OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Kyle Oliver and Hunter McKamey of the University of Central Florida brought in 18 pounds, 15 ounces of bass to lead after Day 1 of the Bassmaster College Series Southern Regional on Lake Okeechobee. What many had hoped would be a slugfest for big bass deteriorated into a game of survival when weather turned unseasonably cold in southern Florida.
Records still were set, however, as the largest field in Carhartt Bassmaster College Series history hit the water Friday for the Southern Regional. A total of 130 two-angler teams braved air temperatures in the 40s, which shut down the moving bait bite that many college teams found during practice, when the mercury hovered in the 80s.
In general, the teams that found a flipping bite prevailed on Day 1, though the leaders were on a different pattern.
“We saw a lot of people flipping during practice, so we decided to change it up and try a little different tactic,” said McKamey. “The fish seemed to like it today, so we’re going to try it again tomorrow.”
The cold front that rolled through the night before the tournament brought a drastic drop in air temperatures and 25 mile per hour winds out of the north. This combination dropped water temps and wrecked many places that anglers were counting on fishing during Friday’s opening round. That was not the case for UCF.
“We pulled up to our first spot and were kind of hesitant because of the cold front and the windy conditions,” said McKamey. “But we were surprised that the water was clear and in good condition, so we stuck with it.”
The UCF anglers proceeded to catch a five-bass limit weighing 18-15 in the first 3 hours of the day, capping that stretch off with a 5-pounder, their biggest fish of the day. They decided to leave the area, saving it for Saturday’s final round. They were unable to catch bass any bigger than the smallest in their livewell elsewhere.
Sitting in second after Day 1 and only 2 ounces behind the leaders is the team of Charles Conger and Demetrius Thomas of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with 18-13. Third place belongs to Bo Larkins and Brian Rosso of the University of Georgia with 18-10.
The Big Bass of the day was caught by John B Davis and Payton McGinnis of the University of Alabama who brought in an Okeechobee giant weighing 8-7.
Day 2 begins at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday at Scott C. Driver Park, 10100 Hwy. 78 W., Okeechobee, FL 34974.
Bassmaster College Series - Southern
1/3/2014 - 1/4/2014
Lake Okeechobee - C. Scott Driver Boat Ramp - Okeechobee, Fla.
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
Today's Activity Accumulative
Names College # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Kyle Oliver - Hunter McKamey University of Central Florida 5 5 18-15
2 Charles Conger - Demetrius Thomas Abraham Baldwin Ag College 5 5 18-13
3 Bo Larkins - Brian Rosso University of Georgia 5 5 18-10
4 Jacob Roberson - Evan Horne University of North Alabama 5 5 18- 7
5 John Larsen - Nick Peet University of Central Florida 5 5 17-10
6 Jacob Nummy - Corey Pierce AUM 5 5 17- 8
7 Justin Morgan - Gus Cleary Indian River State College 5 5 17- 2
8 Nathan Martin - Michael Gullette University of North Alabama 5 5 16-13
9 Wesley Minor - Auston Wingard UAB 5 5 16- 7
10 William Shipes - Gatlin Edge Clemson University 5 5 15- 7
11 Kyle Smith - Shelby Concon University of Florida 5 5 15- 4
12 Justin Walton - Brian Redd University of West Georgia 5 5 15- 3
13 Austin Bell - Michael Boswell Polk State College 5 5 15- 1
13 Colton Henderson - Brandon Whaley Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 15- 1
15 Taylor Minick - Landon Tucker Valdosta State University 5 5 15- 0
16 John B Davis - Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 3 3 14-11
17 David Sherry - Max Burges Southern Polytechnic State University 5 5 14- 5
18 Lealand Johnson - Weston King University of Alabama 5 5 13-15
19 Christian Shirley - Tyler Helms Mississippi State University 4 4 13-14
20 John Ferguson - Wesley Wise Polk State College 5 5 13-11
21 Michael Skat - Phillip Heyde Seminole State College 5 5 13- 9
22 Jake Gipson - Charlie Hurst University of Alabama 5 5 13- 7
23 Matt Lipscomb - Justin Woodruff UAB 5 5 13- 6
24 John Nolan - Tyler Collins University of West Georgia 5 5 13- 4
25 Justin Atkins - Joseph Marty Mississippi State University 5 5 13- 2
26 Taylor Odom - Josh Cameron Mississippi State University 5 5 13- 0
27 Tommy Edwards - Dylan DeForrest Florida Gulf Coast University 5 5 12-12
28 Trent Palmer - Dean Mullett Georgia Southern University 5 5 12- 9
29 Kevin Hires - Michael Bennett Seminole State College 5 5 12- 5
30 Brent Werts - Briggs Kennington Clemson University 5 5 12- 1
31 Thomas Oltorik III - Zach Ford Daytona State College 5 5 11-15
32 Grant Carter - Ryan Wakenigg Columbus State University 5 5 11-13
33 Cody Spears - Drew Cook Florida State University 5 5 11-12
34 Dawson Lenz - Robb Young University of North Alabama 5 5 11- 8
35 Wesley Griner - Will Myrick Darton State College 5 5 11- 7
36 Hampton Anderson - Josh Rennebaum University of South Carolina 5 5 11- 6
37 Josh Oliver - Nathan George Gadsden State Community College 5 5 11- 4
38 Kyle Parks - Grant Kimbrel Darton State College 5 5 11- 3
39 Garrett Roberts - Ben Curry Auburn University 5 5 11- 2
40 Kyle Monti - Mike Gontko Florida Gulf Coast University 5 5 11- 1
41 Bryant Quattlebaum - Jordan Tuten Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 11- 0
42 Bradley Rilling - Darius Williams University of West Georgia 5 5 10-15
43 Patrick Walters - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 5 5 10-14
44 Alan Horwatt - Bryan Carroll Clemson University 5 5 10-10 44 Mitchell Jennings - Chuck Wise Auburn University 5 5 10-10
46 Hayden Tilley - Alex Clayton Northeast Alabama Community College 5 5 10- 6
47 Nathan Woodruff - Lowell Gann Mississippi State University 5 5 10- 5
48 Trey Clayton - Timothy Ward Auburn University 5 5 10- 1
49 Konner Kennedy - Houston Turner Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 9-10
50 Austin Brown - Josh Holley AUM 5 5 9- 8
51 Isaac Payne - Jace McDill Savannah College of Art & Design 5 5 9- 7
52 Nathan Griffin - Brad Davis Columbus State 5 5 9- 6
53 John Maner - Ryan Darracott University of North Alabama 4 4 9- 5
54 Kristin Forquer - John Duarte Coastal Carolina University 5 5 9- 4
55 Taylor Thompson - Hunter Coppolino Abraham Baldwin Ag College 5 5 9- 2
56 Shane Fussell - Stephen Carlisle University of Florida 5 5 9- 0
57 Byron Kenney - Will Tredwell University of Georgia 5 5 8-15
58 Kyle Alford - Clark Lawrence Mississippi State University 5 5 8-13
58 Neal Combs - Kevin Lucas Seminole State College 5 5 8-13
60 Tyler Strock - Dalton Darnell AUM 5 5 8- 9
61 Cody Parks - Cody Peak Mississippi State University 5 5 8- 8
62 Cody Kennedy - Nic Davis JC Calhoun Comm College 5 5 8- 6
62 Andrew Suggs - Chase Coker Darton State College 5 5 8- 6
64 Nick Lamia - Giles Ansley Florida State University 5 5 8- 3
64 Jacob Reome - Matthew Garvin Clemson University 5 5 8- 3
66 James Altmann - Mark Blanar University of Florida 5 5 8- 0
67 Frankie Appaluccio - University of Alabama 4 4 7-15
68 Chandler Ray - Carson Ray Georgia Southwestern State University 3 3
69 Briggs Defoor - Brandon Worthey Auburn University 5 5 7-12
70 Jake Dupree - Jeff Clayton Mississippi State University 5 5 7- 7
70 Wesley Steinmeyer - Justin Gill Georgia Regents University 5 5 7- 7
72 Adam Acker - Bradley King Georgia State University 5 5 7- 6
72 Nicholas Harris - Charles Fee Florida State University 5 5 7- 6
74 Justin Mahon - Jason Mahon Florida State University 5 5 7- 3
74 Joe Thompson - Lou Roland Young Harris College 5 5 7- 3
76 Ross Burns - Richard Nesbitt Clemson University 5 5 7- 0
77 Blake Thomas - Clint Frederick University of North Alabama 5 5 6-14
78 Daniel Perry - Brandon Easterling University of Montevallo 4 4 6-14
79 Ethan Flack - JR Sapp Wallace State CC Hanceville 3 3 6- 9
80 Brianne McMillan - Christian Smith Florida Gulf Coast University 5 5 6- 8
81 Nick Dion - Nate Sleight Lake Superior State University 5 5 6- 7
82 Colby S Smith - JaKarvis Houston Jacksonville State University 1 1 6- 5
83 Rebekah Buterbaugh - Kaitlyn Willis University of West Georgia 5 5 6- 2
84 Grant Kelly - Daniel Dix Southern Polytechnic State University 5 5 5-11
85 Julian Quattlebaum - Lucas Johnson Georgia Regents University 4 4 5-11
86 Ethan Wages - Dillon Hall University of South Alabama 3 3 5- 7
87 Samuel Freeman - Shawn Callahan University of South Carolina 5 5 5- 6
88 Michael Sullivan - Greg Dean Wallace State CC Hanceville 3 3 5- 6
89 Candler McCollum - Will Bates Auburn University 3 3 5- 1
90 Travis Johns - Jennings Earnest University of South Alabama 2 2 4-15
91 Jessy Meherg - Austin Keeton JC Calhoun Comm College 3 3 4-11
92 Adam Neill - Logan Shaddix University of Alabama 5 5 4- 9
93 Andrew Warbington - Mark Grant University of West Alabama 3 3 4- 9
94 Curtis O'Daniel - Jai Rogers Northeast Alabama Community College 3 3 3-15
95 Pat Snellings - Adrian Estrada Auburn University 2 2 3-12
96 Matthew McKenzie - Brandon Black University of West Georgia 1 1 3- 7
97 Austin Herring - Tanner Ellis University of Montevallo 3 3 3- 0
98 Michael Chambliss - Dylan Tumlin Columbus State University 2 2 2-12
99 Kendall Cain - Grayson Payne Young Harris College 1 1 2- 8
100 Jacob Burns - Brandon Bailey UAB 1 1 2- 5
100 Sandy Teaf - Chad Bass University of Central Florida 1 1 2- 5
102 Dustin Rucks - Wesley Holden Indian River State College 1 1 1-15
103 Matt Wallace - Ryan Norris University of Georgia 1 1 1-14
104 Kenny Johnson - Brandon Larry University of West Georgia 2 2 0-15
105 Mitch Mitchell - Evan Reid Auburn University 1 1 0-15
106 Elijah Bice - Courtney Van Nest Gadsden State Community College 1 1 0-14
107 Wesley Anderson - Cody Harrison University of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0
107 Kolby Bowers - Cale Mathis Abraham Baldwin Ag College 0 0 0- 0 0
107 James Brumbeloe - Whitney Perkins University of West Alabama 0 0 0- 0
107 Joseph Fuller - Travis King University of Montevallo 0 0 0- 0
107 Daniel Green - Adam Pridgeon AUM 0 0 0- 0 0
107 Luke Greenwell - Willem Hattink Georgia Southern University 0 0 0- 0
107 Joseph Hillyer - Matthew Hand AUM 0 0 0- 0
107 Daniel Hughes - Mason Tippins Georgia Regents University 0 0 0- 0
107 Layton Jones - Georgia Southern University 0 0 0- 0
107 James Kelly - Frank Mandella Mississippi State University 0 0 0- 0
107 Kyle Lunceford - University of Montevallo 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
107 Garrett Price - Nicholas McKeiver Lake Superior State University 0 0 0- 0
107 Brandon Rivers - William Morgan University of West Alabama 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS TOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-OzDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 John B Davis Vestavia, AL 8- 71 457 457 1012- 0 78