Co-Angler Ryan Lavigne Of Louisiana Wins B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Lake Conroe
CONROE, Texas — Ryan Lavigne of Gonzales, La., pulled off a major upset at the 2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Sunday on Lake Conroe.
Lavigne won the tournament as an unlikely candidate — a nonboater — and won it by an enormous margin, 16 1/2 pounds.
The Ascension Area Anglers bass club member bested the field with 58 pounds, 3 ounces over three days of competition.
As part of his win, he earned a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro, March 24-26, along with his two closest competitors, Darrell Ocamica of Idaho and Timothy Klinger of Nevada.
“Making the Classic is a dream come true,” Lavigne said. “It’s something I’ve thought about since I started fishing. My dad took me fishing when I was a kid, and it’s just a passion I’ve never let go. And making it to the Classic is one of the biggest goals of my life.”
Lavigne bolted into the overall lead on the second day of competition, winning the title of Nonboater Champion, and opening up a 6 1/2-pound gap between him and the top boater, Klinger.
He made the margin even bigger in the first two hours of Sunday’s competition, putting 18 pounds of bass into the boat before 8 a.m.
“I prepared for any boater I could draw,” said Lavigne, who spent his time practicing for any scenario he thought he might encounter with his boaters, which are drawn at random.
Lavigne qualified as a nonboater because of the way the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation assembled its state team. The Top 10 anglers in the qualifying tournament were assigned boater spots on the state team; the anglers who placed 11th through 20th were assigned nonboater spots.
Competing as a nonboater in the B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, he won his division. Then he did it again here on Conroe, and when he was mixed in with the boaters (an honor only the Nonboater Champion earned), he beat them, too.
“Every nonboater out there should see this and realize it’s worth their while,” Lavigne said. “If you’ve been thinking about competing as a nonboater, come out and do it. I just did something nobody thought could happen.”
The boater in the championship has ultimate control of where the boat goes, but the nonboater can offer suggestions. Lavigne had a plan for anywhere his boaters may take him, but he also had waypoints marked that he suggested, and his boaters listened.
“I had decided that I could do really well flipping boat docks or cranking offshore,” Lavigne explained.
When he was on boat docks, which he mostly was the first two days of competition, he flipped a Stand-Up Jighead with a Trick Worm or Missile Baits Tomahawk Worm. In offshore areas, he cranked a Strike King 5XD.
His final day, when Lavigne was in control of the boat, he chose a small hard, hump in the main lake. He was sitting over 13 feet of water, but the top of the hump was 6 feet. In practice, he had found this spot and caught a 16-inch bass on it. He knew it was a place he could go back to if he needed.
“I went there this morning and caught a limit using a Missile Baits Twin Turbo [a twin-tail grub] in green pumpkin,” Lavigne said. Then he left the area alone until noon, when he came back and culled three of the bass he had already caught there in the morning.
For his double win, Lavigne earned two prize packages worth a combined $131,820. As the Nonboater Champion, he won paid entry into the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens division of his choice, a Skeeter/Yamaha boat package with a Minn Kota trolling motor and Humminbird electronics, and a spot as a marshal in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
As one of the Top 3 anglers, he earned the B.A.S.S. Nation’s Best prize package, which is the use of a Toyota Tundra truck and a fully rigged, tournament-ready Phoenix boat for one year, as well as paid entry into the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens series of the angler’s choice, and a berth in the 2017 Classic. As the overall winner, he was invited to compete on the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series with part of his entry fees paid.
Darrell Ocamica and Timothy Klinger will join him here on Conroe in March for the 2017 Classic.
Ocamica caught 41 pounds, 12 ounces for second place, and Klinger caught 37 pounds, 11 ounces for third.
The biggest bass of the tournament was 7 pounds, 3 ounces. On the boater side, Jason Vaughn of Delaware caught a 7-3, and on the nonboater side, Michael Lebsack of Minnesota caught one of the same size. Both won $500.
Klinger received the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for leading the boater division on Day 2. Finishing as the Day 2 leader on the nonboater side, Lavigne also received $250.
Follow Lavigne, Ocamica and Klinger at Bassmaster.com/Nation as they prepare for the 2017 Bassmaster Classic. All three will be competing in their first Classic.
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was hosted by the Conroe Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2016 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Academy Sports + Outdoors
2016 B.A.S.S. Nation Presenting Sponsor: Magellan
2016 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Mercury, Yamaha, Berkley, GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats
2016 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Lowrance, Nationwide, Shimano, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures
Connect with #Bassmaster and the #BassmasterClassic on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster
and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 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, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
See more bass tournament news here
-30-
Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, jmatthews@bassmaster.com or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, dprecht@bassmaster.com.
2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan 11/17-11/19
Lake Conroe, Conroe TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA 14 58-03 0 $45,585.00
Day 1: 4 11-14 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 24-00
2. Darrell Ocamica Fruitland, ID 14 41-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 4 11-11 Day 3: 5 16-11
3. Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV 11 37-11 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 3 14-04 Day 3: 3 10-00
4. Michael Boggs II Portsmouth, OH 11 35-04 0
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 1 02-13 Day 3: 5 11-13
5. Brent Long Iron Station, NC 11 33-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 2 07-08 Day 3: 4 11-02
6. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 11 33-00 0
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 3 11-06
7. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 9 28-09 0
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 1 03-08
8. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 8 26-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 2 05-03 Day 3: 1 06-14
9. Jason Vaughn Laurel, DE 7 26-11 0
Day 1: 2 10-03 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
10. Danny Grantham Mobile, AL 8 25-00 0
Day 1: 4 11-12 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 1 02-09
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Jason Vaughn Laurel, DE 07-03 $0.00
———————————————————————–
11. Nate Caldwell Ft Collins, CO 7 19-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 4 11-11
12. Greg Vance Dubuque, IA 6 18-09 0
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 1 02-14
13. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA 6 18-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 1 05-14
14. Jay Evans Corvallis, MT 6 18-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 5 15-01
15. Arnie Lane Lakeland, FL 6 17-03 0
Day 1: 2 07-10 Day 2: 4 09-09
16. Rob Digh Denver, NC 6 16-15 0
Day 1: 2 08-01 Day 2: 4 08-14
17. Nicholas Papotto Meriden , CT 6 16-05 0
Day 1: 4 11-06 Day 2: 2 04-15
18. David Cavell Prairieville, LA 4 15-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 13-08
19. Matt Pangrac Norman , OK 5 15-03 0
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 2 05-05
20. Brian Brooks Mt Epraim, NJ 6 14-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 06-14
21. Dave McCoy Plattsmouth, NE 4 13-09 0
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 1 02-10
22. Mark Lodge Alfred, ME 4 11-08 0
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 2 05-10
23. William Lortz II Rochester, NY 3 11-04 0
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 2 07-12
24. Kalib Lund Glendale, AZ 4 10-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 2 04-15
25. Ron Mace Kennewick, WA 4 10-02 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 1 03-00
26. Bubba O’Neill Evanston, WY 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 1 02-08
27. Danny Carter Hernando, MS 2 09-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 1 05-11
28. David Mays Portland, OR 4 09-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 2 04-04
29. Jon Harshbarger Kaufman, TX 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 1 02-11
30. Brett Logue Lincoln, NE 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 1 01-13
31. Brian Mailot Columbus, OH 2 07-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-07
32. Kurt Glass Grovetown, GA 2 07-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-06
33. Grayson Smith Clarksville, TN 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 1 02-08
34. Joe Burchill Brighton , MA 2 07-01 0
Day 1: 1 04-02 Day 2: 1 02-15
35. Ryan Buttermore Leetsdale, PA 3 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 01-15
36. Luca Salvato Curtarolo ITALY 2 06-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-04
37. Edgar Romero Leon MEXICO 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 1 01-14
38. Strati Orphanides Marondera ZIMBABWE 2 05-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-09
39. Chris Brimager Andover, KS 2 05-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 1 02-11
40. Bill Brown Grand Junction, CO 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 1 03-01
41. Mark Lassagne San Ramon, CA 2 05-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 1 01-15
42. Randy Campbell Sandia Park, NM 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-01
43. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX 2 05-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-00
44. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry ONTARIO CANA 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Tom Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 1 04-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-12
46. Josh Nelson Saint Bonifacius, MN 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-09
46. Mark Nies Cannelton, IN 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Adrian Luff George Western Cape SOU 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-07
49. Ted Heitschmidt Tomahawk, WI 1 03-14 0
Day 1: 1 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
50. John Plumlee Branson, MO 1 03-10 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Tony Beck Social Circle, GA 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
52. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-09
53. Filipe Almeida Coimbra PORTUGAL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Mitchell Cone Willow Tree New South W 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Mark Dimarzio Franconia, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Neil Engelbrecht Windhoek Khomas NAMIBIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Scott Green Waterbury Center, VT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Naoaki Ishikawa Akiruno Tokyo JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
2016 Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan 11/17-11/19
Lake Conroe, Conroe TX. (NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA 9 34-03 0 $45,585.00
Day 1: 4 11-14 Day 2: 5 22-05
2. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 8 21-04 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 3 06-13
3. Justin Barnes MONROEVILLE, AL 5 18-06 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 09-03 Day 2: 3 09-03
4. Mike Coleman Pinoeer, CA 4 16-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 08-12 Day 2: 2 07-04
5. Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL 5 15-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 3 08-15
6. Jonathan Robla Norawood, NY 4 12-05 0 $250.00
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 2 06-06
7. Jarrod Sherwood Vassar, MI 3 12-04 0 $250.00
Day 1: 1 05-05 Day 2: 2 06-15
8. Brock Enmeier Enid, OK 4 12-01 0 $250.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 1 02-06
9. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 4 11-13 0 $250.00
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 2 07-08
10. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN 2 10-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 1 07-03
11. Shane Stiehl Winner, SD 4 10-08 0 $250.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 1 02-03
12. Bradley Rilling Brooks, GA 4 09-08 0 $250.00
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 2 04-13
13. Lee Wubbels Lincoln, NE 3 08-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 2 05-08
14. Tim Frohlich Jr Independence, KY 2 08-09 0
Day 1: 2 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
15. Stefan Adamchick Monterrey MEXICO 3 08-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 2 04-12
16. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 3 08-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 03-11
17. Andre Fidalgo Parreira PORTUGAL 2 07-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-14
18. Dave Frost Apopka, FL 2 07-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-14 Day 2: 1 03-14
19. Jake Weaver Columbia Falls, MT 2 07-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-03
20. David Porter Rockwall, TX 2 07-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 1 03-11
21. Jody Adkins Navarre, OH 2 06-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 1 04-01
22. Ron Hanhart Harare Mashonaland ZIMB 1 06-09 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 06-09
23. Chris Brewer Jay, ME 1 06-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 06-08
24. Amos Dixon Camden, DE 2 05-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 1 02-12
25. Scott Hausman Las Vegas, NV 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-03
25. Kevin Noel Burlington, CT 2 05-03 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
27. Daniel Elsner Green Bay, WI 1 05-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-03
28. Kyle Coffman Minbun, IA 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-11
29. Curt Hughes Greenwood, IN 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 1 02-00
30. Jeremy Arnold Concord, NH 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
31. Riley Hansen Sandy , UT 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
32. Zackery Shaff Untion, KY 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-15
33. Justin Harris McPherson, KS 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
33. Bob Wetzler Rutland, VT 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-14
35. Steven Conde Chepachet, RI 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. Jon Hickey Weiser, ID 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Becca Golightly Preston, ID 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
37. Jeff Hager Alexis, NC 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
39. Creighton Sawyer Houston, AR 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
40. Bert Cooper Huntsville, TN 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
41. John Bernard McKees Rocks, PA 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-03
42. Chris Barrett Vaughan ONTARIO CANADA 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
43. Danny Fourr Waterflow, NM 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
43. John Santos Penrose, CO 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-01
45. Loren Bryant Phoenix, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Addam Gross Cove, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Garry Harman Adare Queensland AUSTRA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Edward Owens Hemingway, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Mauro Salvato Curtarolo ITALY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Christopher Selsor Jr Sparta, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Michael Valentine Laurel , MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Kevin Voss Bensenville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Yuya Wakebe Odawara Kanagawa JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Alec Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Larry Witt Forest, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————
Discover the ultimate resource for bass fishing enthusiasts with Bass Angler Magazine! Packed with expert tips, cutting-edge gear reviews, and in-depth articles, our magazine is your go-to guide for mastering the art of bass fishing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, Bass Angler Magazine delivers the insights and inspiration you need to reel in the big ones. Subscribe today and elevate your angling game!
