McKendree University admittedly is playing its strengths on Lake Barkley, and the strategy is proving beneficial at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Leading the tournament with 15 pounds, 14 ounces, is the team of Jordan Ledbetter and Trent Robinson. Less than one pound behind in second place are fellow students Phillip Germagliotti and Shane Campbell, also of McKendree University.
“Fishing ledges is not our strength so we are staying focused on shallow water,” Campbell said.
Fishing around sharply contoured river channel dropoffs is the norm here during summer. On fisheries frequented by the leaders, deep-water fishing is a rarity. What is more common is fishing shallower water. The university is located in Illinois, near the Mississippi River and St. Louis.
The pattern for the leaders came together on the final cast of yesterday’s closing practice round. After landing a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, the team decided to make the spot their first of the competition day.
“We didn’t have a specific area better than any other,” Ledbetter said. “So we decided to start there.”
The day also ended in the same area, with persistence paying off.
“We’d go 150 yards and not catching anything at all, and then run into a quality bite,” Robinson added. “We caught all seven of our keepers there.”
Keeping up with the minimum length limit for this tournament is a must. A keeper largemouth must measure 15 inches. The minimum length limit for smallmouth is 18 inches and 12 inches for spotted bass.
Germagliotti and Campbell admitted to finding a new twist to their strategy. They understandably declined to share details.
“What we discovered should help us improve our catch for tomorrow,” Campbell said.
Lake Barkley, a Cumberland River fishery, is located adjacent to the equally sprawling Kentucky Lake. That Tennessee River impoundment is the site of another marquee event. Top pros are competing in the Zippo Bassmaster BASSfest at Kentucky Lake presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps.
The goal for the competitors is to qualify for the 2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, July 9-11at Lake DuBay on the Wisconsin River. The Top 13 teams from the Wild Card are invited to compete in the championship.
On Thursday, the full field of collegiate anglers launch and weigh in at Lick Creek Recreation Area in Dover. On Friday, the Top 20 collegiate teams weigh in at the BASSfest venue at Paris Landing State Park, on the same stage as the pros.
An online feed of the live weigh-in, angler blog entries, photo galleries and more are available at the Bassmaster website.
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 and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), 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 – Wild Card
6/3/2015 – 6/5/2015
Lake Barkley – Lick Creek Recreational Area – Paris, TN
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
1 Jordan Ledbetter – Trent Robinson McKendree University 5 5 15-14 5 5 15-14
2 Phillip Germagliotti – Shane Campbell McKendree University 5 5 14- 7 5 5 14- 7
3 Ty Dyer – Joseph Huggins Bethel University 5 5 14- 3 5 5 14- 3
4 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 14- 1 5 5 14- 1
5 Joshua Butts – Justin Rivers Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 13-14 5 5 13-14
5 Alec Castonguay – Garret Whitley Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 13-14 5 5 13-14
7 Ethan Ingle – Will Miller University of South Carolina 5 5 13- 7 5 5 13- 7
8 John Davis – Payton McGinnis University of Alabama 5 5 12-15 5 5 12-15
9 Dakota Cantrell – Mason Sapp Campbellsville University 5 5 12-14 5 5 12-14
9 Shelby Hutchens – Brian Blades Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 12-14 5 5 12-14
11 Cody Hahner – Mark Hugus University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 5 5 12- 8 5 5 12- 8
12 Reed Foster – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 5 5 12- 7 5 5 12- 7
13 Trent Palmer – Layton Jones Georgia Southern 5 5 12- 1 5 5 12- 1
14 Dawson Lenz – Evan Horne University of North Alabama 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 0
15 Trent Newman – Jacob Sepeda Dallas Baptist University 4 4 12- 0 4 4 12- 0
16 Brian Eaton – Slade Daniel U. of Louisiana Monroe 5 5 11-12 5 5 11-12
17 Ethan Snyder – Shaw Owens Eastern Kentucky University 4 4 11- 7 4 4 11- 7
18 Adam Neill – Mitch Naler University of Alabama 4 4 11- 5 4 4 11- 5
19 Caleb Baker – Mack Hicks Alice Lloyd College 5 5 10-14 5 5 10-14
20 Isaac Payne – Connor Mannina Savannah College of Art & Design 4 4 10-13 4 4 10-13
21 Taylor Thompson – Hunter Coppolino Abraham Baldwin Ag College 4 4 10-11 4 4 10-11
22 Cody Metzger – Micheal King Northeastern State University 5 5 10-10 5 5 10-10
23 Zachary Edmunds – Nelson Madruga U. of Central Florida 4 4 10-10 4 4 10-10
23 Jordan Wise – Chris Phinney East Carolina University 4 4 10-10 4 4 10-10
25 Dustin Nash – Gregory Green Northwestern State University 5 5 10- 8 5 5 10- 8
26 Logan Thomas – Ryan Kirkpatrick Murray State University 4 4 10- 5 4 4 10- 5
27 Darrell Henson Jr. – Brent Rome LSU 5 5 9-15 5 5 9-15
28 Blake Welch – Ricky Harris Bethel University 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7
29 Hunter McKamey – Kyle Oliver U. of Central Florida 5 5 9- 6 5 5 9- 6
30 Bentley Manning – John Berry Tennessee Tech University 5 5 9- 4 5 5 9- 4
31 Ethan Wages – Luis McMurphy U. of South Alabama 4 4 9- 3 4 4 9- 3
32 Tyler Rivet – Allyson Marcel Nicholls State University 4 4 8- 1 4 4 8- 1
33 Brett Webster – Makenzie Henson University of North Alabama 4 4 7-11 4 4 7-11
34 Alex Schieman – Ryan Stewart Georgia College & State University 2 2 6-14 2 2 6-14
35 Patrick Williford – Briggs Kennington Clemson University 3 3 6- 8 3 3 6- 8
36 Brad Vice – Austin Mize U. of North Alabama 5 5 6- 7 5 5 6- 7
37 Zachary Pickle – Drew Porto U. of Arkansas 3 3 6- 7 3 3 6- 7
38 Lance Freeman – Seth Brock Murray State University 3 3 6- 6 3 3 6- 6
39 Blake Schroeder – Easton Heigley Stephen F Austin State University 2 2 5-14 2 2 5-14
40 Ryan Williams – Ryan Hayse U. of North Alabama 3 3 5- 4 3 3 5- 4
41 Jeremiah Duvall – Jeffry Endly University of Louisville 1 1 5- 2 1 1 5- 2
42 Cale Mathis – Jonathan McLendon Abraham Baldwin Ag College 2 2 4-15 2 2 4-15
42 Justin Singleton – Zac Bennett Georgia College & State University 2 2 4-15 2 2 4-15
44 Sam Stone – Evan Coleman Texas State University 2 2 4-14 2 2 4-14
45 Andrew Tate – Nathan Martin U. of North Alabama 2 2 4-10 2 2 4-10
46 Cameron Brooks – Austin Moore Campbellsville University 2 2 4- 4 2 2 4- 4
47 Ronnie Moore – East Carolina University 2 2 4- 3 2 2 4- 3
48 Ryan Darracott – Zachary Darracott U. of North Alabama 3 3 3-15 3 3 3-15
48 John Maner – Colt Kelso U. of North Alabama 3 3 3-15 3 3 3-15
50 Jackson Blackett – Austin Joiner La Monroe 2 2 3-11 2 2 3-11
51 Wesley Griner – Dalton Dedge Darton State College 2 2 3- 4 2 2 3- 4
52 Brock Wilke – Austin Chapman McKendree University 1 1 3- 3 1 1 3- 3
53 Shawn Combs – Bronson Jones Georgetown College 2 2 3- 2 2 2 3- 2
54 Dalton Wilson – Randall Morris Bethel University 2 2 2-12 2 2 2-12
55 Jay Robertson – Oaklin Spier Southeastern Louisiana University 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12
56 Brent Werts – Spencer Waldrop Clemson University 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10
57 Landon Tucker – Grant Colson Valdosta State University 1 1 2- 8 1 1 2- 8
57 Nathan Woodruff – Kyle Alford Mississippi State University 1 1 2- 8 1 1 2- 8
59 Hunter Louden – Mekiah Jack Bethel University 1 1 2- 6 1 1 2- 6
60 Aaron Creech – Dakota Adams Alice Lloyd College 1 1 2- 5 1 1 2- 5
61 Kolby Bowers – Alex Oliver Abraham Baldwin Ag College 1 1 2- 4 1 1 2- 4
62 Justin Lynch – Michael Gullette U. of North Alabama 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0
63 Bradley Fleming – Luke Domas Texas A&M University 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15
64 Nick Uebelhor – University of Evansville 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
65 Sam Carris – Brandon Bryant Tennessee Tech University 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11
66 Ryan Suhy – Skye Riggleman Liberty University 1 1 1- 9 1 1 1- 9
67 John-Michael Brattlof – Zac Thames Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Ryan Collins – Hunter Fulcher U. of Kentucky 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Ethan Flack – University of Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Brett Graves – Tri-County Community College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Adam Hall – Gadsden State Community College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Colby Harville – Hunter Haney U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Ben Kroeger – Zach Kroeger University of Nebraska – Omaha 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Elliot Lee – Trevor Bates Tennessee Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Alexander Murray – Alex Felder Southeastern Louisiana University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
67 Kenneth Parks – Brian Cox UT Martin 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS
Day
1 Jeremiah Duvall – Jeffry EndlLyouisville, KY 5- 2
TOTALS
Day
1 214 214 508-13 22
2 0 0 0- 0 0
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
