MONROE, La. — Brett Preuett and Jackson Blackett of the University of Louisiana at Monroe brought in the Nitro Bass Pro Big Bag of 10 pounds, 15 ounces of bass to lead the first day of the 2014 Bassmaster College Series Central Regional tournament on the Ouachita River. Recent rains have caused high water levels on the Ouachita River, and the conditions plagued most of the out-of-state anglers on Day 1. Even many of the local anglers have never fished the river when it’s this high, and they had trouble locating bass in the fishes’ normal stomping grounds.
With the water roughly 10 feet above normal pool, the main river dumps muddy, cold water into many of the backwaters that are normally clear and warm this time of year. This stunts the progress of the spawn and throws a big kink in almost everyone’s game plan. The team that managed the high-water hurdle best, of course, was that of Preuett and Blackett.
Still, the teammates found reason to complain. “It could have been a little better,” said Preuett. “We lost two good ones today.”
Although those two heavy bass cost ULM a little cushion, they still have a 3-ounce lead on the second-place team of Evan Smith and Aaron Sarna of Arkansas Tech University that brought in a limit of bass weighing 10-12 on Day 1. Competition from other anglers was another challenge that most anglers complained of on Day 1. With the majority of the river and its backwaters unfishable due to high water, anglers found lots of company whenever they did find fish. The boat pressure forecast looks even more grim for Day 2.
“There’s a local tournament with 60 boats in it tomorrow that will hurt us some,” said Preuet. “There are only so many places where you can catch fish with the water like this, so I’m sure some of those guys (from the other tournament) will be in there. We should still be able to go behind people and catch some fish, though, because we’re doing something a little different.” He declined to elaborate on his technique.
Two teams are tied for third, 1 pound, 10 ounces behind the leaders. Matthew Loetscher and Caleb Boudreaux of Louisiana Tech University and Trent Newman and Jacob Sepeda of Dallas Baptist University each weighed in 9-2. Clayton Godfrey and Garret Lindsey of Stephen F. Austin State University brought in the Day 1 Big Bass weighing 5- 1.
The two-day competition ends Saturday. The Top 13 teams will move on from the Central Regional to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship, to be held this summer.
Bassmaster College Series - Central
4/11/2014 - 4/12/2014
Ouachita River - Forsythe Landing - Monroe, La.
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Brett Preuett - Jackson Blackett Universtiy of La Monroe 5 4 10-15
2 Evan Smith - Aaron Sarna Arkansas Tech University 5 5 10-12
3 Matthew Loetscher - Caleb Boudreaux Louisiana Tech University 5 5 9- 2
3 Trent Newman - Jacob Sepeda Dallas Baptist University 5 5 9- 2
5 Dakota Jones - Michael Romagosa Dallas Baptist University 5 5 8- 4
6 Trapper Munn - Dustin Perkins U. of Louisiana Monroe 3 3 8- 3
7 Austyn Fowler - Zach Hurst Tarleton State University 5 5 8- 2
7 Brandon Greco - Austin Watkins Louisiana Tech University 5 5 8- 2
7 Jacob Slade - University of Louisiana Monroe 5 5 8- 2
10 Tyler Rivet - Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 5 5 8- 0
11 Nick Farrell - James Mathews Louisiana Tech University 5 4 7-12
12 Jay Robertson - Brent Davis Southeastern Louisiana University 5 5 7- 3
13 Dylan Duncan - Devin Duncan Northeastern State University 5 5 6- 9
14 Derek Mangold - Blake Crabb Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 3 3 6- 9
15 Zackery Hines - Cameron Burger Dallas Baptist University 4 4 6- 2
16 Tyler Stewart - Blake Alford U. of Louisiana Monroe 4 4 5-10
17 Shelby Hutchens - Owen Best Stephen F Austin State University 4 4 5- 9
18 Nick LaDart - Brian Eaton U. of Louisiana Monroe 3 3 5- 6
19 John Ledet - Justin Cooper Northwestern State University 5 5 5- 5
19 John Tilbury - Jeremy Rainbolt Louisiana Delta Community College 5 5 5- 5
21 Clayton Godfrey - Garret Lindsey Stephen F Austin State University 1 1 5- 1
22 Trent Dorris - Nick Joiner Louisiana Delta Community College 3 3 4-15
23 Colby Cromwell - Brandon Joyner Louisiana Delta Community College 3 3 4-11
24 Jed Holt - Justin Chambers Texas State University 4 4 4-10
25 Jonny Schultz - Sam Horn University of Arkansas 4 4 4- 8
26 Travis Harriman - Blake Kubiak University of Arkansas 3 3 4- 3
27 Dustin Browning - Christopher Vallillo Louisiana Tech University 3 3 4- 1
28 Tanner Crim - Marshall Hughes Tarleton State University 3 3 3- 4
29 Jordy Bloodsworth - Beau Hadskey LSU 2 2 3- 3
30 Blake Schroeder - Jordan Lane Stephen F Austin State University 3 3 3- 2
31 Dane Lecoq - Brennan Vosburg LSU 2 2 3- 1
32 Cole Temples - Josh Bensema Texas A&M 3 3 3- 0
33 Drew Porto - Kenneth Anderson University of Arkansas 2 2 2-15
34 Kehl Robbins - Austin Brown Tarleton State University 3 3 2- 9
35 Adam Estlack - Joseph Smith Texas Tech 2 2 2- 4
36 Dustyn Pendergraft - Mike Hall Oklahoma State University 2 2 2- 2
37 Garret Whitley - Justin Marcum Stephen F Austin State University 2 2 2- 0
38 Johnathan Haines - Alex Edgeman University of Oklahoma 1 1 1-12
39 Jared Rascoe - Jerry Sepulvado LSU - Shreveport 1 1 1- 9 1
40 Tyler Moses - LA Tech 1 1 1- 7 1 1 1- 7
41 Zachary Dubois - Colby Drago University of Lousiana - Lafayette 1 1 1- 5
41 Ty Griffen - Hunter Dupin McNeese State University 1 1 1- 5
41 Brandon Simoneaux - Josh Bowie Lamar University 1 1 1- 5
44 Hance Burney - Kyle Speicher Tarleton State University 1 1 1- 4
45 Jarod Hughes - Coleman Curry LSU 1 1 1- 3
45 Zac Wymer - Josh Wymer Texas A&M University 1 1 1- 3
47 Christian Hamous - Aaron Belgard Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 2
47 Zack Remedies - Pat Kaskiw LSU 1 1 1- 2
47 Jonathan Voitle - Colby Sydow Texas A&M - Corpus Christi 1 1 1- 2
50 Parker Owen - James Hovey McNeese State University 1 1 1- 1
51 Matthew Nobile - Hayden Pinell University of Lousiana - Lafayette 1 1 0-15
52 Landon Dixon - Caleb Masters University of Oklahoma 1 1 0-14
53 Slade Daniel - Brandon Riley U. of Louisiana Monroe 1 1 0-12
54 Greg Bass - Quinton Evans Lamar University 0 0 0- 0
54 Tyler Bradfield - Vann Millican Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0
54 Matt Davidson - Ryan Foster University of Arkansas 0 0 0- 0
54 Nicholas Ezernack - Pete Gentry Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0
54 Brennan Fertig - Randy Clark Texas A&M University 0 0 0- 0
54 Jacob Fish - Cameron DeBorde Oklahoma State University 0 0 0- 0
54 Cody Garrett - Evan Blott Texas A&M - Kingsville 0 0 0- 0
54 Andrew Golden - Colby Ray U. of North Texas 0 0 0- 0 0
54 Sawyer Grace - Bandon Rieve Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0
54 Joseph Grassi - Tyler Craig U. of Louisiana Monroe 0 0 0- 0
54 Timothy Griffen - Hunter Terrell McNeese State University 0 0 0- 0
54 Colten Hutson - T. Isaacs U. of Central Oklahoma 0 0 0- 0
54 Jay Kendrick - Alec Castonguay Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0
54 Brady Lobue - Kaleb Fisher Oklahoma State University 0 0 0- 0
54 Travis McGuire - Layne Bynum Texas Tech 0 0 0- 0
54 Colby Ogden - Lamar University 0 0 0- 0
54 Thomas Soileau - Hunter Jolley U. of Louisiana Monroe 0 0 0- 0
54 Tyler Woods - Brian Blades Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASSTOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-OzDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 Clayton Godfrey Nacogdoches, TX 5- 11 152 150 229- 0 14