Photo by Chris Brown/B.A.S.S.
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. April 17 2019— Oklahoma won the team title of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional on Lake Guntersville today after posting a combined, two-day score of 365 pounds, 4 ounces and amassing a 30-pound lead over runner-up and host state team Alabama, which weighed in 335 pounds.
The weights include the combined catches of up to 10 boaters and 10 non-boaters from each state. A total of 19 states sent teams to the Central Regional at Guntersville.
Louisiana finished third with 325-5, Ohio was fourth with 318-4 and Wisconsin claimed fifth with 300-9.
Oklahoma was helped mightily by the lone Texas resident on the team, James Biggs of Euless. Biggs caught nearly identical five-bass limits — the two heaviest individual catches of the tournament — on Wednesday and today, and he leads the individual competition with 50-9.
Biggs’ game plan was based as much on weather preparation as it was on fishing strategies, and he worked both to perfection today. He caught a five-bass limit that weighed 25-5 today, giving him a huge 16-7 lead over his nearest competitor.
Biggs said he worked his spots for all they were worth in anticipation of a fierce weather system headed for Guntersville, he wasn’t taking any chances.
“With the weather getting bad — we’re supposed to have torrential rains tonight and thunderstorms — I wanted to catch as much as I could today, so I don’t have to catch as much tomorrow,” Biggs said. “If it muddies up, it can change things enough to where they don’t bite tomorrow. That’s why I wanted to get what I could today, so maybe I only have to catch 15 pounds tomorrow.
“I wanted to have more weight in my bag than the second-place angler had yesterday. I said ‘I’m going to fish until I get at least 23 pounds (Jeremy Montgomery placed second on Wednesday with 22-8) and try to make it hard on them. With this stormy weather, sometimes those big (female bass) will bite, but you just have to play the odds, and that’s what I tried to do today.”
Biggs returned to the same tactics he used Wednesday. He fished a mix of bridge habitat and some offshore structure.
“It was more offshore today, but I checked both of them every day and whatever the fish were responding to, that’s what I rolled with,” Biggs said. “It was the same mix of baits as yesterday — a little bit of dragging (plastics), some swimbaiting and a little bit of cranking.
“It was a blessed day. They kept biting and I kept catching them.”
Howard Hartley of Patterson, La. is in second place with 34-2. Adding 15-9 to the 18-9 he caught the first day, Hartley said he was pleased to find the bass doing what he wanted them to do — advancing to the shallow bedding areas.
“Being from south Louisiana, I like to power fish and bed fish,” Hartley said. “I was able to pick up one of my better bass on a bed today, but I also think I have the staging area locked down for prespawners.
“Where I was fishing yesterday and today, they were coming up and heading to the bank; but with that stormy weather tomorrow, if they pull out, I have an idea what I need to do.”
Today, Hartley caught spawning bass on a Texas-rigged Senko, Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver and a Zoom Speed Craw. He caught the prespawn fish on a lipless crankbait and a bladed jig.
Larry Franks Jr. of Wilsonville, Ala., is in third place with 33-3. Gaining one spot from his fourth-place position on Day 1, Franks added 14-6 to his initial limit of 18-13.
“Today was a lot tougher with the boat pressure; there were a lot of people fishing the same area I was in,” Franks said.
Targeting postspawn fish in grass of varying depths, Franks used a mix of reaction baits and plastics. He stuck with two main areas and caught 25 to 30 fish.
Josh Hilton of Clarksville, Ark., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 8-12 largemouth.
Justin Hymel of Norco, La., leads the co-angler division with 21-1. Alternating between pitching a Missile Baits Baby D-Stroyer and a wacky-rigged stick bait, he reported struggling most of the day. The grind was highlighted by a late-day surprise.
“I caught my last keeper with like 10 minutes left in the day,” he said. “I got the D-Stroyer hung in a laydown on a bluff. I broke that off and threw a wacky worm in there and caught my last limit fish.”
Lacson Reid of Eclectic, Ala., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with an 8-pounder.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at Guntersville State Park State park ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Guntersville State Park State at 2:15 p.m.
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: TNT Fireworks
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Talon, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Lowrance, Nationwide, T-H Marine
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional Local Host: Marshall County CVB
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(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Guntersville Lake, Guntersville AL.
2019 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional 4/17-4/19
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Biggs Euless, TX (OK) 10 50-09 0
2. Howard Hartley Patterson, LA (LA) 10 34-02 0
3. Larry Franks Jr. Wilsonville, AL (AL) 10 33-03 0
4. Jeremy Montgomery Overland Park, KS (KS) 9 32-15 0
5. Don Douglas IV Hensley, AR (AR) 10 32-09 0
6. Joshua Barr Louisville, OH (OH) 8 31-08 0
7. Jason Baird Gypsum, KS (KS) 10 31-03 0
8. Brock Belik Orchard, NE (SD) 10 30-15 0
9. Kent Mittelstaedt New Hope, MN (MN) 10 30-10 0
10. Jason Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 10 30-08 0
11. Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI (MI 10 30-06 0
12. Justin Barnes Monroeville, AL (AL) 10 30-05 0
13. Allan Reaves Pottsville, AR (AR) 10 30-04 0
14. Nick Prvonozac Warren, OH (OH) 10 30-01 0
15. Gary Schild Mundelein, IL (WI) 10 29-12 0
16. Cole Burdeshaw NEWVILLE, AL (AL) 10 29-10 0
17. Michael Lebsack Duluth, MN (MN) 10 29-01 0
18. Kyle Kiister Arma, KS (KS) 9 28-07 0
19. Josh Hilton Clarksville, AR (AR) 9 28-07 0
20. Marc Snyder St. Johns, MI (MI) 10 28-05 0
21. Jeremy Tenwalde Fort Jennings, OH (OH) 9 28-03 0
22. Keith Glasgow Guin, AL (AL) 9 28-03 0
23. Mike Perry Brownsville, TN (TN) 10 28-01 0
24. Gregory Glasser Saline, MI (MI) 10 27-13 0
25. Mike Wallis Hallsville, MO (MO) 9 27-11 0
26. Tom Kiefer Oak Grove, MN (MN) 10 27-10 0
27. Mark Borchers Akron, IA (NE) 10 27-08 0
28. Bryan Trahan Orange, TX (TX) 10 27-07 0
29. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI (WI) 10 27-00 0
30. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK (OK) 10 27-00 0
31. Jim Clay Eagle Rock, MO (KS) 10 26-12 0
32. Wells Kaiser Bernard, IA (IA) 10 26-06 0
33. Sawyer Mcmurphy Long Beach, MS (MS) 8 26-05 0
34. Daniel Bowling Morgantown, IN (IN) 10 26-02 0
35. Jared Miller Norman, OK (OK) 9 25-12 0
36. Coby Carden Shelby, AL (AL) 10 25-12 0
37. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX (TX) 10 25-08 0
38. Cody Graff Glenvil, NE (NE) 10 25-08 0
39. Brock Enmeier Broken Arrow, OK (OK) 10 25-03 0
40. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK (OK) 9 24-14 0
41. Corey Smith Perry, OK (OK) 8 24-10 0
42. Kenneth Reed Bloomington, IN (IN) 8 24-04 0
43. Dustin Drath Coon Valley, WI (WI) 9 24-04 0
44. Blake Albertson BLOOMINGTON, IN (IN) 10 24-03 0
45. John Roth Lawrenceburg, IN (KY) 10 24-00 0
46. Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA (IA) 10 23-15 0
47. Blake Betz Baton Rouge, LA (LA) 9 23-14 0
48. Jeff Bostic Cassopolis, MI (MI) 10 23-14 0
49. Robert Paxton Jr Flower Mound, TX (TX) 10 23-13 0
50. Josh Miller Roberts, WI (WI) 10 23-13 0
51. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY (KY) 8 23-10 0
52. Paul Amstutz Gambler, OH (OH) 7 23-09 0
53. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA (IA) 10 23-09 0
54. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX (TX) 9 23-09 0
55. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN (TN) 9 23-08 0
56. Chris Brokman Council Bluffs, IA (NE) 10 23-08 0
57. Michael Bueche Pierre Part, LA (LA) 7 23-06 0
58. Trenton Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 8 23-06 0
59. Brett Foret Houma, LA (LA) 8 23-06 0
60. Monty Fralick Martin, SD (SD) 8 23-02 0
61. Robbie Ocmond Gonzales, LA (LA) 10 22-14 0
62. Eric Snow Clarksville, IN (KY) 9 22-13 0
63. Matthew Mcclanahan Bloomington, IN (IN) 7 22-09 0
64. Donald Roberts Bellville, OH (OH) 10 22-08 0
65. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI (WI) 10 22-04 0
66. Jeremy Tibben Stanton, IA (NE) 9 22-03 0
67. Spenser Embry Lebanon, TN (TN) 7 22-03 0
68. David Schultz Wilmington, IL (IL) 6 21-15 0
69. Jim Barczak Osceola, WI (WI) 10 21-14 0
70. Chad Petrie McKinney, TX (TX) 10 21-11 0
71. Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK (OK) 10 21-09 0
72. Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD (SD) 10 21-07 0
73. Scott Brison Clarksville, TN (TN) 10 21-07 0
74. Ed Bauer Mooresville, IN (IN) 8 21-03 0
75. Jim Barnette Decatur, AL (AL) 8 21-03 0
76. Cliff Van Beek Canistota, SD (SD) 9 21-00 0
77. Shane Stiehl Pierre, SD (SD) 9 20-12 0
78. Douglas Hatcher Clarksville, AR (AR) 6 20-11 0
79. Robert Degraffenreid Oklahoma Cty, OK (OK) 9 20-10 0
80. Chong Vang Rosevile, MN (MN) 9 20-09 0
81. Rich Lindgren Lakeville, MN (MN) 6 20-08 0
82. Aaron Ivy Washington, IN (IN) 7 20-08 0
83. Garrett Cates Overland Park, KS (KS) 7 20-02 0
84. Stephen Noble Newport, KY (KY) 5 20-01 0
85. David Cook Whitehouse, TN (TN) 7 19-15 0
86. Johnston Westmoreland Mooselake, MN (MN) 7 19-15 0
87. Eduardo Trevino South Elgin, IL (IL) 8 19-14 0
88. Edward Schiller Wixom, MI (MI) 7 19-08 0
89. Tony Devolder Moline, IL (IA) 8 19-07 0
90. Tucker Pierce Hollister, MO (MO) 9 19-06 0
91. Jason Benjamin Lawrence, KS (KS) 6 19-04 0
92. Kyle Christopher Danville, KY (KY) 9 19-04 0
93. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL (WI) 7 19-03 0
94. Richard Young Jr Melbourne, KY (KY) 7 19-02 0
95. Duane Hanzlik Basehor, KS (NE) 8 18-12 0
96. Mark Floyd Blue Mountain, MS (MS) 7 18-11 0
97. Troy Kilgas Combined Locks, WI (WI) 7 18-09 0
98. Nick Leonard Cincinnati, OH (OH) 8 18-04 0
99. Ted Daniels St. Louis, MO (MO) 9 18-04 0
100. Michael McAdams Cincinnati, OH (OH) 6 18-02 0
101. Robert Huff Lancaster, KY (KY) 10 18-01 0
102. Duane Pittman Prairieville, LA (LA) 7 17-12 0
103. Jay Ladner Perkinston, MS (MS) 7 17-12 0
104. Michael Kazmierczak Lemont, IL (IL) 8 17-11 0
105. David Helming Celestine, IN (IN) 6 17-07 0
106. Bret Fite Salina, OK (OK) 6 17-07 0
107. Yancey Hartzer Culbertson, NE (NE) 6 17-01 0
108. Darrell Campbell Alba, TX (TX) 8 17-01 0
109. Josh Cruse Pocahontas, AR (AR) 6 16-14 0
110. Richard Hladky Yankton, SD (SD) 7 16-12 0
111. Paul Willett Blue Eye, MO (MO) 6 16-11 0
112. Brian Martin La Vista, NE (NE) 7 16-09 0
113. Bill Mcquarrie Newaygo, MI (MI) 7 16-05 0
114. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA (LA) 6 16-05 0
115. Tom Enloe Tuscola, TX (TX) 8 16-05 0
116. Justin Marbut Jacksonville, AL (AL) 6 16-04 0
117. Tony Ardizzone Indianapolis, IN (IN) 6 16-02 0
118. Rod Bunge Mechanicsville, IA (IA) 7 15-15 0
119. Chad Housh Auburn, NE (NE) 8 15-15 0
120. Brooks Forsyth Hester, LA (LA) 7 15-14 0
121. Matt Pangrac Broken Arrow, OK (OK) 7 15-12 0
122. Jerry Avis Council Bluffs, IA (NE) 8 15-12 0
123. Gary Coffman Earlham, IA (IA) 6 15-12 0
124. David Streich Mansfield, OH (OH) 7 15-11 0
125. Raymond Bartkowiak Villa Park, IL (IL) 7 15-10 0
126. Mark Klemp Villa Park, IL (IL) 6 15-07 0
127. Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 7 14-15 0
128. Joe Discerni Warren, OH (OH) 7 14-15 0
129. Bob Garman Center Point, IA (IA) 5 14-12 0
130. Sam Schlosser Gaylord, MI (MI) 6 14-11 0
131. Will Presley Jr Grove City, OH (OH) 5 14-08 0
132. Daniel Fabiano Maple Grove, MN (MN) 6 14-08 0
133. David Buchanan Abbeville, AL (AL) 5 14-07 0
134. Tyler Shanle Green Bay, WI (WI) 7 14-06 0
135. Randy Miller Coal City, IL (IL) 6 13-15 0
136. Ken Reagan Jenison, MI (MI) 6 13-14 0
137. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY (KY) 5 13-14 0
138. Steven Hatch Long Beach, MS (MS) 5 13-07 0
139. Jimmy Pierce Medon, TN (TN) 6 13-06 0
140. Destre Dedeaux Meadville, MS (MS) 6 13-05 0
141. Robert Thierry III Sugarland, TX (TX) 5 13-02 0
142. Dean Harlan Ava, MO (MO) 5 13-00 0
143. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (LA) 6 12-15 0
144. Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN (TN) 5 12-12 0
145. Mickey Lewis Huntingdon, TN (TN) 5 12-07 0
146. Danny Carter Hernando, MS (MS) 6 12-06 0
147. Heston Fish Squires, MO (MO) 7 12-04 0
148. Justin Rowse O’Neill, NE (SD) 5 12-04 0
149. Jon Harshbarger Kaufman, TX (TX) 6 12-04 0
150. Kenneth Schofield Canyon, MN (MN) 6 12-04 0
151. Scott Tassi Arma, KS (KS) 6 11-14 0
152. Lee Byrd Jr. Pell City, AL (AL) 6 11-13 0
153. Taylor Phillips East Tawas, MI (MI) 5 11-13 0
154. Hoyt Akins Scott, AR (AR) 5 11-11 0
155. Allen Holt New Tazewell, TN (TN) 5 11-09 0
156. Johnnie Neil Jr Warrensburg, MO (MO) 6 11-06 0
157. Nicholas King Tinley Park, IL (IL) 5 10-15 0
158. Henry Montney Clarkston, MI (MI) 4 10-14 0
159. Paul Kremers Clarksville, AR (AR) 4 10-12 0
160. Caleb Prestenbach Thibodaux, LA (LA) 5 10-12 0
161. Frank Wickham Jr New Hampton, IA (IA) 4 09-15 0
162. Allen Williford West Frankfort, IL (IL) 4 09-14 0
163. Michael Moore Dover, TN (TN) 4 09-13 0
164. Jin Nguyen Kansas City, MO (MO) 5 09-12 0
165. David James Russellville, AR (AR) 5 09-11 0
166. Donald Pflumm Stilwell, KS (KS) 4 09-03 0
167. Steve Strope Orchard, NE (SD) 4 09-03 0
168. Rodney Keel Bedford, IN (IN) 5 09-03 0
169. Aaron Lehnen Middletown, MO (MO) 3 09-01 0
170. Cody Slygh Duluth, MN (MN) 3 08-08 0
171. Luke Jasper Lemont, IL (IL) 2 08-02 0
172. James Parsons Topeka, KS (KS) 3 08-02 0
173. Harry Heins Monona, IA (IA) 4 08-01 0
174. Rick Shock Victoria, TX (TX) 2 07-14 0
175. Chase Peek Belleville, AR (AR) 4 07-13 0
176. Calvin Davidson Plainfield, IN (IN) 4 07-10 0
177. Chuck Steinbauer Baxter, MN (MN) 3 07-09 0
178. Mark Brown Little Rock, AR (AR) 3 06-11 0
179. Daniel Hamdorf Lowden, IA (IA) 3 06-04 0
180. Bryce White McCall Creek, MS (MS) 3 05-15 0
181. Aaron Carroll Rolla, MO (MO) 3 05-08 0
182. Ralph Myhlhousen Grove, OK (NE) 3 05-01 0
183. Larry Carter Lucedale, MS (MS) 2 04-07 0
184. Fred Goy Williams Bay, WI (WI) 3 04-04 0
185. Corey Peterson Yankton, SD (SD) 2 04-00 0
186. John Czajkoski Wilmington, IL (IL) 2 03-15 0
187. Brandon Garrison Gladstone, MO (KS) 2 03-13 0
188. Roger Peebles Atmore, AL (AL) 1 02-03 0
189. Gary Bonnet Borden, IN (KY) 1 02-02 0
190. Justin Heidinger Sioux Falls, SD (SD) 1 02-01 0
191. Brian Kregel Garnavillo, IA (IA) 0 00-00 0
———————————————————————–
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 74 660 1765-04
2 87 688 1771-02
———————————-
161 1348 3536-06
TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
———————————-
State Lbs-Oz
1 OKLAHOMA 365-04
2 ALABAMA 335-00
3 LOUISIANA 325-05
4 OHIO 318-04
5 WISCONSIN 300-09
6 NEBRASKA 299-02
7 KENTUCKY 298-07
8 INDIANA 298-04
9 MINNESOTA 297-07
10 MICHIGAN 292-01
11 TEXAS 288-00
12 ARKANSAS 286-08
13 KANSAS 280-12
14 TENNESSEE 276-03
15 IOWA 270-13
16 SOUTH DAKOTA 259-11
17 MISSISSIPPI 257-07
18 MISSOURI 239-13
19 ILLINOIS 227-03