DAYTON, Tenn. — Bryan College’s Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro know Lake Chickamauga about as well as anyone, and they proved it Thursday on Day 1 of the Bassmaster College Series National Championship tournament on Lake Chickamauga. The duo caught five bass that weighed 24 pounds, 9 ounces, which gave them more than a 2-pound lead on the other 115 teams competing this week in the southeast corner of the Volunteer State.
Bryan College is located across the street from Dayton Municipal Park where takeoffs and weigh-ins are being held during the championship. The park abuts the trophy-bass lake and both anglers said their familiarity with the area clearly helped their fortunes Thursday.
“I spend my time out here,” Sands said. “It’s not a coincidence and I’m not gonna deny we were blessed today. But we had a really tough practice and didn’t know what we’d catch. We thought we could catch about 15 pounds and that was about it.”
The difference between a lackluster practice and a sensational first day was the 7-15 kicker bass that Sands caught Thursday. It tied for the heaviest bass of the day, and along with some other quality keepers that Dimauro boated, it was more than enough to give the locals the lead.
But as both anglers said, they didn’t think they were on the right fish to make that happen. To take advantage of any opportunities, Sands and Dimauro kept a dozen rods on the deck most of the day. At one point, the five bass they had in the livewell had been caught on five different lures.
The “kitchen sink” approach worked.
“We culled a bigger bag today than we had all of practice,” Dimauro said. “But as tough as conditions were for us, we saved a lot of stuff.”
Sands said he and Dimauro will continue to “fish the conditions.”
“When we blasted off today, we knew where we were going to start and how we did after that was how we were to go from there,” Sands said. “That is an advantage of knowing the lake … It’s not like we’re catching just deep or just shallow. It’s a little bit of everything.”
Carter McNeil and Cole Floyd of Bethel University are in second place with a five-bass limit that weighed 22-6. They won the Bassmaster College Series tournament on Bull Shoals Lake in Arkansas earlier this year, but now they’re after a bigger prize.
Like the tournament leaders, McNeil and Floyd compete regularly on Chickamauga, which is a four-hour drive from McKenzie, Tenn., where Bethel is located. But they too struggled in practice until finding their groove Thursday.
“We just expanded and fished a bunch of new water today,” Floyd said. “It’s just one here and one there. It’s not a big group of fish.”
McNeil is confident he and Floyd will have to produce another big bag if they want to survive the cut to the Top 12 following Friday’s weigh-in.
“This lake is capable of producing some really big bass,” McNeil said. “If we’re consistent, I think we can make it to the last day. But like Cole was saying, the fish are just scattered. We could go tomorrow and catch average fish. We’ll just stick to our game plan and see if we can do it again tomorrow.”
Landon Siggers and Logan Reynolds of Wytheville (Va.) Community College are third with 20-6, while Jarrett Brown and Elliot Torode of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) are fourth with 19-14. The University of Tennessee’s Robert Gee and Saxton Long are fifth with 19-12. Brandon Mann of Arkansas Tech caught an 8-2 kicker on Day 1 that currently holds the title of Big Bass of the tournament. Mann and his partner Hunter Bryant are currently in 12th place.
The Top 4 teams (eight anglers) at the championship will advance to the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket to be held Aug. 27-29 at Watts Bar Lake, also in Tennessee. They will compete individually in a head-to-head format there with a berth in the 2020 Bassmaster Classic at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville going to the winning angler.
Day 2 of the College Series National Championship will begin Friday with takeoff from the Dayton Boat Dock at 6:40 a.m. ET. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. at Point Park.
2019 Bassmaster College Series National Championship 8/1-8/3
Tournament on Lake Chickamauga, Dayton TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Cole Sands - Conner Dimauro Bryan College- TN 0
Day 1: 5 24-09 Total: 5 24-09
2. Carter McNeil - Cole Floyd Bethel University- TN 0
Day 1: 5 22-06 Total: 5 22-06
3. Landon Siggers - Logan Reynolds Wytheville Community College 0
Day 1: 5 20-06 Total: 5 20-06
4. Jarrett Brown - Elliot Torode University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 5 19-14 Total: 5 19-14
5. Robert Gee - Saxton Long University of Tennessee 0
Day 1: 5 19-12 Total: 5 19-12
6. Jared Turnbloom - Thomas Milstead University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 4 19-04 Total: 4 19-04
7. Noah Boyett - Hunter Hanby University of Arkansas- AR 0
Day 1: 5 18-12 Total: 5 18-12
8. Cody Huff - Garrett Enders Bethel University 0
Day 1: 5 18-06 Total: 5 18-06
9. Tyler Christy - Trey Schroeder McKendree University- IL 0
Day 1: 5 18-02 Total: 5 18-02
10. Chase Serafin - Jack Hippe Adrian College 0
Day 1: 5 18-02 Total: 5 18-02
11. Joshua Boone - Blake Riley Eastern Kentucky University- KY 0
Day 1: 5 18-00 Total: 5 18-00
12. Brandon Mann - Hunter Bryant Arkansas Tech 0
Day 1: 5 17-09 Total: 5 17-09
13. Cal Culpepper - Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 5 16-08 Total: 5 16-08
14. J T Russell - Porter James University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 5 16-01 Total: 5 16-01
15. Josh Flynn - Zac Hopkins Kansas State University 0
Day 1: 5 16-00 Total: 5 16-00
16. Jordan Hartman - Will Gentry Murray State University- KY 0
Day 1: 5 15-15 Total: 5 15-15
17. KJ Queen - Dax Ewart Bethel University 0
Day 1: 5 15-14 Total: 5 15-14
18. Derek Freeman - Caleb Allgood Clemson University 0
Day 1: 5 15-13 Total: 5 15-13
19. Perry Marvin - Cantley Krafft Virginia Tech University 0
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
20. Trevor McKinney - Ethan Jones McKendree University 0
Day 1: 5 15-07 Total: 5 15-07
21. Dalton Combs - Jack Rankin Drury University- MO 0
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
22. Jacob Moore - Gilliam Tharpe North Carolina State University 0
Day 1: 5 15-03 Total: 5 15-03
23. Griffin Heffington - Mason Cizek Bryan College- TN 0
Day 1: 5 14-11 Total: 5 14-11
24. Jacob Woods - Samuel Vandagriff Tennessee Tech University 0
Day 1: 5 14-10 Total: 5 14-10
25. Will Andrie - Gaige Blanton Kansas State University- KS 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08
26. Dalton Smith - Wil Rigdon Campbellsville University- KY 0
Day 1: 5 14-05 Total: 5 14-05
27. Conner Choate - Hunter DeSplinter University of Wisconsin - Platte 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
28. Benjamin Hager - Noah Shaver UNC-Charlotte 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
29. Nolan Minor - Casey Lanier West Virginia University- WV 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
30. Ben Seaman - Dante Piraino Clarkson University 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
31. Collin Cropp - Mitch Van Ert University of Wisconsin-Whitewat 0
Day 1: 5 13-15 Total: 5 13-15
32. Aidan England - Braden Perry Carson-Newman University 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14
33. Carter Henderson - Connor Whisenant Texas A&M University- TX 0
Day 1: 5 13-13 Total: 5 13-13
34. Cole Breeden - Cameron Smith Drury University 0
Day 1: 3 13-13 Total: 3 13-13
35. Grant Pavelka - Dylan Petersen MPCC 0
Day 1: 5 13-10 Total: 5 13-10
36. Nicholas Inzeo - Nick Montilino Murray State University 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
37. William Nichols - Jamon Phillips Jacksonville State University 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
38. Jackson Carrell - Bryton Kurtz Sam Houston State University 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
39. Matt Baker - Kory England Arkansas Tech University-AR 0
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
40. Tristan McCormick - Dakota Pierce Bethel University 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
41. Spencer Lambert - Wesley Banks University of Louisiana at Monro 0
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
42. Tyler Bounds - Carson Leber Chico State 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
42. Aaron Digh - Jerris Bush East Carolina University 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
42. Zeke Gossett - Hayden Bartee Jacksonville State University- A 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
45. Bradley Dunagan - Campbellsville University 0
Day 1: 4 12-11 Total: 4 12-11
46. Garrett Warren - Eric Lampkin Snead State Community College 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
47. Fisher Overton - Alden Keel Jr Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
47. Tyler Price - Preston Kendrick Bryan College 0
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
47. Alex Williamson - Coleman Roberts Liberty University 0
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
50. Ty Black - Avry Thomason Georgia Southern University 0
Day 1: 4 12-05 Total: 4 12-05
51. Logan Parks - Lucas Lindsay Auburn University 0
Day 1: 4 11-15 Total: 4 11-15
52. Anthony Vintson - Brandon Mathews Auburn University 0
Day 1: 4 11-14 Total: 4 11-14
53. Tyler Lubbat - Harold Wells University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
54. Brad Ableman - Seth Roberts Bethel University 0
Day 1: 4 11-12 Total: 4 11-12
55. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Bemidji State University 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
56. Chris Carnes - Tyler Lawwill UNC-Charlotte 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
57. John Garrett - Kyle Palmer Bethel University- TN 0
Day 1: 4 11-03 Total: 4 11-03
58. Jacob Louis - Nathan Doty McKendree University- IL 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
59. Alex Moore - Marshall Wiggins U. of Central Florida 0
Day 1: 4 10-13 Total: 4 10-13
60. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
61. Ty Cox - Chandler Boman Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
62. Cole Lamb - Tristan Weaver Arkansas Tech University- AR 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
63. Matthew Davis - Jarrod Layton Adrian College 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
64. Bailey Fain - Trevor St. John Bryan College 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
65. Chandlar Ellis - Gil Senn Lander University 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
66. Isaac Duncan - Fisher Young Blue Mountain College- MS 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
67. Jason Felter - Joseph McClosky Bethel University 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
68. Jonathan Kelley - Grant Tattersall Coastal Carolina University 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
69. Aaron Denny - Bill Mathews Grand Valley State University- M 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
70. Justin Sisavath - Nathan Ragsdale University of Georgia 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
71. Lucas Murphy - Mitchell Gunn Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
72. Nick Schultz - Trey Autry UNC-Charlotte 0
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
73. Griffin Fernandes - Gunner Wilson Adrian College 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Total: 4 08-02
73. Scott McClellan - Huff McIntosh LA Tech 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Total: 4 08-02
75. Joshua Gruen - Riley Blair University of Wisconsin- Plattev 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
76. Rob Hendrick - Chad Pruner Western Carolina University 0
Day 1: 2 07-15 Total: 2 07-15
77. Shane Nelson - Brayden Federer Adrian College 0
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
78. Tanner Johnson - Guy Wegienka LaGrange College 0
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
79. Derek Pietsch - Trey Dawson Texas A&M 0
Day 1: 4 07-05 Total: 4 07-05
80. Louis Monetti - Andrew Weaver UNC-Charlotte 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
80. Mitchell Naler - Lee Mattox University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
82. Adam Puckett - Murray State University 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
83. Jacob Schrimsher - Nathan Wight Calhoun Community College- AL 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
84. Grant Ehlenfeldt - Seth Korb University of Wisconsin- Plattev 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
85. Dan Dubose - Jon Kilpatrick University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 2 06-07 Total: 2 06-07
86. Miller Spivey - Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
87. Justin Carr - Austin Carr Illinois State University 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
88. Grant Adams - Adam Carman Campbellsville University- KY 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
89. Mason Bishop - Southern Illinois University Car 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
90. Luke Lamb - Wilson Smith Bethel University 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
91. Taylor Hamburger - Tristen Turley Oklahoma State University- OK 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
92. Brandon Buckley - Michael Orris Penn State University 0
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
93. Thad Simerly - Ethan Shaw Bryan College 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Total: 2 04-10
94. Britt Myers - Tanner Maness Lander University- SC 0
Day 1: 3 04-08 Total: 3 04-08
95. Tanner Ward - Rory Franks Kent State University 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
96. Zachariah Edwards - Drew Douglas University of Central Oklahoma 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
97. Mitch Moore - Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
98. Austin Phillips - Samuel Scott Arkansas Tech University- AR 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
99. Emma Mullineaux - University of Maryland 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
100. Charley Kuhn - Reese Penfield University of South Carolina- Be 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
100. Reid Strobl - Samuel Scott Dallas Baptist University- TX 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
102. Rudy Worley - John Nowlin Blue Mountain College- MS 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
103. Ethan Wallace - Tyler Beckerman University of Missouri 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
104. Walker Wilson - Jackson Hall Univeristy of Arkansas- AR 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
105. Josh Worth - Calvin Corey Colorado Mesa University 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
106. Brian Volkernick - Erik Zilgme University of Maine 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
106. Liam West - Brady Waits Clemson University 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
108. David Dueland - Cameron Glasscock University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
108. Grant Hack - Jonathan Stepp Ohio State 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
110. Justin Barnes - Adam Carroll University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
110. Zach Oldre - Andrew Okada University of North Dakota 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
112. Anthony Fazio - Luke Jasper Illinois State University 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
113. Grant Adams - Shane Stafford Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
113. Logan Tate - Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
113. Connor Usher - Omar Petty UNC-Charlotte 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
113. Riley Welch - Michigan State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 60 434 1185-03
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60 434 1185-03