. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN             10  37-14   89
  Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   19-06   
13. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC             10  37-11   88
  Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 5   19-07   
14. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  37-10   87   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   18-04   
15. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC          10  37-09   86
  Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   18-13   
16. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  37-01   85
  Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   17-05   
17. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  37-01   84
  Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   18-08   
18. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  36-08   83
  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   18-08   
19. Hunter Shryock         Newcomerstown, OH       10  36-06   82
  Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   19-06   
20. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  36-05   81
  Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   17-13   
21. Chris Johnston         Peterborough Ontario CA 10  36-02   80
  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   16-12   
22. Rob Digh               Denver, NC              10  35-15   79
  Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   17-09   
23. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  35-14   78
  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   16-08   
24. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  35-11   77
  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   17-11   
25. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL          10  35-09   76
  Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   19-11   
26. Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10  35-08   75
  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   18-05   
27. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI              10  35-07   74
  Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   18-00   
28. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             10  35-05   73
  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   18-00   
29. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        10  35-04   72
  Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   19-04   
30. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC          10  35-04   71
  Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   17-08   
31. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  35-04   70
  Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   17-10   
32. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  34-14   69
  Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   16-11   
33. Frank Talley           Temple, TX              10  34-12   68
  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   18-11   
34. Drew Cook              Midway, FL              10  34-07   67
  Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   17-11   
35. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC         10  34-06   66
  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   18-05   
36. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA         10  34-06   65
  Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 5   16-02   
37. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO        10  34-06   64
  Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   17-05   
38. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  34-03   63
  Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   16-10   
39. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  34-00   62
  Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   18-11   
40. Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA      10  33-13   61
  Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   17-02   
41. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  33-10   60   $7,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   17-04   
42. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  33-08   59   $7,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   16-15   
43. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL          10  33-05   58   $7,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   14-14   
44. Destin DeMarion        Grove City, PA          10  33-03   57   $7,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   17-10   
45. Greg DiPalma           Millville, NJ           10  33-03   56   $7,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   16-04   
46. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  33-01   55   $5,000.00
  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   16-14   
47. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA             10  33-00   54   $5,000.00
  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   16-15   
48. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  32-15   53   $5,000.00
  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   16-12   
49. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  32-11   52   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   16-14   
50. Cody Hollen            Beaverton, OR           10  32-11   51   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   16-06   
51. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC            10  32-08   50   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   18-08   
52. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  32-05   49   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   17-05   
53. Bob Downey             Hudson, WI              10  32-04   48   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   18-04   
54. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  32-03   47   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   14-03   
55. Mike Huff              Corbin, KY              10  32-00   46   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   17-00   
56. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK            10  31-15   45   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-09   
57. Brett Preuett          Monroe, LA              10  31-15   44   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   14-11   
58. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  31-14   43   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   15-07   
59. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  31-14   42   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   15-09   
60. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  31-14   41   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   16-00   
61. Jay Yelas              Lincoln City, OR        10  31-13   40   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   16-13   
62. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  31-11   39   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   15-03   
63. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN           10  31-05   38   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   14-08   
64. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  30-15   37   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   12-05   
65. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  30-15   36   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   16-06   
66. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  30-14   35   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-10   
67. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  30-11   34   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   13-09   
68. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  30-04   33   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   11-15   
69. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  30-00   32   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   14-15   
70. Quentin Cappo          Prairieville, LA        10  29-15   31   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   16-05   
71. David Fritts           Lexington, NC           10  29-14   30   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   13-04   
72. Jesse Tacoronte        Kissimmee, FL           10  29-14   29   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   16-04   
73. Randy Pierson          Oakdale, CA             10  29-09   28   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   13-05   
74. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR         10  29-01   27   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   11-14   
75. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              10  28-11   26   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   15-12   
76. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN          10  28-07   25   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   10-02   
77. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  28-01   24   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   14-04   
78. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX        10  28-00   23   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   13-02   
79. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL              10  27-15   22   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   13-13   
80. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL        10  27-10   21   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   14-12   
81. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  9  27-04   20   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 4   10-01   
82. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  26-14   19   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   15-06   
83. Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA         10  26-04   18   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-11     Day 2: 5   14-09   
84. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  24-08   17   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   11-09   
85. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             9  21-07   16   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 4   11-07   
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BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Bryan Schmitt            Deale, MD           06-02      $1,000.00
 2   Seth Feider              New Market, MN      06-06      $1,000.00

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Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        85       425      1425-04
 2        83       423      1417-02
----------------------------------
         168       848      2842-06