YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — Zach Parker and Matt Roberts are roommates and teammates, and now the two share something else: the lead at the 2014 Bassmaster College Series National Championship on Georgia’s Chatuge Reservoir. The anglers hail from a school that has made a name in bass fishing: Bethel University. In fact, it’s the main reason both competitors chose the small Tennessee school.
Parker and Roberts came in on Day 2 of the tournament with 12 pounds, 15 ounces to add to their 14-6 from yesterday. They have a nearly 3-pound lead over their nearest competitors, Jake Whitaker and Andrew Helms of University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
As the weigh-in wound down and it appeared they would end the day in the lead, rain that had been threatening for hours finally broke, making them consider how they would approach competition on Day 3.
“It’s going to make it a lot tougher,” Roberts said. “But it’s also going to hurt that shallow bite where the big fish are.”
“And we’re not looking for the big fish,” Parker added. “We’re trying to catch a limit of 3-pounders.”
Aiming for the medium-size fish has helped them so far. They finished Day 1 in second place using the same strategy. Then the pressure was on for Day 2 because only the Top 5 teams will advance to the final day of competition Saturday. The Day 1 leaders, Nathan Martin and Michael Gullette, slipped all the way to the 14th spot; it shows how quickly you can go from the leader to not even having a seat at the table.
“We wanted to get a limit first,” Roberts said of their Day 2 strategy. “But then we only had 8 or 9 pounds by noon, so we fished deeper, and we were able to cull three times.”
The anglers spent most of their practice time earlier this week marking brushpiles rather than fishing, looking for enough to hold them over for several days.
“We haven’t even hit half of our stuff yet,” Parker said.
Having lots of areas to fall back on is good because, at least for two people, this is a six-day tournament. The first three days, July 31-Aug. 2, are for the championship, and the next three — Aug. 2-5 — fall under the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Classic Bracket. In the bracket, anglers will fish head to head in an elimination tournament that will leave two anglers fishing against each other, still on the same water, on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The winner of that battle will receive an invitation to compete in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
If Parker or Roberts makes it all the way until Tuesday, one or both of them will need a whole lot of brushpiles. Parker and Roberts both earned the Livingston Lures Leader Award worth $250 in Livingston products, which is given to the anglers who lead on Day 2.
The biggest bass of the day was caught by Justin Walton and Brian Redd of the University of West Georgia. The 6-2 was a great catch, for sure, but it won’t win Carhartt Big Bass honors. Two teams brought in bass that weighed 6-7 on Day 1.
The number of fish was down on Day 2 from the first day, even though the average fish weight remained around 2 pounds. Only 16 teams caught limits on Day 2, down from 27 on the previous day. Fourteen teams got skunked, up from 12 on Day 1. Many anglers blamed the blazing sun for tougher fishing.
Only five teams advance to Day 3 Saturday. They are Parker and Roberts; Whitaker and Helms; Brett Preuett and Jackson Blackett, University of Louisiana-Monroe; Robert Giarla and Bentley Manning, Tennessee Tech University; and Tanner Cooper and Memo Nunez, New Mexico State University.
Competition resumes tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. ET for launch at The Ridges Resort and Marina in Hiawassee, Ga. The weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Ga., where the 2014 Bassmaster College Series national champions will be crowned.
Bassmaster College Series Championship
7/31/2014 - 8/2/2014
Chatuge Reservoir - The Ridges Marina - Young Harris, GA
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Zach Parker - Matt Roberts Bethel University 5 5 12-15 10 10 27- 5
2 Jake Whitaker - Andrew Helms UNC Charlotte 5 4 12-11 10 9 24- 7
3 Brett Preuett - Jackson Blackett University of La Monroe 5 5 13- 3 10 10 23- 2
4 Robert Giarla - Bentley Manning Tenn Tech University 3 3 7-12 8 8 21- 3
5 Tanner Cooper - Memo Nunez New Mexico State University 5 5 11- 0 10 10 21- 3
6 Cody Ross - Dewey Swims Bethel University 5 5 10- 5 10 9 21- 3
7 Shelby Hutchens - Stephen F Austin State University t4y 3 9- 1 9 7 19-15
8 Patrick Walters - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 5 5 10-12 10 10 19- 3
9 John Hunter - Mike Huff Georgetown College 5 4 9- 0 10 9 18-15
10 Kyle Raymer - Ethan Snyder Eastern Kentucky University 5 5 8-10 10 10 18- 3
11 Garrett Cates - Graham Howard Kansas State University 2 2 11- 9 3 3 18- 0
12 Michael Corbishley - Ronnie Moore East Carolina University 4 4 7-13 9 9 18- 0
13 Jacob Roberson - Evan Horne University of North Alabama 4 2 8-14 9 7 17-10
14 Nathan Martin - Michael Gullette University of North Alabama 2 2 2- 5 7 7 17- 4
15 Dawson Lenz - Robb Young University of North Alabama 5 4 7-14 10 9 17- 1
16 David Sherry - Max Burges Southern Polytechnic State Univ 5ersity 5 7- 4 9 9 16-14
17 Kenny Johnson - Bradley Rilling University of West Georgia 4 4 9-11 9 9 16-11
18 Zachary Wiggers - Justin Bruno Grand Valley State University 5 5 9- 4 8 8 16-11
19 Edward Rude III - Matthew Gibson West Virginia University 5 5 10-11 8 8 16-10
20 Dan Martin - Tyler McCune Eastern Illinois University 4 4 8-12 9 9 15-12
21 Nick LaDart - Brian Eaton U. of Louisiana Monroe 1 1 3- 0 6 6 15- 3
22 Trent Newman - Jacob Sepeda Dallas Baptist University 5 5 12- 0 7 7 15- 2
23 Patrick Friedman - Travis Bounds San Jose State 4 4 5-11 9 8 15- 1
24 Austin Neary - Zachary Hicks Western Carolina University 4 4 7- 6 7 7 14-13
25 Ben Verhoef - Tommy Hebson University of Missouri 4 4 7- 4 7 7 14-12
26 Ryan Gilbert - Jacob Clisch University of Wisconsin, Plattville e3 3 7- 8 6 6 14-11
27 Chase Cochran - Ryan Sparks Oregon State University 3 3 4-11 8 8 14- 5
28 Timothy Bailey - Jesse Scarafiotti New Mexico State University 2 1 4-14 7 6 14- 5
29 Dalton Wilson - Randall Morris Bethel University 1 1 2-10 6 5 14- 3
30 Matthew Loetscher - Caleb Ryan Boudreau Lxouisiana Tech University 3 3 8- 5 7 7 14- 3
31 Justin Atkins - Joseph Marty Mississippi State University 3 3 4-10 7 7 14- 1
32 Chris Burgan - Austin Felix University of Minnesota 4 4 6- 4 9 9 13-13
33 Cody Hahner - Mark Hugus Wisconsin, Stevens Point 1 1 1- 8 6 6 13-10
34 Bo Larkins - Brian Rosso University of Georgia 3 3 5- 3 6 6 13- 0
35 Bryce Wegman - Carlos Thomas Illinois State University 5 5 11- 0 6 6 12-15
36 Cody Lincoln - Jason Hawksford Wisconsin, Stevens Point 5 3 8- 9 7 5 12-13
37 Luke Ferguson - Wesley Wise Polk State College 4 4 10-15 5 5 12-10
38 Evan Smith - Aaron Sarna Arkansas Tech University 3 3 4- 3 8 8 12- 9
39 Dylan McKee - Quinn Fowler Kansas State University 1 1 5- 3 4 4 11-15
40 Justin Walton - Brian Redd University of West Georgia 1 1 6- 2 3 3 11-14
41 Ethan McDonald - Ryan Swallows Tenn Tech University 3 3 4- 8 7 7 11- 4
42 Bryan Carroll - Alan Horwatt Clemson University 3 3 5-12 6 6 11- 4
43 Kyle Smith - Shelby Concon University of Florida 2 2 5- 4 5 5 11- 3
44 Brandon Koon - Blake Welch Bethel University 2 2 2-11 6 6 10-11
45 Mitch Mitchell - Evan Reid Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10- 5
46 Jay Robertson - Brent Davis Southeastern Louisiana University 3 5- 0 6 6 10- 3
47 Austyn Fowler - Zach Hurst Tarleton State University 3 3 4- 9 7 7 10- 2
48 Jake Gipson - Charlie Hurst University of Alabama 3 3 7-13 5 5 10- 0
49 Neal Combs - Kevin Lucas Seminole State College 2 2 3- 2 7 7 10- 0
50 Tyler Craig - Joseph Grassi U. of Louisiana Monroe 2 2 2-14 6 6 8-14
51 Brandon Greco - Austin Watkins Louisiana Tech University 5 5 8-10 5 5 8-10
52 Trapper Munn - Dustin Perkins U. of Louisiana Monroe 1 1 1-11 4 4 8- 9
53 Justin Cooper - John Ledet Northwestern State University 2 2 4-14 4 4 8- 8
54 Tyler Rivet - Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 2 2 6-11 3 3 8- 5
55 Charles Conger - Demetrius Thomas Abraham Baldwin Ag College 1 1 2- 8 6 6 8- 4
56 Wesley Griner - Will Myrick Darton State College 3 3 4- 0 5 5 7- 7
57 Jacob Nummy - Tyler Strock AUM 0 0 0- 0 4 4 7- 5
58 Andrew Warbington - Mark Grant University of West Alabama 2 2 2- 9 5 5 7- 3
59 Matt Feiten - Brian Kirt Wisconsin, Stevens Point 2 2 3- 8 4 4 6-10
60 Thomas Oltorik III - Aaron Comeens Daytona State College 1 1 1-10 3 3 6- 5
61 Erik Strickler - Brandon Hua Oregon State University 3 3 4-15 4 4 6- 4
62 Kyle Oliver - Hunter McKamey University of Central Florida 2 2 2- 7 4 4 6- 3
63 Jackson Grabeel - Joseph Reilly Western Illinois University 2 2 6- 2 2 2 6- 2
64 Michael Skat - Phillip Heyde Seminole State College 2 2 3- 4 4 4 5-13
65 John B Davis - Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 1 1 2- 1 3 3 5- 8
66 Alex Klein - Jeff Karnthong Chico State 2 2 5- 5 2 2 5- 5
67 Scott Cain - Jacob Argo UAB 0 0 0- 0 3 3 5- 0
68 Zackery Hines - Cameron Burger Dallas Baptist University 1 1 2- 7 2 2 4- 1
69 Andrew Loberg - Michael Braswell Chico State 3 3 3-14 3 3 3-14
70 Lance Freeman - Seth Brock Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 3 3 3-13
71 John Nolan - Tyler Collins University of West Georgia 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 3
72 Lance Geren - Robbie Moore UT Chattanooga 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3
73 Taylor Minick - Landon Tucker Valdosta State University 2 2 3- 2 2 2 3- 2
74 Adam Neill - Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3- 0
75 Tyler Wadzinski - Matt Beeler U. of Tennessee 0 0 0- 0 2 2 2- 6
76 Kyle Schneider - Jacob Wall U. of Oregon 0 0 0- 0 1 1 2- 3
77 Hayden Tilley - Alex Clayton Northeast Alabama Community College 0 0- 0 1 1 1-13
78 Hunter Louden - Matthew Palmer Bethel University 1 1 1-10 1 1 1-10
79 Trey Clayton - Timothy Ward Auburn University 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 8
80 Ben Kroeger - University of Nebraska - Omaha 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1- 4
81 Matt Diaz - Andrew Sjostrom CSU Monterey Bay 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
81 John Maner - Ryan Darracott University of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
81 Adam McAndrews - Roberto Munoz San Jose State 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
81 John Tilbury - Jeremy Rainbolt Louisiana Delta Community College 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
Name City,State Lbs-Oz
BIG BASS
Day
1 Nathan Martin Tuscumbia, AL 6- 7
1 Garrett Cates Overland Park, KS 6- 7
2 Justin Walton Douglasville, GA 6- 2
Day # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
TOTALS
# Fish
1 246 242 483- 9 27
2 210 201 433-12 16