Bethel’s Enders And Huff Hang On To Win College Bass National Championship

Garrett Enders (left) and Cody Huff of Bethel University won the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops held on Tenkiller Lake out of Tahlequah, Okla., with a three-day total weight of 41 pounds, 6 ounces. 

July 21, 2018

Bethel’s Enders And Huff Hang On To Win College Bass National Championship 

[print_link]

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — A little adversity builds character, they say, but the wire-to-wire winners of the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Oklahoma’s Tenkiller Lake Saturday said it also builds a bundle of nerves.

After two solid, trouble-free days and even with a 6-pound, 2-ounce lead going into the final day, Bethel University’s Garrett Enders and Cody Huff felt they left the door open when Campbellsville University pulled a miracle from the stingy, sinfully hot waters of Tenkiller — the biggest bag of the contest.

The Tahlequah crowd on the Northeastern State University campus erupted in screams as Campbellsville’s Bradley Dunagan and Nick Ratliff dragged a big green 6-pound anchor across the stage and posted 18 pounds, 2 ounces to climb from fifth place to snatch the hot seat away from West Virginia University’s Nolan Minor and Casey Lanier, who posted 15-4 of their own on the final day.

With just three fish in their bag and a deficit of 7-4 to cover for the win, Enders confessed he had no words to describe the feeling and Huff just said, “I’m nervous, I’m ready to get it going.”

Their three hardest-won fish of the tournament sealed the win with 9-2 for the day and a total of 41-6 for the three days on Tenkiller.

In addition to taking the championship title, Enders and Huff join the Campbellsville and West Virginia teams, along with Cole Burdeshaw and Peyton McCord of Auburn University as the Top 4 head to the 2018 Carhartt College Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, set for Aug. 14-16 on Milford Lake out of Junction City, Kan.

A berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, set for March 15-17 on the Tennessee River hosted at Knoxville, will be on the line for the eight anglers there, who will face off in the bracket-style, catch-and-release contest.

The college championship was tough and inconsistent as promised with sultry heat the first two days. Today’s finale brought a little break in the heat, but an invasion of recreational boaters that kept things topsy-turvy.

Enders and Huff were the only anglers to limit both of the first two days, and they did it quickly each morning, and without error.

“We hadn’t lost a fish all week; we lost four keepers today,” Huff said. “I guess you have to pay your dues.” Saturday they also sacrificed 14 flutter spoons to the docks of Tenkiller.

The first fish lost offered an indication of the lackluster luck factor ahead as it snagged a dockside obstacle. “He jumped up and actually got my jigging spoon’s hook caught on a rope holding a minnow bucket,” Huff said. “He was just hanging there and all we could do was watch him get off.”

All of their fish came on either a 5 1/2-inch Strike King Sexy Spoon or a 7/8-ounce Jewel Jigging Spoon as they targeted sunken cedars around docks with most hits happening between 15 and 20 feet.

“Most everything hit it on the way down,” Huff said. “You drop it and when it gets to 20 then you just work it back up.” One of the good fish missed Saturday followed the spoon nearly up to the boat, however. “He nailed it and dove but he came off,” he said.

Campbellsville’s Dunagan and Ratliff also worked spoons around marinas, but worked so hard at it they had to make a run to the nearest Bass Pro Shops, in Broken Arrow, to restock after Day 2.

“We just started looking for spider webs, pitching where nobody else had been,” Ratliff said. “We lost like 15 spoons today.”

Their two best lures were a 4-inch Strike King Sexy Spoon and a 3.75-inch Talon Custom Lures Lake Fork Flutter Spoon. “It’s a little heavier on a shorter frame so you can slide it back in there,” Ratliff said. A key bait their first two days was a Zoom Hand-Poured Trick Worm on a drop shot.

The Auburn anglers took a different route to the top. They targeted offshore brushpiles at 15 to 20 feet with a standup jighead and finesse worms, a strategy that proved hard with increased recreational traffic Saturday.

“We should have been flipping spoons under docks,” Burdeshaw said.

West Virginia’s Nolan Minor said they pieced together a variety of bites, junk fishing from the dam to a “magic tree” as far up the Illinois River as they could run.

“Today was the first day we caught more than one fish on the same bait,” Minor said. Saturday they caught two on a 6-inch Mega bass Magdraft, two on a 3-inch Keitech swimbait on a spot loaded with schooling bass, and a Berkley Dredger 25.5 deep-diving crankbait.

For Garrett, the win holds extra meaning as nearly four years earlier to the day, July 19, 2014, he and then-partner Nick Osman won the first Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Carhartt on Kentucky Lake. Garrett is now the only angler to win both and high school and college championship event in B.A.S.S. history.

“You can’t help but remember something like that,” he said. Deciding which was the more thrilling day took little thought, however.

“Oh, this is 10 times better,” he said.

A 6-3 largemouth caught on Day 2 by Hayden Bartee of Alabama’s Jefferson State University held up as Carhartt Big Bass for a $500 Carhartt gift certificate.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/college.

Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops7/19/2018 – 7/21/2018Tenkiller Lake – Cherokee Landing State Park – Tahlequah, OKSTANDINGS BOATER DAY 3

Name # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz PTS1 Garrett Enders – Cody Huff Bethel University 3 3 9- 2 13 12 41- 6 500.002 Bradley Dunagan – Nick Ratliff Campbellsville University 5 5 18- 2 13 12 39- 7 496.323 Nolan Minor – Casey Lanier West Virginia University 5 5 15- 4 11 11 32-13 492.654 Cole Burdeshaw – Peyton McCord Auburn University 2 2 5- 0 10 8 31- 2 488.975 Ty Cox – Alden Keel Jr Blue Mountain College 3 3 7- 5 10 10 28- 8 485.296 Thor Swanson – Mitch Swanson Bemidji State University 3 2 6- 9 12 10 28- 5 481.627 Lucas Murphy – Nolan Hitt Grand Valley State University 1 1 2- 1 10 10 27-11 477.948 Dustin Nash – Gregory Green Northwestern State University 2 1 4- 2 10 9 25- 0 474.269 Dillon Harrell – Colby Bryant Sam Houston State University 1 1 2- 5 8 8 22- 9 470.5910 Tanner Ward – Kent State University 2 2 3-10 9 9 20- 3 466.9111 Hunter Louden – Seth Roberts Bethel University 1 1 2- 8 6 6 19-14 463.2412 Thad Simerly – Ethan Shaw Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 7 7 16-11 459.5613 Carter McNeil – Cole Floyd Bethel University 7 7 15- 6 455.8814 Conner Choate – Hunter DeSplinter UW – Platteville 5 5 15- 3 452.2115 Taylor Hamburger – Carson Smith Northeastern State University 5 5 14-15 448.5316 Lee Mattox – Anderson Aldag University of Alabama 6 5 14-14 444.8517 Hunter Sales – Tristan Stalsworth Carson-Newman University 6 6 14- 7 441.1818 Nick Marsh – Jarrod Layton Adrian College 4 4 14- 1 437.5019 Kory England – Matt Baker Arkansas Tech University 5 5 14- 0 433.8220 Logan Parks – Lucas Lindsay Auburn University 6 6 13-14 430.1521 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Jefferson State 4 4 13-13 426.4722 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee LSU Shreveport 4 3 13-11 422.7923 Justin Barnes – Adam Carroll University of Montevallo 4 4 13- 8 419.1224 Jacob Daily – Andrew Deloney University of Alabama 4 2 13- 3 415.4425 Tyler Rivet – Jared Bascle Nicholls State University 5 5 12-10 411.7626 Tyler Craig – Spencer Lambert U. of Louisiana at Monroe 5 4 12-10 408.0927 Jordan Hartman – Hunter McKinley Murray State University 6 5 12- 7 404.4128 Hunter Reifschneider – Jonathan Klaes University of Dubuque 5 5 11-15 400.7429 Miller Spivey – Chandler Sickafoose Wallace State Hanceville 3 2 11-15 397.0630 Gavin Lagle – Atom Ward Indiana University Southeast 4 4 11-14 393.3831 Brian Pahl – John Garrett Bethel University 5 5 11-12 389.7132 Josh Dugger – Jake Dugger Arkansas Tech University 3 2 11- 5 386.0333 Nick Inzeo – Nick Montilino Murray State University 4 4 11- 3 382.3534 Ben Stone – Greyson Williams Lander University 4 4 10-15 378.6835 Nathan Bell – Cole Sands Bryan College 3 3 10-11 375.0036 Mitchell Jennings – Roy Zhang Auburn University 5 4 10- 9 371.3237 Jarred Jones – Devin Mobbs Jacksonville State University 4 4 10- 6 367.6538 Bennett Pierce – Austin Phillips Arkansas Tech University 4 4 9-14 363.9739 Cully Scroggins – Nathon Portch Bethel University 4 3 9-14 360.2940 Alex Murray – Trent Manuel McNeese State University 4 4 9- 9 356.6241 Evan Slentz – Colin Slentz Lander University 4 4 9- 7 352.9442 Austin Miles – Cooper Brown Colorado State University, Pueblo 4 4 9- 7 349.2643 Matthew Cross – Mekiah Jack Middle Tennessee State University 4 4 9- 6 345.5944 Caiden Sinclair – Hunter Gibson University of Alabama 4 4 9- 3 341.9145 Cody Stahl – Reese Kingston SCAD 3 3 9- 2 338.2446 Dakota Cantrell – Austin Moore Campbellsville University 3 3 8-11 334.5647 Spencer Hahn – Ben Wanke University of Wisconsin 4 4 8-10 330.8848 Jake Biram – Rhett Meyer Oklahoma State University 3 3 8- 7 327.2149 Patrick Pelt – Logan McEwen Auburn University 4 4 8- 7 323.5350 Dalton Childers – Blake Spradlin Auburn University 3 3 8- 6 319.8551 Cullen Lamm-Hoover – Jules Williams Hampden-Sydney College 4 3 8- 3 316.1852 Dustin Jones – Dalton Smith Campbellsville University 3 3 7-10 312.5053 Dillon Bryant – Dustin Wagner Patrick Henry Comm College 3 2 7- 5 308.8254 Carson Leber – Tyler Bounds Chico State 2 2 7- 3 305.1555 John-Michael Brattlof – Cody Barchenger Stephen F Austin State University 3 3 7- 2 301.4756 Ben Barrus – Tyler VanBrandt Adrian College 3 3 7- 0 297.7957 Joseph Bruener – Nathan Doty McKendree University 2 2 6-14 294.1258 Jackson Carrell – Kyle Pasket Sam Houston State University 3 3 6-12 290.4459 Daniel Smathers – Jack Reed Liberty University 3 2 6-11 286.7660 Adam Forester – Scott McClellan Louisiana Tech 3 2 6- 7 283.0961 Cole Walker – Wilson Smith Bethel University 2 2 6- 3 279.4162 Jacob Shannon – Brandon Murphy University of Texas at Tyler 2 2 6- 2 275.7463 Connor Whisenant – Carter Henderson Texas A&M University 3 3 5-15 272.0664 Brennan Soileau – Garrett McDonald Louisiana Tech 3 3 5- 9 268.3865 Reid Conner – Joshua Butts Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 5- 7 264.7166 Travis Blenn – Jake Hoselton Kansas State 2 2 5- 4 261.0367 Joe McClosky – John-Austin Welch Bethel University 3 3 5- 4 257.3568 KJ Queen – Brad Ableman Bethel University 2 2 5- 4 253.6869 Chris Walter – Jacob Gress Indiana University 2 2 4-14 250.0070 Travis Howard – Sam Carris Tennessee Tech University 2 2 4-11 246.3271 Cade Reeder – Will Harding Wallace State Hanceville 2 2 4-10 242.6572 Zachariah Edwards – Drew Douglas University of Central Oklahoma 2 0 4- 8 238.9773 Branden Newcome – Michael Shughart West Virginia University 1 1 4- 8 235.2974 Caleb Dennis – Hunter Presley Central Alabama Comm College 2 2 4- 7 231.6275 Shane Campbell – Ethan Jones McKendree University 2 2 4- 4 227.9475 Hunter Stewart – Luke Slaton U. of North Georgia 2 2 4- 4 227.9477 John Moore – Clark Mannas Texas A&M University 1 1 4- 4 220.5978 Ryan Fox – Stephen Jesso Penn State 2 1 4- 2 216.9179 Mark Moran – Brandon Robinson Glenville State College 2 2 4- 1 213.2480 Nathan Ragsdale – Jerimiah Freelund University of Georgia 2 2 4- 0 209.5681 Chad Sweitzer – Matthew Featherston Chico State 1 1 4- 0 205.8882 Ryan Nevil – Nathan Wood Dallas Baptist University 2 2 3-15 202.2183 Kyler Chelminiak – Ricky Harris Bethel University 1 1 3-13 198.5384 Luke Potter – Stephen Thomas Lamar University 1 0 3-12 194.8585 Conner Fogg – Chandler Fogg Bryan College 1 1 3- 3 191.1885 Parker Humber – Carlos Welch Itawamba Comm College 1 1 3- 3 191.1887 Thomas Robbins – Kevin Lukens Michigan State University 1 1 3- 2 183.8288 Crosley Welch – Hayden Lee Missouri State University 1 1 2-15 180.1589 Michael Whiteacre – Romolo Rabasi Ohio State University 1 1 2-14 176.4790 Johnny Ledet – Logan Laprarie Northwestern State University 1 1 2-10 172.7990 Trevor McKinney – Curtis Lilly McKendree University 1 1 2-10 172.7992 Mason Beatty – Jacob Keith East Texas Baptist University 1 1 2- 8 165.4492 Tristan McCormick – Dakota Pierce Bethel University 1 1 2- 8 165.4492 Taylor Morten – Austin Porter Arkansas Tech University 1 1 2- 8 165.4495 Drew Elrod – Luke Byerly U. of Tennessee 1 1 2- 5 154.4195 Micah Speights – Clay Kepley UNC Charlotte 1 1 2- 5 154.4195 Trent Turner – Kyle Weems Louisiana Tech 1 1 2- 5 154.4198 Thomas Milstead – Jared Turnbloom University of Alabama 1 1 2- 4 143.3898 Zach Vielhauer – Will Andrie Kansas State 1 1 2- 4 143.38100 Tyler Robinson – Ben Seaman Clarkson University 1 1 2- 3 136.03101 Cole Buser – Marquz Perez New Mexico State University 1 1 2- 2 132.35101 Ryan Kent – David Brashear Georgia Southern 1 1 2- 2 132.35103 Caleb Gibson – Tyler Winn Northeastern State University 1 1 2- 1 125.00103 Denver Satterlee – Landon Smith Calhoun Community College 1 1 2- 1 125.00103 Kyle Stafford – Evan Wieber Polk State College 1 1 2- 1 125.00106 Blake Albertson – Adam Puckett Murray State University 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Josh Bean – Caden Watson Tennessee Tech University 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Jonathan Kelley – Joseph Castelluccio Coastal Carolina 1 1 1-15 113.97106 Jarrett Robertson – Brandon Smith Tarleton State University 1 1 1-15 113.97110 Jacob Anderson – Christopher Lewis University of Wisconsin 1 1 1-14 99.26110 Logan Brewster – Chase Dawson U. of Tennessee 1 1 1-14 99.26112 Andrew Wolfe – Colin Steck University of Wisconsin 1 1 1-13 91.91113 Noah Garnett – Tyler Pendergrass Wallace State Hanceville 1 1 1-12 88.24114 Jeffrey Hopkins – Austin Handley Auburn University 1 1 1-11 84.56115 Hunter Freeman – Wesley Banks U. of Louisiana at Monroe 1 1 1-10 80.88115 Jack Hippe – Nick Czajka Adrian College 1 1 1-10 80.88117 Mike Anderson – Zachary Schnepf UW-Oshkosh 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Collin Bode – Josh Perrin Sam Houston State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Will Brown – Chase Chastain Jacksonville State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Coleton Caldwell – Chandler Robertson UMKC School of Dentistry 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Drew Coker – Clayton Childs U. of North Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Evan Coleman – Josh Soroka Texas State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Jacob Foutz – Jake Lee Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Matt Garfield – Zack St John University of Minnesota Duluth 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Luke Gillund – Jack Kons Bemidji State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Wesley Griner – Justin Sisavath University of Georgia 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Spencer Guthrie – Ryan Kennedy Kennesaw State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Josh Hart – Ben Dominque Clemson University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Cantley Krafft – Ethan Morrison Virginia Tech 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Jonathan Linder – Dallas Baptist University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Harbor Lovin – Evan Bramhill Murray State University 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Johnathan Peck – Griffin Heffington Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Sloan Pennington – Hunter McCarty U. of North Alabama 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Dalton Price – Bryan College 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Brian Volkernick – University of Maine 0 0 0- 0 0.00117 Rickey Wood Jr – Coastal Carolina 0 0 0- 0 0.00

BIG BASSDay Name City,State Lbs-Oz1 JP Kimbrough – Ryan Antee Bossier City, LA 5- 92 Zeke Gossett – Hayden Bartee Cropwell, AL 6- 33 Bradley Dunagan – Nick Ratliff Monticello, KY ff 6- 0

TOTALSDay # Fish # Live Lbs-Oz # Limits1 183 171 488-12 72 179 168 464-13 83 28 26 76- 0 2

The post Bethel’s Enders And Huff Hang On To Win College Bass National Championship appeared first on The Bass Cast.