The biggest five-fish limit of the week propelled Northern Michigan University (NMU) to victory on the Mississippi River, crowning Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwestern Regional Champions.
With Bass Pro Shops presenting the event, it was only fitting that the Bass Pro Nitro Big Bag for the tournament sealed the deal for the NMU Wildcats.
The Wildcats brought in 44 pounds, 3 ounces over the course of three days; their final day weight accounted for 15-8 of that. Brown and Bissell fished hollow-body frogs around shallow vegetation in both Minnesota and Wisconsin waters along the Mississippi River.
“It was a tough day for us,” Brown said. “We didn’t get near as many bites today, but we were fishing for big fish, so it worked out pretty great.”
With their win, Brown and Bissell, along with the remainder of the Top 13 teams, advance to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The event will be held on Lake DuBay in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in July.
“Lake DuBay is a tough smallmouth fishery, and we have a lot of tough smallmouth fisheries in Michigan, so we’re looking forward to it,” Bissell said.
Bissell also took a moment to thank his grandparents for timely assistance in reaching the tournament.
“If any of you out there are grandparents, you have more influence on your grandchildren’s lives than you have any idea,” Bissell said. “I had a lot of truck troubles before heading up here. Funding was going to be a little short, and we weren’t going to be able to make the tournament. Look where we’re at now.”
Brown and Bissell bumped Day 2 leaders Cade Laufenberg and Wyatt Stout of Winona State University down one spot. Laufenberg and Stout finished the event in second place with a three-day total of 41-2.
Austin Brimeyer and Anthony Riesberg of the University of Dubuque rounded out the Top 3 with 39-8.
Troy Switajewski and Daniel Carlson of St. Cloud State took the Carhartt Big Bass honors with their 4-pound, 6-ounce bass from Day 2.
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2015 Bass Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Partners: A.R.E. Accessories, Dick Cepek Tires, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, Bassmaster website, television show social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by TNT Fireworks, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops – Midwestern Regional
5/28/2015 – 5/30/2015
Mississippi River – Veterans Freedom Park – La Crosse, WI
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 3
Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Justin Brown – Brandon Bissell Northern Michigan University 5 5 15- 8 15 15 44- 3
2 Cade Laufenberg – Wyatt Stout Winona State University 5 5 11-10 15 15 41- 2
3 Austin Brimeyer – Anthony Riesberg University of Dubuque 5 5 13-10 15 15 39- 8
4 Sheldon Rogge – Lance Maldonado Kansas State University 5 5 11- 9 15 15 38- 4
5 Grant Ehlenfeldt – Brett Stanek University of Wisconsin-Platteville 5 5 11-10 15 15 37- 4
6 Cole Atkinson – St Ambrose University 5 5 13- 0 15 15 36-15
7 Tyler Rocke – Justin Schick Illinois Central College 5 5 12-7 15 15 36-15
8 Kit Benson – Wes Lashmett Western Illinois University 5 5 11-12 15 14 35-12
9 Jared Mataczynski – Steve Nebel University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 5 5 11- 3 15 15 35-11
10 Samuel Moore – Ross Kellermeier Bemidji State University 5 5 12- 0 15 14 35- 2
11 Taylor Bivins – Kyle Alsop Kansas State University 5 5 9-12 15 14 34- 7
12 Justin Bruno – Brody Anderson Grand Valley State University 5 5 10-15 15 15 34- 2
13 Trevor Lo – Chris Burgan University of Minnesota 5 5 10- 3 15 14 34- 0
14 Tyler Nekolny – Adam Fuchs Kansas State University 5 5 10- 2 15 15 33- 9
15 Pat Bowers – Sig Finley University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 4 4 8-12 14 14 33- 5
16 Nick Carter – University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 4 4 8- 0 14 14 32- 1
17 Troy Switajewski – Daniel Carlson St. Cloud State 3 3 5- 3 13 13 30- 1
18 Qiurun Chen – Luke Stoner University of Illinois 4 4 6-13 14 14 29-15
19 Ty Woodward – Max Hellmann University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 1 1 1- 4 11 11 28- 2
20 Kason Morley – Ryan Pinkalla University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 2 2 4- 3 12 12 27- 4
21 Adam Knowles – Konner Kearney University of Wisconsin 10 10 22-13
22 Craig Wise – Jackson Grabeel Western Illinois University 10 10 22-12
23 Mitch VanErt – Steven Sellnow University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 10 10 22- 9
24 Michael Harlin – Ben Verhoef University of Missouri 10 10 22- 3
25 Nick Marsh – Jake Bayer Adrian College 10 10 22- 2
26 Jake Kurtzweg – Brandon Hiltner Bemidji State University 10 10 22- 1
27 Kody Mattson – Tayler Stolpa Winona State University 10 10 21-14
28 Cody Hahner – Mark Hugus University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 10 10 21-12
29 Bryce Wegman – Carlos Thomas Illinois State University 10 10 21-11
30 Evan Chambers – Travis Ketterhagen University of Wisconsin-Platteville 10 9 21-10
31 Nick Dion – Jake Crawford Lake Superior State University 10 10 21- 9
32 Eamonn Ryan – Nick Kushnerik University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 10 10 21- 8
33 Andrew Mohlenbrock – Hunter McKinley Murray State University 10 10 21- 2
34 Garrett Cates – Brett Herder Kansas State University 10 10 20-11
35 Jordan Ledbetter – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 10 10 20- 9
36 Jarrett Martin – Jeff Morton Adrian College 10 10 20- 8
37 Josh Pagel – Tanner Blaschka University of Wisconsin 10 10 20- 2
38 Andrew Guilliams – Adam Staples Missouri State University 10 9 19-10
39 Erik Quanrud – Tou Long Lor St. Cloud State 10 10 19- 7
40 Andrew Nordbye – Adam Almohtadi Northwest Missouri State University 10 10 19- 6
41 Thor Swanson – Mitch Swanson Bemidji State University 10 9 19- 6
42 Andrew Mlotek – Daniel Blasy University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 9 9 19- 3
43 Justin Lundborg – Cody Hallanger University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 10 10 19- 2
44 Nathan Hettinga – Dustin Genrich University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse 10 10 19- 1
45 Chris Oja – Dan Konkle Ferris State University 10 9 18- 9
46 Marshall Sandretto – Kevin Gross Milwaukee School of Engineering 8 8 18- 8
47 Danny Sprague – Cody Harris Michigan State University 9 9 17-14
48 Brandon Feldman – Brian Goebel University of Dubuque 9 9 17-13
49 Nick Uebelhor – University of Evansville 8 8 17-10
50 Brock Wilke – Taylor Schmitt McKendree University 8 8 17- 6
51 Alex Meister – Andrew Wolfe University of Wisconsin 8 8 17- 6
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
