Chris Risner and Timothy Eaton won the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Lake Guntersville.
The Michigan anglers, who qualified for the event through their home state’s D&R Sports Center Tournament Trail, caught five bass that weighed 24 pounds, 13 ounces and claimed the national team championship with a two-day weight of 48-7. Two of their best fish came around mid-morning on one magical cast.
“Chris had just finished telling me that he needed me to catch an 8-pounder,” Eaton said. “Then on the very next cast, I got a bite and set the hook. I couldn’t believe it. It was 8 pounds of fish, but it was two of them on the same bait — a 5-pounder and a 3-pounder.
“That’s when we started to feel like maybe it was just meant to be. This is our biggest dream come true.”
Risner and Eaton finished just ahead of the Texas team of Dean Alexander and Thomas Martens (46-10) and the Louisiana pairing of Nickolas LeBrun and Randy Deaver (45-4).
Now the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will compete individually against one another on Saturday in a fish-off. The winner will earn a bid to the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, March 4-6.
Risner and Eaton said they might have been aided by the heavy fog that forced the postponement of the second round Thursday. During the fog delay, they sat at the dock worrying they might not be able to put together a good limit if the anglers were sent out to fish a shortened day.
“I truly think that it helped us, because I don’t think the conditions were right for how we wanted to fish,” Risner said. “We sat there and talked about it, and we felt like if we only had four hours to fish, we didn’t know if we could get it done.
“It was taking us the full day to get a big bag. That’s what it took us today, and we were fortunate to have it.”
Excitement and nervousness was obvious for both anglers during Friday’s award ceremony. Risner even complained of his hands cramping because he had gripped his winner’s trophy so tight.
During Saturday’s Classic fish-off, they said they’ll share the spots they’ve fished as a team all week and fish without pressure.
“This is what we came here for,” said Eaton, gesturing to the trophy he was awarded for the team title. “Anything else that happens from this point on is just extra. If one of us is going to win, I’d honestly rather it be Chris.”
The format will change radically now as the tournament shifts to an individual competition. Three anglers will fish in their own boats, while their team members move to Nitro Boats provided by B.A.S.S.
The Classic fish-off was originally slated for Friday and Saturday. But since Thursday’s round of team competition was wiped out by fog, the fish-off has been shortened to one day with two separate sessions.
The six anglers will leave Lake Guntersville State Park at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and return to the park for the day’s first weigh-in at 10:30 a.m. Then as soon as the morning weigh-in is completed, they will go back onto the lake for a second four-hour session.
They’ll be allowed five fish for each session, and the angler with the highest total weight at the end of the day will earn a Classic berth.
“Several things played into the decision to do it this way, including the threat of severe weather Sunday,” said Jon Stewart, tournament director of the Team Championship. “Instead of stretching it to Sunday and fishing two more days, we’re basically going to have two tournaments on one day.”
Unlike the Team Championship where landing nets were allowed, anglers will be forced to hand-land their bass in the fish-off — just as anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series do all season.
Team members will be forced to decide among themselves Friday night who will start where and how all of their best spots from the week will be divided.
“We’ll discuss it tonight, and however it works out is however it works out,” said LeBrun on the subject of fishing against Deaver, his Louisiana teammate and friend. “At the end of the day, we’re still going to be best friends — and that’s all that matters.”
Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship
12/9/2015 – 12/10/2015
Lake Guntersville – Lake Guntersville State Park – Guntersville, AL
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 2
Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Christopher Risner – Timothy Eaton D&R Sports Center Tournament Trail 10 10 48- 7
2 Dean Alexander – Thomas Martens Texas Bass Nation 10 9 46-10
3 Nickolas LeBrun – Randy Deaver H&W Marine TNT 10 10 45- 4
4 Kent Ware – Shannon Ware Fishers of Men Team Trail 10 10 45- 3
5 Jay Hulsey – Kyle Hulsey Ozark Mountain Team Trail 8 7 43-11
6 Josh Busby – Timothy Taylor Joe Bass Team Trail 10 10 43- 3
7 Billy Sharp – Kevin Stubblefield Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 42- 6
8 Blake Hall – Dustin Connell Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 41-15
9 Brent Algeo – Jim Copeland Ozark Mtn Team Trail 10 10 40- 3
10 Chris Rutland – Coby Carden Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 39- 4
11 Keith Baird – Michael Thompson IN BN Team Trail 8 8 39- 2
12 Jon Canada – Bo Hunter Airport Marine Team Trail 10 10 38-15
13 Rickey Knight – Randall Carter Airport Marine Team Trail 10 10 38- 5
14 Dan Mohn – Josh Mohn IA BN Team Trail 10 10 38- 5
15 Randy Despino – Kevin Lasyone H&W Marine Team Trail 10 10 38- 3
16 Joshua Price – Eric Silverstrim TN BN Team Trail 10 9 38- 1
17 Andrew Lambert – Lacey Lambert Fishers of Men Team Trail 10 10 38- 0
18 Don Warren Jr – Jeff Salmon AC Tournament 10 10 37-13
19 Jason Wilson – Kelly Logan Carolina Bass Challenge 10 10 37- 6
20 Ben Reynolds – Brandon Reynolds Anglers Choice 10 10 37- 2
21 Justin McClelland – Michael Hubbard Anglers in Action 10 10 37- 0
22 Donald Amsden – Edwin Oilar AC Tournament Trail 10 10 36- 9
23 Nicholas Turner – Joe Lay Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 35-13
24 Jonathan Pelfrey – Jonathan Bowling TN Valley Team Trail 10 10 35-12
25 Brent Crow – James Morgan Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 35- 6
26 Tim Hurst – Mark McCaig Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 35- 5
27 Todd Dixon – Larry Sisk NTBA 10 10 35- 4
28 Brandon Gray – Robert Perkins Anglers Choice 10 10 35- 0
29 Jody Hughes – Jim Smith PBC Tournament Trail 10 10 34- 8
30 Hunter Grounds – Tyson Shoot AC Tournament Trail 10 10 34- 8
31 Joseph Lamar – Mac Lamar Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 34- 5
32 James Wall III – Jimmy Wall Jr Carolina Bass Challenge 10 10 34- 2
33 Rob Messenger Jr – John Levesque New Hampshire BN Team Trail 10 10 33-15
34 Justin Spraske – Joseph Parrott NH Team Trail 10 10 33-13
35 Gregory Weber – Stewart Weber NTBA 10 10 33- 9
36 Jimmy Mason – Lance Walker Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 33- 7
37 Wayne Vaughan Jr – Mitch Blankenship James River Priority 10 10 33- 0
38 Shawn Skobel – Logan Crayton Fishers of Men 10 10 32-14
39 John Hodges – Chris Colley Big Bucks Team Trail 8 8 32-11
40 Kurt Mitchell – Alan Draper DE BN Team Trail 10 10 32- 8
41 Keith Dees – Tommy Walley Jr Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 32- 8
42 Rick Imler – Scott Newlon Great Lakes Largemouth Series 10 10 32- 2
43 Robert Lutes – Daylon Smith Top Stick Tour 10 10 32- 1
44 Carter Day – Scotty Gilley Chattanooga Bass Association 10 10 31-15
45 Damien Willis – Mark Steward Alabama Bass Trail 10 10 31-15
46 Flannagan Fife – Royce Davis 2014 Champs – Fishers of Men 10 10 31- 7
47 Kevin Williams – Cliff Williams McNider Marine 9 9 30-15
48 Stephen Humphrey – Tony Campanell NTBA 10 10 30-15
49 Kelly Power – Mark Wiese Jr Ozark Mountain Team Trail 10 10 30-10
50 Robert Crask – Richard Dossey Ultimate Bass Team Tour 8 8 30- 9
51 Galen James – Anthony Townsend Chattanooga Bass Association 10 10 30- 8
52 Kevin Miller – Timothy Dube NH BN Team Trail 10 10 30- 5
53 Justen Fain – James Brown Fishers of Men 10 10 29-13
54 Johney Weaver Jr – Adam Ross Media Bass Team Trail 10 10 29-10
55 Doug Brownridge – David Chong Renegade Bass Team Trail 8 8 29- 4
56 Brian McCarter – Jason Fowler NTBA 9 9 29- 4
57 Tom Goins Sr – TJ Goins Jr Fishers of Men 10 10 29- 2
58 Marc Deschenes – Ray Walsh Carolina Anglers Team Trail 9 9 29- 1
59 Mike Sisco – Josh Kritch Joe Bass Team Trail 10 10 28- 8
60 Tracy Phillips – Mark Vest NTBA 9 9 28- 6
61 Allen Williford – Austin Moore IL BN Team Trail 8 8 28- 4
62 Chuck James – Brad James Chattanooga Bass Association 10 10 28- 1
63 Ashley Medley – Scott Clift Ozark Mountain Team Trail 10 10 28- 0
64 Jacob Roundtree – Robert Yniguez Ultimate Bass Team Tour 10 10 28- 0
65 Michael Sentore – Henry Mckee IV NJ BN Team Trail 10 10 27-12
66 Al Gagliarducci – Sean Lloyd MA BN – Classic Rumble 8 8 27-11
67 Rob Genter – Darren Potts Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 9 9 27-11
68 Tom Rufenacht – Jimmy Rufenacht Fishers Of Men 10 10 27- 8
69 Jay Kendrick – Danny Bishop Fishers of Men 7 7 27- 6
70 Shawn Grover – Mark Lodge Maine BN – Man vs Bass 8 8 26-13
71 Ronald Cancilla – Leo Cancilla Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 10 10 26-10
72 Chris Johnston – Lynn Johnston Renegade Bass Team Trail 10 10 26- 9
73 Tom Campagna – Chris Lucas Anglers Choice 10 10 26- 3
74 Eddie Levin – Cory Hartfield Ohio BASS Nation Team Trail 10 10 26- 2
75 David Barnes – William Centra Maine BN – Man vs Bass 9 9 26- 0
76 Daniel Gray – Scott Sirakos Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 10 10 25-10
77 Raymond Trudeau – Frederick George FL BN Team Trail 10 10 25-10
78 Curtis Lewis – Steve Fairtrace FL BN Team Trail 6 6 25- 7
79 Shaun Ford – Jeff Elliott D&R Sports Center Team Trail 10 10 25- 7
80 Ray Hogge – Kevin Whitehurst James River Priority Team Trail 9 9 25- 4
81 Mark Warner – Jeffrey Nolte KS BN Team Trail 8 8 25- 2
82 Michael Kopelic – Mark Towne Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 10 10 25- 1
83 Andrew Larson – Matt Becker Fishers of Men Team Trail 9 9 24- 6
84 Shannon Denson – Webb Collums Fishers of Men Team Trail 9 9 24- 4
85 Byron Albrecht – Jason Windham TX BN Team Trail 10 10 24- 2
86 Kyle Kempkers – Brett Haveman BBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail 8 8 24- 2
87 Mark Mounts – Matthew Farrabee Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 10 9 24- 0
88 Dan Miguel – Michael Slocki Bassmania Team Trail 7 7 23-13
89 Joshua Moore – Ty Humphries H&W Marine TNT 9 9 23-10
90 Charlie Signorino – Bill Kellman Upstate Anglers 9 9 23- 8
91 Hunter Hamilton – Joshua Goan Morristown Marine Team Trail 8 8 23- 8
92 Mack Cook – Patrick Cook Carolina Bass Challenge 8 8 23- 1
93 Mike Bird – Ted Roper Ultimate Bass Team Tour 8 8 22- 1
94 Michael Gibson – Dwayne Hughes Anglers Choice Team Trail 7 7 21- 9
95 Reggie Pickett – Larry Kirk Carolina Bass Challenge 9 9 21- 6
96 Douglas Eubank – Daniel Eubank Jr Anglers Choice 6 5 21- 4
97 Dennis Chavez – Donnie Coleman Jr NV BN Team Trail 9 9 21- 2
98 Craig Hodges – Blake Newton NTBA 8 8 21- 0
99 Glenn Harrison – Rusty Darnell Joe Bass Team Trail 7 7 20-11
100 Justin Romines – Cory Stuart Fishers of Men 9 9 20-10
101 Eric Deering – Adam Kaufmann WABTA 9 9 20- 3
102 Tom Statler – Dillon Statler Joe Bass Team Trail 7 7 19-13
103 William Padgett Jr – Meredith Havird Carolina Bass Challenge 8 8 19- 4
104 Kyle Smith – Bill Jenkins Jr Morristown Marine Team Trail 6 6 18-15
105 Timothy Chaffin – Curtis Poggenpohl Priority James River 6 6 18-15
106 Wayne Cox – Jimmy Harrison Alabama Bass Trail 8 8 17-13
107 Paul Vandentoorn – Nate Westrate BBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail 6 6 17-12
108 Rogne Brown – Cary Dotson Chattanooga Bass Association 5 5 17- 6
109 Thomas Gavin – Bobby Winn Carolina Bass Challenge 7 7 17- 5
110 Eric Bozeman – Thomas Proudfoot Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 17- 3
111 Trace Myers – Mandy Myers Ultimate Bass Team Tour 6 6 17- 2
112 Mike Rains Jr – Taylor Gorton AC Tournament Trail 5 5 16-13
113 Charlie Machek – Scott Wiley Anglers Choice 6 6 16-10
114 Jeremiah Beatty – Clint Benbow Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 16- 7
115 Matt McCoy – Dennis Davis IN BN Team Trail 5 5 16- 6
116 Benny Roberts – Todd Nidiffer Morristown Marine Team Trail 5 5 16- 2
117 Shane Gray – Pete Henry Media Bass Teams 5 5 15- 9
118 Nick Runo – Dave Tierney Northeast Bassmaster Team Trail 6 6 15- 8
119 Ronnie Siress – Daniel York AC Tournament Trail 5 5 15- 6
120 Jack Belt – JD Kyle IN BN Team Trail 5 5 15- 5
121 Mel Hedrick Jr – Eduardo Trevino IL BN Team Trail 5 5 15- 4
122 Rusty Strickland – Chuck Hemm Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 14-12
123 John Knowles – Michael Rezendes Connecticut Bass Nation 5 5 14- 9
124 Frank Poirier – Warren Poirier James River Priority Team Trail 5 5 14- 1
125 Eric Nelson – Robert Grike Priority James River 5 5 13-15
126 Shane Lineberger – Jerry Lineberger Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 13-14
127 Mike Goff – Kevin Goff WV Team Trail 5 5 13-12
128 Bryan Baker – Darren Baker Joe Bass Team Trail 6 6 13-12
129 Chad Allison – Derrick Wright Joe Bass Team Trail 5 5 13- 8
129 Justin Atkins – Drew Long Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 13- 8
129 Chris Atwell – Gary Atwell James River Priority Team Trail 5 5 13- 8
132 Jason Buchanan – Terry Kircus Texas Bass Nation 5 5 13- 7
133 Jeff Hampton – Ed Roberts AC Tournament Trail 5 5 13- 4
134 Greg Loveday – Timothy Hatcher Big Bucks Buddy Trail 5 5 13- 2
135 Todd Walters – Jason Threadgill Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 13- 1
136 Fred Ingalls III – Mark Allen Upstate Anglers 4 4 13- 1
137 Wes Wiggins – Joshua Weeks McNider Marine Ironman Tournament 5 5 12- 9
138 Cole Winn – Scott Martin Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 12- 8
139 Steve Lund – Dylan Maxon Total Bass Addicts Team Trail 5 4 12- 7
140 Tony Woodard – Wally Szuba Anglers Choice 5 5 12- 5
141 Randy Brown – Greg Burrell Morris Town Marine 4 4 12- 4
142 Jeff Coble – David Wright Anglers Choice 5 5 12- 3
143 Nicholas Reeves – Chase Reeves Fishers of Men Team Trail 5 5 12- 1
144 Steve Stewart – Johnny Creel Fishers Of Men 5 5 12- 0
145 John Myers Jr – John Myers III Fishers of Men Team Trail 5 5 12- 0
146 Terry Jones II – Jason Stevens Dockside Marine Tournament Trail 6 6 11-15
147 Eric Self – Tyler Beam Carolina Bass Challenge 4 4 11-13
148 Michael Kazmierczak – Mike Pappas IL BN Team Trail 5 5 11-11
149 Jimmy Carruth – Paula Carruth Media Bass Team Trail 4 4 11-11
150 Steven Thames – Zachary Weimer FL BN Team Trail 4 4 11- 8
151 Johnny Robinson – Jamie Joiner Ozark Mountain 5 5 11- 7
152 Steven Majewski – Jeffrey Gee AC Tournament Trail 4 4 11- 7
153 Jeffrey Richey – Howard Richey McNider Marine Ironman Tournament 5 5 11- 5
154 Robert Flowers – Taylor Smith Northwest Bass 5 5 11- 4
155 Kurt Kahl – Mike Feldermann AC Tournament Trail 4 4 11- 3
156 Bryan Welch – Mark Inman Carolina Anglers Team Trail 4 4 11- 1
157 Jon Richardson – Tom Stinson Media Bass Team Trail 4 4 10-10
158 Martin Elshout – Mark Price Fishers of Men 5 5 10- 9
158 Chad Pilson – Elliot Pilson Anglers Choice 5 5 10- 9
160 Terry Weaver – Doug Drysdale Joe Bass Team Trail 5 5 10- 8
161 Chris Marshall – Josh Gardner Carolina Bass Challenge 3 3 9- 9
162 Kendal Beaty – Marion Tipton TN Valley Team Trail 4 4 9- 4
163 Paul Drake – Brad Drake Media Bass Team Trail 3 3 8-12
164 Josh Wray – Donald Wray Anglers in Action – Trail 4 4 8-10
165 Marty Giddens – Chris Studdard Airport Marine 5 5 8- 8
166 Mike Layton – Scooter Lilley Anglers Choice 4 4 7-15
167 Jeffrey Lokken – Jennifer Lokken Fishers of Men 4 4 7-14
168 Keith Speece – Myles Ireland Carolina Bass Challenge 3 3 7-13
169 Thomas Hardwick III – Tommy Williams Carolina Bass Challenge 4 4 7- 9
170 John Mackey – Derek Yamamoto Ultimate Bass Team Tour 3 3 7- 9
171 Paul Rice Jr – Bruce Morgan Fishers of Men Team Trail 3 3 7- 8
172 Dan Parker – Troy Berntgen IA BN Team Trail 1 1 6- 0
173 Marc Alain – Pierre Hugues Lussier Renegade Bass Team Trail 5 5 5-12
174 Jarrod Sherwood – Jeff Wiederman Team Bass 3 3 5-12
175 James Brown – John Williams IV Joe Bass Team Trail 2 2 5-11
176 Kavan Maybee – Michael Smith Joe Bass Team Trail 2 2 5-10
177 Bradley Gunter – Stan Gunter Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 5- 3
178 Wayne Frierson – Ronnie Mueller Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 4-15
178 Kevin Gruppen – Tom Overholt BBT Bass R Us Tournament Trail 2 2 4-15
180 Scott Addis – Terry Cox PBC Tournament Trail 2 2 4-14
181 Tommy King – Clayton King Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 4-11
182 Mark Osgood – Jedediah Harris Maine BN – Man vs Bass 2 2 4- 8
182 Jason Self – Dan Schmidt Total Bass Addicts 2 2 4- 8
184 Edward Bauer – Matthew Bishop IN BN Team Trail 1 1 4- 2
185 Keith Estes – Woo Daves James River Priority 2 2 3- 9
185 John Welborn – Wesley Sams Alabama Bass Trail 2 2 3- 9
187 Anthony Liles – Ricky Bridgers Fishers of Men Team Trail 1 1 3- 8
188 Riley Macdonald – John Macdonald Bassmania 2 2 0- 0
189 Billy Berthiaume – Casey Baker TN Valley Team Trail 0 0 0- 0
189 Clifford Bunch – Gary Pilkenton Morristown Marine 0 0 0- 0
189 Brian Collard – Gary Preston Media Bass Team Trail 0 0 0- 0
189 Robert Guest – David Heatherly Carolina Bass Challenge 0 0 0- 0
189 Kevin Jennings – DJ Hicks Fishers of Men Team Trail 0 0 0- 0
189 Peter Marrocco – Pat Marrocco Bassmania Team Traili 0 0 0- 0
189 James Shockey III – David Crawford Fishers of Men 0 0 0- 0
189 Christopher Sinclair – Caleb Conner Carolina Bass Challenge 0 0 0- 0
189 Brad Webb – Clay Powers James River Priority Team Trail 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS
Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz Day # Fish # Limits
1 Jay Hulsey – Kyle Hulsey Bourbon, MO 8- 2 1 814 127
2 Dan Mohn – Josh Mohn Lansing, IA 9- 0 2 512 80
CARHARTT BIG BASS of TOURNAMENT
Day Name Lbs-Oz
2 Dan Mohn – Josh Mohn 9- 0
B.A.S.S. Bonus Awards Name Cash
BIG BASS DAY 1 Jay Hulsey $250.00
BIG BASS DAY 1 Kyle Hulsey $250.00
BIG BASS DAY 2 Dan Mohn $250.00
BIG BASS DAY 2 Josh Mohn $250.00
BIG BASS OF TOURN Dan Mohn $250.00
BIG BASS OF TOURN Josh Mohn $250.00
LIVINGSTON LEADER AWARD Christopher Risner $250.00
LIVINGSTON LEADER AWARD Timothy Eaton $250.00