North Carolina Anglers Lead Day 1 Of Junior Championship

Hunter Alexander and Hayden Hammond of the Rowan Jr. Club out of North Carolina lead Day 1 of the 2019 Bassmaster Junior Championship at Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake out of Huntingdon, Tenn., with a total of 14 pounds, 4 ounces.

Aug. 6, 2019

North Carolina Anglers Lead Day 1 Of Junior Championship

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HUNTINGDON, Tenn. —   Hunter Alexander and Hayden Hammond learned how to fish on a handful of the nation’s best bass lakes in their home state of North Carolina. But on Tuesday in the 2019 Bassmaster Junior Championship, their talents took center stage in Tennessee.

The 13-year olds caught a limit of five bass that weighed 14 pounds, 4 ounces to take the Day 1 lead on Carroll County (Tenn.) 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake.

In all, 62 teams from 32 states and Canada qualified for the two-day Championship by way of their individual state events.

Alexander and Hammond won the junior state title on Jordan Lake to reach the Championship, and their bag on Tuesday was anchored by a 6-9 largemouth that was the heaviest bass of the day. Alexander’s catch came mid-morning after he and his partner caught a series of bass too short to keep.

“I told (Hayden) I had a bite, and it’s a big one,” Alexander said. He was fishing deep water with a Carolina rig.

It wasn’t a personal best for Alexander, but it certainly brought a smile to his face Tuesday. The incoming eighth-graders fish for the Rowan County junior team in North Carolina, and they cut their teeth chasing big bass on big-name fisheries such as High Rock Lake and Lake Norman.

Carroll County’s 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake has been known to produce a few sizable bass in previous junior championships, as well. And on Tuesday, it was Alexander’s turn to boat one. The 6-9 was one of only nine keepers they caught, however.

“They fished hard and they didn’t get frustrated when they didn’t have many fish in the boat,” said Todd Hammond, who is the team’s boat captain and Hayden’s dad. “They didn’t have but one or two (fish in the livewell) early this morning, but they grinded through it and fished hard. They didn’t quit, and that means a lot.”

Hayden said the key to success on Wednesday could be to avoid Tuesday’s early drought.

“We want to get a limit first,” he said. “Then we’ll probably go out deeper and try to find a big bite.”

Mike Abbott and Braden McNamara are in second place with a limit that weighed 11-0. The Ohio-based Hartley’s Hogs duo briefly had the big bass of the day, but were surpassed by the tournament leaders only moments later.

Keaton Bassham and Huntley York of Arkansas’ Bass Open are in third with 10-15, and Bo Hollen and Ari Clark of West Virginia’s Mon Valley Bassmasters are fourth with a limit of 9-7.

Hollen caught a 4-10 bass on Tuesday that was a personal best. He and Clark are both 9 and entering the fourth grade. Dustin Hollen, Bo’s dad and the team’s boat captain, said the youngsters are competitors with a focus that belies their age.

“They haven’t fished in many tournaments, but back home, they’re always fishing in the pond or in the creek. They see these older boys they’re up against, but they put their heads down and caught fish,” Dustin said.

Abigail Panak and Rhiauna Switzer of Oklahoma’s Pretty Water Junior Bass Club are in fifth place with five bass totaling 8-12. More than half of that weight came on the 4-9 bass that buoyed their bag.

The young competitors will take-off Wednesday at 6 a.m. CT from the launch at Carroll County 1,000 Acre Recreational Lake. Weigh-in will be held again at 1:30 p.m. near the town square at 19463 W. Main St. in downtown Huntingdon.

The winning duo will receive a $2,000 scholarship that will be dedicated to their college education. The second-place team will win a $1,000 scholarship. The team that catches the heaviest bass after the two days of competition will win a $250 scholarship.

The Carroll County (Tenn.) Chamber of Commerce, Bethel University and the Henry County (Tenn.) Tourism Authority are hosting the championships in Huntingdon this week.

2019 Bassmaster Junior Championship 8/6-8/71000 Acre Recreational lake, Huntingdon  TN.(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hunter Alexander – Hayden Hammond            Rowan                                 0Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-042.  Mike Abbott – Braden McNamara                Hartleyís Hawgs                       0Day 1: 5   11-00   Total:   5  11-003.  Keaton Bassham – Huntley York                Bass Open                             0Day 1: 5   10-05   Total:   5  10-054.  Bo Hollen – Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Bassmaster’s               0Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-075.  Abigail Panak – Rhiauna Switzer              Pretty Water Junior Bass Club         0Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-126.  Phillip Herring – Calup Williams             Greene County Youth Bassmasters       0Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-057.  Dugger Tipton – Amos Mayes                   Arkansas Youth Anglers                0Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-048.  Zach Ventimiglia – Austin Coffman            Timberland JR Bass Club               0Day 1: 5   07-14   Total:   5  07-149.  Grayden Scibilia – Beau McQuade              Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters         0Day 1: 5   07-13   Total:   5  07-1310. Storm Clark – Gunnar Williamson              Harris County Bass Fishing Team       0Day 1: 5   07-11   Total:   5  07-1111. Carson Kellogg – Nicholas Finley             New Lexington Panthers                0Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-0411. Carter Pjesky – Jake Mantovani               Off the Hook Junior Bassmasters       0Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-0413. Ryder Krueger – Carson Yero                  Myakka Junior Bassmasters             0Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-1514. Gage Adkins – Manning Brooks                 ROGERSVILLE JR BASS                   0Day 1: 5   06-14   Total:   5  06-1415. Trey McKinney – Landon Gabby                 Off the Hook                          0Day 1: 5   06-12   Total:   5  06-1216. Luke Rokavec – Josh Stroud                   Susquehanna Valley HS Fishing Te      0Day 1: 5   06-04   Total:   5  06-0417. Carson Owen – Parker Eubanks                 Plainview Jr. Bass Club               0Day 1: 5   06-03   Total:   5  06-0318. Lucas Wray – Will Stephens                   Russell County Jr Bass Club           0Day 1: 5   06-03   Total:   5  06-0319. Joey Elliott – Aiden Pihaylic                Anchor Bay Juniors                    0Day 1: 5   06-00   Total:   5  06-0020. Curtis Russler – Elijah Ambrose              Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters         0Day 1: 5   05-15   Total:   5  05-1521. Caden Sellers – Jackson Rogers               Jr. Southwest Bassmasters             0Day 1: 5   05-13   Total:   5  05-1322. Alex Gordon – Ty Blanchette                  BASS Lightning                        0Day 1: 5   05-11   Total:   5  05-1123. Eric Stelly – Camron Jones                   Lafourche Junior Bassmasters          0Day 1: 5   05-06   Total:   5  05-0624. Brody Kellum – Carson Thompson               Franklin County Junior Bass           0Day 1: 5   05-04   Total:   5  05-0425. Caden Chartier – Alexander Giannotti         Rochester Junior Bassmasters          0Day 1: 5   05-04   Total:   5  05-0426. Oakley Howell – Cole Green                   Guntersville Youth Bass Club          0Day 1: 5   05-03   Total:   5  05-0327. Jayden Corr – Jase Corr                      Lone Star Jr Bassmasters              0Day 1: 5   05-02   Total:   5  05-0228. Ashton Meland – Alex Meland                  Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters           0Day 1: 5   05-02   Total:   5  05-0229. Parker Welch – Gavin Carson                  Kickback                              0Day 1: 5   05-01   Total:   5  05-0130. Jacob Martin – Seth Thayer                   Waupaca Jr. Bassbusters               0Day 1: 5   05-00   Total:   5  05-0030. Lane Mead – Ryder Kahny                      Star City Jr. Angler                  0Day 1: 5   05-00   Total:   5  05-0032. Scotty Hagan – Ross Kearns                   BottomLine BassMasters                0Day 1: 5   05-00   Total:   5  05-0033. Noah Parrish – Dillon Jost                   Northern Colorado Bass Club           0Day 1: 5   04-14   Total:   5  04-1434. Jay Walkup – Jaxon Rapp                      Highlands County Junior Anglers       0Day 1: 4   04-14   Total:   4  04-1435. Bradlee Parish – Tyler Guin                  North Mississippi Student Angler      0Day 1: 5   04-12   Total:   5  04-1236. Justin Weikel – Carter Loss                  Caleb’s Legacy                        0Day 1: 4   04-12   Total:   4  04-1237. Hunter Barrow – Will Compton                 Magna Vista Fishing Team              0Day 1: 5   04-11   Total:   5  04-1138. Justin Schmadeke – Hunter Patton             Independence Bass Club                0Day 1: 5   04-06   Total:   5  04-0639. Robbie Livar – Wyatt Starks                  Phoenix Junior Bassmasters            0Day 1: 5   04-05   Total:   5  04-0540. Andrew Flannery – Gavin Nicholls             Ontario Junior Bassmasters            0Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-0441. Cody Wilder – Dalton Williams                Conway Middle School                  0Day 1: 4   04-03   Total:   4  04-0342. Tanner Moulton – Alex Gross                  NH Jr Bassmasters                     0Day 1: 5   04-02   Total:   5  04-0243. Beau Brent – Payton Whirley                  Anoka-Ramsey                          0Day 1: 4   04-00   Total:   4  04-0044. Nicholas Dellaporta –                        NJ Junior Bass Nation                 0Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-1445. Logan Lopossa – Koby Sollars                 Southside Anglers                     0Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-0145. Shelby Montgomery – Sarah Jones              Lakeside Chiefs                       0Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-0147. Austin Schmidt – Ben Smith                   Cabot Community Fishing Team          0Day 1: 2   02-08   Total:   2  02-0848. Jaxton Collier – Reece Roberts               South side Anglers                    0Day 1: 2   02-06   Total:   2  02-0649. Tate Jones – Fisher Whitlock                 Bassett High School                   0Day 1: 2   02-05   Total:   2  02-0550. Tristen Boyd – Reagan Hershman               Grundy County Jr Bass                 0Day 1: 2   02-04   Total:   2  02-0451. Jayden Snow – Tyler Thilmany                 Rogers HS Fishing Team & White B      0Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-1452. Garrett Christy – Jake Ross                  Carson High School                    0Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-1353. Cody Mundy – Barrett Bennefield              Broaddus High School Fishing Tea      0Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-1354. Gavin Parrish – John Sawyer                  Batesburg Leesville                   0Day 1: 2   01-08   Total:   2  01-0855. Peter Duffy – Bryce Formsma                  Northview Bass Club                   0Day 1: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-0255. Kolton Stevens – Carson Conrad               Fair Grove                            0Day 1: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-0257. Luke McGuffin – Kaleb Butts                  CHS Anglers                           0Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-1258. Jack Sergeant – Easton Hillard               Off The Hook Illinois Bassmaster      0Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-1159. Riley Albanese – Garrett Stotler             Berkeley Springs Junior High Sch      0Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-0059. Peter Mcdonald – Alex Carl                   Centennial Bass Club of Northern      0Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-0059. Zachary Morris – Carter Oconnell             LA JR bassmasters                     0Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-0059. Shooter Nelson – Seth Ricketts               West Carroll                          0Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1        38       239       301-08———————————-38       239       301-08

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