Travis McGuire and Layne Bynum of Texas Tech University caught their second consecutive 28-pound limit to win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
The Red Raider teammates tallied a three-day Carhartt College Se[ries record of 69 pounds, 8 ounces to win by a whopping margin of 12-1 over the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Persistence paid off for the Texas anglers as they toughed it out on one primary offshore spot, waiting for waves of big bass to funnel into the area for the duration of the tournament. McGuire and Bynum didn’t give up or hang their heads after a humbling 12-14 on Thursday’s competition day had them mired in 48th place.
“We were catching them when they were moving up to feed before they head to spawn,” McGuire said. “Those big fish always go deeper for the winter so we wanted to position ourselves where they were headed.”
The victors fished what they called a “highway,” which is what anglers refer to when an area has attributes that fish desire for prespawn and postspawn conditions. There is always a wave of fish moving deeper to the area or pulling up shallower during that transition. They picked apart that highway with four baits throughout the three-day event.
A big contributor was a Strike King 6XD deep-diving crankbait. They also used a football head jig, a swimbait and a Carolina rig.
After struggling Thursday, they stayed with their gameplan because they knew the quality was there and they could see them on their electronics. It paid off bigtime as they caught the Bass Pro Shops Nitro Big Bag, which weighed 28-10 Friday and was worth a $250 gift card to Bass Pro Shops. The catch was anchored by the 10-2 Carhartt Big Bass, which also garnered the team a $500 Carhartt gift card.
They utilized the second biggest bag of the event to pull away and take the victory over the first-day leaders Tyler Craig and Spencer Lambert of Louisiana-Monroe.
They took a different approach to their second-place finish, as they focused on a ditch that was filled with hydrilla and plenty of bass. Every morning Craig and Lambert would load the boat with eight to 10 bass on a red lipless crankbait.
“I think those fish were pulling up at night and feeding in that ditch,” Craig said. “I found that spot two weeks ago and caught 12 or 13 fish and decided to leave it alone because it would probably be good this week.”
Thursday was the first day of the cold front and it paid big dividends for the duo, as they landed an 8-pounder and a 6-pounder to anchor their 24-8 limit.
“I don’t know what would’ve happened if it stayed warm during the tournament,” Lambert said. “But I think the really cold evenings stopped the bigger females from pulling up from deeper water into the area.”
The giant size may not have cooperated for them Friday and Saturday, but there were plenty of solid bass to sift through as they built a consistent mid- to upper teens weight.
Tyler Rivet and Cameron Naquin of Nicholls State University took third place, Colt Benedict and Reed Foster of Dallas Baptist University placed fourth and Lawrence Kuznik and Dakota Moore of Louisiana-Lafayette placed fifth.
The Top 18 teams, excluding Murray State’s Hunter Mills and Jordan Hartman, will advance to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops later this summer. Murray State isn’t in the Central Regional, but decided to fish Sam Rayburn for School of the Year points. Their regional is in May on Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake.
For their Day 2 lead, Texas Tech was also awarded the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 in merchandise.
2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Triton Boats, Huk, Humminbird, Skeeter Boats
2017 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Costa, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Shimano, ABU Garcia, St. Croix Rods, Livingston Lures
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Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops
1/26/2017 – 1/28/2017
Sam Rayburn Reservoir – Cassells-Boykin – Lufkin, TX
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 3
Name # Fish, # Live, Lbs – Oz, Accumulative # Fish, # Live, Lbs – Oz
1 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum Texas Tech University 5 5 28- 0 15 15 69- 8
2 Tyler Craig – Spencer Lambert University of Louisiana at Monroe 5 5 17- 2 15 15 57- 7
3 Tyler Rivet – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State University 5 5 18- 9 15 15 53- 9
4 Colt Benedict – Reed Foster Dallas Baptist University 5 5 16-13 15 15 51-13
5 Lawrence Kuznik – Dakota Moore University of Louisiana at LaFayette 5 5 10- 8 14 14 51- 2
6 TJ Tucker – Bennett Pierce Arkansas Tech University 5 5 13- 5 15 15 51- 2
7 Corbin Davis – Michael Rollert Texas A&M University 5 5 15-15 15 15 50-14
8 Matthew Bowden – Barton Courtney Texas Tech University 5 5 15-12 15 15 49-10
9 Hunter Mills – Jordan Hartman Murray State University 5 5 9- 0 15 15 48-14
10 Justin Seeton – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 5 5 17- 4 15 15 48-10
11 Hunter Freeman – Thomas Soileau University of Louisiana at Monroe 5 5 14- 6 15 15 47-11
12 Dawson Cranford – Charles Norris University of Louisiana at LaFayette 5 5 12- 8 15 15 47- 0
13 Dillon Harrell – Dustin Moreno Sam Houston State University 5 5 10- 3 15 15 46- 5
14 Trent Newman – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 5 5 14- 4 15 15 45-13
15 Stetson Overton – Cason Kelley Tarleton State University 5 5 14- 4 15 15 44-10
16 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 5 8- 8 14 14 44- 3
17 John Moore – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 10- 1 15 15 43-10
18 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 4 4 9- 3 14 14 42- 1
19 Philip Gottsponer – Ethan Stokes Arkansas Tech University 5 5 9-14 15 15 40- 9
20 Turner Mason – Kaito Ajiro Colorado State University 2 2 2-12 11 11 33- 2
21 John Jay – Grant Pietsch Texas A&M University 9 9 30- 3
22 Tyler Woods – Robert Tweed Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 30- 1
23 Stephen Thomas – Luke Potter Lamar University 10 10 30- 0
24 Colby Simmons – Brandon Barber East Texas Baptist University 9 9 29-14
25 Caleb Young – Marshall White University of Texas at Tyler 10 10 29-12
26 Chris Zins – Zach Holliday University of Central Oklahoma 10 10 29- 5
27 Cody Barchenger – Garrett Bradford Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 29- 4
28 Taylor Tindall – Elijah Cain LA Tech 10 10 29- 0
29 Alex Murray – Trent Manuel McNeese State University 10 10 28-12
30 Tucker Sargent – Wyatt Young Tarleton State University 10 10 28- 9
31 Josh Bensema – Bradley Fleming Texas A&M University 10 10 28- 9
32 Bo McGraw – Nathan White Texas A&M University 10 10 28- 8
33 Garret Whitley – Clayton Godfrey Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 27-15
34 Brennan Soileau – Garrett McDonald LA Tech 10 10 27-14
35 Phillip Borel – Dustin Nash Northwestern State University 10 10 27-13
36 Josh Dugger – Jake Dugger Arkansas Tech University 10 10 27-10
37 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner University of Louisiana at Monroe 10 10 27- 2
38 Eric Hanna – Jack Minnix Oklahoma State University 10 10 27- 1
39 Jay Lawson – Wyatt Frankens Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 26-14
40 Chad Poulsen – Jared Penton East Texas Baptist University 10 10 26- 6
41 Cameron Simmons – Dexter Flick Oklahoma State University 9 9 25-15
42 Dalton Warrington – Kooper Marsh Southwestern Oklahoma State University 10 10 25-14
43 Bates Enmeier – Brady Lobue Oklahoma State University 10 10 25-10
44 Justin Cooper – Johnny Ledet Northwestern State University 10 10 25-10
45 Will Hughes – Chandler Hayes Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 25-10
46 Hunter Fluitt – Maverick Jaggers UAM-CTC 10 10 25- 8
47 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 10 10 25- 2
48 Alex Torkleson – Dillon Roberts Rogers State University 10 10 24-14
49 John-Michael Brattlof – Dakota Cline Stephen F Austin State University 10 10 23-10
50 Jacob Keith – Brett Clark East Texas Baptist University 10 10 23-10
51 Logan Wilson – Chance Cobb Tarleton State University 10 10 23- 6
52 Ryan Wood – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 8 8 22-13
53 Dakota Sparks – Levi Sharp LSU 10 10 22-12
54 Gregory Green – Trevor Fox Northwestern State University 8 8 22- 6
55 Douglas Bell – Levi Harger Southern Arkansas University 8 8 20-12
56 Nicholas Cantarella – Evan Cook Texas A&M University 8 8 20-10
57 Hutton Leppert – Tanner Mizell Northwestern State University 8 8 20- 8
58 Kyle Pasket – Jackson Carrell Sam Houston State University 9 9 20- 8
59 Adam Deakin – Levi Kirk Colorado State University 8 8 20- 7
60 Collin Bode – Colby Bryant Sam Houston State University 9 9 20- 5
61 Chris Bradley – Andy Thurston Southwestern Oklahoma State University 10 10 20-0
62 Hunter Wellan – Jacob Curtis LA Tech 10 10 19-14
63 Jose Palma – Andrew Madison University of Central Oklahoma 10 10 19- 5
64 Jake Biram – Rhett Meyer Oklahoma State University 7 7 18-13
65 Zachariah Edwards – Zach Cantwell University of Central Oklahoma 9 9 18-13
66 Scott McClellan – Adam Forester LA Tech 7 7 18-11
67 Ryan Antee – Harrison Hopkins LSU Shreveport 8 8 18-11
68 Jed Hebert – Grant Curran University of Louisiana at LaFayette 8 8 18-10
69 Warren Basinger – Dalton Baker Southern Arkansas University 10 10 18- 4
70 Jordan Ogle – Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 6 6 18- 1
71 Devin Nichols – Luke O’Neal University of Louisiana at Monroe 7 7 17- 5
72 Alex Edgeman – Drew Fazzino University of Oklahoma 9 9 17- 1
73 Blaine Timonera – Nate Sleight University of Oklahoma 6 6 16-13
74 Nate Holman – Jay Powers Northeastern State University 9 9 16-12
75 Wayne Figg – Brady McFarland Texas A&M University 7 7 16- 6
76 Austin Miles – Tyler Hassler Colorado State University-Pueblo 7 7 15-14
77 Connor Whisenant – Carter Henderson Texas A&M University 8 8 15- 9
78 Blake Crabb – Eagan Carnes Texas A&M Corpus Christi 6 6 15- 0
79 Chandler Burgay – James Marshall Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 14-11
80 Mason Beatty – Noah Batts East Texas Baptist University 6 6 14- 5
81 Tanner Best – John Lange Texas Tech University 5 5 14- 3
82 Drew Fleming – Joe Rainwater UAM-CTC 6 6 13-15
83 Lane McCartney – Tyler Hastings Rogers State University 6 6 13- 8
84 Joseph Cheek – Gavin Watts UAM-CTC 8 8 13- 7
85 Nick Gill – Cole Daniel University of Central Oklahoma 5 5 12- 6
86 Austin Anderson – Heidi Langschied Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 11-12
87 Joey Tuminello – Sebastian Smith University of Louisiana at LaFayette 5 5 11-11
88 Corbin Bogart – James Proctor Tarleton State University 5 5 11-10
88 Seth Hausman – Ryan Frier Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 11-10
90 Cole Perilloux – Hunter Adams LA Tech 5 5 11-10
91 Ryan Gunter – Samuel Meaders University of Arkansas 5 5 10-14
92 Hogan Beckley – Koby Dortch University of Louisiana at Monroe 4 4 10- 8
93 James Hovey – David Bercier McNeese State University 5 5 10- 3
94 Alec Castonguay – Kyle Dragulski Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 10- 1
95 Austin Cleveland – Kyle Everett LA Tech 5 5 9-13
96 Blaise Weimer – Josh Shapland Oklahoma State University 5 5 9- 8
97 Jeff Ramsey – LSU Shreveport 4 4 8-15
98 Jordan Wood – Blake Smith Lamar University 5 5 8- 9
99 Daniel Sparlin – Kyle Jessie University of Arkansas 3 3 8- 6
100 Cody Finkbeiner – Jon Lucas Stephen F Austin State University 3 3 6-13
101 Drake Dunlap – Will Hewat University of Arkansas 4 4 6-11
102 Justin Diehl – Hunter Jolly Sam Houston State University 3 3 6-11
103 Robert Ramsey – Tarleton State University 3 3 6- 3
104 Justin Tatum – Blake Bauer Tarleton State University 3 3 6- 2
105 Lewis Laurent – Bryce Coleman Southeastern Louisiana University 3 3 5-15
106 Matt Glad – Brent Rome Jr LSU 3 3 5- 6
107 Matthew Anthony – Taylor Barton Stephen F Austin State University 2 2 4- 9
108 Tanner Smith – Matthew Lestage McNeese State University 2 2 4- 2
109 Brandon Consalus – Wayne Carillo Tarleton State University 2 2 3-14
110 Owen Richard – Mitchell Mayard LSU 1 1 2- 6
111 Dylan Matherne – Brandon Daigle Southeastern Louisiana University 1 1 1-11
112 Cody Hahn – Case Thompson Tarleton State University 1 1 1- 9
113 Landon Darden – Steven Smith Southern Arkansas University 0 0 0- 0
113 Jonathan Ham – Gannon Graves Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0
113 Hunter Kaemmerling – John Forst Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS
Day Name – City, State Lbs-Oz
1 Colt Benedict – Reed Foster Dallas, TX 8-14
2 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum, Lubbock, TX 10-2
3 Travis McGuire – Layne Bynum, Lubbock, TX 8-9
TOTALS
Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 475 475 1313-1 79
2 387 387 1046-2 63
3 96 96 268-3 18