Bass Angler Magazine

John Proctor Wins Southern Divisional

Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.
Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.

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

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