Big Morning Lifts Hollen And Clark To Bassmaster Junior Championship Win

Bo Hollen and Ari Clark, of West Virginia’s Mon Valley Bassmasters, have won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.

October 9, 2021

Big Morning Lifts Hollen And Clark To Bassmaster Junior Championship Win

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HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — A double dose of early excitement set Bo Hollen and Ari Clark of the Mon Valley Bassmasters on course to winning the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake. They had a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Starting their day on a windward mid-lake point that went from about 7 to 25 feet, the anglers threw Carolina rigs with 1-ounce weights, 3-foot leaders and green pumpkin Strike King Space Monkey baits.

“We caught our first big one (an 8-pounder) around 7:20,” Clark said. “Then the 5-pounder was at 7:45, so they were near each other. We knew we’d get in the Top 10, but I told myself ‘We need to catch another one at least 4 pounds if we’re going to get first.’

“We tried; we didn’t get it, but we still won.”

After placing 28th on Day 1 with a four-fish bag of 3-8, the anglers from West Virginia more than quadrupled their productivity by turning in a final-round limit of 16-3 — the event’s heaviest catch. For their efforts, Hollen and Clark will split a $2,000 scholarship.

Hollen said the point they fished was a place they had visited during a previous Bassmaster Junior National Championship event. Patient presentations were the key.

“We made long casts and reeled it kind of slow,” Hollen said.

Hollen and Clark caught a few fish — including their first keeper of the day — on a drop shot. They fished this finesse rig with 4- and 6-inch Roboworms in the morning dawn color.

Hollen, who had plenty to say on stage, was nearly speechless when he lifted his trophy. Clark shared the enthusiasm and noted that catching a pair of kickers sweetens the experience.

“I’m shocked because I don’t get to see bass that big a lot,” he said. “The fact that I got to see an 8- and 5-pounder just blows my mind.”

Clayburn Reed and Gavin Gooding of Academy at the Farm finished second with 16-7. After placing 11th on Day 1 with a 5-pound limit, the Florida anglers added a four-fish bag of 11-7, which included a 6-12. Reed and Gooding earned a $1,000 scholarship.

“We changed things up today after we figured something out yesterday,” Reed said. “Today, we figured we should fish topwaters shallow in the morning. We were mostly fishing offshore yesterday, but we saw some bigger fish moving up shallow.

“This morning, we went to a cove and fished shallow and caught (that big fish) on a Yo-Zuri Pencil Popper in a translucent shad color.”

Gooding said he and his partner caught the other three keepers on a Texas-rigged pink stickworm. They fished that bait around shallow trees and offshore grass.

Brooks Hibbit and Grant Buzard of the Hartley’s Hawgs Youth Fishing Club finished third with 16-3. Catching an 8-1 gave them a big Day 1 lead with a 12-1 limit. Today, they could manage only 4 fish for 4-2.

“If we hadn’t caught that big fish (on Friday), we probably would have had only 8 pounds (total),” Hibbit said. “We weren’t on them today. It kind of started like it did on Day 1; about two hours in, no fish.

“But we got three fish in like 10 to 15 minutes. It was probably 10 casts, but that was the only hot action we had. We probably moved back and forth across the lake three or four times, just looking for spots, but it didn’t work that well.”

Sticking with their Day 1 strategy, Hibbit and Buzard slow-rolled Carolina-rigged green pumpkin Venom Trench Hogs. They used 4-foot leaders to allow the bait to float up as the weight impacted bottom structure.

For their third-place finish, Hibbit and Buzard won a $500 scholarship. They also took home the $200 Big Bass scholarship for their 8-1.

The Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship was hosted by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship 10/8-10/9Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake, Huntington  TN.(BOATER) Standings Day 2

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Bo Hollen – Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Bassmasters                0Day 1: 4   03-08     Day 2: 5   16-03   Total:   9  19-112.  Clayburn Reed – Gavin Gooding                Academy at the Farm                   0Day 1: 5   05-00     Day 2: 4   11-07   Total:   9  16-073.  Grant Buzard – Brooks Hibbit                 Hartleys Hawgs Youth Fishing Clu      0Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 4   04-02   Total:   9  16-034.  Trey Richardson Iii – Reid Luckett           Free State Bass                       0Day 1: 5   04-15     Day 2: 5   11-00   Total:  10  15-155.  Parker Adair – Jackson Miller                Arkansas Youth Anglers                0Day 1: 2   09-05     Day 2: 5   05-04   Total:   7  14-096.  Wes Warnock – Ryan Seitz                     Southeastern Bass Anglers             0Day 1: 2   01-15     Day 2: 5   12-02   Total:   7  14-017.  Drew Lee – Cole Mcausland                    American Christian Academy            0Day 1: 5   04-09     Day 2: 4   08-07   Total:   9  13-008.  Luke Stewart – Austin Craze                  Clay Co Middle School and Clay C      0Day 1: 5   04-14     Day 2: 5   08-00   Total:  10  12-149.  Nolan Savage – Jake Paradis                  LA Jr Bassmasters                     0Day 1: 5   08-04     Day 2: 5   04-09   Total:  10  12-1310. Nolan Holloway – Jackson Fanning             Morgan County Middle School           0Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 3   02-09   Total:   8  12-0111. Milam Mcillwain – Landon Lewis               CREEKWOOD FISHING                     0Day 1: 3   03-01     Day 2: 5   07-02   Total:   8  10-0312. James Barkley – Tanner Moulton               New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters      0Day 1: 5   05-08     Day 2: 5   04-11   Total:  10  10-0313. Dominic Bianchi – Ethan Haley                Rochester Bassmaster                  0Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   6  10-0114. Chase Black – Cayden Collins                 South side middle                     0Day 1: 5   05-10     Day 2: 4   03-15   Total:   9  09-0915. Lucas D’angelo – Drew Hinzman                Elkins                                0Day 1: 4   03-10     Day 2: 5   05-13   Total:   9  09-0716. Presley Lannom – Preston Maddux              Mt Juliet Fishing                     0Day 1: 5   04-05     Day 2: 5   05-02   Total:  10  09-0717. Kent Falls – Colby Falls                     York Middle School                    0Day 1: 4   03-01     Day 2: 5   06-01   Total:   9  09-0218. Jackson Rogers – Caden Sellers               Jr. Southwest Bassmasters             0Day 1: 5   04-08     Day 2: 5   04-07   Total:  10  08-1519. Tate Reynolds – Blane Smith                  Russell County High School            0Day 1: 4   03-04     Day 2: 3   05-09   Total:   7  08-1320. Caleb Hildenbrand – Ethan Denu               Port City Jr. Bassmasters             0Day 1: 5   04-08     Day 2: 5   04-05   Total:  10  08-1321. Jase Johnson – Keaton Coe                    Anoka Ramsey Jr Bassers               0Day 1: 5   04-08     Day 2: 5   03-15   Total:  10  08-0722. Aiden King – Dillyn Dill                     Shelby County Jr Anglers              0Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:   6  08-0423. Connor Kennedy – Hayden Johns                Mulberry High School                  0Day 1: 5   06-08     Day 2: 2   01-11   Total:   7  08-0324. Rhiauna Switzer – Abigail Panak              Pretty Water Junior Bass Club         0Day 1: 5   03-09     Day 2: 5   04-06   Total:  10  07-1525. Murphy Childers – Ryder Colee                                                      0Day 1: 1   00-12     Day 2: 5   07-00   Total:   6  07-1226. Charles Klug – Brock Huebner                 PJ Jacobs Junior High                 0Day 1: 1   06-13     Day 2: 1   00-15   Total:   2  07-1227. Alexander Tyler – Briley West                McKeel Junior Fishing Team            0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:   5  07-0728. Wyatt Massey – Leland Pageler                Phoenix Junior Bass Masters           0Day 1: 5   04-01     Day 2: 4   03-05   Total:   9  07-0629. Lainie Holbert – Sarah Swindle               Riverside Bass Team                   0Day 1: 3   02-06     Day 2: 5   04-06   Total:   8  06-1230. Cameron Prokop – Tom Shumowsky               New Age Bass Fishing Club             0Day 1: 5   04-05     Day 2: 3   02-07   Total:   8  06-1231. Alex Meland – Carter Michalek                Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters           0Day 1: 5   05-03     Day 2: 3   01-08   Total:   8  06-1132. Nathan Chiasson – Evan Breaux                Lafourche Junior Bassmasters          0Day 1: 2   01-07     Day 2: 3   05-03   Total:   5  06-1033. Ty Magargle – Quintin Bergey                 Wildcat Fishing                       0Day 1: 5   04-12     Day 2: 2   01-09   Total:   7  06-0534. Cole Bowen – Tate Bowen                      Mecklenburg                           0Day 1: 5   04-06     Day 2: 2   01-15   Total:   7  06-0535. Terryn Boland – Wyatt Becker                 West Salem                            0Day 1: 5   03-13     Day 2: 2   01-15   Total:   7  05-1236. Cassidy Sawyer – Vaughn Mckay                L A Junior Bassmasters                0Day 1: 1   00-11     Day 2: 5   04-06   Total:   6  05-0137. Caleb Moore – Joseph Siegel                  Off The Hook IL Bassmasters           0Day 1: 2   01-09     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   4  05-0138. Parker Eubanks – Garrett Evans               Plainview Jr. Bass Club               0Day 1: 5   03-09     Day 2: 1   01-00   Total:   6  04-0939. Boots Burleson – Brady Mikes                 Texas Bass Nation                     0Day 1: 1   00-15     Day 2: 4   03-06   Total:   5  04-0540. Cameron Mcdonel – Trenton Zoellner           Swatara and CD Middle                 0Day 1: 1   01-00     Day 2: 3   03-04   Total:   4  04-0441. Cason Redwine – Bo Helms                     Bear Creek Anglers                    0Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 2   02-01   Total:   3  03-1542. Justin Waggener – Eli Pauley                 Burgin Independent School             0Day 1: 3   03-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  03-1443. Brayden Vallie – Easton Fett                 Fruitport                             0Day 1: 2   01-15     Day 2: 2   01-11   Total:   4  03-1044. Beau McQuade – Elijah Ambrose                Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters         0Day 1: 2   01-12     Day 2: 2   01-14   Total:   4  03-1045. Jack Meiser – Blake Meiser                   Eureka                                0Day 1: 3   02-03     Day 2: 1   01-00   Total:   4  03-0346. Lucas Sheafer – Steele Smith                 Louisburg Middle School               0Day 1: 2   02-02     Day 2: 1   00-13   Total:   3  02-1547. Avery Bowen – Laiken Emanuel                 Jefferson West High School            0Day 1: 1   00-10     Day 2: 2   02-03   Total:   3  02-1348. Carter Gaines – Charlie Brekke               Poudre School District                0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   02-12   Total:   2  02-1249. Princeton Jordan – Peyton Jordan             Marshfield Blue Jays                  0Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-1149. Troy Watson – Shockley Hiatt                 Mount Airy Middle School – Maybe      0Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-1151. Tyler Camp – Kason Carmichiel                Pine Grove                            0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   02-11   Total:   3  02-1152. Jonathan Jarvis – Tanner Trawick             Seminole Co. Middle High School       0Day 1: 2   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  02-0353. Connor Krech – Landon Bizal                  Anoka Ramsey                          0Day 1: 1   00-09     Day 2: 2   01-10   Total:   3  02-0354. Nicholas Syrett – Landon Homrich             Howell Highlander Way Middle Sch      0Day 1: 1   01-00     Day 2: 1   00-15   Total:   2  01-1555. Grant Rees – Keegan Carnicle                 West Delaware                         0Day 1: 1   00-11     Day 2: 1   01-03   Total:   2  01-1456. Leo Yonkman – Drew Wagner                    Southside Junior Anglers              0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-0257. Mackenzie Muntz – Jacob Muntz                Gibsonburg                            0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-0058. Austin Evans – Trevor Wallace                Mecklenburg Youth Bass Masters        0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-1558. Levi  Sowell – Maggie Miller                 Broaddus                              0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-1560. Nikolas Foster –                             Massachusetts BASS Nation             0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-0060. Kaleb Harris – Dakota Power                  Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster                 0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-0060. John Pharr – Collin Pharr                                                          0Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1        23       176       195-082        20       178       225-04———————————-43       354       420-12

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