FLORENCE, Ala. — After the dust settled on Day 1 of the Bassmaster College Series Wild Card, 22-8 took the lead. However, that lead belongs to two teams, Young Harris College’s Brad Rutherford and Matthew Peeler and University of North Alabama’s Andrew Nutt and Zachary Wiggers.
Interestingly enough, UNA’s campus sits roughly five miles from Lake Pickwick, the site of the Wild Card tournament, and Young Harris College is the host school for the College Series National Championship, which will be held on nearby Lake Chatuge, Aug. 1-3.
After failing to qualify for the National Championship at the Southern Regional in January, Rutherford and Peeler knew that Pickwick and the Wild Card were their last hope at representing their school on Chatuge. Holding the lead on Day 1 doesn’t ensure they’ll qualify, but it does take a lot of pressure off.
“It’s like a weight lifted off of my shoulders,” Rutherford said. “I spent so much time up here just because I know what I can do at Chatuge. It feels great for it to pay off.”
Statistically, Young Harris only has to finish in the Top 13 on Day 2 to qualify. The question is whether they will bunt and go for 13 to 14 pounds or keep swinging for the fences and try to win the Wild Card and subsequently the National Championship berth. The Young Harris team used a different sports analogy.
“[We’re] not planning on laying up,” said Peeler. “It’s like qualifying for a golf tournament. You can two putt on 18 and make par and qualify, or you can make birdie on 18 to win the whole thing. We’re going to try to make birdie tomorrow.”
Young Harris is playing the typical ledge-fishing game. Their better bites came during two separate feeding windows. They caught three good fish in the first hour thanks to the early morning bite and culled twice late in the afternoon when the current was strongest.
“I’ve got about 10 rods on the deck, and I caught fish today on every single one of them,” said Rutherford.
The University of North Alabama’s Nutt and Wiggers are fishing a little more specifically for their share of the lead. Rotating through a swimbait and crankbait primarily, UNA probably culled the best five-fish limit today.
“We probably culled a 17- or 18-pound limit,” said Nutt. “We’re catching some long-lining and some slow rolling a swimbait.”
“Long-lining” refers to making a cast, disengaging the reel and using your trolling motor to free spool a long portion of the line. This is a technique that gained recent popularity when Jeremy Starks reintroduced it to the masses with his Bassmaster Elite Series win on Douglas Lake in 2012. The technique is completely legal as long as the angler doesn’t use the propulsion of his trolling motor or outboard to retrieve the bait. The advantage is that a crankbait that only dives 15 to 18 feet on a normal cast can reach depths around 40 feet.
“We didn’t long-line all day,” said Nutt. “We just had a few schools that went deeper due to all the boat pressure.”
Boat pressure was the main concern for most teams, including UNA, on Day 1. Boats lined the river ledges as far as the eye could see, and as soon as one boat would pull off a spot, another would take its place. Several times today, the new arrival wouldn’t even wait for the current occupant to leave, making for some interesting moments on the water.
The bad news is that boat pressure will only increase tomorrow with the typical weekend anglers and other tournament fishermen. UNA is hoping to overcome that with an ace in the hole.
“We culled all our fish on one school we found today, and we’re hoping we can get on that school tomorrow,” said Nutt.
Bethel University’s Jacob Hardy and Jake Lawrence sit in 3rd with 21-7 on Day 1. Hailing from the shores of Kentucky Lake, Hardy and Lawrence feel right at home on Pickwick’s ledges.
“Ledge fishing is definitely our strong suit, and Pickwick fishes just like Kentucky Lake except a little bit deeper in places,” Hardy said.
A swimbait and a spoon have been the bread and butter for the Bethel anglers so far this week, and they’re hoping they can stick to that combo through tomorrow.
“We probably caught 75 keepers today,” said Lawrence. “But we only had six that were good quality bites, over 4 pounds. You have to weed through all those little ones to find one of those bigger ones.”
Mike and Nick Huff of Georgetown College sit on the National Championship qualification bubble in 13th place on Day 1 with 16-4. There are eight teams less than 2 pounds behind them, and those teams are eager to steal that spot away.
Rutherford and Peeler of Young Harris College took the Day 1 Big Bass honors with a 6-3 brute.
Teams will launch at McFarland Park tomorrow at 6:15 a.m. CT, with the Day 2 weigh-in also at McFarland Park starting at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Bassmaster College Series
6/14/2013 - 6/15/2013
Pickwick Lake - McFarland Park - Florence, AL
STANDINGS BOATER DAY 1
Today's Activity Accumulative
Name # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz # Fish # Live Lbs - Oz
1 Andrew Nutt - Zachary Wiggers University of North Alabama 5 5 22- 8 5 5 22- 8
1 Brad Rutherford - Matthew Peeler Young Harris College 5 5 22- 8 5 5 22- 8
3 Jacob Hardy - Jake Lawrence Bethel University 5 5 21- 7 5 5 21- 7
4 Jordan Lee - Shane Powell Auburn University 5 5 20-12 5 5 20-12
5 Myles Palmer - Dalton Wilson Bethel University 5 5 20- 7 5 5 20- 7
6 Zach Parker - Matt Roberts Bethel University 5 4 19- 6 5 4 19- 6
7 Drew Long - Cody Garrison Mississippi State University 5 5 18-11 5 5 18-11
8 Tanner Parker - Trent Palmer Georgia Southern University 5 4 18- 9 5 4 18- 9
9 Nathan Martin - Robb Young University of North Alabama 5 4 17-12 5 4 17-12
10 Matthew Loetscher - Peyton Igo La Tech 5 5 17- 5 5 5 17- 5
11 Benjamin Freeman - Dillon McGee Bethel University 5 5 16-13 5 5 16-13
12 Nick LaDart - Brian Eaton La Monroe 5 5 16-11 5 5 16-11
13 Mike Huff - Nick Huff Georgetown College 5 5 16- 4 5 5 16- 4
14 Bryan Carroll - Jacob Reome Clemson University 5 5 15-10 5 5 15-10
15 Tyler Strock - Dalton Darnell AUM 5 5 14-15 5 5 14-15
16 Matt Salmons - Travis Spivey Eastern Kentucky 5 5 14-14 5 5 14-14
17 Jacob Nummy - Tom Frink AUM 5 4 14- 8 5 4 14- 8
18 William Shipes - Alan Horwatt Clemson University 5 5 14- 7 5 5 14- 7
19 Drew Comeaux - Bryan Coleman LSU 5 5 14- 5 5 5 14- 5
19 Blake Deron - Brett Preuett La Monroe 5 5 14- 5 5 5 14- 5
19 Byron Kenney - Brian Rosso University of Georgia 5 5 14- 5 5 5 14- 5
22 Joseph Marty - Mississippi State University 5 5 13-14 5 5 13-14
23 Logan Johnson - Keith Kirkley University of Alabama 5 4 13-14 5 4 13-14
24 Logan Shaddix - Ethan Flack Wallace State CC Hanceville 5 5 13-10 5 5 13-10
25 Shane Jewell - Blake Thomas University of North Alabama 5 4 13-10 5 4 13-10
26 Briggs Defoor - Brandon Worthey Auburn University 5 5 13- 9 5 5 13- 9
27 Travis McGuire - Flynn Chapman Texas Tech 5 5 13- 5 5 5 13- 5
28 Caleb Shoemaker - Bret Phillips Western Illinois University 5 5 12-10 5 5 12-10
29 Jay Kendrick - Shelby Hutchens Stephen F Austin State University 5 5 12- 9 5 5 12- 9
30 Colby Ray - Jordan Shea Tarrant County College 5 4 12- 8 5 4 12- 8
31 George Fleming - Tanner Blanks Radford University 5 5 12- 4 5 5 12- 4
32 Daniel Perry - Brandon Easterling University of Montevallo 5 5 11-15 5 5 11-15
33 Alex Derry - Cody Johnston UT Martin 5 5 11-14 5 5 11-14
34 Justin Marlow - Michael McDermott Kennesaw State University 5 5 11- 5 5 5 11- 5
35 Corey Pierce - Austin Brown AUM 5 4 11- 4 5 4 11- 4
36 Justin Royal - Colby Ogden Lamar University 4 4 11- 3 4 4 11- 3
37 Jessy Meherg - Austin Keeton JC Calhoun Comm College 5 4 10-11 5 4 10-11
38 Samuel Freeman - University of South Carolina 4 3 10- 4 4 3 10- 4
39 Blaine Chitwood - Cole Campbell Radford University 5 5 10- 1 5 5 10- 1
40 Jonathan Byrd - Mason Taylor Southeastern Louisiana University 5 5 9-15 5 5 9-15
41 Joe Thompson - Grayson Payne Young Harris College 5 5 9-12 5 5 9-12
42 Andrew Mohlenbrock - Ian Heskett Murray State 4 4 9- 7 4 4 9- 7
43 Tyler Stephens - Wes Grammer University of Alabama 5 3 8-13 5 3 8-13
44 Jennings Earnest - MJ Vihnanek University of South Alabama 2 2 8-11 2 2 8-11
45 Christian Cook - Andrew Furr Appalachian State 4 4 8- 6 4 4 8- 6
46 Wesley Steinmeyer - Daniel Hughes Augusta State 3 3 7-12 3 3 7-12
47 Edward Rude III - Matthew Combs West Virginia University 3 3 7- 8 3 3 7- 8
48 Chandler Ray - Carson Ray Georgia Southwestern State University 4 4 7- 7 4 4 7- 7
48 Jay Robertson - Brent Davis Southeastern Louisiana University 4 4 7- 7 4 4 7- 7
50 Bryce Owen - Stanton McDuffie NC State 2 1 6-13 2 1 6-13
51 Charlie Hurst - Frankie Appaluccio University of Alabama 2 2 6- 7 2 2 6- 7
52 Scotty Cain - UAB 3 3 6- 2 3 3 6- 2
53 Garrett Roberts - Adrian Estrada Auburn University 2 2 6- 1 2 2 6- 1
54 Jacob Fine - Timothy Ward Auburn University 3 3 5-15 3 3 5-15
55 Lealand Johnson - Weston King University of Alabama 2 2 5-13 2 2 5-13
56 Travis Harriman - Chaz Miller University of Arkansas 3 3 5-12 3 3 5-12
57 Evan Smith - Arkansas Tech University 3 3 5-11 3 3 5-11
58 Jordan Tuten - Bryant Quattlebaum Wallace State CC Hanceville 2 2 4- 9 2 2 4- 9
59 Cody Kennedy - David Locke JC Calhoun Comm College 2 2 4- 8 2 2 4- 8
60 Bart Brimhall - Connor Bedsole Troy University 2 2 4- 6 2 2 4- 6
61 Hunter Bozeman - Jon Frey Florida Gulf Coast University 3 3 3-15 3 3 3-15
62 Seth Mycko - Matthew Garvin Clemson University 2 2 3- 8 2 2 3- 8
63 Ben Curry - Blake Evans Auburn University 1 1 2-14 1 1 2-14
64 Charlie Sipe - Hunter Hill Appalachian State 1 1 2-10 1 1 2-10
65 Jacob Sepeda - Michael Romagosa Dallas Baptist University 1 1 2- 8 1 1 2- 8
66 Colton Henderson - Greg Dean Wallace State CC Hanceville 1 0 2- 8 1 0 2- 8
67 Matthew Palmer - Randall Morris Bethel University 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15
68 Jordan Johnson - Gettys Brannon University of South Carolina 1 1 1-13 1 1 1-13
69 Brett Meyn - Radford University 1 1 1-11 1 1 1-11
70 Colby Drago - Zachary Dubois University of Lousiana - Lafayette 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 Nicholas Harris - Zachary Gilmore FSU 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 John Hunter - Vincent Timperio Georgetown College 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 Paul LaFleur - Drew Porto University of Arkansas 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 Trapper Munn - Jason Daniel La Monroe 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 Pat Snellings - Evan Reid Auburn University 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
70 Brent White - Tennessee Tech 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0
BIG BASSTOTALS
Day Name City,State Lbs-OzDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits
1 Brad Rutherford Lavonia, GA 6- 31 270 256 757- 5 40
2 0 0 0- 0 0