Logan O’Dell and Blaine Marks of Buna High School in Texas wanted badly to fish shallow during Sunday’s Costa Bassmaster High School Central Open on Toledo Bend Reservoir.
With spring finally in the air, they knew the lake’s giant largemouth would be making their way toward the shallows to spawn, and they wanted to go after them.
But every time they moved in, their team captain Brandon Marks forced them to back off — and his good coaching led to a five-bass limit that weighed a tournament-best 17 pounds, 12 ounces.
The big bag was just enough to help O’Dell and Marks past the Louisiana team of Nicholas Wiggins and Lane Possoit of Natchitoches Central High School, who placed second with 17-11.
“I called seven timeouts, and I said the same thing to them with every one of them,” Brandon Marks said. “We were fishing main-lake points, and they kept wanting to move in and fish the shallow grass. I kept telling them they needed to be fishing 10 to 12 feet of water because this little cool snap we’re having this weekend has backed the fish off a little bit.”
O’Dell and Marks caught their fish using Carolina rigged 6-inch Zoom lizards in gourd green. Their catch was anchored by a largemouth that weighed 7-11.
“We caught fish steadily throughout the day,” O’Dell said. “We actually culled two fish this afternoon that ended up putting us over the top.”
Despite their good day, they were surprised that 17-12 was enough.
“We really expected somebody to come in with 25 pounds,” Marks said. “We thought we probably had enough to get in the Top 5, but we didn’t expect to win it. It’s something I’ll remember forever.”
O’Dell and Marks earned a $500 check made out to their high school and an automatic berth into the Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship. They also earned the right to fish with select Elite Series pros Saturday in Orange, Texas, as part of the High School Elite Experience presented by Costa.
Wiggins and Possoit also qualified for the National Championship and the Elite Experience, taking a little of the sting out of their 1-ounce loss. But they couldn’t help but think what might have been.
“I think we had maybe eight bites all day, and we caught five of them,” Wiggins said. “Our two smallest fish of the day weighed 2 pounds, 11 ounces. We know for sure those other bites would have culled, and all we needed was an ounce.”
For a brief moment, O’Dell’s 7-11 lunker ranked as the largest bass ever caught in a Bassmaster High School event, after eclipsing the previous record of 7-5. But the mark was shattered again during Sunday’s weigh-in when Logan Bourque and Conner Chappell brought an 8-8 largemouth to the scales.
A new feature of the high school events this year is the “Costa Moment,” awarded for a moving act of courage, kindness or courtesy identified on stage during the weigh-in.
The honor for this event went to Andrew Marcantel of Louisiana’s Sulphur High School. In a field packed with anglers wearing modern equipment, Marcantel was sporting the vintage Ranger Boats hat that belonged to his late grandfather, Jerry Rice.
“He passed away back in 2007, and I’ve been wearing it ever since,” Marcantel said. “If it ever blows off my head, I’ll have to go swimming for it. It means that much to me. He meant the world to me.”
In a field of 119 boats, the Top 17 teams earned a check and the Top 12 teams qualified for the National Championship.
2015 Costa Bassmaster High School Series-Central Open 3/15-3/15
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Logan O’Dell Buna, TX 5 17-12 0
Day 1: 5 17-12
2. Nicholas Wiggins Natchitoches, LA 5 17-11 0
Day 1: 5 17-11
3. Will Moffett Natchez, MS 5 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 16-11
4. Devin Prine Buna, TX 5 15-12 0
Day 1: 5 15-12
5. Mason Arnaud Port Neches, TX 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
6. Cole Moore Anacoc, LA 4 14-02 0
Day 1: 4 14-02
7. Hunter Courvelle Lake Charles, LA 5 13-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-02
8. Christian Mathews Stonewall, LA 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
9. Levi Areno Sulphur, LA 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
10. Andrew Marcantel Sulphur, LA 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
11. Trace O’Dell Buna, TX 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
12. Tristin Burt Buna, TX 5 11-10 0
Day 1: 5 11-10
13. Tyler Meeks Hemphill, TX 5 11-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-00
14. Jordan Gilcrease Keithville, LA 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-14
15. Alex Lamabe Baton Rouge, LA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
16. Saige Hessifer Sulphur, LA 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11
17. Jordan Mullis BLOOMINGTON, IN 3 10-10 0
Day 1: 3 10-10
18. Logan Bourque Sulphur, LA 2 10-01 0
Day 1: 2 10-01
19. Ty Moorhead Jasper, TX 5 09-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-13
20. Blake Fontenot Lake Charles, LA 5 09-10 0
Day 1: 5 09-10
21. Cade Crow Denham Springs, LA 3 09-10 0
Day 1: 3 09-10
22. Nathan Mitchell Lake Charles, LA 4 09-03 0
Day 1: 4 09-03
23. Seth Cooper Ragley, LA 4 09-02 0
Day 1: 4 09-02
24. William Dion Sulphur, LA 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00
25. Kreston Richardson Buna, TX 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09
26. Nathan Flemmons Welsh, LA 4 08-06 0
Day 1: 4 08-06
27. Wesley Holt Otis, LA 3 07-15 0
Day 1: 3 07-15
28. Hunter Muncrief Pineland, TX 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14
28. Trey Selman Port Neches, TX 4 07-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-14
30. David Sourdellia Orange, TX 4 07-13 0
Day 1: 4 07-13
31. Cavin Courville Lake Charles, LA 3 07-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-13
32. Brandon Pittman Pineville, LA 5 07-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-08
33. Emily Hamilton Huntington, TX 4 07-05 0
Day 1: 4 07-05
34. Garrett Brown Dry Prong, LA 3 07-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-05
35. Ashley Batey Pineville, LA 5 07-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-03
36. Annabelle Guins Lake Charles, LA 2 06-15 0
Day 1: 2 06-15
37. Christian Haggenmacher Denham Springs, LA 1 06-15 0
Day 1: 1 06-15
38. Braden Berryman Kirbyville, TX 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13
39. Levi Nelson TUSCALOOSA, AL 2 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 05-10
40. Jacob McRae Shreveport, LA 2 05-08 0
Day 1: 2 05-08
41. Joshua Dupree Haughton, LA 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06
42. Matthew Myers Carencro, LA 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05
43. Nolan Haney Buna, TX 1 05-05 0
Day 1: 1 05-05
44. Daniel Stanford Center, TX 1 05-03 0
Day 1: 1 05-03
45. Kyle McAllen Stonewall, LA 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
46. Samuel Bergeron Gonzales, LA 1 04-15 0
Day 1: 1 04-15
47. Dakota Cline Lumberton, TX 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14
48. Jake Biram Tulsa, OK 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
49. Austin Busby Provencal, LA 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-11
50. Cason Lewis Pineville, LA 1 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 04-11
50. Matthew Romano Prairieville, LA 1 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 04-11
52. Wes Rollo Natchitoches, LA 2 04-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-05
52. John Waggenspack Baton Rouge, LA 2 04-05 0
Day 1: 2 04-05
54. Tyler Pate Stonewall, LA 2 04-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-03
55. Dalton Roberts Hutchinson, KS 1 04-00 0
Day 1: 1 04-00
56. Taylor Cobb Stonewall, LA 1 03-13 0
Day 1: 1 03-13
57. Jackson Hall Arlington, TX 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
58. Joseph Bruener Douglass, TX 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
58. Kody Kelly Denham Springs, LA 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
60. Garett OBannon Natchitoches, LA 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
61. Hunter Porter TUSCALOOSA, AL 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
62. Hunter French Buhler, KS 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05
63. Pierce LaFleur Ragley, LA 1 03-04 0
Day 1: 1 03-04
64. Riley Harris Orange, TX 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
65. Briana Tucker Moulton, AL 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01
65. Jeffery White Pineville, LA 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01
67. Dailus Richardson Benton, IL 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 2 02-15
68. Julia Swain Lake Charles, LA 1 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-15
69. Laura Ann Foshee Gardendale, AL 2 02-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-12
70. Logan Bruchhaus Sulphur, LA 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11
71. Caleb Dupre Sulphur, LA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
72. Kyle Little Alexandria, LA 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
73. Grant Debetaz Youngsville, LA 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
74. Jake Shepherd Orange, TX 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
74. Zach Weiss WAVERLY, AL 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
76. Drayden Richey Lake Charles, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
77. Ian Madere Baton Rouge, LA 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
78. Troy Benefield TUSCALOOSA, AL 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
79. Trace Bludworth Douglass, TX 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
80. Zach Anderson Gloster, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Braden Blanchard St Amant, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Garret Brown Stonewall, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Chandler Burgay Timpson, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Ashton Cates Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Logan Chaney Lafayette, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Andrew Childers Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Derek Clark Buna, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Blake Dinkins Shreveport, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. John Edwards Gloster, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Chase Espinosa Flowery Branch, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Colton Fountain Kirbyville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Cameron Gautreau Prairieville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Rashad Goodson Florence, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Garrett Gray Silsbee, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Fisher Hardy San Augustine, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Hunter Hollier Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Dustin Howell Provencal, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Kalee Jones COTTONDALE, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Spencer Lambert West Monroe, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Louis Laville Baton Rouge, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Joseph Lirette Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Hadden Lummus Hemphill, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Mac Marcantel Evadale, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Hunter Martindale Jasper, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Jacob McDaniel Roxie, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Mason McGill Nederland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Landon Mitchell Martaville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Tyler Mora Groves, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Hunter Nash Evans, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Dylan Poche Natchez, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Cameron Reed Lake Charles, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Cole Robinson Port Arther, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Hunter Scott Friendswood, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Jonathan Suttle Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Mattea Tingle Marksville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Chaz Trahan Port Neches, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Cord Tucker Buna, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
80. Drake Young Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 20 221 545-08
———————————-
20 221 545-08