Wisconsin Bass Team Grabs First-Round Lead In Bassmaster Team Championship In Florida

Wisconsin anglers Pat Schlapper and Wade Rickey of the Major League Series lead the first day of the 2018 Bassmaster Team Championship on Harris Chain of Lakes, out of Leesburg, Fla., with 22 pounds, 3 ounces.

Dec. 5, 2018

Wisconsin Bass Team Grabs First-Round Lead In Bassmaster Team Championship In Florida

[print_link]

LEESBURG, Fla. — If Wisconsin anglers Pat Schlapper and Wade Rickey had started today’s opening round of the Bassmaster Team Championship using sturdier fish hooks, they likely would have a considerably heavier weight than the 22-pound, 3-ounce limit they carried to the weigh-in.

Still, that limit of five bass was enough to put the Wisconsin tandem atop the leaderboard heading into the second and final day here on the Harris Chain of Lakes in central Florida.

Schlapper and Rickey had never fished in the Sunshine State, and they believed 3/0 hooks would be enough to boat the hefty Florida bass they hoped to catch. But when they did stick big bass early on Wednesday, the fish literally straightened those hooks and slipped away.

Frustrated, but undeterred, Schlapper and Rickey switched to beefier 4/0 hooks, and they started putting big bass in the boat. Rickey’s 6-pounder was the largest, and the duo rounded out their bag with a quartet of solid 4-pounders.

Schlapper and Rickey, who fish with the Major League Series back in Wisconsin, are 10 ounces ahead of the Anglers Choice team of Virginia’s William Samples and North Carolina’s Charles Purcell, who are second with 21-9. Brothers Travis and Shannon O’Quinn of Team Morristown Marine are in third place with 20-8; Eddie Levin and Ryan Mallory of the Ohio B.A.S.S. Nation Team Trail are fourth (20-6); and Dean Alexander and Tom Martens of the Texas Bass Nation Team Trail are fifth (19-15.)

“We’ve never been fishing down here, so we didn’t know what to expect,” Schlapper said. “We lost some nice fish, but we ground it out. We only fished that one spot, and we stopped fishing it hard about 10 a.m.”

Schlapper and Rickey said they found big bass on another half dozen spots they scouted in practice, but they’re not sure those places will be unoccupied when they arrive Thursday morning. The duo was, however, aboard the 151st of 197 boats to launch today. Since the takeoff order is inverted on Day 2, they’ll get an earlier start on Thursday.

“I’m confident we’re around some fish,” Schlapper said. “But not having fished here before, I don’t know which community holes we’re around. We didn’t see anyone else fishing like we were, but (a few boats saw us fishing) and got an education this morning. If one of them is ahead of us, we might come in with nothing.”

Duos from 35 different states and three foreign countries (Australia, Canada and South Africa) are competing in the Team Championship. Each team consists of two anglers trying to amass a shared five-bass limit in the team portion of the championship.

The tandem with the heaviest two-day combined weight will be crowned team champion after Thursday’s weigh-in, and also will win a Nitro Z20 boat and Mercury 225 Pro XS boat/motor combo valued at $42,000.

Brisk winds swept across central Florida on Wednesday which made moving around the Harris Chain rough on competitors. Still, anglers such as Alexander and Martens were among those who benefited from the weather, which featured temperatures in the upper 50s and clear skies to go with steady winds from 10 to 15 mph.

“(The wind) put us into a little funk, but we had a good morning,” Martens said.

Alexander caught an 8-2 largemouth that was one of three bass to qualify for the TrophyCatch Florida program on today. Adam Elliot caught a 9-4, and Tennessee’s Nobuyuki Terajima had the big bass of the day with a lunker that tipped the scales at 10-10. It was almost 3 pounds heavier than his previous best — a 7-12 he caught on Kentucky Lake.

Terajima didn’t offer details on how he caught the big bass, which earned him a $500 prize, but he did say he was worried at one point that he and his partner, Doug Castro, were in for a tough day.

“We were struggling,” Terajima said. “We had no fish at 11 (o’clock.) We moved to a new location and I got this one. I wish I could catch one more like this tomorrow. No one can tell.”

Anglers no doubt will be look for those types of bites again Thursday.

Following the Team Championship round, members of the Top 3 teams will move on to the Team Championship Classic Fish-Off, also on the Harris Chain, where they will compete individually for the final berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’s Sporting Goods. That tournament, the most prestigious and storied in all of competitive bass fishing, is scheduled for March 15-17 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Anglers will launch Thursday at 6:45 a.m. ET from Ski Beach Park in Leesburg. The final weigh-in for the team portion of this tournament will begin at the same location at 2:45 p.m. ET.

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission is hosting the tournament with the assistance of Florida’s Lake County.

 Bassmaster Team Championship12/5/2018 – 12/6/2018Harris Chain Of Lakes – Venetian Gardens – Leesburg, FLSTANDINGS  BOATER DAY   1Name                                  Fish/Weight

Pat Schlapper – Wade Rickey             5/22-3Major League SeriesWilliam Samples – Charles Purcell       5/21-9Anglers ChoiceTravis O’Quinn – Shannon O’Quinn        5/20-8Morristown MarineEddie Levin – Ryan Mallory              5/20-6OH BN Team TrailDean Alexander – Tom Martens            5/19-15TX BN Team TrailMark O’Brien – Ryne Sanders             5/19-12US Anglers ChoiceSteven Morris – Matt Vanzant            5/19-8Pride of the SouthSteven Nieto – Lupe Nieto Jr            5/19-3TX BN Team TrailAdam Dysart – Jayme Copenhaver III      5/19-2Chattanooga Bass AssociationBlake Smitherman – Daniel               5/18-5MAirport Marine Team TrailRuben Chavez III – Wilson Couch         5/18-0IMedia BassAdam Elliott – Jason Hamaker            5/17-14Alabama Bass TrailChris Glover – Jeff Hampton             5/17-12US Anglers ChoiceSteven Caudill – Rodney Roe             5/17- 5NTBATaylor Smith – DAN JENSEN               5/16-15Northwest BassJoe Ellis – Ronald Ellis                5/16-9Tennessee Team TrailMark Averill – Gary Tepastte            5/16-3West Michigan BassAaron Leon – Timothy Klinger            5/15-15UBTTCody Pike – Scott Banton                5/15-8VA Elite 70Doug Iorio – James Lipo                 5/15-5Western PA Bass SeriesJack Ebach – Robert Moss                5/14-15West Michigan BassGreg Pugh – Charlie Cummings            5/14-13Alabama Bass TrailNobuyuki Terajima – Doug Castro         3/14-13TN BN Team TrailMichael Robinson – Bryan Heaberlin      5/14-10Fishers of MenRoger Etheridge – Chad Schroeder        5/14-8Pride of the SouthChad Ray – Clint Miller                 5/14-8Alabama Bass TrailLarry Franks Jr. – Larry Franks Sr      5/14-7.Alabama Bass NationChip Servant – Josh Cotier              5/14-6MA BN Team TrailJack Rinkers – Eric Galasso             5/14-5New Jersey BN Team TrailSeth Davis – Brent Butler               5/14-4Chattanooga Bass AssociationGreg Barwick – Donald Adcock            5/14-3Media BassJosh Busby – Timothy Taylor             5/14-1Ozark MountainJoshua Hubbard – Tom Catlin             5/14-0Illinois Bass NationDavid Mccormick – Gary Shartzer         5/13-14Ozark MountainTy Faber – Mark Faber                   5/13-13UBTTMichael Morse – Kris Lockard            5/13-10Lakeland BassmastersLyle Armstrong – Mitchell               5/13-9AJoerBass Team TrailJason Hopper – Chris Rounsavall         5/13-8Pride of the SouthJohn Pollard – Dallas Weldon            5/13-4Alabama Bass TrailKeith Tuma – Andy Walls                 5/13-3MN BN Team TrailWesley Sams – Jordan Wiggins            5/13-1Alabama Bass TrailDavid Chong – Doug Brownridge           5/13-0Renegade Bass TourJason Ammerman – Eric Kiliszewski       5/12-13West Michigan BassDustin Huggins – Cody Kemp              5/12-12Arkansas Bass Team TrailBrian Robbins – Jeremy Talbert          5/12-12Carolina Bass ChallengeJustin Durden – Jacob Walker            5/12-11Airport Marine Team TrailTruett Hill Jr – Chris Coleman          5/12-10Fishers of MenDylan Dew – Larry Dew                   5/12-8Keystone Bass Buddy Circuitbrandon robbins – russ franklin         5/12-4Ozark MountainAllan Glasgow – George Crain            5/12-1Fishers of MenLarry Baldock – Donovan Smith           5/11-14Fishers of MenShawn Larance – Scott Smiley            5/11-14Media BassTravis Salo – Garret Seppala            5/11-14NH Bass NationKen Thompson – Brad Weese               5/11-12Anglers ChoiceBryan Ray – Brian Wilson                5/11-6West Michigan BassTodd Buckingham – Chris Beaudrie        5/11-4KY BN Team TrailPeyton McCord – Aaron Cherry            5/11-2Alabama Bass NationRonald Risenhoover – Larry Green        5/11-2Media BassChris Lewis – Jason Adams               5/11-0Anglers ChoiceJason Munch – Scott Berg                5/11-0BBTMatthew Robertson – Wendell             5/11-0AKYrBNnTeam TrailMark Hensiek – Don Douglas IV           5/10-15Arkansas Team BassMike Altizer – Shannon Breeding         5/10-13Anglers ChoiceDean Silvester – Mark Ferguson          5/10-12Australia BNBradley Jones – Charles Kilgore         5/10-8Alabama Bass TrailCory Ownby – Dewayne Wilson             5/10-8Tennessee Team TrailBrandon Rose – Jeff Yorks               5/10-8MI BN Team TrailTerry Blackwood – Jerry Hoesli          4/10-7KS BASS NationMatt Gorham – Jack Sage                 5/10-3West Michigan BassMike Williams – Duane Jacobs            5/10-3BassmaniaJosh Collier – Anthony Ardizzone        5 /10-2IN BN Team TrailCraig Gong – Ryan Reynolds              5/10-1Cen Cal EliteEric Panzironi – Robert Holcomb         5/10-1FL BN Team TrailWesley Ward – Grant Hopson              5/10-1Alabama Bass TrailKyle Metzger – Jeff Currie              5/9-15Upstate AnglersTimothy Boothe – Timothy Bragg          5/9-14Anglers ChoiceChris Pitts – John Knapp                5/9-13Pride of the SouthBlake† Bushong – Matthew Vavroch        5/9-12Iowa BASS Nation Team TrailLanny Guthrie – Lee Hurley              5/9-11Alabama Bass TrailCasey Majni – Taylor Watkins            5/9-11Tennessee Team TrailPaul Sherman – Jed Persson              5/9-11MN BN Team TrailHoward McCallister – Tim Robinson       5/9-10Ozark MountainRobert Cowan – Dallas Beasley           5/9-9Joe Bass Team TrailDave Schneider Jr – Dave Hedge          5/9-9IN BN Team TrailNicholas Turner – Joe Lay               5/9-8Alabama Bass TrailLuke Gritter – Jesse Weener             5/9-7D&R SportscenterMike Crowther – Josh Kimmel             5/9-4UBTTJeff Brauneck – Fred Brauneck           5/9-3West Michigan BassAndrew Eutsler – Jared Essary           5/9-3Joe Bass Team TrailDelmar Silva – Tanya Silva              5/9-3NM BN Team TrailShane Rawlings – David Osterhout        5/9-2West Michigan BassTom Statler – Dillon Statler            5/9-2Joe Bass Team TrailGreg Alexander – Craig Morris           5/9-0Delaware Bass NationRodney Cromer – Roger Farr              5/8-12Carolina Bass ChallengeBob Garman – Harry Heins                5/8-12Iowa BASS Nation Team TrailRick Imler – Robert Newlon              5/8-11Great Lakes Largemouth SeriesAlan Bull – Shawn Gordon                5/8-10Arkansas Bass Team TrailTony Morton – Josh Cupp                 5/8-9Tennessee Team TrailBeau Govreau – Brett Govreau            5/8-8Anglers ChoiceAllen Williford – Austin Moore          5/8-8Illinois Bass NationRay Trudeau – Fred George               5/8-4FL BN Team TrailBryan Welch – Hal Blackwelder           5/8-4Anglers ChoiceChris Dover – Robert Fowler             4/8-0Carolina Bass ChallengeCraig Hodges – Shaun Campbell           5/7-15NTBAMike Merz – Duane Poole                 3/7-15Upstate AnglersDustin Neat – Mark Wethington           5/7-14NTBATrevor Kettles – Greg Vance             3/7-14Iowa BASS Nation Team TrailCody Nichols – Koby Newman              5/7-13Alabama Bass TrailBrad Webb – Jay Ferk                    5/7-13Fishers of MenRalph Laster – Michael Fiedler          5/7-12Joe Bass Team TrailSteve Clark – David Norgrove            5/7-11BassmaniaWilliam Solomon – Daniel Taylor         4/7-11Morristown MarineDouglas Schrader – Charles              2/7-10SBBTderArthur Fortin – Brian Sherrill          5/7-9Winter Bass O ThonFred Ingalls II – Mark Allen            5/7-8Upstate AnglersCole Bailey – Sam Rankin                5/7-7TBBAGary Henries – Toby Cooper              5/7-7Dockside Marine Team TrailMike Hicks – Ken Presley                5/7-6VA Elite 70Ray Covington Jr. – Phillip             4/7-6WAlabama Bass NationDarrell Brown – Gale Brown              5/7-5Sunflower Team SeriesTony Hogan – Johnny Clark               5/7-5Alabama Bass NationRick Osterholt – Ronald Rokisky         5/7-5FL BN Team TrailBryce Kalen – Bryan Kalen               4/7-5IN BN Team TrailJosh Ray – Tracy Holder                 5/7-3Arkansas Bass Team TrailJake Lee – Dalton Price                 5/7-2Tennessee Team TrailKenneth Sessions – greg sessions        5/7-2Pride of the SouthJason Porter – Steven Caldwell          5/7-1Media BassBurton Bryan – Willie Bryan             5/7-0Morristown MarineRyan Kelly – Joshua Schumaker           5/7-0West Michigan BassJoe Durnal – Zack Coffee                3 /6-15Angler NationBrian Harvey – Mark Mauldin             5/6-12Tennessee Team TrailJames Love – Colt Love                  5/6-12Anglers in ActionMichael Matthee – Glen Naude            3 /6-12So Africa BN Team TrailDavid Craft – Stoney Johnson            5/6-10Chattanooga Bass AssociationCharles Reed – Kirk Wall                4/6-10Fishers of MenJason Forsgren – Samuel Collins         5/6-9Tennessee Team TrailLarry Gawith – John Hughey              5/6-8Sunflower Team SeriesTim Shafer – Gregory Lewis              5/6-8NTBABrad Hickinbottom – Brian McCay         4/6-4Keystone Bass Buddy CircuitJacob Slade – Cody Sisson               4/6-3Media BassVernon Silver – Gerald Butler           4/6-1Fishers of MenMitch Miles Jr – Scott Sawyers          5/5-15Anglers ChoiceDon Ammerman – Wes Woodard              5/5-13West Michigan BassThomas Whitmore – Leonard Law           5/5-11Anglers ChoiceJosh Wray – Donald Wray                 3/5-8Ozark MountainJoey Davidson – Tullis Lanier           1/5-8Alabama Bass TrailGreg Marshall – Karl Schreiber          5/5-6Anglers OutpostRussell Wagy – Charles Wagy             3/5-6VA Elite 70Dion Bright – Brian Closson             5/5-5WV BN Team TrailKevin Jackson – Bryan Jackson           4/5-4Joe Bass Team TrailScott Tyrell – Jacob Saunders           3/5-4NTBACraig Ninaber – Neels Botha             5/5-3So Africa BN Team TrailHunter Denmark – Carson Denmark         4/5-3Pride of the SouthSteve Stier – Marc Snyder               5/5-2D&R SportscenterRussell Pasket – Chris DiBeradino       4/5-2TX BN Team TrailKevin Dickey – Kevin McClellan          4/4-10Ozark MountainRob Messenger Jr – John Levesque        3/4-10NH Bass NationMatt Looney – Larry Smith               2/4-10Angler NationKevin Riney – Tobin Baker               2/4-10Arkansas Bass Team TrailDanny Morris – Joe Minor                3/4-8Pride of the SouthJason Schade – David Doty               3/4-8Major League SeriesJosh Ingram – Ian Mcroy                 1/4-5Anglers ChoiceSeth Brogan – Roger Castillo            4/4-3Anglers ChoiceChip Crews IV – Josh† Stafford          2/4-3Carolina Bass ChallengeLuke Estel – Josh Jackson               4/4-1US Anglers ChoiceJeff Delk – Allan Farris                3/4-0NTBARobbie Pelt II – David Caylor           3/4-0Alabama Bass TrailGentry Gordy – Chad Smith               3/3-15Alabama Bass TrailDavid LeBlanc – Doug Hume               2/3-13NH Bass NationJohan Van Veelan – Nikki van            2/3-13VSoeAfrica BN Team TrailTimothy Hatcher – Brandon               2/3-11UAlabama Bass TrailRick† Jones – Jeremy Gilbert            3/3-10Ozark MountainBarry Isabell – Robert Freeman          3/3-8Alabama Bass TrailRyan Grey – Michael Coomes              3/3-7Media BassNick Deering – Conner Petropoulos       2/3-7Maine Man vs BassBob Grosso – Warren Gensel              3/3-5FL BN Team TrailAdam Christen – Brett Coggins           2/3-5Alabama Bass TrailTravis Perret – Chris Maggio            2/3-3KC Team TourLester Hawkins  Jr – Matthew            1/3-2ANMsBN Team TrailJustin Orr – Brannon Holley             2/2-15NM BN Team TrailHunter Penny – Chris Hopper             3/2-14Alabama Bass TrailMichael Byrd – Andrew Miller            2/2-8Pride of the SouthJesse Draime – Carl Duvernay            2/2-2Media BassTom Ives – Steven Ives                  2/2-2US Anglers ChoiceMicheal Henderson – Tim Cook            2/1-15D&R SportscenterColten Fink – Travis Hitchins           2/1-14Cheat Lake Bass AnglersLowell Everett – Lawrence Curd          2/1-12Airport Marine Team TrailRyan Hovatter – Bryson Grimes           3/1-10Cheat Lake Bass AnglersPerry Dewees –                          1/1-5Morristown MarineChris Payne – Jonathan White            1/1-5Pride of the SouthBrian Rodriguez – Ryan Fleck            1/1-1FL BN Team TrailBo† Spence – Trey Coker                 1/1-1Pride of the SouthJames Bullard – Jonathan Bullard        1/1-0Tennessee Team TrailJames Holencik – George Holencik        1/1-0Western PA Team Bass SeriesColton Bryan – Henry Bryan Jr           0/0-0Morristown MarineChris Risner – Tim Eaton                0/0-0West Michigan BassJeffery Walker – Larry Griffith         0/0-0Tennessee Team Trail

BIG BASS1Nobuyuki Te Hermitage,  10-10

TOTALSDay  Fish   Lbs-Oz  Limits1     828    771-14    33

The post Wisconsin Bass Team Grabs First-Round Lead In Bassmaster Team Championship In Florida appeared first on The Bass Cast.