TOWER, Minn. — The box score summarizes the kind of banner day enjoyed by the anglers at the B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional tournament on Lake Vermilion.
Total fish caught: 456
Total weight: 1,045 pounds, 14 ounces
That is a stark contrast to yesterday, when the 96 anglers accounted for 319 bass weighing 677 pounds, 9 ounces. Today’s overall catch included more than double the five-bass limits, with a total of 74 of those weighed. Only the name on top of the scoreboard remained the same. He is Corey Brant of Minnetonka, Minn. The club member of Twin City Bass caught a limit of smallmouth weighing 17-7 to boost his overall weight to 34-5. Close behind is Joe Pruss, who caught the heaviest limit of the tournament so far weighing 17-15. The South Dakota angler is less than 2 pounds from Brant in the overall standings. Gary Adkins of Green Bay, Wis., slipped from second to third place with a total weight of 32-10. Behind him is Ted Heitschmidt of Tomahawk, Wis., with 29-9, and Brad Ballard of Winona, Minn., with 26-15.
“I’m fishing very efficient,” Brant said. “What I’m seeing are a lot of guys fishing the same water, but I’m just fishing it slower.”
The prevailing pattern is targeting largemouth and smallmouth inhabiting the sharply sloping contours of glacial rockpiles ranging in depth from 5 to 20 feet and deeper. Soft plastic tubes rigged to lightweight leadhead jigs top the list of favored lures. Following in preference are drop shot rigs and crankbaits. Those are all of Brant’s lure choices, although he is exclusively targeting smallmouth. What matters most is the tempo of lure presentation and a keen focus on subtle changes in the habitat.
“Every rockpile on this lake looks good and there are thousands of them,” he said. “What I’m doing different is keying on a certain pieces of structure.”
He continued, “It’s a very focused pattern and relying on electronics is another key. I think other anglers are fishing faster, even though we are all fishing the same type of areas.”
Like yesterday, Brant said he caught two or three bass at each of his four stops, although he admitted to fishing new areas today after catching a limit. That happened at 10:30 a.m.
“They are all running about the same size, around 3 pounds,” he said. “I just can’t seem to find the 4-pounders that could separate me from everyone else.”
A southerly breeze blew from daybreak through weigh-in time. The more stable weather and steady wind proved advantageous for the overall catch, and especially that of Pruss.
“The wind definitely made it better by breaking up the visibility on the surface,” he said. “It took me all day though, to catch my limit.”
Pruss said he “left fish biting” and those are being caught on tube jigs and crankbaits.
Minnesota is pulling away with the state title in a competition between eight Midwestern states. The team total is 291 pounds, 7 ounces, or 52 pounds ahead of second place. Wisconsin has 239-3 and Illinois is third place with 227-8. Ohio has 212-4 and Michigan is fifth with 193-5. Iowa is seventh with 185-13 and South Dakota eighth with 184-11.
Minnesota’s overall score received a huge boost from its team competing in the Bassmaster High School Northern Divisional. Mason Raveling and Ben Provost weighed 17-8 to also take first place in the high school contest. The anglers are from Prior Lake High School. The winning state gets a Triton boat, powered by a Yamaha outboard and rigged with accessories. The package is valued at $37,292.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional 8/26-8/28
Lake Vermilion, Tower MN.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN (MN) 10 34-05 0
2. Joe Pruss Springfield, SD (SD) 10 32-15 0
3. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI (WI) 10 32-10 0
4. Ted Heitschmidt Tomahawk, WI (WI) 10 29-09 0
5. Brad Ballard Winona, MN (MN) 10 26-15 0
6. Jami Fralick Martin, SD (SD) 10 26-13 0
7. Daniel Brown Joliet, IL (IL) 10 25-13 0
8. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL (WI) 10 25-10 0
9. Andy Hriber Lakeville, MN (MN) 10 25-06 0
10. Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH (OH) 9 24-12 0
11. Jim Barczak Osceola, WI (WI) 10 24-08 0
12. Korey Bushman Eden Prairie, MN (MN) 10 24-05 0
13. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (OH) 10 23-11 0
14. Brian Bengtson Bloomington, MN (MN) 10 23-11 0
15. Nathan Steinbauer Edina, MN (MN) 9 23-06 0
16. Tadd Johnson Lakeview, MN (MN) 10 23-04 0
17. Brandon Osting Delphos, OH (OH) 10 22-13 0
18. Corey Peterson Yankton, SD (SD) 8 22-12 0
19. Dave Hedge Greenfield, IN (IN) 10 22-03 0
20. Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI (MI) 10 21-15 0
21. Greg Vance Dubuque, IA (IA) 9 21-13 0
22. Scott Bonnema Zimmerman, MN (MN) 10 21-10 0
23. Levi Warner Shiocton, WI (WI) 8 21-03 0
24. Scott Cremeans Albany, OH (OH) 10 21-02 0
25. Rob Melendez Frankfort, IL (IL) 10 21-01 0
26. Cliff Van Beek Canistota, SD (SD) 7 20-13 0
27. Nate Brown Muscatine, IA (IA) 9 20-13 0
28. Brian Saari Madison, WI (WI) 8 20-10 0
29. Jeff Bostic Cassopolis, MI (MI) 8 20-03 0
30. Dave Thompson Washington, IL (IL) 10 19-15 0
31. Brad Norris Hudson, IL (IL) 10 19-12 0
32. Tom Ondras Jourt, IL (IL) 7 19-11 0
33. Aaron Daeges Carver, MN (MN) 9 19-08 0
34. Landon Moore Marion, IA (IA) 10 19-08 0
35. Dave Watson Sullivan, IN (IN) 10 19-04 0
36. Carl Spande Mounds View, MN (MN) 8 18-15 0
37. Jarrod Sherwood Vassar, MI (MI) 9 18-11 0
38. Curt Samo Rochelle, IL (IL) 10 18-11 0
39. Bryan Corley Des Moines, IA (IA) 8 18-10 0
40. Michael Nesbitt St. Paris, OH (OH) 8 18-09 0
41. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI (IN) 7 18-04 0
42. Miqell Dawson Detroit, MI (MI) 5 18-03 0
43. Walter Hart Washington Court House, 9 18-00 0
44. Kevin Imer Marengo, OH (OH) 9 17-14 0
45. Nathan Ranallo La Crosse, WI (WI) 6 17-12 0
46. Mike Pappas Lagrange, IL (IL) 8 17-11 0
47. Dave Schneider Indianapolis, IN (IN) 8 17-10 0
48. Richard Lindgren Lakeville, MN (MN) 8 17-09 0
49. Wes Thomas Hanover, IN (IN) 10 17-09 0
50. MN HS - Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN (MN) 5 17-08 0
51. Joseph Sestak Tabor, SD (SD) 10 17-08 0
52. Mark Borchers Akron, IA (IA) 10 17-07 0
53. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA (IA) 9 17-05 0
54. Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA (IA) 7 17-03 0
55. Vaughn Capasso MARENGO, IL (IL) 10 17-02 0
56. Chris Wilkinson Farmersburg, IN (IN) 10 17-01 0
57. Mark Peterson Orland Park, IL (IL) 8 16-15 0
58. Tim Maupin Lawrenceburg, IN (IN) 9 16-15 0
59. Richard Hladky Yankton, SD (SD) 7 16-12 0
60. Matt Fischer Farmington, MI (MI) 9 16-08 0
61. Chip Goy Genoa City, WI (WI) 7 16-07 0
62. David Junk Quincy, IL (IL) 8 16-06 0
63. Jesse Schwark Athens, MI (MI) 8 16-03 0
64. Eric Zoromski Lena, WI (WI) 10 16-03 0
65. Zach Grounds Fortvilla, IN (IN) 7 15-10 0
66. Marvin Parton Kokomo, IN (IN) 6 15-03 0
67. Kyle Jump Farmington Hills, MI (M 7 15-01 0
68. Guy Knudson Zimmerman, MN (MN) 10 15-01 0
69. Allen Wennerberg Waterford, MI (MI) 7 15-00 0
70. Brian Vogelsang Zanes Field, OH (OH) 7 14-15 0
71. Chris Calkins Marshalltown, IA (IA) 6 14-02 0
72. Raul Gonzalez Schrumburg, IL (IL) 7 14-00 0
73. WI HS - Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI (WI) 5 13-14 0
74. Phil Rummel Mount Vernon, OH (OH) 6 12-12 0
75. John Ling IV Climax, MI (MI) 8 12-01 0
76. Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA (IA) 7 12-01 0
77. IL HS - Zobel / Cook Joliet, IL (IL) 5 11-15 0
78. Steven Houdek Calmar, IA (IA) 6 11-11 0
79. IN HS - Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN (IN) 5 11-10 0
80. Kirk Simpson Waterford, MI (MI) 6 11-08 0
81. MI HS - Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI (MI) 5 10-15 0
82. Scott Metzger Springfield, OH (OH) 5 10-08 0
83. Kyler Chelminiak Franklin, WI (WI) 5 10-07 0
84. OH HS - Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH (OH) 5 10-03 0
85. Edward Schiller Wixom, MI (MI) 6 09-11 0
86. James Haas Yankton, SD (SD) 4 09-09 0
87. Eric Hardesty Nineveh, IN (IN) 6 09-06 0
88. Robert Doughty Columbus, OH (OH) 4 09-06 0
89. Bob Slama Harrisburg, SD (SD) 5 09-02 0
90. Mark Emenecker Matton, IL (IL) 5 08-08 0
91. Tucker Peschl Tyndall, SD (SD) 5 08-02 0
92. Chad Kurowski New Franken, WI (WI) 5 07-12 0
93. Terry Hall Grove City, OH (OH) 4 07-11 0
94. Adam Hladky Volin, SD (SD) 6 07-08 0
95. Bob Kowal Sparta, MI (MI) 4 07-06 0
96. Orlando Rundle Monticello, IA (IA) 4 06-10 0
97. Mel Williams Winner, SD (SD) 4 06-05 0
98. Trevor Kettles Waukee, IA (IA) 3 06-01 0
99. Chad Starrett Shirley, IN (IN) 4 05-11 0
100. SD HS - Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD (SD) 3 05-08 0
101. Shon Nelson Elberfield, IN (IN) 2 02-14 0
102. Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI (WI) 2 02-10 0
103. IA HS - Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA (IA) 2 02-09 0
104. Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD (SD) 1 01-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 38 319 677-09
2 74 456 1045-14
----------------------------------
112 775 1723-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 MINNESOTA 291-07
2 WISCONSIN 239-03
3 ILLINOIS 227-08
4 OHIO 212-04
5 MICHIGAN 193-05
6 INDIANA 189-04
7 IOWA 185-13
8 SOUTH DAKOTA 184-11
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
IOWA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Greg Vance Dubuque, IA 9 21-13 0
2 Nate Brown Muscatine, IA 9 20-13 0
3 Landon Moore Marion, IA 10 19-08 0
4 Bryan Corley Des Moines, IA 8 18-10 0
5 Mark Borchers Akron, IA 10 17-07 0
6 Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA 9 17-05 0
7 Bryan Freyermuth Muscatine, IA 7 17-03 0
8 Chris Calkins Marshalltown, IA 6 14-02 0
9 Brian Searcy Muscatine, IA 7 12-01 0
10 Steven Houdek Calmar, IA 6 11-11 0
11 Orlando Rundle Monticello, IA 4 06-10 0
12 Trevor Kettles Waukee, IA 3 06-01 0
13 IA HS - Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA 2 02-09 0
ILLINOIS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Daniel Brown Joliet, IL 10 25-13 0
2 Rob Melendez Frankfort, IL 10 21-01 0
3 Dave Thompson Washington, IL 10 19-15 0
4 Brad Norris Hudson, IL 10 19-12 0
5 Tom Ondras Jourt, IL 7 19-11 0
6 Curt Samo Rochelle, IL 10 18-11 0
7 Mike Pappas Lagrange, IL 8 17-11 0
8 Vaughn Capasso MARENGO, IL 10 17-02 0
9 Mark Peterson Orland Park, IL 8 16-15 0
10 David Junk Quincy, IL 8 16-06 0
11 Raul Gonzalez Schrumburg, IL 7 14-00 0
12 IL HS - Zobel / Cook Joliet, IL 5 11-15 0
13 Mark Emenecker Matton, IL 5 08-08 0
INDIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Dave Hedge Greenfield, IN 10 22-03 0
2 Dave Watson Sullivan, IN 10 19-04 0
3 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 7 18-04 0
4 Dave Schneider Indianapolis, IN 8 17-10 0
5 Wes Thomas Hanover, IN 10 17-09 0
6 Chris Wilkinson Farmersburg, IN 10 17-01 0
7 Tim Maupin Lawrenceburg, IN 9 16-15 0
8 Zach Grounds Fortvilla, IN 7 15-10 0
9 Marvin Parton Kokomo, IN 6 15-03 0
10 IN HS - Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN 5 11-10 0
11 Eric Hardesty Nineveh, IN 6 09-06 0
12 Chad Starrett Shirley, IN 4 05-11 0
13 Shon Nelson Elberfield, IN 2 02-14 0
MICHIGAN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI 10 21-15 0
2 Jeff Bostic Cassopolis, MI 8 20-03 0
3 Jarrod Sherwood Vassar, MI 9 18-11 0
4 Miqell Dawson Detroit, MI 5 18-03 0
5 Matt Fischer Farmington, MI 9 16-08 0
6 Jesse Schwark Athens, MI 8 16-03 0
7 Kyle Jump Farmington Hills, MI 7 15-01 0
8 Allen Wennerberg Waterford, MI 7 15-00 0
9 John Ling IV Climax, MI 8 12-01 0
10 Kirk Simpson Waterford, MI 6 11-08 0
11 MI HS - Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI 5 10-15 0
12 Edward Schiller Wixom, MI 6 09-11 0
13 Bob Kowal Sparta, MI 4 07-06 0
MINNESOTA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN 10 34-05 0
2 Brad Ballard Winona, MN 10 26-15 0
3 Andy Hriber Lakeville, MN 10 25-06 0
4 Korey Bushman Eden Prairie, MN 10 24-05 0
5 Brian Bengtson Bloomington, MN 10 23-11 0
6 Nathan Steinbauer Edina, MN 9 23-06 0
7 Tadd Johnson Lakeview, MN 10 23-04 0
8 Scott Bonnema Zimmerman, MN 10 21-10 0
9 Aaron Daeges Carver, MN 9 19-08 0
10 Carl Spande Mounds View, MN 8 18-15 0
11 Richard Lindgren Lakeville, MN 8 17-09 0
12 MN HS - Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN 5 17-08 0
13 Guy Knudson Zimmerman, MN 10 15-01 0
OHIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH 9 24-12 0
2 Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH 10 23-11 0
3 Brandon Osting Delphos, OH 10 22-13 0
4 Scott Cremeans Albany, OH 10 21-02 0
5 Michael Nesbitt St. Paris, OH 8 18-09 0
6 Walter Hart Washington Court House, 9 18-00 0
7 Kevin Imer Marengo, OH 9 17-14 0
8 Brian Vogelsang Zanes Field, OH 7 14-15 0
9 Phil Rummel Mount Vernon, OH 6 12-12 0
10 Scott Metzger Springfield, OH 5 10-08 0
11 OH HS - Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH 5 10-03 0
12 Robert Doughty Columbus, OH 4 09-06 0
13 Terry Hall Grove City, OH 4 07-11 0
SOUTH DAKOTA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Pruss Springfield, SD 10 32-15 0
2 Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 26-13 0
3 Corey Peterson Yankton, SD 8 22-12 0
4 Cliff Van Beek Canistota, SD 7 20-13 0
5 Joseph Sestak Tabor, SD 10 17-08 0
6 Richard Hladky Yankton, SD 7 16-12 0
7 James Haas Yankton, SD 4 09-09 0
8 Bob Slama Harrisburg, SD 5 09-02 0
9 Tucker Peschl Tyndall, SD 5 08-02 0
10 Adam Hladky Volin, SD 6 07-08 0
11 Mel Williams Winner, SD 4 06-05 0
12 SD HS - Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD 3 05-08 0
13 Timothy Peterson Springfield, SD 1 01-00 0
WISCONSIN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 10 32-10 0
2 Ted Heitschmidt Tomahawk, WI 10 29-09 0
3 Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL 10 25-10 0
4 Jim Barczak Osceola, WI 10 24-08 0
5 Levi Warner Shiocton, WI 8 21-03 0
6 Brian Saari Madison, WI 8 20-10 0
7 Nathan Ranallo La Crosse, WI 6 17-12 0
8 Chip Goy Genoa City, WI 7 16-07 0
9 Eric Zoromski Lena, WI 10 16-03 0
10 WI HS - Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI 5 13-14 0
11 Kyler Chelminiak Franklin, WI 5 10-07 0
12 Chad Kurowski New Franken, WI 5 07-12 0
13 Kevin Fassbind Cottage Grove, WI 2 02-10 0