CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Not rain, nor wind, nor cold could slow Appalachian State University’s Kelly Johnson and Jeremy Gilley who added the heaviest bag Friday weighing 15 pounds, 12 ounces to their Thursday weight of 13 pounds, 3 ounces to take the 2015 College Eastern Regional tournament lead by 6 ounces on Lake Norman. Johnson and Gilley have two patterns to thank for their 28 pound, 15 ounce two-day total which has them currently sitting on top of the leaderboard.
“We’re on two different deals right now,” Johnson said. “We have a shallow pattern going and a deeper pattern also.”
Ever-changing conditions brought the air temperature down from the 80s to the 40s, all while introducing heavy rain and stiff winds to the area on Friday. As the front blows through, Saturday promises to be even colder, dropping to 25 degrees tomorrow night. Appalachian State will need both of their patterns in order to contend with the changing conditions and hold onto the lead.
“I think we should still be able to catch them doing what we’re doing,” Gilley said. “The weather slowed things down a little today from yesterday and might slow things down even more for tomorrow, but I think we’ll still be able to catch them pretty good.”
This is the first tournament with the Bassmaster College Series for Johnson and Gilley who are graduate students at Appalachian State. Although Johnson had never fished the lake before pre-practice, Gilley has a lot of experience on Lake Norman and together the two have pooled their knowledge and a fresh set of eyes to the lake to put themselves in prime position headed into the final day. For leading after Friday, Appalachian State’s Johnson and Gilley are awarded the Livingston Lures Leader Award, a $250 gift card.
Consistency puts Austin Neary and Alex Frazier of Western Carolina University in second place headed into the final day. With back-to-back performances in the 14-pound range, Neary is hoping to up the ante a bit tomorrow.
“We’ve had some bedding largemouth every day,” Neary said. “We have five or six beds with 6-pounders on them. We’ve caught some of the bucks off of them but haven’t been able to catch the females yet.”
The field was cut today to the Top 20 who will compete one more day on Lake Norman, vying for one of the Top 16 qualifying spots for the Bassmaster College Series National Championship to be held later this year. Cole Blythe’s 6-pound, 10-ounce Big Bass from Thursday held strong and remains the big bass for the event so far. UNC-Charlotte’s Cole Blythe and John Auten also hold onto the Bass Pro Nitro Big Bag for the event with their Thursday single-day weight of 16 pounds, 12 ounces.
Bassmaster College Series - Eastern Regional
3/26/2015 - 3/28/2015 Lake Norman - Blythe Landing - Charlotte, NC
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Kelly Johnson - Jeremy Gilley Appalachian State University 5 5 15-12 10 10 28-15
2 Austin Neary - Alex Frazier Western Carolina University 5 5 14- 9 10 10 28- 9
3 Zachary Blalock - Mike Corbishley East Carolina University 5 5 13-14 10 10 28- 7
4 Edward Rude III - Matthew Combs West Virginia University 5 5 11- 8 10 10 28- 0
5 Chelsey Queen - Kristopher Queen Bethel University 5 5 12- 8 10 10 26-15
6 Jacob Cooper - Cody Spears PHCC Fishing Team 5 5 13- 8 10 10 26-10
7 Cole Blythe - John Auten UNC Charlotte 5 5 9- 1 10 10 25-13
8 Jay Emmert - Christian Peake U. of Tennessee 5 5 10- 0 10 10 25-13
9 Grayson Barber - Hiroto Kinoshita NC State University 5 5 13- 0 10 10 25- 8
10 Hunter Hill - Ethan Howell Appalachian State University 5 5 12- 5 10 10 25- 5
11 Carson Orellana - Strayer University 5 5 13-15 10 10 25- 0
12 Zander Monk - Taylor Thomas UNC Charlotte 5 5 11-15 10 10 24-15
13 Benjamin Freeman - Dillon McGee Bethel University 5 5 9-14 10 10 24- 7
14 Jake Whitaker - Andrew Helms UNC Charlotte 5 5 11- 4 10 10 24- 3
15 Jonathan Peck - Devin Wallis Bryan College 5 5 14- 4 10 10 23-12
16 John Little - Kaleb Jessee NC State University 5 5 11- 9 10 10 23- 2
17 John Garrett - Brian Pahl Bethel University 5 5 9-11 10 10 22-11
18 Brent Werts - Spencer Waldrop Clemson University 5 5 12- 7 10 10 22-11
19 Matt Allen - Zach Youngblood Tennessee Tech University 5 5 11- 9 10 10 22-11
20 Zack Bodford - Matthew Hinkle NC State University 5 5 11-15 10 10 22- 8
21 Caleb Baker - Mack Hicks Alice Lloyd College 5 5 11-15 10 10 22- 7
22 Kenneth Ellington - Anderson Tran UNC Chapel Hill 5 5 10- 7 10 10 22- 4
23 Andrew Kiser - Charles Kelly Clemson University 5 5 11-14 10 10 22- 3
24 Sam Glenn - Alan Price UNC Charlotte 5 5 9-14 10 10 22- 2
25 Chase Johnson - Eric Leifheit East Carolina University 5 5 11- 1 10 10 22- 1
26 Dalton Wilson - Randall Morris Bethel University 5 5 11- 9 10 10 21-12
27 Greg Burchfield - Taylor Burke NC State University 5 5 10-12 10 10 21- 8
28 Ethan Ingle - Will Miller University of South Carolina 5 5 12- 8 10 10 21- 5
29 Lance Freeman - Seth Brock Murray State University 5 5 9- 3 10 10 21- 4
30 Austin Moore - Ryan McLamb UNC Greensboro 5 5 9- 9 10 10 20-15
31 Alex Thornton - Ryan Rainey UNC Greensboro 5 5 10-12 10 10 20-15
32 Ronnie Moore - TJ Chafatelli East Carolina University 5 5 8- 4 10 10 20-13
33 Trey Joyce - Ross Adams PHCC Fishing Team 5 5 9- 8 10 10 20-13
34 Caleb Nuckolls - Adam King Western Carolina University 5 5 9-15 10 10 20-13
35 Hunter Louden - Mekiah Jack Bethel University 5 5 10-12 10 10 20- 7
36 Tyler Chumley - Dylan Pritchett Bryan College 5 5 11- 6 10 10 20- 6
37 Austin Frazier - Jesse Cates UNC Greensboro 5 5 11- 1 10 10 20- 3
38 Tyler Thomasson - Josh Cannon Western Carolina University 5 5 11- 7 10 10 20- 1
39 Brandon Bryant - Sam Carris Tennessee Tech University 5 5 10-13 10 10 19-15
40 Jeffry Endly - Jacob Meadows University of Louisville 5 5 11- 1 10 10 19-12
41 Ethan Snyder - Shaw Owens Eastern Kentucky University 5 5 9- 3 10 10 19-10
42 Alec Lower - Mark Turner NC State University 5 5 8-11 10 10 19- 9
43 Jordan Wise - David Mulac East Carolina University 5 5 10- 1 10 10 19- 7
44 Zachary Castano - Nick Schultz UNC Charlotte 5 5 9-10 10 10 19- 7
45 Bentley Manning - John Berry Tennessee Tech University 5 5 9- 5 10 10 19- 6
46 Hunter Fulcher - Nathan Sheehan University of KY 5 5 8-14 10 10 19- 4
47 Makenzie Henson - Brett Webster University of North Alabama 5 5 9-13 10 10 19- 4
48 Patrick Williford - Briggs Kennington Clemson University 5 5 10- 2 10 10 19- 1
49 Bradley Hall - Kaleb Whitaker Eastern Kentucky University 5 5 7-10 10 10 18-13
50 Joseph Huggins - Ty Dyer Bethel University 5 5 9- 1 10 10 18-13
51 Tucker Youngblood - Cody Thomas Bryan College 5 5 13-13 8 8 18-12
52 Blake Welch - Ricky Harris Bethel University 5 5 8-14 10 10 18-12
53 Luke Taylor - Lynchburg College 5 5 9-12 8 8 18- 9
54 Taylor Godsey - Benjamin Haynes Christopher Newport University 5 5 9- 5 10 10 18- 2
55 Charlie Sipe - Appalachian State University 5 5 9- 0 10 10 18- 2
56 Daniel Holt - Jacob Blocker Tennessee Tech University 5 5 9-14 10 10 18- 1
57 Chris Phinney - Bailey Abernathy East Carolina University 5 5 8- 9 10 10 18- 0
58 Hunter Altice - Brandon McAlexander PHCC Fishing Team 5 5 7- 9 10 10 17-13
59 Shawn Callahan - Brian Sweeney University of South Carolina 5 5 8-11 10 10 17- 4
60 Wade Brown - Austin Wilson University of Louisville 5 5 7- 5 10 10 16-12
61 Frank Ashley - Austin Robinson UNC Wilmington 3 3 4-15 8 8 16- 8
62 Jarrett Dickens - Trevor Bates Tennessee Tech University 5 5 7- 5 10 10 16- 7
63 Brandon Smith - Bobby Thomas University of Louisville 4 4 6- 6 9 9 16- 6
64 Shawn Combs - Bronson Jones Georgetown College 5 5 9- 4 10 10 16- 5
65 Brandon Black - Thomas Matthews University of West Georgia 5 5 7-11 10 10 16- 4
66 Cain Ammons - Brett Graves Tri-County Community College 5 5 10- 7 8 8 15-15
67 Jacob Meade - Alex Hauser Virginia Tech 5 5 7- 5 10 10 15-15
68 Elliott Roberson - Eli Roberson Virginia Tech 5 5 7- 7 10 10 15-10
69 Ryan Collins - Andrew Day U. of Kentucky 5 5 7- 5 10 10 15- 7
70 Ricky Kassebaum - Sean Snow Virginia Tech 5 5 10-10 8 8 15- 6
71 Bryce Owen - Dustin Millwood NC State University 4 4 7- 4 9 9 15- 4
72 Elliot Lee - Chris Allen Tennessee Tech University 5 5 6-12 10 10 15- 3
73 Brian Travers - Justin Patten Liberty University 5 5 8- 6 10 10 15- 2
74 Jonathan Kelley - John Duarte Coastal Carolina University 4 4 5- 0 9 9 15- 0
75 Trey Stewartson - Gregory Callas Virginia Tech 3 3 5- 1 8 8 14-11
76 Ethan Pace - Dominick LeSerra Western Carolina University 5 5 8-11 9 9 14- 1
77 Christohper Cordova - Aaron Sollenberger UNC Charlotte 2 2 2-15 7 7 13- 7
78 Kenneth VanSparrentak - Lee Blackmon UNC Greensboro 3 3 5- 1 8 8 13- 0
79 Hunter Alsup - Ethan Cole Tennessee Tech University 1 1 1-12 6 6 12-11
80 Marty Ballard - Sean Stephenson University of Kentucky 5 5 7- 6 7 7 12- 9
81 Aaron Creech - Dakota Adams Alice Lloyd College 3 3 5- 0 8 8 11-13
82 Cameron Baker - Zachary McGeehan UNC Charlotte 2 2 3- 6 7 7 11- 5
83 Kyle McHenry - Tyler Barnes West Virginia University 2 2 3- 3 7 7 11- 1
84 Joe Maciejewski - Cullen Cash Roanoke College 5 5 9- 3 6 6 10-13
85 Dylan Kear - Robert Gibson Bryan College 1 1 1-11 6 6 10-12
86 Brandon Kersnowski - Kolton Hawks UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 5 5 10- 6
87 Corey Smith - Cantley Krafft Virginia Tech 5 5 7-12 8 8 9-14
88 Matt Reid - Cliff Marley Appalachian State University 5 5 7-11 6 6 9- 5
89 Ryan Suhy - Liberty University 1 1 2- 5 6 6 9- 5
90 Blake Lee - Gavyn Bridges UT Chattanooga 0 0 0- 0 5 5 8-14
90 Ian Seaver - Jackson David UNC - Wilmington 0 0 0- 0 5 5 8-14
92 Conner Fogg - Joseph Sanders Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 5 5 8-12
93 Skye Riggleman - Shane Fetty Liberty University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 8-11
94 Tom Brewbaker - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0 5 5 8- 9
95 Weston Chandler - Derrick Nobles East Carolina University 5 5 8- 8 5 5 8- 8
96 Chris Fesmire - Cody Aman NC State University 0 0 0- 0 5 5 7-12
97 Stephen Cone - Rockford Wilson UNC Chapel Hill 0 0 0- 0 5 5 7- 5
98 Hunter Johnson - Graham Burke UNC Chapel Hill 4 4 5-10 5 5 7- 1
99 Logan Brewster - Daniel Lawson U. of Tennessee 0 0 0- 0 4 4 5-11
100 Cody Clark - Lucas Cornwell University of South Carolina 0 0 0- 0 3 3 4- 4
101 Stephen Smith - Daniel Key UNC Chapel Hill 3 3 4- 1 3 3 4- 1
102 Blaine Atkins - Kelcey Atkins PHCC Fishing Team 0 0 0- 0 2 2 3-13
103 Caleb Luzader - Brad Harris Bryan College 2 2 2-12 2 2 2-12
104 Donnie Miller - Alex Miller Virginia Commonwealth University 1 1 2- 5 1 1 2- 5
104 Tim Painter - Reid McCullough U. of Tennessee 1 1 2- 5 1 1 2- 5
106 Hunter Mills - Nicholas Reschly UNC Chapel Hill 0 0 0- 0 1 1 1-12
107 John Teare - Dylan Jackson Virginia Commonwealth University 0 0 -2- 0 3 3 0- 6
108 Jeremiah Duvall - Elijah Peters University of Louisville 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
108 Dakota Hunter - Matt Magyar UNC Charlotte 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 Cole Blythe - John Auten Charlotte, NC 6-10
2 Kelly Johnson - Jeremy Gilley Sherrills Ford, NC 4- 8
TOTALS Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 472 472 954- 3 87
2 424 424 844- 0 76
3 0 0 0- 0 0