DANDRIDGE, Tenn. — Coby Carden held onto his Day 2 lead to win the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional today on Tennessee’s Douglas Lake, and it was a catch in the last 10 minutes of competition that sealed the deal for him.
“It was tough today,” said Carden after his win. The LA Po Boys club member from Calera, Ala., started strong with a limit by 9 a.m. But culling up was a problem. He went without a bite for 3 1/2 hours, he said, and when he changed spots and started catching fish, none of them were big enough to increase his sack.
Carden said he thought he wouldn’t have enough to maintain the 3-pound, 11-ounce lead he established in Day 2 of competition. As he was heading back to the ramp for weigh-in, he realized he had about 10 minutes left to kill.
“So I pulled into a shallow pocket that I had fished a little during practice, and I threw a crankbait,” he said.
What resulted was a strike from a 4-pounder that made the race between him and the second-place angler, Drew Sadler, not nearly as close.
Carden won the Southern Divisional with a total weight of 49 pounds, 5 ounces. Sadler’s runner-up weight was 44-14.
Carden credits two lures for his win, a black-and-blue Missile Baits D Bomb creature bait and a Strike King 6XD crankbait in citrus shad. He flipped the D Bomb in shallow water using a 7-5 G.Loomis GLX flipping stick with a Shimano Chronarch reel and 20-pound Sunline. He fished the crankbait when he went into deeper water, using a 7-11 G.Loomis GLX cranking rod and a Shimano Core 100MG reel with 12-pound-test Sunline.
Carden, who fished pro-level events with B.A.S.S. from 1999 to 2005, has since chosen a career as a salesman at Builders First Source so he can stay at home with his family. But the dream of competing in the Bassmaster Classic still lives on, and he now has the opportunity to pursue that dream. By being the top angler on the Alabama state team, he is invited to fish in the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Arkansas’ Lake Dardanelle, Oct. 24-26. The Southern division representative who performs best there will advance to the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
Joining Carden at the championship will be the six other state team leaders: David Boyd, Florida; Chris Blair, Georgia; Drew Sadler, Kentucky; Cory Leonard, North Carolina; John Proctor, South Carolina; and Mark Pierce, Tennessee.
The Alabama state team not only had the overall winner in Carden, but it also got the trophy for being the top state in cumulative weight. Alabama’s team members brought 417 pounds, 12 ounces to the scales. Behind Alabama were South Carolina with 381-14 and North Carolina with 365-6.
The Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament came on Day 2 from Tennessee’s Derick Leppin. His 6-4 bass eclipsed the other big bass of the tournament — Quentin Vercher’s 5-3 on Day 1 and Jeremy Sabo’s 5-8 on the final day.
The next 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship qualifier event will be the 2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Central Divisional, June 5-7, on Texas’ Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Boat US, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Luck-E-Strike, Power-Pole, Shimano
2013 B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional 4/22-4/26
Douglas Lake, Dandridge TN.
Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Coby Carden Calera, AL (AL) 15 49-05 0
2. Drew Sadler Richmond , KY (KY) 15 44-14 0
3. Cory Leonard Castalia, NC (NC) 15 43-14 0
4. Joe Lay Duncanville, AL (AL) 13 43-12 0
5. Chris Blair Newnan, GA (GA) 15 39-10 0
6. Roger Hoover Mooresville, NC (NC) 14 39-07 0
7. Brian Fritts Raleigh, NC (NC) 15 39-02 0
8. David Boyd Quincy, FL (FL) 15 37-11 0
9. John Proctor Conway, SC (SC) 15 37-01 0
10. Craig Monnin Cumming, GA (GA) 15 34-04 0
11. Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC (NC) 15 33-13 0
12. Lee Byrd Birmingham, AL (AL) 15 33-07 0
13. Tony Beck Social Circle, GA (GA) 15 33-06 0
14. Ryan Rakestraw Lithia Springs, GA (GA) 14 32-07 0
15. Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL (AL) 14 32-04 0
16. James Clements Vidalia, GA (SC) 15 32-03 0
17. Mike Williams Lancaster, KY (KY) 15 30-15 0
18. Don Hogue Cropwell, AL (AL) 14 30-14 0
19. Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC (SC) 13 30-14 0
20. Gregory Weber Louisville, KY (KY) 15 30-12 0
21. Conrad Bolt Seneca, SC (SC) 15 30-11 0
22. Tim McTyre Powder Springs, GA (GA) 14 30-10 0
23. Kyle Christopher Irvine, KY (KY) 14 30-09 0
24. Frank Raymer Brandenburg, KY (KY) 15 30-08 0
25. Chris Blanchette Irmo, SC (SC) 15 30-06 0
26. Marty Giddens Alpine, AL (AL) 15 30-05 0
27. Quentin Vercher Titus, AL (AL) 15 30-04 0
28. Allen Duke Port St Joe, FL (FL) 15 28-12 0
29. Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN (TN) 14 28-01 0
30. Lenny Smathers Granite Falls, NC (NC) 15 27-10 0
31. Samuel C Fish Hoover, AL (AL) 12 27-09 0
32. Rich Young Melbourne, KY (KY) 15 27-06 0
33. George Crain Cropwell, AL (AL) 15 27-02 0
34. Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN (TN) 13 26-14 0
35. Andrew Presley Harriman, TN (TN) 15 26-14 0
36. Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL (AL) 15 26-14 0
37. James D Willis Jr Fountain, SC (SC) 14 26-13 0
38. Rodney Chastain Fountain Inn, SC (SC) 15 26-02 0
39. Rob Digh Denver, NC (NC) 15 26-01 0
40. Christopher Scott Campbell Ludovici, GA (TN) 15 26-00 0
41. Chris Jones Conway, SC (SC) 15 25-07 0
42. Ryan O'Shea Crestview , FL (FL) 14 25-01 0
43. Jason Turner Anderson, SC (SC) 15 25-01 0
44. Eric J Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN (TN) 13 24-14 0
45. Bigworm Ludwig Auburn, GA (GA) 10 24-12 0
46. Kevin Allen Newnan , GA (GA) 11 24-09 0
47. Mark Strohauer Kennesaw, GA (GA) 12 24-07 0
48. Juke Hamner Harpersville, AL (AL) 15 24-05 0
49. Brad Smith Brownsville, TN (TN) 14 23-08 0
50. Rick Carson Gastonia, NC (SC) 12 23-00 0
51. Reggie Guffey Bessemer , NC (NC) 15 23-00 0
52. Jason Nunley Iuka, MS (TN) 14 22-09 0
53. Bobby Smith Panama City, FL (FL) 14 22-06 0
54. Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL (AL) 11 22-01 0
55. Sidney Weaver Cherryville, NC (SC) 13 22-00 0
56. David R Presley Kingston , TN (TN) 14 21-13 0
57. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC (NC) 13 21-08 0
58. Chris Moody Fayetteville, GA (GA) 12 21-02 0
59. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL (FL) 12 21-01 0
60. Randy Hoedt Land O'Lakes, FL (FL) 12 21-01 0
61. Charles D Wheeler Lexington, TN (TN) 13 21-00 0
62. Matthew Bret Taylor Troy, TN (TN) 12 20-15 0
63. Scott Hamrick Denver, NC (NC) 13 20-11 0
64. Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL (FL) 14 20-09 0
65. Terry Watson Douglasville, GA (GA) 12 19-13 0
66. Blake Campbell Anderson, SC (SC) 12 19-09 0
67. Rick Brown Louisa , KY (KY) 9 19-08 0
68. Mark Estep Russell , KY (KY) 11 19-06 0
69. David Taylor Louisville, KY (KY) 12 19-01 0
70. Jason Lambert Pickwick Dam, TN (TN) 11 19-00 0
71. Pete Fargo Acworth, GA (GA) 10 18-15 0
72. Randy Groves Creedmoor, NC (NC) 10 18-06 0
73. Stephen Noble Newpost, KY (KY) 11 18-00 0
74. Derick Leppin Cordova, TN (TN) 8 17-15 0
75. Gary Paul Cape Coral, FL (FL) 10 17-12 0
76. Jeremy Sabo Clayton, NC (NC) 9 17-11 0
77. Dennis Hanley Mount Dora, FL (FL) 12 17-09 0
78. Larry Martin Anderson, SC (SC) 8 16-15 0
79. Mike Kim Roswell, GA (GA) 12 16-05 0
80. Steve Hildebran Mt Holly, NC (NC) 8 16-03 0
81. Tom Bateman Orlando, FL (FL) 12 16-02 0
82. Xavier Tiberghien Randburg, SC (SC) 11 15-09 0
83. Dustin Hagwood Spring Hope, NC (NC) 11 14-15 0
84. Dean Favorite Paris, KY (KY) 9 14-14 0
85. Larry Bullock Pensacola, FL (AL) 8 14-11 0
86. Shayne Alderman Hilliard, FL (FL) 8 14-01 0
87. Joseph T Von Hoene Erlanger, KY (KY) 7 13-14 0
88. Glenn Sageser Shelbyville, KY (KY) 8 13-13 0
89. Aaron Richardson Destin, FL (FL) 5 13-11 0
90. Patrick Currie Millry , AL (AL) 7 13-10 0
91. Vernon Ward Mary Esther, FL (FL) 8 13-04 0
92. Ben Stone Donalds, SC (SC) 5 12-06 0
93. Mike Hoover Jackson, TN (TN) 8 12-01 0
94. Drew Cook Quincy , FL (FL) 5 11-14 0
95. Clayton Childs Bishop, GA (GA) 5 10-08 0
96. Rick Crouch Tullahoma, TN (TN) 6 10-08 0
97. Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN (GA) 8 10-03 0
98. Jeff Farrell Garner, NC (NC) 6 10-02 0
99. Matthew Mullins Douglasville, GA (GA) 5 10-01 0
100. John Coble Garrett Union City, TN (TN) 5 09-04 0
101. Jerry Kelley Wewahitchka, FL (FL) 6 08-14 0
102. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY (KY) 6 08-02 0
103. JT Rawski JR Honea Path, SC (SC) 5 07-13 0
104. David Morton Suwanee, GA (GA) 5 07-11 0
105. Keith Sickler Cincinnati, OH (KY) 5 07-05 0
106. Ryan Parks Vincent , AL (AL) 5 07-03 0
107. Ethan James Howard Lucama , NC (NC) 5 06-12 0
108. Collin Gregory Birchwood , TN (TN) 5 06-11 0
109. Brock Colby Johnson Clayton , NC (NC) 5 06-03 0
110. Sean King Villa Hills, KY (KY) 5 06-01 0
111. Sheldon Terence Hamilton Fountainbleau SOUTH AFR 5 05-10 0
112. Rayfe Marquis Ocala, FL (FL) 4 05-06 0
113. Stuart Andrew Jones Durban SOUTH AFRICA 5 05-04 0
114. Reid Harbin Carter Birmingham, AL (AL) 3 04-02 0
115. Caleb Murley Goreville, IL (KY) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 410 821-13
2 50 390 760-14
3 75 477 899-15
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194 1277 2482-10
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
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State Lbs-Oz
1 ALABAMA 417-12
2 SOUTH CAROLINA 381-14
3 NORTH CAROLINA 365-06
4 GEORGIA 358-11
5 KENTUCKY 335-00
6 TENNESSEE 317-15
7 FLORIDA 295-02
8 South Africa 10-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
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GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Chris Blair Newnan, GA 15 39-10 0
2 Craig Monnin Cumming, GA 15 34-04 0
3 Tony Beck Social Circle, GA 15 33-06 0
4 Ryan Rakestraw Lithia Springs, GA 14 32-07 0
5 Tim McTyre Powder Springs, GA 14 30-10 0
6 Bigworm Ludwig Auburn, GA 10 24-12 0
7 Kevin Allen Newnan , GA 11 24-09 0
8 Mark Strohauer Kennesaw, GA 12 24-07 0
9 Chris Moody Fayetteville, GA 12 21-02 0
10 Terry Watson Douglasville, GA 12 19-13 0
11 Pete Fargo Acworth, GA 10 18-15 0
12 Mike Kim Roswell, GA 12 16-05 0
13 Clayton Childs Bishop, GA 5 10-08 0
14 Bryan Asay Newnan GA YEMEN 8 10-03 0
15 Matthew Mullins Douglasville, GA 5 10-01 0
16 David Morton Suwanee, GA 5 07-11 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 John Proctor Conway, SC 15 37-01 0
2 James Clements Vidalia, GA 15 32-03 0
3 Bryan Gunter Ninety Six, SC 13 30-14 0
4 Conrad Bolt Seneca, SC 15 30-11 0
5 Chris Blanchette Irmo, SC 15 30-06 0
6 James D Willis Jr Fountain, SC 14 26-13 0
7 Rodney Chastain Fountain Inn, SC 15 26-02 0
8 Chris Jones Conway, SC 15 25-07 0
9 Jason Turner Anderson, SC 15 25-01 0
10 Rick Carson Gastonia, NC 12 23-00 0
11 Sidney Weaver Cherryville, NC 13 22-00 0
12 Blake Campbell Anderson, SC 12 19-09 0
13 Larry Martin Anderson, SC 8 16-15 0
14 Xavier Tiberghien Randburg, SC 11 15-09 0
15 Ben Stone Donalds, SC 5 12-06 0
16 JT Rawski JR Honea Path, SC 5 07-13 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Boyd Quincy, FL 15 37-11 0
2 Allen Duke Port St Joe, FL 15 28-12 0
3 Ryan O'Shea Crestview , FL 14 25-01 0
4 Bobby Smith Panama City, FL 14 22-06 0
5 Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 12 21-01 0
6 Randy Hoedt Land O'Lakes, FL 12 21-01 0
7 Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL 14 20-09 0
8 Gary Paul Cape Coral, FL 10 17-12 0
9 Dennis Hanley Mount Dora, FL 12 17-09 0
10 Tom Bateman Orlando, FL 12 16-02 0
11 Shayne Alderman Hilliard, FL 8 14-01 0
12 Aaron Richardson Destin, FL 5 13-11 0
13 Vernon Ward Mary Esther, FL 8 13-04 0
14 Drew Cook Quincy , FL 5 11-14 0
15 Jerry Kelley Wewahitchka, FL 6 08-14 0
16 Rayfe Marquis Ocala, FL 4 05-06 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Coby Carden Calera, AL 15 49-05 0
2 Joe Lay Duncanville, AL 13 43-12 0
3 Lee Byrd Birmingham, AL 15 33-07 0
4 Bruce Sargent Gardendale, AL 14 32-04 0
5 Don Hogue Cropwell, AL 14 30-14 0
6 Marty Giddens Alpine, AL 15 30-05 0
7 Quentin Vercher Titus, AL 15 30-04 0
8 Samuel C Fish Hoover, AL 12 27-09 0
9 George Crain Cropwell, AL 15 27-02 0
10 Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 15 26-14 0
11 Juke Hamner Harpersville, AL 15 24-05 0
12 Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL 11 22-01 0
13 Larry Bullock Pensacola, FL 8 14-11 0
14 Patrick Currie Millry , AL 7 13-10 0
15 Ryan Parks Vincent , AL 5 07-03 0
16 Reid Harbin Carter Birmingham, AL 3 04-02 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cory Leonard Castalia, NC 15 43-14 0
2 Roger Hoover Mooresville, NC 14 39-07 0
3 Brian Fritts Raleigh, NC 15 39-02 0
4 Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC 15 33-13 0
5 Lenny Smathers Granite Falls, NC 15 27-10 0
6 Rob Digh Denver, NC 15 26-01 0
7 Reggie Guffey Bessemer , NC 15 23-00 0
8 Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 13 21-08 0
9 Scott Hamrick Denver, NC 13 20-11 0
10 Randy Groves Creedmoor, NC 10 18-06 0
11 Jeremy Sabo Clayton, NC 9 17-11 0
12 Steve Hildebran Mt Holly, NC 8 16-03 0
13 Dustin Hagwood Spring Hope, NC 11 14-15 0
14 Jeff Farrell Garner, NC 6 10-02 0
15 Ethan James Howard Lucama , NC 5 06-12 0
16 Brock Colby Johnson Clayton , NC 5 06-03 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Drew Sadler Richmond , KY 15 44-14 0
2 Mike Williams Lancaster, KY 15 30-15 0
3 Gregory Weber Louisville, KY 15 30-12 0
4 Kyle Christopher Irvine, KY 14 30-09 0
5 Frank Raymer Brandenburg, KY 15 30-08 0
6 Rich Young Melbourne, KY 15 27-06 0
7 Rick Brown Louisa , KY 9 19-08 0
8 Mark Estep Russell , KY 11 19-06 0
9 David Taylor Louisville, KY 12 19-01 0
10 Stephen Noble Newpost, KY 11 18-00 0
11 Dean Favorite Paris, KY 9 14-14 0
12 Joseph T Von Hoene Erlanger, KY 7 13-14 0
13 Glenn Sageser Shelbyville, KY 8 13-13 0
14 Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY 6 08-02 0
15 Keith Sickler Cincinnati, OH 5 07-05 0
16 Sean King Villa Hills, KY 5 06-01 0
17 Caleb Murley Goreville, IL 0 00-00 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN 14 28-01 0
2 Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN 13 26-14 0
3 Andrew Presley Harriman, TN 15 26-14 0
4 Christopher Scott Campbell Ludovici, GA 15 26-00 0
5 Eric J Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN 13 24-14 0
6 Brad Smith Brownsville, TN 14 23-08 0
7 Jason Nunley Iuka, MS 14 22-09 0
8 David R Presley Kingston , TN 14 21-13 0
9 Charles D Wheeler Lexington, TN 13 21-00 0
10 Matthew Bret Taylor Troy, TN 12 20-15 0
11 Jason Lambert Pickwick Dam, TN 11 19-00 0
12 Derick Leppin Cordova, TN 8 17-15 0
13 Mike Hoover Jackson, TN 8 12-01 0
14 Rick Crouch Tullahoma, TN 6 10-08 0
15 John Coble Garrett Union City, TN 5 09-04 0
16 Collin Gregory Birchwood , TN 5 06-11 0
South Africa
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Sheldon Terence Hamilton Fountainbleau SOUTH AFR 5 05-10 0
2 Stuart Andrew Jones Durban SOUTH AFRICA 5 05-04 0