Tyler Stewart (left) and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe weighed in 17 pounds, 9 ounces to take lead Thursday in the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops held on the Atchafalaya Basin out of Houma, La. Photo by Ronnie MooreBassmaster
HOUMA, La. — Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe set the bar high on the opening day of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central Regional presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Atchafalaya Basin when they brought 17 pounds, 9 ounces to the scales. The team takes a lead of more than 4 pounds into the second competition day Friday.
Only six teams managed to boat five-bass limits in the double-digit weight class, indicating how difficult the Atchafalaya Basin fishery is proving to be.
Ever-changing weather and water conditions aren’t helping. Most of the Atchafalaya Basin was producing good catches during the college anglers’ recent scouting trips, but high winds and an influx of rain has pushed muddy water into areas that previously were clear.
Stewart and Joiner were fortunate to find protected areas to fish, and they had the spot all to themselves.
“Our areas have stayed clear despite the wind we have faced this week,” Stewart said. “I don’t know if we can catch 17 pounds again, but the area we are fishing should stay stable.”
The ULM teammates were shocked that no one else fished around them on the first day, but they are certainly glad to be alone in their areas.
While the majority of the 65-team field caught primarily small bass throughout the day, Stewart and Joiner found the key to heavier fish.
Confident in their catch, the ULM team quit fishing 45 minutes early to minimize the risk of checking in late and incurring penalties.
Their closest pursuer is the team of Zach Ziober and Dakota Ebare from Tarleton State University out of Stephenville, Texas. The pair weighed in 13 pounds, 3 ounces Thursday. Their catch was anchored by a 5-pound largemouth.
The Tarleton State teammates shared fishing areas with other anglers on Thursday, but they claimed an advantage by fishing differently from the others.
“We saw a decent amount of boats in our area today,” Ziober said. “I just think they were fishing too fast. We decided to slow down and fish for less bites, but be patient knowing that big ones may come our way.”
Ziober and Ebare boated eight bass on the opening day, but only six of those were keepers. They lost several bass that would have increased their first-day weight.
“Losing fish happens,” Ebare said. ”We need to land every one for the rest of the tournament.”
The only fear the duo has is the wind direction and how that can affect the clarity of the water in their fishing area. If they have a north wind then their area will clear up and it could get even better, but a southwest wind could muddy up the water and force them to call an audible.
“If we get the correct wind then we will be fine,” Ebare said. “If we get the wrong wind, then our audible means a long run to another one of our areas.”
The rest of the Top 5 includes the teams of Matthew Benoits and Matthew Leblanc of Nicholls State and Travis Harriman and Chaz Miller of the University of Arkansas, tied with 12 pounds, and Jeremy Cooper and Zachary McDill of the University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology-Crossett (UAM-CTC) with 11-12.
After Friday’s competition day the field is cut to the Top 20. The Top 13 teams at the conclusion of the event Saturday earn invitations to the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT from Bayou Black Marina, and the weigh-in will be held back at the mark at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s championship weigh-in is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Nicholls State Unversity.
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Truck Caps, Costa, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, ABU Garcia
About B.A.S.S.
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Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Central
2/25/2016 – 2/27/2016 Atchafalaya Basin – Bayou Black Marina – Houma, LA
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz
1 Tyler Stewart – Nick Joiner La Monroe 5 5 17- 9 5 5 17- 9
2 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Tarleton State University 5 5 13- 3 5 5 13- 3
3 Matthew Benoits – Matthew Leblanc Nicholls State 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 0
3 Travis Harriman – Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 0
5 Jeremy Cooper – Zachary McDill UAM-CTC 5 5 11-12 5 5 11-12
6 Marcus Kliebert – Francis Robichaux Nicholls State 5 5 10-12 5 5 10-12
7 Tyler Rivet – Jess Robertson Nicholls State University 5 5 9-13 5 5 9-13
8 John Authement – Cameron Naquin Nicholls State 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
8 Adam Burkett – Christian Brown LSU Shreveport 5 5 9- 7 5 5 9- 7
10 Ty Hibbs – Matthew Waguespack Nicholls State 5 5 9- 6 5 5 9- 6
11 Josh Bensema – Tyler Anderson Texas A&M University 5 5 9- 2 5 5 9- 2
12 Gunner Durrett – Austin Watkins LA Tech 5 5 9- 0 5 5 9- 0
13 Bradley Fleming – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 5 5 8-14 5 5 8-14
14 JP Kimbrough – Jared Rascoe LSU Shreveport 5 5 8-13 5 5 8-13
15 Brennan Fertig – Evan Cook Texas A&M University 5 5 8-11 5 5 8-11
16 Jackson Blackett – Austin Joiner La Monroe 4 4 8- 7 4 4 8- 7
17 Zack Remedies – Matt Glad LSU 5 5 8- 5 5 5 8- 5
18 Trent Newman – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 5 5 8- 4 5 5 8- 4
18 Brandon Simoneaux – Colby Ogden Lamar University 5 5 8- 4 5 5 8- 4
20 Cody Metzger – Micheal King Northeastern State University 5 5 8- 1 5 5 8- 1
21 Colten Hutson – Easton Ramsey University of Central Oklahoma 5 5 7-12 5 5 7-12
22 Dakota Cline – Lawson Priess Stephen F Austin University 3 3 7-12 3 3 7-12
23 Hunter Prestenback – Breagan Liner Nicholls State 5 5 7-10 5 5 7-10
24 Jordan Ogle – Chase Arthur Arkansas Tech University 4 4 7-10 4 4 7-10
25 Tanner Crim – Zach Montalvo Tarleton State University 5 5 7- 9 5 5 7- 9
26 Jared Bourgeois – Parker White LSU 5 5 7- 8 5 5 7- 8
26 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan LA Tech 5 5 7- 8 5 5 7- 8
28 Austyn Fowler – Zach Hurst Tarleton State University 3 3 7- 2 3 3 7- 2
29 Allyson Marcel – Tori LeBeau Nicholls State University 5 5 6-15 5 5 6-15
30 Clayton Godfrey – John-Michael Brattlof Stephen F Austin State University 4 4 6-14 4 4 6-14
31 Justin Cooper – John Ledet Northwestern State University 5 5 6-13 5 5 6-13
32 Jacob Fournier – Jared Bascle Nicholls State 5 5 6-11 5 5 6-11
32 Cameron Gautreau – Andrew Tucker Nicholls State 5 5 6-11 5 5 6-11
34 Dakota Sparks – Levi Sharp LSU 5 5 6- 6 5 5 6- 6
35 Michael Mata – Dax Baker Arkansas Tech University 4 4 6- 3 4 4 6- 3
35 Carson Smith – Malcolm Love Northeastern State University 4 4 6- 3 4 4 6- 3
37 Hutton Leppert – Scott Fair Northwestern State University 5 5 6- 0 5 5 6- 0
37 Jose Palma – Andrew Madison University of Central Oklahoma 5 5 6- 0 5 5 6- 0
39 Jacob Caballero – Thomas Legendre Nicholls State 4 4 5-15 4 4 5-15
40 Tyler Woods – Robert Tweed Stephen F Austin State University 4 4 5- 9 4 4 5- 9
41 Hunter Freeman – Tyler Craig La Monroe 4 3 5- 9 4 3 5- 9
42 Ronnie Gray – Ladd Owens Arkansas Tech University 5 5 5- 3 5 5 5- 3
43 Aaron Belgard – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 4 4 5- 1 4 4 5- 1
44 Stetson Overton – Justin Seeton Tarleton State University 4 4 4- 7 4 4 4- 7
45 Reed Foster – Zackery Hines Dallas Baptist University 4 4 4- 6 4 4 4- 6
46 Wyatt Frankens – Hunter Price Stephen F Austin University 4 4 4- 4 4 4 4- 4
47 Andre Adams – Dustin Robicheaux UL LaFayette 3 3 4- 4 3 3 4- 4
48 Darrell Henson Jr. – Brent Rome Jr LSU 3 3 4- 0 3 3 4- 0
49 Jed Hebert – Austin Hebert University of Louisiana LaFayette 2 2 3-11 2 2 3-11
50 Alex Schieman – Garrett Reynolds Georgia College 1 1 3- 7 1 1 3- 7
51 Devine Deramus – Jeff Ramsey LSU Shreveport 2 2 3- 4 2 2 3- 4
51 Tyler Wilk – Brennan Soileau LA Tech 2 2 3- 4 2 2 3- 4
53 Brandon Midkiff – Tommy Wendling Lamar University 2 2 2-12 2 2 2-12
54 Spencer Lambert – Luke Oneal La Monroe 2 2 2- 3 2 2 2- 3
54 Alex Murray – Alex Felder Southeastern Louisiana University 2 2 2- 3 2 2 2- 3
56 Cameron DeBorde – Cameron Simmons Oklahoma State University 2 2 2- 1 2 2 2- 1
56 Mitchell Decker – Chris Bradley Southwestern Oklahoma State University 2 2 2- 1 2 2 2- 1
58 Dalton Warrington – Collin McFeeters Southwestern Oklahoma State University 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
59 Alex Lamabe – Logan Abshire University of Louisiana LaFayette 1 1 1-12 1 1 1-12
60 Damon Martin – Maverick Jaggers UAM-CTC 1 1 1- 8 1 1 1- 8
61 Blake Crabb – Matthew Williams Texas A&M Corpus Christi 1 1 1- 3 1 1 1- 3
62 Phillip Borel – Dustin Nash Northwestern State University 1 1 1- 0 1 1 1- 0
63 Bret Boyd – Ryan Tassin UAM-CTC 1 1 0-14 1 1 0-14
63 Gavin Goolsby – Andrew Cumberland Nicholls State 1 1 0-14 1 1 0-14
65 Colt Benedict – Chase Winston Dallas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Alec Castonguay – Garret Whitley Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Cody Finkbeiner – Taylor Barton Stephen F Austin University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Garrett Goettee – Grant Pietsch Texas A&M University at Galveston 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Gregory Green – Thomas Merchant Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Cain Hamous – Lane Possoit Northwestern State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Zachary Harrell – Conley Harris UAM-CTC 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Brandon Johnson – Thomas Soileau La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Jay Lawson – Matthew Anthony Stephen F Austin State University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Mitchell Mayard – Owen Richard LSU 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Tyler Moses – Justin Terrell LA Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Daniel Ortego – Justin Mann University of Louisiana LaFayette 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Oaklin Spier – Sawyer Evans Southeastern Louisiana University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 TJ Tucker – Hampton Hasek Arkansas Tech University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
65 Chris Zins – Nick Gill University of Central Oklahoma 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASS Day Name City,State Lbs-Oz
1 Zach Ziober – Dakota Ebare Grapevine, TX 5- 6
TOTALS Day # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 244 243 408-13 32
2 0 0 0- 0 0
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