Utah Wins State Title At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional

Bill Brown of Grand Junction, Colo., maintains the lead on Day 2 of the the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Divisional presented by Magellan Outdoors on Lake Mead held out of Henderson, Nev., after bringing in 13 pounds, 6 ounces for a two-day total weight of 34-1.

April 7, 2016

Utah Wins State Title At B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional

HENDERSON, Nev. — Utah won the competition between 11 western states Thursday, claiming the state title at the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors.

Utah’s winning effort got a boost from Bill Brown, who maintained his individual lead in the tournament that concludes Friday.

Utah won the state title by virtue of a tie-breaking rule. The teams from Utah and Nevada both caught 335 pounds, 15 ounces after two days of competition. In the event of a tie, the angler with the heaviest single-day catch earns his state the title. That Utah angler was Brown, who caught 20-0 on Day 1.

Utah won a Triton 189 TrX with a trailer, accessories and a Mercury 150 Pro XS. The total package value is $33,340.

Idaho claimed third place with 326-4, while Washington took fourth with 277-12 and Colorado placed fifth with 271-8.

Utah anglers hold down the top four spots on the individual leader board. Brown holds a narrow lead, with Travis Graham in second with 31-5, Mike Lavallee in third with 30-4 and Ben Byrd in fourth with 29-5.

“Most of these guys (from Utah) fish clear water and are very skilled on this type of water,” said Rick Culver, president of the Utah B.A.S.S. Nation.

That’s an understatement, actually. Lake Mead is downstream on the Colorado River from Lake Powell, the home lake for Utah.

“We have a lot of tournaments on Powell and it fishes the same way,” continued Culver. “So things just naturally fell into place for us.”

Brown caught a limit weighing 13-6 on Day 2 by using the same strategy as Day 1. He is fishing the middle portion of the lake where bass are just beginning to spawn.

“I went back to the same area thinking I could catch the bass I lost there yesterday,” said Brown, a member of the Top of Utah Bass Anglers.

On Day 1, Brown lost enough bass in the 4-pound range to draw him back. His choice of lures is the reason why.

“I’m fishing a topwater lure and you get your fair share of missed strikes,” he said. “The bass are hitting short, and I am having to try and catch them twice.”

The slaphappy bass are getting a second cast from a leadhead jig. He is flipping the lure along shoreline tules when not using it behind the topwater. On the upside the lure imitates baitfish, and spawning bass usually strike aggressively to defend their beds.

“It’s a very niche bite, and I realize there are risks,” he continued. “But for me a topwater is a confidence bait that I feel very comfortable using for spawning bass.”

The tournament began Wednesday with a full field of 212 anglers representing B.A.S.S. clubs from 11 states. After two days, the field has been trimmed to the Top 21 anglers and the three highest-ranking boaters and non-boaters from each state.

Friday’s round will determine the overall winner and the qualifiers for the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Magellan Outdoors. The top angler from each state advances to the championship.

The Livingston Lures Leader Award was presented to Brown. He earned the $250 bonus by leading the tournament on Day 2.

Callville Bay Resort and Marina is tournament headquarters. Anglers depart at 6:15 a.m. PT and return for the weigh-in beginning at 2:30 p.m.

2016 Academy Sports & Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional                                    presented by Magellan Outdoors 4/6-4/8Lake Mead, Henderson  NV.(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Bill Brown             Grand Junction, CO (UT) 10  34-01  02.  Travis Graham          De Beque, CO (UT)       10  31-05  03.  Mike Lavallee          Sandy, UT (UT)          10  30-04  04.  Ben Byrd               Moab, UT (UT)           10  29-05  05.  Jason Hickey           Weiser, ID (ID)         10  29-01  06.  Keegan Graves          Meridian, ID (ID)       10  28-06  07.  Roger Mezenen          Morgan, UT (UT)         10  28-06  08.  Anthony Salazar        Las Vegas, NV (NV)      10  28-05  09.  Timothy Klinger        Boulder City, NV (NV)   10  28-02  010. Kalib Lund             Glendale, AZ (AZ)       10  27-14  011. Nate Caldwell          Ft Collins, CO (CO)     10  27-01  012. Bubba O’Neill          Evanston, WY (WY)       10  26-09  013. Nicholas Fitzsimmons   Lyle, WA (OR)           10  26-09  014. David Naugle           Las Vegas, NV (NV)      10  26-05  015. Justin Campbell        Pasco, WA (WA)          10  26-04  016. Brandon Genova         Denver, CO (CO)         10  25-12  017. Jesse Milicevic        Henderson, NV (NV)      10  25-06  018. Mark Lassagne          San Ramon, CA (CA)      10  25-05  019. Ron Mace               Kennewick, WA (WA)      10  25-04  020. David Kromm            Kennewick, WA (WA)      10  25-01  021. Darrell Ocamica        Payette, ID (ID)        10  24-14  022. Rick Culver            Taylor, UT (UT)         10  24-12  023. Jason Hemminger        Oxnard, CA (CA)         10  24-10  024. Jason Crone            Kalispell, MT (MT)      10  24-08  025. Bill Golightly         Preston, ID (WY)        10  23-14  026. David Mays             Portland, OR (OR)       10  23-13  027. Sean Minderman         Spokane, WA (WA)        10  23-13  028. Matt Fish              Pasco, WA (WA)          10  23-12  029. Brent Shores           Boise, ID (ID)          10  23-09  030. Kevin Wiggins          Las Vegas, NV (NV)      10  23-07  031. Jim Davis              Eagle, ID (ID)          10  23-04  032. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO (CO) 10  23-04  033. Dane Lawrence          Butte, MT (OR)          10  23-01  034. Kyle Gelles            Pingree, ID (WY)        10  22-10  035. Greg Taylor            Tucson, AZ (AZ)         10  22-06  036. Tucker Cappella        Alcova, WY (WY)         10  22-05  037. Steve Lund             Glendale, AZ (AZ)       10  22-04  038. Jay Evans              Corvallis, MT (MT)      9  22-03  039. Byron Chaves           Tyler, TX (OR)          10  22-01  040. Dan Jordan             Camas, WA (OR)          10  21-15  041. Larry Triplett         Castle Rock, CO (CO)    10  21-12  042. Rodney Brown           Sacramento, CA (CA)     10  21-07  043. Asa Stephenson         Henderson , NV (NV)     8  21-05  044. Patrick Davis          Henderson, NV (NV)      10  21-04  045. Reid Smith             Bozeman, MT (MT)        10  21-04  046. Chase Colby            Heber City, UT (UT)     10  21-01  047. Jacob Russell          Tucson, AZ (AZ)         10  20-15  048. Randy Campbell         Sandia Park, NM (NM)    7  20-13  049. Tim Johnston           Kalispell , MT (MT)     9  20-10  050. Sean Andrachick        Marion, MT (MT)         10  20-08  051. Don Dethloff Jr        Coeur d Alene, ID (ID)  8  20-08  052. David Smith Sr         Albuquerque, NM (NM)    10  20-02  053. Joe Raftery            Las Vegas, NV (NV)      10  20-02  054. Mike Dominick          Alberton, MT (MT)       7  19-12  055. Mitch Ratchford        Kennewick, WA (WA)      7  19-09  056. Tony Shuyler           Eagle , ID (ID)         10  19-06  057. Kent Thomson           Millville, UT (UT)      8  19-02  058. Ron Welch              Corona, CA (CA)         10  19-00  059. Gary Collins           Moorpark, CA (CA)       9  17-12  060. Steven Wilson          Rohnert Park, CA (CA)   8  17-05  061. Garry Harner           Milliken, CO (CO)       8  17-02  062. David Flemming         Highlands Ranch, CO (CO 8  16-15  063. Kelly Lee              Twin Falls, ID (ID)     8  16-13  064. Alan Zamora            North Las Vegas, NV (NV 10  16-10  065. Joe Johnson            Orem, UT (UT)           8  16-08  066. Bryan Kurata           Thousand Oaks, CA (CA)  8  16-08  067. Moe Gutierrez          Albuquberque, NM (NM)   10  16-06  068. Gerald Kimzey          Willcox, AZ (AZ)        8  16-05  069. Kim Pfaff              Deer Lodge, MT (MT)     7  15-15  070. Derek Phillips         Castle Rock, CO (CO)    8  15-09  071. Mark Hilyer            Libby, MT (MT)          9  15-08  072. Randell Bell           Elephant Butte, NM (NM) 7  15-02  073. Richard Shaff Jr       Richland, WA (WA)       6  14-13  074. Pete Acosta            Brighton, CO (CO)       7  14-13  075. Brian Bolander         Scottsdale, AZ (AZ)     7  14-10  076. Stephen Tauriello      Las Vegas, NV (NV)      8  14-08  077. Rhett Fornof           Midway, UT (UT)         10  14-06  078. Jason Hooper           Salem, OR (OR)          8  14-02  079. Chris Gilkison         Bakersfield, CA (CA)    7  13-13  080. Travis Jarvis          Wilder, ID (ID)         8  13-12  081. James Hawkes           Apache Juntion, AZ (AZ) 6  13-10  082. William Barkley        Kalispell, MT (MT)      6  13-04  083. Todd Gentzel           Colorado Springs, CO (C 8  13-00  084. Andy Bravence          Globe, AZ (AZ)          7  12-14  085. Kenny Oldham           Coalville, UT (WY)      5  12-13  086. Jason Virgil           Hermiston, OR (OR)      6  12-09  087. JL Neal                Bend, OR (OR)           5  12-07  088. Johnny Johnson         Farmington, NM (NM)     7  11-12  089. Robert Gritski         Goldendale, OR (OR)     5  11-11  090. Mark Warren            Castle Rock, CO (CO)    6  11-08  091. Jonathan Lumper        Kennewick, WA (WA)      5  11-07  092. Don Welch              Morgan Hill, CA (CA)    6  10-05  093. Lloyd Gilreath Sr      Boise, ID (ID)          4  10-04  094. Stan Fisher            Trout Creek, MT (MT)    5  09-09  095. Dan Betz               Hood River, OR (OR)     5  09-08  096. Jon Kelley             Arvin, CA (CA)          3  09-07  097. Jeremy Percifield      Kennewick, WA (WA)      5  09-01  098. Joe Ramirez            Bayard, NM (NM)         4  08-07  099. Chris James            Tacoma, WA (WA)         3  07-14  0100. Rick Mason             Glendale, AZ (AZ)       4  07-14  0101. Thomas Edwards         Gilbert, AZ (AZ)        4  07-09  0102. Joe Cole               Coalville, UT (WY)      4  07-07  0103. Earl Conway            Albuquerque, NM (NM)    5  07-00  0104. Wade Macias            Gallup, NM (NM)         3  05-15  0105. Mario Carreon          Las Cruces, NM (NM)     3  05-15  0106. Donnie Gatling         Albuquerque, NM (NM)    0  00-00  0———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1       67       437       1024-122       65       427       962-15———————————-132       864      1987-11

TEAM STANDINGS Day 2———————————-State                Lbs-Oz1 UTAH                 335-152 NEVADA               335-153 IDAHO                326-044 WASHINGTON           277-125 COLORADO             271-086 ARIZONA              271-027 OREGON               270-068 CALIFORNIA           264-129 MONTANA              259-1510 NEW MEXICO           176-1111 WYOMING              173-11

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

WASHINGTONAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Justin Campbell      Pasco, WA                   10   26-04  02 Ron Mace             Kennewick, WA               10   25-04  03 David Kromm          Kennewick, WA               10   25-01  04 Sean Minderman       Spokane, WA                 10   23-13  05 Matt Fish            Pasco, WA                   10   23-12  06 Mitch Ratchford      Kennewick, WA               7   19-09  07 Richard Shaff Jr     Richland, WA                6   14-13  08 Jonathan Lumper      Kennewick, WA               5   11-07  09 Jeremy Percifield    Kennewick, WA               5   09-01  010 Chris James          Tacoma, WA                  3   07-14  0

IDAHOAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Jason Hickey         Weiser, ID                  10   29-01  02 Keegan Graves        Meridian, ID                10   28-06  03 Darrell Ocamica      Payette, ID                 10   24-14  04 Brent Shores         Boise, ID                   10   23-09  05 Jim Davis            Eagle, ID                   10   23-04  06 Don Dethloff Jr      Coeur d Alene, ID           8   20-08  07 Tony Shuyler         Eagle , ID                  10   19-06  08 Kelly Lee            Twin Falls, ID              8   16-13  09 Travis Jarvis        Wilder, ID                  8   13-12  010 Lloyd Gilreath Sr    Boise, ID                   4   10-04  0

OREGONAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Nicholas Fitzsimmons Lyle, WA                    10   26-09  02 David Mays           Portland, OR                10   23-13  03 Dane Lawrence        Butte, MT                   10   23-01  04 Byron Chaves         Tyler, TX                   10   22-01  05 Dan Jordan           Camas, WA                   10   21-15  06 Jason Hooper         Salem, OR                   8   14-02  07 Jason Virgil         Hermiston, OR               6   12-09  08 JL Neal              Bend, OR                    5   12-07  09 Robert Gritski       Goldendale, OR              5   11-11  010 Dan Betz             Hood River, OR              5   09-08  0

ARIZONAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Kalib Lund           Glendale, AZ                10   27-14  02 Greg Taylor          Tucson, AZ                  10   22-06  03 Steve Lund           Glendale, AZ                10   22-04  04 Jacob Russell        Tucson, AZ                  10   20-15  05 Gerald Kimzey        Willcox, AZ                 8   16-05  06 Brian Bolander       Scottsdale, AZ              7   14-10  07 James Hawkes         Apache Juntion, AZ          6   13-10  08 Andy Bravence        Globe, AZ                   7   12-14  09 Rick Mason           Glendale, AZ                4   07-14  010 Thomas Edwards       Gilbert, AZ                 4   07-09  0

WYOMINGAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Bubba O’Neill        Evanston, WY                10   26-09  02 Bill Golightly       Preston, ID                 10   23-14  03 Kyle Gelles          Pingree, ID                 10   22-10  04 Tucker Cappella      Alcova, WY                  10   22-05  05 Kenny Oldham         Coalville, UT               5   12-13  06 Joe Cole             Coalville, UT               4   07-07  0

NEW MEXICOAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Randy Campbell       Sandia Park, NM             7   20-13  02 David Smith Sr       Albuquerque, NM             10   20-02  03 Moe Gutierrez        Albuquberque, NM            10   16-06  04 Randell Bell         Elephant Butte, NM          7   15-02  05 Johnny Johnson       Farmington, NM              7   11-12  06 Joe Ramirez          Bayard, NM                  4   08-07  07 Earl Conway          Albuquerque, NM             5   07-00  08 Wade Macias          Gallup, NM                  3   05-15  09 Mario Carreon        Las Cruces, NM              3   05-15  010 Donnie Gatling       Albuquerque, NM             0   00-00  0

CALIFORNIAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Mark Lassagne        San Ramon, CA               10   25-05  02 Jason Hemminger      Oxnard, CA                  10   24-10  03 Rodney Brown         Sacramento, CA              10   21-07  04 Ron Welch            Corona, CA                  10   19-00  05 Gary Collins         Moorpark, CA                9   17-12  06 Steven Wilson        Rohnert Park, CA            8   17-05  07 Bryan Kurata         Thousand Oaks, CA           8   16-08  08 Chris Gilkison       Bakersfield, CA             7   13-13  09 Don Welch            Morgan Hill, CA             6   10-05  010 Jon Kelley           Arvin, CA                   3   09-07  0

MONTANAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Jason Crone          Kalispell, MT               10   24-08  02 Jay Evans            Corvallis, MT               9   22-03  03 Reid Smith           Bozeman, MT                 10   21-04  04 Tim Johnston         Kalispell , MT              9   20-10  05 Sean Andrachick      Marion, MT                  10   20-08  06 Mike Dominick        Alberton, MT                7   19-12  07 Kim Pfaff            Deer Lodge, MT              7   15-15  08 Mark Hilyer          Libby, MT                   9   15-08  09 William Barkley      Kalispell, MT               6   13-04  010 Stan Fisher          Trout Creek, MT             5   09-09  0

UTAHAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Bill Brown           Grand Junction, CO          10   34-01  02 Travis Graham        De Beque, CO                10   31-05  03 Mike Lavallee        Sandy, UT                   10   30-04  04 Ben Byrd             Moab, UT                    10   29-05  05 Roger Mezenen        Morgan, UT                  10   28-06  06 Rick Culver          Taylor, UT                  10   24-12  07 Chase Colby          Heber City, UT              10   21-01  08 Kent Thomson         Millville, UT               8   19-02  09 Joe Johnson          Orem, UT                    8   16-08  010 Rhett Fornof         Midway, UT                  10   14-06  0

COLORADOAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Nate Caldwell        Ft Collins, CO              10   27-01  02 Brandon Genova       Denver, CO                  10   25-12  03 Ty Faber             Pagosa Springs, CO          10   23-04  04 Larry Triplett       Castle Rock, CO             10   21-12  05 Garry Harner         Milliken, CO                8   17-02  06 David Flemming       Highlands Ranch, CO         8   16-15  07 Derek Phillips       Castle Rock, CO             8   15-09  08 Pete Acosta          Brighton, CO                7   14-13  09 Todd Gentzel         Colorado Springs, CO        8   13-00  010 Mark Warren          Castle Rock, CO             6   11-08  0

NEVADAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Anthony Salazar      Las Vegas, NV               10   28-05  02 Timothy Klinger      Boulder City, NV            10   28-02  03 David Naugle         Las Vegas, NV               10   26-05  04 Jesse Milicevic      Henderson, NV               10   25-06  05 Kevin Wiggins        Las Vegas, NV               10   23-07  06 Asa Stephenson       Henderson , NV              8   21-05  07 Patrick Davis        Henderson, NV               10   21-04  08 Joe Raftery          Las Vegas, NV               10   20-02  09 Alan Zamora          North Las Vegas, NV         10   16-10  010 Stephen Tauriello    Las Vegas, NV               8   14-08  0

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