The conditions changed on the second day of the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Ouachita River, but the first-day leader did everything the same and managed to stay on top of the field. Louisiana’s Jamie Laiche added 13 pounds, 14 ounces, ending Day 2 with 30 pounds, 4 ounces and a 1 1/2-pound lead.
“I did the exact same thing,” said Laiche, “but I didn’t get that big bite like I did yesterday. I caught a ton of fish, but the size wasn’t there.”
The air temperature dropped 5 degrees from yesterday, and the Monroe area got an inch of rain. The final day should bring more rain and even cooler temperatures.
None of those weather changes bother Laiche.
“I have the opinion that if it affects me, it’ll affect everybody else,” he said, calmly. “If the Lord feels like it’s my time, I’ll find ’em.”
Laiche, who’s a member of the Ascension Area Anglers in Louisiana, is trying to earn a return trip to the Bassmaster Classic. He qualified for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, where he came in 38th place. If he wins the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Saturday, he’ll get a chance to compete on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Laiche doesn’t actually have to win the championship; he only has to win his division. Each state is represented in the championship by its top angler, and several states make up each division. The Central Division has proved to be the toughest here on the Ouachita River, with three of the Top 4 overall spots from that division. Laiche is trying to fend off Albert Collins of Texas, who’s currently in second place overall, and Doug Thompson of Arkansas, currently in fourth. All three anglers are tested and true; all three have qualified for the Classic before. And all three are within 6 pounds of each other.
“Any one of us would represent the Central well at the Classic,” said Laiche. “They are some of the best anglers out there. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Laiche, who is fishing out of a small boat that helps him navigate the shallow backwaters and stumpfields, tops out at 28 miles per hour. As the leader of the tournament, he’ll go out first at takeoff on the final day.
“They’ll all be passing me,” Laiche said with a laugh. “But it’s not how fast you get there; it’s how much you come back with.”
Other division leaders who are trying to hold on for one more day to earn a Classic berth are Paul Mueller, Connecticut, in the Eastern Division; Fabian Rodriguez, Maryland, Mid-Atlantic; Greg Vance, Iowa, Northern; John Proctor, South Carolina, Southern; and Levi McNeill, Wyoming, Western.
Vance made up serious ground on the second day when he brought in a 13-pound, 11-ounce bag, vaulting him to the top of the Northern Division. Vance is one of the youngest competitors in the field at only 21 years old.
Vance’s bag was topped by only Laiche’s (13-14) and Albert Collins’ (14-8). But Vance did manage to catch the biggest bass of the day, a 4-pound, 3-ounce largemouth.
Whether Laiche pulls off a victory on Saturday or not, he’s already the winner of the Livingston Lures Leader Award. The leader on Day 2 wins a $250 package from Livingston Lures.
Competition resumes at Forsythe Park in Monroe, La., Saturday at 6:15 a.m. CT. The event concludes at the weigh-in, also at Forsythe Park, at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday. Tune in to Bassmaster.com for updates and for live streaming of the weigh-ins.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, 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 ,The Bassmasters, 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, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/5-11/7
Ouachita River, Monroe, La.
BOATERStandings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (Cntrl) 10 30-04 0
2. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (Cntrl) 10 28-09 0
3. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE (MidAt) 10 26-08 0
4. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR (Cntrl) 10 24-02 0
5. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT (East) 10 22-10 0
6. Greg Vance Dubuque, IA (North) 10 22-07 0
7. Preston Frazell Cleveland, OK (Cntrl) 8 21-11 0
8. Levi McNeill West Valley, UT (West) 10 20-12 0
9. John Proctor Conway, SC (South) 10 20-09 0
10. Billy Lemon Jr Sand Springs, OK (Cntrl 10 19-07 0
11. Joaquim Maria Lopes Evora PORTUGAL (Cntrl) 10 19-07 0
12. Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY (South) 10 19-00 0
13. Chad Shutty Northern Cambria, PA (M 10 18-14 0
14. Charles Sim Ottawa CANADA (East) 10 17-15 0
15. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI (North) 10 17-11 0
16. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT (East) 10 17-10 0
17. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT (West) 10 17-07 0
18. David Watson Sullivan, IN (North) 10 16-15 0
19. Davick Hansen Clinton, UT (West) 10 16-07 0
20. Robert Peixotto Albuquerque, NM (West) 10 16-06 0
21. Samuel Ferroni POGGIO A CAIANO PRATO I 9 16-00 0
22. Brian Harold McGaheysville, VA (MidA 10 16-00 0
23. Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC (South) 10 15-15 0
24. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (North) 10 15-10 0
25. Dave Andrews Hudson, MA (East) 10 15-10 0
26. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (West) 10 15-09 0
27. Kieron Samkin Gillitts SOUTH AFRICA 10 15-07 0
28. Dan Brown Joliet, IL (North) 10 14-15 0
29. Donald Adcock Richland, MS (Cntrl) 9 14-14 0
30. Michael McMahon Hackettstown, NJ (MidAt 10 14-11 0
31. Corey Brant Minnetonka, MN (North) 7 14-04 0
32. Jami Fralick Martin, SD (North) 10 14-03 0
33. Pat Hanning Tucson, AZ (West) 8 14-02 0
34. Cesar Ventura Pecellin Munoz Badajoz SPAIN (East) 10 13-13 0
35. Marcelo Lozano San Luis Potosi MEXICO 9 13-11 0
36. Jerome Pape Milford, IA (Cntrl) 10 13-11 0
37. Samuel Bounds Jr Charleston, WV (MidAt) 9 13-07 0
38. Casey Smith Macedon, NY (East) 10 13-05 0
39. Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY (South) 9 13-00 0
40. Brad Weese Petersburg, WV (MidAt) 8 12-12 0
41. Matthew Roberts Pulaski, IA (Cntrl) 7 12-09 0
42. Bruce Cooke Greendale ZIMBABWE (Mid 10 12-09 0
43. Brad Durden Atlanta, GA (South) 9 12-08 0
44. Wayne Black San Mateo, FL (South) 10 12-05 0
45. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT (East) 8 11-11 0
46. Jeff Fischer Farmington, MI (North) 8 11-11 0
47. Steven Wilson Rohnert Park, CA (West) 8 11-01 0
48. Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN (West) 7 10-13 0
49. Brent Shores Boise, ID (West) 8 10-08 0
50. Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL (South) 6 10-02 0
51. Brian Croteau Blackstone, MA (East) 6 09-09 0
52. Kory Ray Lebanon, OR (West) 8 09-06 0
53. David Kromm Kennewick, WA (West) 7 08-13 0
54. Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA (MidAt 5 07-13 0
55. Robert Williamson Gorham, ME (East) 4 05-02 0
56. George Barnes Cambridge, MA (East) 4 04-04 0
57. Stephen Pike Las Vegas, NV (West) 2 03-15 0
58. Jackie Barber West , TX (MidAt) 3 03-09 0
59. Stephen Kanowski Shorncliffe AUSTRALIA 2 03-00 0
By: Helen Northcutt
