Familiar water and tidal fishing knowledge paid off for South Carolina’s John Proctor, the overall winner Friday of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional held on the Pee Dee River Basin.
Proctor’s winning weight totaled 34 pounds, 11 ounces in a tournament separated by mere ounces all three days. Kentucky’s Mark Pierce finished second with 30-4, followed by Alabama’s Kyle Glasgow with 26-2.
Proctor’s win centers around a fishing tale that is actually real. He fished during practice with a hookless soft plastic jerkbait to avoid spooking spawning bass. Oddly, one fish took the bait and refused to shake free.
“She jumped out of the water, I got a good look and knew I had to go back the next day,” he said.
Proctor, a member of the Conway Bassmasters, went sleepless on competition eve for good reason. He couldn’t wait to go back and try his luck to catch the bass. He returned and caught the fish, weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces.
That bass proved vital to the win and then some. Proctor received a bonus for catching the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass of the tournament.
Proctor targeted a dike protecting a marina all three days. He said the draw for the spawning females was a hard, sandy bottom created when the marina was dredged.
“That’s local knowledge, and the fish use those areas to spawn,” he said. “There is also deeper water in the harbor bordered by the firm bottom.”
Proctor gained new knowledge even though he is considered a local expert. He discovered the best success for spawning happens on a rising tide.
“The spawning females stay longer because high tide keeps the beds underwater,” he observed. “They are more aggressive and willing to bite.”
Another lesson learned is what happens during a falling tide.
“You can find the beds easier because they are nearly out of the water,” he said.
That’s how he located the bass anchoring the win. During practice he did not see the bed, although he returned later in the day to find it.
Proctor targeted spawning bass for another reason. He claims the recent new moon sparked a major migration. Waves of bass moved from the river channel into the shallow basin.
“That gave me a lot of confidence,” he said. “I felt like when the fishing slowed it would improve when another wave moved shallow to spawn.”
To catch his winning weight, Proctor relied on a rotation of three lures. Those were a weightless Senko, a shaky head and a Zoom Baby Brush Hog. He made casts to the spawning beds to coax fish off the beds.
The contestants qualified from local bass clubs and state championships. As the top angler from South Carolina, Proctor advances to the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held this fall. The following high finishers from the following states will join him: Mark Pierce, Tennessee; Roger Thomas, North Carolina; Lance Freeman, Kentucky; Kyle Glasgow Jr., Alabama; Wayne Black, Florida; and Brad Durden, Georgia.
The tournament included a competition between states as well. Each team had 14 anglers with their cumulative weight counting toward the total. South Carolina won with 288 pounds, 9 ounces. Alabama took second place with 242-11, followed by Georgia with 227-12. Florida followed with 219-1 and North Carolina placed fifth with 218-10. Tennessee finished with 213-10 and Kentucky claimed seventh place with 199-9.
South Carolina received a Triton 189 TrX rigged with a Mercury outboard, Lowrance electronics and a MotorGuide trolling motor. The complete package is valued at $33,340.
State championship high school teams competed alongside the adults to hone their skills. The cumulative weight caught was added to the overall score of the state team. Carter McNeil and Tucker Smith represented Abbeville High School to win the title for South Carolina. The team’s overall weight was 17-11.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional 4/22-4/24
Pee Dee River Basin, Georgetown SC.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. John Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 15 34-11 0
2. Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY (TN) 15 30-04 0
3. Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL (AL) 14 26-02 0
4. Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN (TN) 15 25-09 0
5. Wayne Black San Mateo, FL (FL) 14 25-06 0
6. Brad Durden Atlanta, GA (GA) 13 25-03 0
7. Chad Mcmurrian Perry, GA (GA) 15 25-03 0
8. Hayes Hudson Conway, SC (SC) 14 24-11 0
9. Marty Giddens Alpine, AL (AL) 14 24-08 0
10. Jackie Stanford Gaffney, SC (SC) 15 24-03 0
11. Lee Byrd Pell City, AL (AL) 14 24-00 0
12. Drew Cook Midway, FL (FL) 13 23-15 0
13. Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC (SC) 15 23-15 0
14. Jeffrey Allison Jr. Gaffney, SC (SC) 15 23-12 0
15. Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY (KY) 15 23-08 0
16. Lee Cannon Conway, SC (SC) 15 23-02 0
17. Brian Colson Lake Mary, FL (FL) 10 22-11 0
18. William Grantham Mobile, AL (AL) 15 22-07 0
19. Chris Jones Conway, SC (SC) 15 22-06 0
20. Kim Neal Easley, SC (SC) 15 22-01 0
21. Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC (NC) 14 21-06 0
22. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC (NC) 13 20-09 0
23. Carl Logan Winder, GA (GA) 13 20-06 0
24. Mike Prance Palatka, FL (FL) 11 20-04 0
25. Rickey Boggs Shephersville, KY (KY) 14 19-07 0
26. Mark Swink Shelby, NC (NC) 11 19-04 0
27. Stan Gunter Saluda, SC (SC) 13 19-03 0
28. Steve Ingram Tallassee, AL (AL) 11 18-12 0
29. Colby Wells Pace, FL (AL) 11 18-00 0
30. Mark Blevins Palatka, FL (FL) 13 17-15 0
31. Brad Smith Brownsville, TN (TN) 12 17-12 0
32. SC-McNeil & Smith Abbeville, SC (SC) 10 17-11 0
33. Randall Blackmon Berry, AL (AL) 13 17-06 0
34. Gary Twelkemeier Cartersville, GA (GA) 12 17-05 0
35. James Gazaway Whitesburg, GA (GA) 14 17-05 0
36. Alan Blumenthal Hendersonville, TN (TN) 11 17-04 0
37. John Roth Lawrenceburg, IN (KY) 13 16-11 0
38. Tim Hennemann Florence, KY (KY) 12 16-03 0
39. GA-Garrett & Mims DOUGLASVILLE, GA (GA) 10 16-02 0
40. Phil Bain Youngsville, NC (NC) 9 16-00 0
41. William Palmer Floyds Knobs, IN (KY) 7 15-15 0
42. Tim Carini Shirley, NY (GA) 11 15-15 0
43. Scott Hamrick Denver, NC (NC) 11 15-12 0
44. Grayson Smith Clarksville, TN (TN) 12 15-07 0
45. Joshua Lanaville Goldsboro, NC (NC) 11 15-05 0
46. David Swain Wilson, NC (NC) 11 15-05 0
47. Don Hogue Cropwell, AL (AL) 11 15-04 0
48. Steven Thames High Springs, FL (FL) 11 15-04 0
49. Jim Keith Newberry, FL (FL) 11 15-03 0
50. Scott Holmes Moody, AL (AL) 14 14-15 0
51. Scott Jones Louisville, KY (KY) 14 14-13 0
52. Greg Marcum Willisburg, KY (KY) 11 14-09 0
53. Rob Digh Denver, NC (NC) 10 14-07 0
54. Barry Hooper Monticello, GA (GA) 12 14-07 0
55. Jason Holland Gastonia, NC (SC) 13 14-07 0
56. Brendan Smith Roswell, GA (GA) 11 14-05 0
57. Eric Holder Canton, GA (GA) 10 14-03 0
58. Jerry Craig Hiddenite, NC (NC) 11 14-02 0
59. Donald Odor Butler, KY (KY) 10 14-01 0
60. Jason Brennan Roswell, GA (GA) 11 14-01 0
61. Mark Johnson Georgetown, SC (SC) 9 13-14 0
62. Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL (FL) 10 13-13 0
63. Michael Moore Dover, TN (TN) 11 13-13 0
64. Tom Walsh Eustis, FL (FL) 11 13-12 0
65. Joseph Kirbo II Defuniak Springs, FL (F 11 13-12 0
66. Eric Quaglio Lexington, KY (KY) 9 13-12 0
67. Jimmy Miller Eclectic, AL (AL) 10 13-09 0
68. Matthew Marinelli Lake Mary, FL (FL) 7 13-03 0
69. AL-Shirley & Barnes Northport, AL (AL) 9 12-14 0
70. Scott Brison Clarksville, TN (TN) 9 12-14 0
71. Rick Shannon Woodlawn, TN (TN) 10 12-11 0
72. NC-Camut & Barnes Apex, NC (NC) 10 12-08 0
73. Robert Carter Pamplico, SC (SC) 9 12-05 0
74. Kirt Pequignot Clarksville, TN (TN) 9 12-04 0
75. KY- Nick Denham Louisville, KY (KY) 8 12-01 0
76. Adam Richardson Nashville, NC (NC) 11 11-15 0
77. Greg Hoskinson Louisville, KY (KY) 8 11-11 0
78. Chuck Camp Shelby, NC (NC) 9 11-09 0
79. Drew Sanford Springfield, MO (AL) 8 11-08 0
80. Houston Smith Clarksville, TN (TN) 9 11-07 0
81. Leon Olson Champmansboro, TN (TN) 9 11-05 0
82. Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC (NC) 10 11-04 0
83. Jack White Vance, AL (AL) 6 10-10 0
84. TN-Sands & Watson Cleveland, TN (TN) 7 10-09 0
85. Jeff Narron Sims, NC (NC) 7 10-08 0
86. Gregory Weber Louisville, KY (KY) 9 10-03 0
87. Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, GA (GA) 6 10-01 0
88. Mike Morris White, GA (GA) 8 09-06 0
89. David Roddy Inman, SC (SC) 6 08-15 0
90. Mickey Lewis Huntington, TN (TN) 7 08-12 0
91. Richard Cooper Clayton, NC (NC) 5 08-12 0
92. FL-Tomlinson & Cook Ocala, FL (FL) 7 08-05 0
93. David Pettis Tifton, GA (GA) 7 07-13 0
94. Jonathan Edwards Lawrenceburg, TN (AL) 6 07-11 0
95. Stephen Noble Newport, KY (KY) 6 07-10 0
96. Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN (TN) 6 07-06 0
97. Dan Fay Orlando, FL (FL) 6 07-05 0
98. Dean Favorite Paris, KY (KY) 6 07-01 0
99. Nick Manfredo Beverly Hills, FL (FL) 5 06-10 0
100. Mike Hoover Jackson, TN (TN) 5 06-05 0
101. Ryan Rakestraw Lithia Springs, GA (GA) 5 06-01 0
102. Hank Golden Tallassee, AL (AL) 4 05-01 0
103. Brian Epps Abbeville, SC (SC) 3 03-05 0
104. John Roth Moores Hill, IN (KY) 2 02-00 0
105. Joe Collins Longwood, FL (FL) 1 01-11 0
———————————————————————–
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 52 369 566-01
2 39 354 501-08
3 42 362 542-05
———————————-
133 1085 1609-14
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
———————————-
State Lbs-Oz
1 SOUTH CAROLINA 288-09
2 ALABAMA 242-11
3 GEORGIA 227-12
4 FLORIDA 219-01
5 NORTH CAROLINA 218-10
6 TENNESSEE 213-10
7 KENTUCKY 199-09
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
———————————————————————–
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brad Durden Atlanta, GA 13 25-03 0
2 Chad Mcmurrian Perry, GA 15 25-03 0
3 Carl Logan Winder, GA 13 20-06 0
4 Gary Twelkemeier Cartersville, GA 12 17-05 0
5 James Gazaway Whitesburg, GA 14 17-05 0
6 GA-Garrett & Mims DOUGLASVILLE, GA 10 16-02 0
7 Tim Carini Shirley, NY 11 15-15 0
8 Barry Hooper Monticello, GA 12 14-07 0
9 Brendan Smith Roswell, GA 11 14-05 0
10 Eric Holder Canton, GA 10 14-03 0
11 Jason Brennan Roswell, GA 11 14-01 0
12 Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, GA 6 10-01 0
13 Mike Morris White, GA 8 09-06 0
14 David Pettis Tifton, GA 7 07-13 0
15 Ryan Rakestraw Lithia Springs, GA 5 06-01 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Proctor Conway, SC 15 34-11 0
2 Hayes Hudson Conway, SC 14 24-11 0
3 Jackie Stanford Gaffney, SC 15 24-03 0
4 Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC 15 23-15 0
5 Jeffrey Allison Jr. Gaffney, SC 15 23-12 0
6 Lee Cannon Conway, SC 15 23-02 0
7 Chris Jones Conway, SC 15 22-06 0
8 Kim Neal Easley, SC 15 22-01 0
9 Stan Gunter Saluda, SC 13 19-03 0
10 SC-McNeil & Smith Abbeville, SC 10 17-11 0
11 Jason Holland Gastonia, NC 13 14-07 0
12 Mark Johnson Georgetown, SC 9 13-14 0
13 Robert Carter Pamplico, SC 9 12-05 0
14 David Roddy Inman, SC 6 08-15 0
15 Brian Epps Abbeville, SC 3 03-05 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Wayne Black San Mateo, FL 14 25-06 0
2 Drew Cook Midway, FL 13 23-15 0
3 Brian Colson Lake Mary, FL 10 22-11 0
4 Mike Prance Palatka, FL 11 20-04 0
5 Mark Blevins Palatka, FL 13 17-15 0
6 Steven Thames High Springs, FL 11 15-04 0
7 Jim Keith Newberry, FL 11 15-03 0
8 Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 10 13-13 0
9 Tom Walsh Eustis, FL 11 13-12 0
10 Joseph Kirbo II Defuniak Springs, FL 11 13-12 0
11 Matthew Marinelli Lake Mary, FL 7 13-03 0
12 FL-Tomlinson & Cook Ocala, FL 7 08-05 0
13 Dan Fay Orlando, FL 6 07-05 0
14 Nick Manfredo Beverly Hills, FL 5 06-10 0
15 Joe Collins Longwood, FL 1 01-11 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL 14 26-02 0
2 Marty Giddens Alpine, AL 14 24-08 0
3 Lee Byrd Pell City, AL 14 24-00 0
4 William Grantham Mobile, AL 15 22-07 0
5 Steve Ingram Tallassee, AL 11 18-12 0
6 Colby Wells Pace, FL 11 18-00 0
7 Randall Blackmon Berry, AL 13 17-06 0
8 Don Hogue Cropwell, AL 11 15-04 0
9 Scott Holmes Moody, AL 14 14-15 0
10 Jimmy Miller Eclectic, AL 10 13-09 0
11 AL-Shirley & Barnes Northport, AL 9 12-14 0
12 Drew Sanford Springfield, MO 8 11-08 0
13 Jack White Vance, AL 6 10-10 0
14 Jonathan Edwards Lawrenceburg, TN 6 07-11 0
15 Hank Golden Tallassee, AL 4 05-01 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC 14 21-06 0
2 Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 13 20-09 0
3 Mark Swink Shelby, NC 11 19-04 0
4 Phil Bain Youngsville, NC 9 16-00 0
5 Scott Hamrick Denver, NC 11 15-12 0
6 Joshua Lanaville Goldsboro, NC 11 15-05 0
7 David Swain Wilson, NC 11 15-05 0
8 Rob Digh Denver, NC 10 14-07 0
9 Jerry Craig Hiddenite, NC 11 14-02 0
10 NC-Camut & Barnes Apex, NC 10 12-08 0
11 Adam Richardson Nashville, NC 11 11-15 0
12 Chuck Camp Shelby, NC 9 11-09 0
13 Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC 10 11-04 0
14 Jeff Narron Sims, NC 7 10-08 0
15 Richard Cooper Clayton, NC 5 08-12 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY 15 23-08 0
2 Rickey Boggs Shephersville, KY 14 19-07 0
3 John Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 13 16-11 0
4 Tim Hennemann Florence, KY 12 16-03 0
5 William Palmer Floyds Knobs, IN 7 15-15 0
6 Scott Jones Louisville, KY 14 14-13 0
7 Greg Marcum Willisburg, KY 11 14-09 0
8 Donald Odor Butler, KY 10 14-01 0
9 Eric Quaglio Lexington, KY 9 13-12 0
10 KY- Nick Denham Louisville, KY 8 12-01 0
11 Greg Hoskinson Louisville, KY 8 11-11 0
12 Gregory Weber Louisville, KY 9 10-03 0
13 Stephen Noble Newport, KY 6 07-10 0
14 Dean Favorite Paris, KY 6 07-01 0
15 John Roth Moores Hill, IN 2 02-00 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Pierce Radcliff, KY 15 30-04 0
2 Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN 15 25-09 0
3 Brad Smith Brownsville, TN 12 17-12 0
4 Alan Blumenthal Hendersonville, TN 11 17-04 0
5 Grayson Smith Clarksville, TN 12 15-07 0
6 Michael Moore Dover, TN 11 13-13 0
7 Scott Brison Clarksville, TN 9 12-14 0
8 Rick Shannon Woodlawn, TN 10 12-11 0
9 Kirt Pequignot Clarksville, TN 9 12-04 0
10 Houston Smith Clarksville, TN 9 11-07 0
11 Leon Olson Champmansboro, TN 9 11-05 0
12 TN-Sands & Watson Cleveland, TN 7 10-09 0
13 Mickey Lewis Huntington, TN 7 08-12 0
14 Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN 6 07-06 0
15 Mike Hoover Jackson, TN 5 06-05 0
