Thompson And Weese Take The Lead In National Team Bass Fishing Championship

Brad Weese (left) and Ken Thompson lead Day 1 of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake with 24 pounds, 10 ounces.

Nov. 30, 2016

Thompson And Weese Take The Lead In National Team Bass Fishing Championship

PARIS, Tenn. — When soaking rains and cold temperatures moved across western Tennessee earlier this week, people wondered how the changing weather would affect fishing in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship on Kentucky Lake.

On Wednesday at Paris Landing State Park, Ken Thompson and Brad Weese provided the answer.

Though the duo has only fished together less than a year, they looked like lifelong partners. The team from the Angler’s Choice Team Trail boated a five-bass limit that totaled 24 pounds, 10 ounces and gave them a solid lead after the opening round of the national team championship.

Weese, who is from Petersburg, W.Va., caught the two biggest bass of their creel; each weighed approximately 6 1/2 pounds. Thompson, of Raysburg, Pa., provided the rest of the weight with a 4-pounder and two 3 1/2-pound bass.  They didn’t catch many fish in practice rounds when the weather was extremely disagreeable, but found three spots today that lit up after they ditched their initial fishing area earlier in the morning.

“We complement each other in that we both like fishing the same style,” Thompson said. “If I’m doing something, I know he can do it. And if he has something working, I can fish the same way. We’ll hit those same spots tomorrow. There are fish out there.”

Thompson and Weese comprised one of only four two-person teams weighing-in more than 20 pounds of bass on Wednesday. Mark McCaig and Tim Hurst of the Sylacauga Big Bucks Buddy Trail in Alabama are in second place with a limit of 22-8. They are closely followed by Ty Faber and John Gardner of the Ultimate Bass Team Trail in Colorado, third with 22-0, and Derrick and Dustin Compton of the (South) Carolina Bass Challenge Team are fourth with 20-3.

Twenty-five teams are within 10 pounds of Thompson’s and Weese’s lead. In all, 159 of the 186 teams registered in the Bassmaster Team Championship caught at least one bass today, and 58 of them had limits.

Surprisingly, Faber and Gardner, who currently are in third place, were without a limit. They caught four bass on all day, two of which came among their first casts of the day. One of the throws boated a 6-10 lunker to boost the bag.

“This is our first time here, so we don’t know the lake at all,” Gardner said. “So this was good fishing for us today. There were a lot of fish (on our spot,) and we literally stayed on it all day.”

With 160,000 acres to explore, Kentucky Lake offers plenty of territory for anglers to cover. But Faber and Gardner may have found what some pundits said would be the key to success in this tournament — a spot that replenishes itself throughout the day.

“When you don’t have another spot to go to, you stay where you are,” Faber joked.

“So we’ll start in the same spot again tomorrow, for sure,” Gardner said.

McCaig and Hurst had the big bass of the day — an 8-3 lunker that Hurst said was caught on a crankbait following the shad bite on Kentucky Lake. Both men said they didn’t catch much in practice, but felt like it would take at least 20 pounds a day to make the cut after Thursday’s action.

“This is the Tennessee River, so you know it’s going to take a good weight to win,” McCaig said. “The first place we started today, we caught an 8-pounder, then a 4-pounder. So why leave?”

“We had three spots in mind, we hit one, and it produced,” Hurst said. “Hopefully we can do it again tomorrow.”

Rain Monday and Tuesday gave way to partly cloudy skies, 50 degree air temperatures, and slack winds on Wednesday. Conditions are supposed to be significantly colder for Thursday’s fishing, after which the team champions will be crowned.

The Top 3 teams will qualify for the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off to be held on Friday and Saturday, also on Kentucky Lake. In that event, each angler fishes individually, teammate against teammate. The competitor who brings in the heaviest daily catches will earn the final available space in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic when it is held in March on Lake Conroe outside of Houston, Texas.

This week’s event marks the third year B.A.S.S. has held a team championship. The tournament is composed of winning pairs from team trails throughout the U.S. that are sanctioned by B.A.S.S.

In all, 194 teams from 31 states and one Canadian province are represented.

The Day 2 launch will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing State Park, and weigh-in will follow at 2:30 p.m.

The Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship is hosted by the Henry County Alliance.

Name # Live # Fish # Live Lbs – Oz1 Ken Thompson – Brad Weese Anglers Choice 5 5 24-10 5 5 24-102 Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst Big Bucks Buddy Trail 5 5 22- 8 5 5 22- 83 Ty Faber – John Gardner Ultimate Bass TT 4 4 22- 0 4 4 22- 04 Derrick Compton – Dustin Compton Carolina Bass Challenge 5 5 20- 3 5 5 20- 35 Barron Adams – Trevor Prince Chattanooga Bass Association 5 5 19- 8 5 5 19- 86 Tim Grein – Richard Cooper Anglers Choice 5 5 19- 3 5 5 19- 37 Kris Colley – Adam Bain Airport Marine 5 5 18-15 5 5 18-158 David Caylor – Robbie Pelt Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 18- 6 5 5 18- 69 Seth Davis – Brent Butler Chattanooga Bass Association 5 5 18- 1 5 5 18- 110 Dustin Bishop – Kyle Lear Fishers of Men 5 5 17-14 5 5 17-1411 Kyle Kempkers – Brett Haveman BBT Bass R Us 5 5 17- 8 5 5 17- 812 Robert Jones – Cody Woods Media Bass 5 5 17- 5 5 5 17- 513 Dylan Hays – Jimmy Mize Arkansas Bass Team Trail 5 5 17- 2 5 5 17- 214 Josh Greer – Robert Greer Anglers In Action 4 4 16-13 4 4 16-1315 Ashley Medley – Scott Clift Joe Bass TT 5 5 16-11 5 5 16-1116 Michael Fornelli – Jim Davidson Joe Bass TT 5 5 16- 1 5 5 16- 116 Dustin Neat – Mark Wethington NTBA 5 5 16- 1 5 5 16- 118 Lane McGaha – Chase McCullin Fishers of Men 4 4 16- 1 4 4 16- 119 Neil Vandebiezen – Ken Plencner D&R Sports Team Trail 5 5 15-15 5 5 15-1520 Josh Busby – Timothy Taylor Ozark Mountain TT 5 5 15-14 5 5 15-1421 Cole Hyder – Joel Saunders PBC TT 5 5 15-11 5 5 15-1122 Jake Beem – Cade Alsbury Anglers In Action 5 5 15- 5 5 5 15- 523 Steve Drinnon – Paul Vaccaro Fishers of Men 4 4 15- 2 4 4 15- 224 Timothy Dube – Kevin Miller NH BN TT 5 5 15- 1 5 5 15- 124 Jeremy Gordon – Philip Gordon Morristown Marine 5 5 15- 1 5 5 15- 126 Brent Ellens – Nick Compagner BBT Bass R Us 5 5 14-13 5 5 14-1327 Nick Giamei – John Lansdowne 5 5 14- 9 5 5 14- 927 Josh Wray – Donald Wray Ozark Mountain TT 5 5 14- 9 5 5 14- 929 Ben Verhoef – Robert Bueltmann Anglers In Action 5 5 14- 5 5 5 14- 530 Jay Hulsey – Kyle Hulsey Ozark Mountain Team Trail 5 5 14- 4 5 5 14- 431 Jason Walcott – Jimmy Vanden Berg Jr West Michigan Bass 4 4 14- 2 4 4 14- 232 Larry Bullock – Roger Caldwell Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 14- 1 5 5 14- 132 Shawn Skobel – Logan Crayton Fishers of Men 5 5 14- 1 5 5 14- 134 Stacey Poynter – Rodney Lucas Fishers of Men 5 5 13-14 5 5 13-1434 Marcus Sykora – Bill Davenport Anglers In Action 5 5 13-14 5 5 13-1436 Rick Imler – Robert Newlon Great Lakes Largemouth Series 5 5 13-13 5 5 13-1337 Truett Hill Jr – Chris Coleman FOM 5 5 13-11 5 5 13-1138 Jason McFarland – Michael Carter NTBA 5 5 13- 9 5 5 13- 939 Ray Hogge – Kevin Whitehurst James River Priority 5 5 13- 7 5 5 13- 740 Vaughn Capasso – Chris Capasso IL BN TT 4 4 13- 7 4 4 13- 741 Rickey Knight – Randall Carter McNider Marine 3 3 13- 7 3 3 13- 742 Rex Chambers – Brent Crow Alabama Bass Trail 4 4 13- 5 4 4 13- 543 Keith McDeerman – Von Dilbeck Morristown Marine 3 3 13- 0 3 3 13- 044 Chad Schroeder – Chase Schroeder McNider Marine 5 5 12-15 5 5 12-1545 Lee Bishop – Mike Miller Fishers of Men 4 4 12-15 4 4 12-1546 Damien Willis – Mark Steward Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 12-14 5 5 12-1447 Scott Jones – Dustin Cauthon Arkansas Bass Team Trail 5 5 12-13 5 5 12-1348 Brent Algeo – Jim Copeland Ozark Mtn Team Trail 5 5 12-12 5 5 12-1249 Jeff Gee – Steve Majewski AC Tournament Trail 5 5 12-10 5 5 12-1050 Kelly Jones – Roger Satterfield Ozark Mountain TT 5 5 12- 9 5 5 12- 951 Chris Darby – Danny Gwinn Arkansas Bass Team Trail 5 5 12- 7 5 5 12- 751 Ben King – Tim Hickson Anglers In Action 5 5 12- 7 5 5 12- 751 Jarrod Sherwood – Jeff Yorks MI – Team Bass 5 5 12- 7 5 5 12- 751 Jesse Wiggins – Jordan Wiggins Alabama Bass Trail 5 5 12- 7 5 5 12- 755 Brian Funkhouser – Kenneth Reed IN BN TT 5 5 12- 6 5 5 12- 656 Mark O’Brien – Ryne Sanders AC Tournament Trail 5 5 12- 4 5 5 12- 457 Fred Ingalls II – Mark Allen Upstate Anglers 5 5 12- 2 5 5 12- 258 Steve Singleton – A.L. Needham Jr Fishers of Men 5 5 12- 1 5 5 12- 159 James Ward – Sam Musicck Anglers Choice 5 5 12- 0 5 5 12- 060 Paul Ferguson – Eric Thompson Fishers of Men 5 5 11-14 5 5 11-1461 Nathan Burgess – Brent Riley Carolina Bass Challenge 3 3 11-14 3 3 11-1462 Dell Mettlen Jr – Justin Harris KS BN TT 5 5 11-13 5 5 11-1363 Joe Magnatta – Dennis Carter Lakeland Bassmasters TT 4 4 11- 9 4 4 11- 964 Ron Fabiszak Jr – Ron Nelson D&R Sports Team Trail 4 4 11- 8 4 4 11- 865 Troy Bigelow – Kent Lodari TN Valley 5 5 11- 4 5 5 11- 466 Derrell Potter – Bill Benford Fishers of Men 5 5 11- 3 5 5 11- 367 Terry Reich – Dustin Hill TX BN TT 4 4 11- 3 4 4 11- 368 Robert Grike – Eric Nelson James River Priority 5 5 11- 2 5 5 11- 268 Wayne Vaughan Jr – Mitch Blankenship James River Priority 5 5 11- 2 5 5 11- 270 Don Ingram – Ronnie Grant NTBA 4 4 11- 2 4 4 11- 271 Christopher Risner – Timothy Eaton 2015 Champ – D&R Sports Team Trail 5 5 11- 1 5 5 11- 172 Lance Walker – Brad Wilemon Fishers of Men 4 4 11- 0 4 4 11- 073 Steve Miracle – Mike Wolfenbarger TN Valley 5 5 10-15 5 5 10-1574 Tim Goff – Larry Witt Anglers Choice 4 4 10-12 4 4 10-1274 Dillon Tucker – Greg Tucker Alabama Bass Trail 4 4 10-12 4 4 10-1276 Rogne Brown Jr – Cary Dotson Chattanooga Bass Association 4 4 10- 8 4 4 10- 877 Eric Kiliszewski – Edwin Ammerman West Michigan Bass 5 5 10- 7 5 5 10- 778 Bret Hoeksema – Shawn Martinie BBT Bass R Us 4 4 10- 3 4 4 10- 378 Timmy Poe – Jeremiah Kindy Arkansas Bass Team Trail 4 4 10- 3 4 4 10- 380 Bryan Baker – Darren Baker Joe Bass TT 3 3 10- 3 3 3 10- 380 Dan Parker – Mark Sexton IA BN TT 3 3 10- 3 3 3 10- 382 Dalton Bobo – Lonnie O’Neal Alabama Bass Trail 3 3 10- 2 3 3 10- 283 Chuck James – Brad James Chattanooga Bass Association 3 3 10- 1 3 3 10- 184 Brian Hensley – Ken Tucker AC Tournament Trail 4 4 9-14 4 4 9-1485 Dale Duncan Jr – Donny Woody Carolina Bass Challenge 4 4 9-12 4 4 9-1286 Chris Dennis – Jay Lewis Arkansas Bass Team Trail 3 3 9-12 3 3 9-1286 Luke Jarman – Bobby Morgan Joe Bass TT 3 3 9-12 3 3 9-1288 Jamie Smith – Michael Rains Alabama Bass Trail 4 4 9-11 4 4 9-1189 Chris Pitts – Jesse Draime Media Bass 3 3 9- 9 3 3 9- 990 Buster Lilly Jr – Travis Lilly White Pine Marine Tournament Trail 3 3 9- 4 3 3 9- 491 Rick Johnston – Joe Brantley Ozark Mountain TT 2 2 9- 4 2 2 9- 492 Mickey Anderson – Bo Boltz Jr James River Priority 3 3 9- 0 3 3 9- 093 Marty Giddens – Joshua Stracner Big Bucks Buddy Trail 4 4 8-14 4 4 8-1494 Darrin King – Mark Mahaffey Joe Bass TT 3 3 8-14 3 3 8-1495 Tyler Moberly – Christopher Howard Morristown Marine 3 3 8-11 3 3 8-1196 Daniel Vyverberg – Dan Patane Upstate Anglers 3 3 8- 6 3 3 8- 697 Nicholas Bodsford – Richard Owen James River Priority 4 4 8- 5 4 4 8- 598 Todd Choate – Kent Whitaker Joe Bass TT 3 3 8- 5 3 3 8- 599 Martin Elshout – Mark Price Fishers of Men 4 4 8- 3 4 4 8- 3100 Bo Chappell – Wayne King Carolina Bass Challenge 4 4 8- 1 4 4 8- 1101 Brad Hickinbottom – Brian McCay Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 3 3 8- 1 3 3 8- 1102 Mickey Lewis – Duane Ritter TN BN TT 3 3 7-15 3 3 7-15103 Jake Deeds – Stacey Burson Media Bass 3 3 7-14 3 3 7-14103 William Shipes – Doug Wooldridge Fishers of Men 3 3 7-14 3 3 7-14105 Skyler Schultz – Richard Schultz Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 4 4 7-12 4 4 7-12106 Bryant Copley – Steve West Anglers Choice 3 3 7- 7 3 3 7- 7107 Ron Brown – Bobby Brown Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 7- 7 2 2 7- 7108 Matthew Dyer – Ross TenHarmsel West Michigan Bass 3 3 7- 4 3 3 7- 4109 Tim Coffey – Mitch Lewis NTBA 3 3 7- 1 3 3 7- 1110 Wesley Cashwell – Shane Doughtie Carolina Bass Challenge 3 3 6-15 3 3 6-15111 Michael Milton – Paul Sharp Morristown Marine 2 2 6-14 2 2 6-14112 Paul Davis – Josh Chapple Airport Marine 3 3 6-10 3 3 6-10112 Sean Hoernke – Curt McCauley TX BN TT 3 3 6-10 3 3 6-10114 Chris Glover – Chris Alexander AC Tournament Trail 2 2 6-10 2 2 6-10114 Matt McCoy – Dennis Davis IN BN Team Trail 2 2 6-10 2 2 6-10116 Joe Raftery – Tom Martin NV BN TT 3 3 6- 8 3 3 6- 8117 Jeston Anderson – Robbie Robinson Alabama Bass Trail 2 2 6- 7 2 2 6- 7118 Jonathan Spivey – Derick Livingston Carolina Bass Challenge 3 3 6- 0 3 3 6- 0119 Tony McCraw – Penny McCraw Fishers of Men 2 2 5-13 2 2 5-13120 Mack Cook – Patrick Cook Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 5-12 2 2 5-12121 Jerry Shawver – Daniel Irish FL BN TT 2 2 5-11 2 2 5-11122 Douglas Polasek – Dan Hatchew West Michigan Bass 2 2 5- 9 2 2 5- 9123 Samuel Fish – Justin Hamner Alabama Bass Trail 1 1 5- 9 1 1 5- 9124 Don Heiser – James Sells Joe Bass TT 2 2 5- 8 2 2 5- 8125 Mitch Miles – Scott Sawyers Anglers Choice 2 2 5- 6 2 2 5- 6126 Harold Black – Lacy Burnette Anglers Choice 2 2 5- 5 2 2 5- 5126 Mark Mounts – Matthew Farrabee Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 2 2 5- 5 2 2 5- 5126 Brian Thompson – Eric Hammond Anglers In Action 2 2 5- 5 2 2 5- 5129 Brad Nappier – Brian Nappier Fishers of Men 2 2 5- 4 2 2 5- 4130 Joel Lee – Steve Hadley Dockside Marine 2 2 5- 1 2 2 5- 1131 Chris Dover – Robert Fowler Carolina Bass Challenge 2 2 4-14 2 2 4-14132 Mike Williams – Duane Jacobs Bassmania Team Trail 1 1 4-13 1 1 4-13133 Jess Caraballo – Mark Condron CT BN Team Trail 2 2 4-12 2 2 4-12133 David Crumpton – Tim Trahan Arkansas Bass Team Trail 2 2 4-12 2 2 4-12135 Joel Price – Dustin Snelson FL BN TT 2 2 4-11 2 2 4-11136 Nick Vitullo – Jarrett Knize AC Tournament Trail 1 1 4-11 1 1 4-11137 Doug Brownridge – David Chong Renegade Bass Team Trail 2 2 4- 9 2 2 4- 9137 Vince Loschiavo – Brandon Blystone Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 2 2 4- 9 2 2 4- 9139 Jake Boomer – Jason Bryan Northwest Bass 2 2 4- 5 2 2 4- 5140 Rob Messenger Jr – John Levesque New Hampshire BN Team Trail 1 1 4- 5 1 1 4- 5141 Jeff Seamans – Terry Algier DE BN Team Trail 1 1 4- 2 1 1 4- 2142 Casey Warren – Wesley Carroll Carolina Anglers Tournament Trail 2 2 4- 0 2 2 4- 0143 Ryan Butler – Dustin Lippe Anglers In Action 1 1 4- 0 1 1 4- 0143 Shawn Lolley – Davy Lolley Alabama Bass Trail 1 1 4- 0 1 1 4- 0145 Scott Henley – Neil McDonald Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 3-15 1 1 3-15145 Mark Thompson – Jim Smith Joe Bass TT 1 1 3-15 1 1 3-15147 Jeremi Beatty – Clint Benbow Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 3- 9 1 1 3- 9147 Brian McCarter – Jason Fowler NTBA 1 1 3- 9 1 1 3- 9149 Wayne Moyher – Craig Powers Morristown Marine 2 2 3- 7 2 2 3- 7150 Curtis Richardson – Brad Arnott Renegade Bass 1 1 3- 7 1 1 3- 7151 Duane Poole – Mike Merz Upstate Anglers 1 1 3- 6 1 1 3- 6152 Gus Kneidinger – Jason Kneidinger Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 1 1 2-15 1 1 2-15153 Brett McLean – Mac McLean Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 2-12 1 1 2-12154 Todd Sosebee – Steve Postell Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 2-11 1 1 2-11155 Russ Padgett Jr – Meredith Havird Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 2- 2 1 1 2- 2156 Kevin King Jr – Brandon Hill James River Priority 1 1 2- 1 1 1 2- 1157 Juddie Revels III – David Oxendine Carolina Bass Challenge 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0157 Justin Spraske – Joshua Stone NH BN TT 1 1 2- 0 1 1 2- 0159 Jay Cranney – Travis Jewell Ultimate Bass Team Trail 1 1 1-15 1 1 1-15160 Keith Baird – Michael Thompson IN BN Team Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Jeff Bonner – Steve Coggin Media Bass 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Wayne Burchett – David Whited VA BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Rusty Darnell – Tim Newberry Joe Bass Team Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Edward Dyer – Roger Riemersma West Michigan Bass 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Shane Gray – Coleton Gray Media Bass Teams 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Michael Hicks – Tom Hicks James River Priority 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Jason Hodge – Lonnie Bowlin AC Tournament Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Joe LaFountain – Dan LaFountain D&R Sports Team Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 James Maisenbacher – Scott Bree IL BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Wayne Marlow – Scott Peavy Carolina Bass Challenge 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Shannon McCaleb – James McCaleb Media Bass 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Dan Miguel – Bryan Low Bassmania Team Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Jim Moorey – Jack Moorey MA BA TEAM TRAIL 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Kenneth Owens – Kenny Botts Morristown Marine 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Ricky Powell – James Johnson James River Priority 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 David Riemersma – Jesse Riemersma West Michigan Bass 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Brandon Rummel – Ron Rummel Ozark Mountain TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Brett Sall – Jim Sprague MI BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Robert Stumpe – Dustin Hall FL BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Corey Sullivan – Media Bass Teams 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Travis Tenwadle – Keith Stewart OH BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Charley Thomas – Chris Thomas Joe Bass TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 John Valdez – Nate Cowan NJ BN TT 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Roger Waters – Kevin Johnston Anglers In Action 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 John Williams IV – Jim Williams Joe Bass Team Trail 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0160 Wes Woodard – Jeff Oppenneer West Michigan Bass 0 0 0- 0 0 0 0- 0

BIG BASSDay Name City,State Lbs-Oz1 Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst Oxford, AL 8- 3

TOTALSDay # Fish Live Lbs-Oz # Limits1 551 551 1608– 6 582 0 0 0- 0 0

CARHARTT BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENTDay Name City,State Lbs-Oz1 Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst Oxford, AL 8- 3

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