Minnesota Angler, State Team Leads Northern Divisional

Corey Brant of Minnetonka, Minn., maintains the lead on Day 2 of the the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional on Lake Vermilion held out of Tower, Minn., after bringing in 17 pounds, 7 ounces for a two-day total weight of 34-5, during 

Minnesota Angler, State Team Leads Northern Divisional

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TOWER, Minn. — The box score summarizes the kind of banner day enjoyed by the anglers at the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional underway on Lake Vermilion.

Total fish caught: 456

Total weight: 1,045 pounds, 14 ounces

That is a stark contrast to yesterday, when the 96 anglers accounted for 319 bass weighing 677 pounds, 9 ounces. Today’s overall catch included more than double the five-bass limits, with a total of 74 of those weighed.

Only the name on top of the scoreboard remained the same. He is Corey Brant of Minnetonka, Minn. The club member of Twin City Bass caught a limit of smallmouth weighing 17-7 to boost his overall weight to 34-5.

Close behind is Joe Pruss, who caught the heaviest limit of the tournament so far weighing 17-15. The South Dakota angler is less than 2 pounds from Brant in the overall standings.

Gary Adkins of Green Bay, Wis., slipped from second to third place with a total weight of 32-10. Behind him is Ted Heitschmidt of Tomahawk, Wis., with 29-9, and Brad Ballard of Winona, Minn., with 26-15.

“I’m fishing very efficient,” Brant said. “What I’m seeing are a lot of guys fishing the same water, but I’m just fishing it slower.”

The prevailing pattern is targeting largemouth and smallmouth inhabiting the sharply sloping contours of glacial rockpiles ranging in depth from 5 to 20 feet and deeper.

Soft plastic tubes rigged to lightweight leadhead jigs top the list of favored lures. Following in preference are drop shot rigs and crankbaits.

Those are all of Brant’s lure choices, although he is exclusively targeting smallmouth. What matters most is the tempo of lure presentation and a keen focus on subtle changes in the habitat.

“Every rockpile on this lake looks good and there are thousands of them,” he said. “What I’m doing different is keying on a certain pieces of structure.”

He continued, “It’s a very focused pattern and relying on electronics is another key. I think other anglers are fishing faster, even though we are all fishing the same type of areas.”

Like yesterday, Brant said he caught two or three bass at each of his four stops, although he admitted to fishing new areas today after catching a limit. That happened at 10:30 a.m.

“They are all running about the same size, around 3 pounds,” he said. “I just can’t seem to find the 4-pounders that could separate me from everyone else.”

A southerly breeze blew from daybreak through weigh-in time. The more stable weather and steady wind proved advantageous for the overall catch, and especially that of Pruss.

“The wind definitely made it better by breaking up the visibility on the surface,” he said. “It took me all day though, to catch my limit.”

Pruss said he “left fish biting” and those are being caught on tube jigs and crankbaits.

Minnesota is pulling away with the state title in a competition between eight Midwestern states. The team total is 291 pounds, 7 ounces, or 52 pounds ahead of second place. Wisconsin has 239-3 and Illinois is third place with 227-8. Ohio has 212-4 and Michigan is fifth with 193-5. Iowa is seventh with 185-13 and South Dakota eighth with 184-11.

Minnesota’s overall score received a huge boost from its team competing in the Costa Bassmaster High School Northern Divisional. Mason Raveling and Ben Provost weighed 17-8 to also take first place in the high school contest. The anglers are from Prior Lake High School.

The winning state gets a Triton boat, powered by a Yamaha outboard and rigged with accessories. The package is valued at $37,292.

The tournament host is Fortune Bay Casino and Resort. Friday’s takeoff and weigh-in will be held at the resort marina at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m., respectively.

2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional 8/26-8/28Lake Vermilion, Tower  MN.(ANGLER) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Corey Brant            Minnetonka, MN (MN)     10  34-05  02.  Joe Pruss              Springfield, SD (SD)    10  32-15  03.  Gary Adkins            Green Bay, WI (WI)      10  32-10  04.  Ted Heitschmidt        Tomahawk, WI (WI)       10  29-09  05.  Brad Ballard           Winona, MN (MN)         10  26-15  06.  Jami Fralick           Martin, SD (SD)         10  26-13  07.  Daniel Brown           Joliet, IL (IL)         10  25-13  08.  Ryan Whitacre          Chicago, IL (WI)        10  25-10  09.  Andy Hriber            Lakeville, MN (MN)      10  25-06  010. Paul Amstutz           Gambler, OH (OH)        9  24-12  011. Jim Barczak            Osceola, WI (WI)        10  24-08  012. Korey Bushman          Eden Prairie, MN (MN)   10  24-05  013. Nick Leonard           Cincinnati, OH (OH)     10  23-11  014. Brian Bengtson         Bloomington, MN (MN)    10  23-11  015. Nathan Steinbauer      Edina, MN (MN)          9  23-06  016. Tadd Johnson           Lakeview, MN (MN)       10  23-04  017. Brandon Osting         Delphos, OH (OH)        10  22-13  018. Corey Peterson         Yankton, SD (SD)        8  22-12  019. Dave Hedge             Greenfield, IN (IN)     10  22-03  020. Jeff Fischer           Farmington, MI (MI)     10  21-15  021. Greg Vance             Dubuque, IA (IA)        9  21-13  022. Scott Bonnema          Zimmerman, MN (MN)      10  21-10  023. Levi Warner            Shiocton, WI (WI)       8  21-03  024. Scott Cremeans         Albany, OH (OH)         10  21-02  025. Rob Melendez           Frankfort, IL (IL)      10  21-01  026. Cliff Van Beek         Canistota, SD (SD)      7  20-13  027. Nate Brown             Muscatine, IA (IA)      9  20-13  028. Brian Saari            Madison, WI (WI)        8  20-10  029. Jeff Bostic            Cassopolis, MI (MI)     8  20-03  030. Dave Thompson          Washington, IL (IL)     10  19-15  031. Brad Norris            Hudson, IL (IL)         10  19-12  032. Tom Ondras             Jourt, IL (IL)          7  19-11  033. Aaron Daeges           Carver, MN (MN)         9  19-08  034. Landon Moore           Marion, IA (IA)         10  19-08  035. Dave Watson            Sullivan, IN (IN)       10  19-04  036. Carl Spande            Mounds View, MN (MN)    8  18-15  037. Jarrod Sherwood        Vassar, MI (MI)         9  18-11  038. Curt Samo              Rochelle, IL (IL)       10  18-11  039. Bryan Corley           Des Moines, IA (IA)     8  18-10  040. Michael Nesbitt        St. Paris, OH (OH)      8  18-09  041. Brian Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI (IN)    7  18-04  042. Miqell Dawson          Detroit, MI (MI)        5  18-03  043. Walter Hart            Washington Court House, 9  18-00  044. Kevin Imer             Marengo, OH (OH)        9  17-14  045. Nathan Ranallo         La Crosse, WI (WI)      6  17-12  046. Mike Pappas            Lagrange, IL (IL)       8  17-11  047. Dave Schneider         Indianapolis, IN (IN)   8  17-10  048. Richard Lindgren       Lakeville, MN (MN)      8  17-09  049. Wes Thomas             Hanover, IN (IN)        10  17-09  050. MN HS – Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN (MN)         5  17-08  051. Joseph Sestak          Tabor, SD (SD)          10  17-08  052. Mark Borchers          Akron, IA (IA)          10  17-07  053. Austin Brimeyer        Dubuque, IA (IA)        9  17-05  054. Bryan Freyermuth       Muscatine, IA (IA)      7  17-03  055. Vaughn Capasso         MARENGO, IL (IL)        10  17-02  056. Chris Wilkinson        Farmersburg, IN (IN)    10  17-01  057. Mark Peterson          Orland Park, IL (IL)    8  16-15  058. Tim Maupin             Lawrenceburg, IN (IN)   9  16-15  059. Richard Hladky         Yankton, SD (SD)        7  16-12  060. Matt Fischer           Farmington, MI (MI)     9  16-08  061. Chip Goy               Genoa City, WI (WI)     7  16-07  062. David Junk             Quincy, IL (IL)         8  16-06  063. Jesse Schwark          Athens, MI (MI)         8  16-03  064. Eric Zoromski          Lena, WI (WI)           10  16-03  065. Zach Grounds           Fortvilla, IN (IN)      7  15-10  066. Marvin Parton          Kokomo, IN (IN)         6  15-03  067. Kyle Jump              Farmington Hills, MI (M 7  15-01  068. Guy Knudson            Zimmerman, MN (MN)      10  15-01  069. Allen Wennerberg       Waterford, MI (MI)      7  15-00  070. Brian Vogelsang        Zanes Field, OH (OH)    7  14-15  071. Chris Calkins          Marshalltown, IA (IA)   6  14-02  072. Raul Gonzalez          Schrumburg, IL (IL)     7  14-00  073. WI HS – Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI (WI)        5  13-14  074. Phil Rummel            Mount Vernon, OH (OH)   6  12-12  075. John Ling IV           Climax, MI (MI)         8  12-01  076. Brian Searcy           Muscatine, IA (IA)      7  12-01  077. IL HS – Zobel / Cook   Joliet, IL (IL)         5  11-15  078. Steven Houdek          Calmar, IA (IA)         6  11-11  079. IN HS – Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN (IN)    5  11-10  080. Kirk Simpson           Waterford, MI (MI)      6  11-08  081. MI HS – Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI (MI)     5  10-15  082. Scott Metzger          Springfield, OH (OH)    5  10-08  083. Kyler Chelminiak       Franklin, WI (WI)       5  10-07  084. OH HS – Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH (OH)    5  10-03  085. Edward Schiller        Wixom, MI (MI)          6  09-11  086. James Haas             Yankton, SD (SD)        4  09-09  087. Eric Hardesty          Nineveh, IN (IN)        6  09-06  088. Robert Doughty         Columbus, OH (OH)       4  09-06  089. Bob Slama              Harrisburg, SD (SD)     5  09-02  090. Mark Emenecker         Matton, IL (IL)         5  08-08  091. Tucker Peschl          Tyndall, SD (SD)        5  08-02  092. Chad Kurowski          New Franken, WI (WI)    5  07-12  093. Terry Hall             Grove City, OH (OH)     4  07-11  094. Adam Hladky            Volin, SD (SD)          6  07-08  095. Bob Kowal              Sparta, MI (MI)         4  07-06  096. Orlando Rundle         Monticello, IA (IA)     4  06-10  097. Mel Williams           Winner, SD (SD)         4  06-05  098. Trevor Kettles         Waukee, IA (IA)         3  06-01  099. Chad Starrett          Shirley, IN (IN)        4  05-11  0100. SD HS – Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD (SD)         3  05-08  0101. Shon Nelson            Elberfield, IN (IN)     2  02-14  0102. Kevin Fassbind         Cottage Grove, WI (WI)  2  02-10  0103. IA HS – Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA (IA)         2  02-09  0104. Timothy Peterson       Springfield, SD (SD)    1  01-00  0———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1       38       319       677-092       74       456       1045-14———————————-112       775      1723-07

TEAM STANDINGS Day 2———————————-State                Lbs-Oz1 MINNESOTA            291-072 WISCONSIN            239-033 ILLINOIS             227-084 OHIO                 212-045 MICHIGAN             193-056 INDIANA              189-047 IOWA                 185-138 SOUTH DAKOTA         184-11

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2———————————————————————–

IOWAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Greg Vance           Dubuque, IA                 9   21-13  02 Nate Brown           Muscatine, IA               9   20-13  03 Landon Moore         Marion, IA                  10   19-08  04 Bryan Corley         Des Moines, IA              8   18-10  05 Mark Borchers        Akron, IA                   10   17-07  06 Austin Brimeyer      Dubuque, IA                 9   17-05  07 Bryan Freyermuth     Muscatine, IA               7   17-03  08 Chris Calkins        Marshalltown, IA            6   14-02  09 Brian Searcy         Muscatine, IA               7   12-01  010 Steven Houdek        Calmar, IA                  6   11-11  011 Orlando Rundle       Monticello, IA              4   06-10  012 Trevor Kettles       Waukee, IA                  3   06-01  013 IA HS – Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA                  2   02-09  0

ILLINOISAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Daniel Brown         Joliet, IL                  10   25-13  02 Rob Melendez         Frankfort, IL               10   21-01  03 Dave Thompson        Washington, IL              10   19-15  04 Brad Norris          Hudson, IL                  10   19-12  05 Tom Ondras           Jourt, IL                   7   19-11  06 Curt Samo            Rochelle, IL                10   18-11  07 Mike Pappas          Lagrange, IL                8   17-11  08 Vaughn Capasso       MARENGO, IL                 10   17-02  09 Mark Peterson        Orland Park, IL             8   16-15  010 David Junk           Quincy, IL                  8   16-06  011 Raul Gonzalez        Schrumburg, IL              7   14-00  012 IL HS – Zobel / Cook Joliet, IL                  5   11-15  013 Mark Emenecker       Matton, IL                  5   08-08  0

INDIANAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Dave Hedge           Greenfield, IN              10   22-03  02 Dave Watson          Sullivan, IN                10   19-04  03 Brian Hensley        Edwardsburg, MI             7   18-04  04 Dave Schneider       Indianapolis, IN            8   17-10  05 Wes Thomas           Hanover, IN                 10   17-09  06 Chris Wilkinson      Farmersburg, IN             10   17-01  07 Tim Maupin           Lawrenceburg, IN            9   16-15  08 Zach Grounds         Fortvilla, IN               7   15-10  09 Marvin Parton        Kokomo, IN                  6   15-03  010 IN HS – Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN             5   11-10  011 Eric Hardesty        Nineveh, IN                 6   09-06  012 Chad Starrett        Shirley, IN                 4   05-11  013 Shon Nelson          Elberfield, IN              2   02-14  0

MICHIGANAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Jeff Fischer         Farmington, MI              10   21-15  02 Jeff Bostic          Cassopolis, MI              8   20-03  03 Jarrod Sherwood      Vassar, MI                  9   18-11  04 Miqell Dawson        Detroit, MI                 5   18-03  05 Matt Fischer         Farmington, MI              9   16-08  06 Jesse Schwark        Athens, MI                  8   16-03  07 Kyle Jump            Farmington Hills, MI        7   15-01  08 Allen Wennerberg     Waterford, MI               7   15-00  09 John Ling IV         Climax, MI                  8   12-01  010 Kirk Simpson         Waterford, MI               6   11-08  011 MI HS – Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI              5   10-15  012 Edward Schiller      Wixom, MI                   6   09-11  013 Bob Kowal            Sparta, MI                  4   07-06  0

MINNESOTAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Corey Brant          Minnetonka, MN              10   34-05  02 Brad Ballard         Winona, MN                  10   26-15  03 Andy Hriber          Lakeville, MN               10   25-06  04 Korey Bushman        Eden Prairie, MN            10   24-05  05 Brian Bengtson       Bloomington, MN             10   23-11  06 Nathan Steinbauer    Edina, MN                   9   23-06  07 Tadd Johnson         Lakeview, MN                10   23-04  08 Scott Bonnema        Zimmerman, MN               10   21-10  09 Aaron Daeges         Carver, MN                  9   19-08  010 Carl Spande          Mounds View, MN             8   18-15  011 Richard Lindgren     Lakeville, MN               8   17-09  012 MN HS – Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN                  5   17-08  013 Guy Knudson          Zimmerman, MN               10   15-01  0

OHIOAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Paul Amstutz         Gambler, OH                 9   24-12  02 Nick Leonard         Cincinnati, OH              10   23-11  03 Brandon Osting       Delphos, OH                 10   22-13  04 Scott Cremeans       Albany, OH                  10   21-02  05 Michael Nesbitt      St. Paris, OH               8   18-09  06 Walter Hart          Washington Court House,  9   18-00  07 Kevin Imer           Marengo, OH                 9   17-14  08 Brian Vogelsang      Zanes Field, OH             7   14-15  09 Phil Rummel          Mount Vernon, OH            6   12-12  010 Scott Metzger        Springfield, OH             5   10-08  011 OH HS – Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH             5   10-03  012 Robert Doughty       Columbus, OH                4   09-06  013 Terry Hall           Grove City, OH              4   07-11  0

SOUTH DAKOTAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Joe Pruss            Springfield, SD             10   32-15  02 Jami Fralick         Martin, SD                  10   26-13  03 Corey Peterson       Yankton, SD                 8   22-12  04 Cliff Van Beek       Canistota, SD               7   20-13  05 Joseph Sestak        Tabor, SD                   10   17-08  06 Richard Hladky       Yankton, SD                 7   16-12  07 James Haas           Yankton, SD                 4   09-09  08 Bob Slama            Harrisburg, SD              5   09-02  09 Tucker Peschl        Tyndall, SD                 5   08-02  010 Adam Hladky          Volin, SD                   6   07-08  011 Mel Williams         Winner, SD                  4   06-05  012 SD HS – Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD                  3   05-08  013 Timothy Peterson     Springfield, SD             1   01-00  0

WISCONSINAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Gary Adkins          Green Bay, WI               10   32-10  02 Ted Heitschmidt      Tomahawk, WI                10   29-09  03 Ryan Whitacre        Chicago, IL                 10   25-10  04 Jim Barczak          Osceola, WI                 10   24-08  05 Levi Warner          Shiocton, WI                8   21-03  06 Brian Saari          Madison, WI                 8   20-10  07 Nathan Ranallo       La Crosse, WI               6   17-12  08 Chip Goy             Genoa City, WI              7   16-07  09 Eric Zoromski        Lena, WI                    10   16-03  010 WI HS – Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI                 5   13-14  011 Kyler Chelminiak     Franklin, WI                5   10-07  012 Chad Kurowski        New Franken, WI             5   07-12  013 Kevin Fassbind       Cottage Grove, WI           2   02-10  0

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