Wisconsin’s Adkins Wins Northern Divisonal On Lake Vermilion

Gary Adkins of Green Bay, Wis., caught 48 pounds, 3 ounces over three days to take the title at Lake Vermilion during the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional held out of Tower, Minn., Friday. 

August 28, 2015

Wisconsin’s Adkins Wins Northern Divisonal On Lake Vermilion

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TOWER, Minn. — Applying local knowledge on unfamiliar tournament water is a risk sometimes worth taking. Doing just that paid off for Wisconsin’s Gary Adkins, winner of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional on Lake Vermilion.

The Green Bay angler caught 48 pounds, 4 ounces, after three days of fishing under a variety of weather conditions. Minnesota’s Corey Brant, the leader after two days and presumed favorite to win, finished second with 45-15. Illinois angler Ryan Whitacre earned third place with 43-2.

All three anglers and the overall leaders from the eight Midwestern states participating in the tournament advance to the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. The event is bass club fishing’s premier event, with an international field of anglers competing in October on the Ouachita River in Louisiana.

Adkins found striking similarities between his home water of Lake Michigan and the northern Minnesota tournament fishery. What he found is a combination of gravel bottom mixed with the large boulders that form most of the smallmouth habitat.

“The gravel bottom was a standout feature,” said Adkins, a five-time divisional qualifier. “It’s what I look for in Green Bay when fishing for smallmouth.”

Adkins keyed on one particular rock and gravel formation rising from 30 to 15 feet off the bottom. The sharply defined dropoff was a wise choice after a cold front pushed through the area on Wednesday.

“My other areas in shallower water didn’t produce because the fish had to move way out to find deeper water,” he added. “Finding them again would have been tough, as it was I am sure for some of the other guys.”

Adkins chose a green/pumpkin pattern Get Bit Slender Tube inserted into a 5/16-ounce jighead for fishing the sloping contours of the gravel bottom. The key attractant was crawfish being fed upon by the smallmouth.

Later in the day he moved to a rocky shoreline offering yet another similarity to his home water. Most shorelines on Lake Vermilion feature sharp drops into deep water. Instead, Adkins chose a gently sloping shoreline that created warmer water.

“The afternoon sunshine warmed the rocks and that attracted the crawfish,” he said. “It’s the same type of bottom I fish back home.”

Adkins chose a square billed PH Custom Crankbait that matched the size and action of the crawfish for the afternoon bite.

Each day began on the gravel side of the rocky shoal. Later in the day, he moved to the shoreline to fill his limit.

Advancing to the national championship are these remaining state winners. They are Greg Vance (Iowa); Daniel Brown (Illinois); Dave Watson (Indiana); Jeff Fischer (Michigan); Nick Leonard (Ohio).

Minnesota won its third consecutive state title with a total weight of 456 pounds, 11 ounces. Wisconsin was second with 401-11 and Illinois placed third with 372-04. Ohio took fourth place with 336-12 and Indiana was fifth with 318-12. South Dakota earned sixth place with 310-12 and Michigan was seventh with 295-10. Iowa finished eighth with 286-12.

Minnesota’s overall score received a huge boost from its team competing in the B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Division High School Divisional. Mason Raveling and Ben Provost weighed 34-8 to also take first place in the high school contest. The anglers are from Prior Lake High School.

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

Corey Brant earned the $250 Livingston Lures Leader Award as Day 2 leader.

Andy Hriber received the $500 A.R.E. Award as highest placing angler using the brand’s truck caps.

2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Divisional 8/26-8/28Lake Vermilion, Tower  MN.(ANGLER) Standings Day 3

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

1.  Gary Adkins            Green Bay, WI (WI)      15  48-04  02.  Corey Brant            Minnetonka, MN (MN)     15  45-15  03.  Ryan Whitacre          Chicago, IL (WI)        15  43-02  04.  Ted Heitschmidt        Tomahawk, WI (WI)       15  41-12  05.  Daniel Brown           Joliet, IL (IL)         15  41-05  06.  Andy Hriber            Lakeville, MN (MN)      15  41-05  07.  Jami Fralick           Martin, SD (SD)         15  41-00  08.  Korey Bushman          Eden Prairie, MN (MN)   15  39-06  09.  Brad Ballard           Winona, MN (MN)         15  38-10  010. Jim Barczak            Osceola, WI (WI)        15  38-08  011. Nathan Steinbauer      Edina, MN (MN)          14  38-05  012. Nick Leonard           Cincinnati, OH (OH)     15  38-03  013. Brian Bengtson         Bloomington, MN (MN)    15  38-03  014. Scott Bonnema          Zimmerman, MN (MN)      15  38-00  015. Jeff Fischer           Farmington, MI (MI)     15  37-07  016. Jeff Bostic            Cassopolis, MI (MI)     13  37-05  017. Paul Amstutz           Gambler, OH (OH)        14  37-03  018. Greg Vance             Dubuque, IA (IA)        14  35-08  019. Levi Warner            Shiocton, WI (WI)       13  35-04  020. Tadd Johnson           Lakeview, MN (MN)       15  35-03  021. MN HS – Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN (MN)         10  34-08  022. Cliff Van Beek         Canistota, SD (SD)      12  34-06  023. Nate Brown             Muscatine, IA (IA)      14  34-04  024. Dave Watson            Sullivan, IN (IN)       15  34-01  025. Brandon Osting         Delphos, OH (OH)        15  33-11  026. Joe Pruss              Springfield, SD (SD)    10  32-15  027. Dave Hedge             Greenfield, IN (IN)     15  32-14  028. Curt Samo              Rochelle, IL (IL)       15  32-11  029. Carl Spande            Mounds View, MN (MN)    12  32-09  030. Brian Saari            Madison, WI (WI)        13  32-00  031. Mike Pappas            Lagrange, IL (IL)       13  31-14  032. Bryan Corley           Des Moines, IA (IA)     13  31-13  033. Corey Peterson         Yankton, SD (SD)        12  31-12  034. Tom Ondras             Jourt, IL (IL)          11  31-11  035. Vaughn Capasso         MARENGO, IL (IL)        15  31-11  036. Scott Cremeans         Albany, OH (OH)         15  31-02  037. Nathan Ranallo         La Crosse, WI (WI)      11  30-08  038. Richard Lindgren       Lakeville, MN (MN)      13  30-04  039. Wes Thomas             Hanover, IN (IN)        15  30-03  040. Richard Hladky         Yankton, SD (SD)        12  29-15  041. Rob Melendez           Frankfort, IL (IL)      15  29-10  042. Joseph Sestak          Tabor, SD (SD)          15  29-09  043. Matt Fischer           Farmington, MI (MI)     14  29-08  044. Dave Schneider         Indianapolis, IN (IN)   13  29-05  045. Zach Grounds           Fortvilla, IN (IN)      12  29-02  046. Kevin Imer             Marengo, OH (OH)        14  28-11  047. Chris Wilkinson        Farmersburg, IN (IN)    15  28-08  048. Walter Hart            Washington Court House, 14  28-08  049. Michael Nesbitt        St. Paris, OH (OH)      13  28-07  050. Eric Zoromski          Lena, WI (WI)           15  28-07  051. Miqell Dawson          Detroit, MI (MI)        9  28-04  052. Brad Norris            Hudson, IL (IL)         15  27-14  053. David Junk             Quincy, IL (IL)         13  26-08  054. Dave Thompson          Washington, IL (IL)     13  26-02  055. Chip Goy               Genoa City, WI (WI)     12  25-10  056. Mark Borchers          Akron, IA (IA)          13  25-10  057. Tim Maupin             Lawrenceburg, IN (IN)   12  25-06  058. Brian Hensley          Edwardsburg, MI (IN)    11  25-00  059. IL HS – Zobel / Cook   Joliet, IL (IL)         10  25-00  060. Raul Gonzalez          Schrumburg, IL (IL)     12  25-00  061. Phil Rummel            Mount Vernon, OH (OH)   11  24-13  062. Mark Peterson          Orland Park, IL (IL)    13  24-09  063. Aaron Daeges           Carver, MN (MN)         12  24-06  064. Kyle Jump              Farmington Hills, MI (M 12  24-06  065. Marvin Parton          Kokomo, IN (IN)         11  24-02  066. WI HS – Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI (WI)        10  23-09  067. Chris Calkins          Marshalltown, IA (IA)   11  23-07  068. Jesse Schwark          Athens, MI (MI)         13  23-02  069. OH HS – Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH (OH)    10  23-00  070. Adam Hladky            Volin, SD (SD)          11  21-14  071. Steven Houdek          Calmar, IA (IA)         11  21-04  072. Austin Brimeyer        Dubuque, IA (IA)        11  20-15  073. Kyler Chelminiak       Franklin, WI (WI)       10  20-03  074. Guy Knudson            Zimmerman, MN (MN)      13  20-01  075. Brian Searcy           Muscatine, IA (IA)      10  19-14  076. John Ling IV           Climax, MI (MI)         11  19-11  077. IN HS – Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN (IN)    9  19-10  078. Landon Moore           Marion, IA (IA)         10  19-08  079. James Haas             Yankton, SD (SD)        9  19-07  080. Terry Hall             Grove City, OH (OH)     9  19-02  081. MI HS – Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI (MI)     10  18-12  082. Bryan Freyermuth       Muscatine, IA (IA)      8  18-12  083. Jarrod Sherwood        Vassar, MI (MI)         9  18-11  084. Mark Emenecker         Matton, IL (IL)         10  18-05  085. Kevin Fassbind         Cottage Grove, WI (WI)  7  18-03  086. Bob Slama              Harrisburg, SD (SD)     10  18-03  087. Allen Wennerberg       Waterford, MI (MI)      8  17-12  088. Brian Vogelsang        Zanes Field, OH (OH)    9  17-11  089. Trevor Kettles         Waukee, IA (IA)         8  17-09  090. Chad Starrett          Shirley, IN (IN)        9  17-08  091. Tucker Peschl          Tyndall, SD (SD)        10  16-07  092. Chad Kurowski          New Franken, WI (WI)    8  16-05  093. Kirk Simpson           Waterford, MI (MI)      8  15-14  094. Mel Williams           Winner, SD (SD)         8  14-10  095. Edward Schiller        Wixom, MI (MI)          9  14-02  096. Robert Doughty         Columbus, OH (OH)       6  14-02  097. Eric Hardesty          Nineveh, IN (IN)        8  14-00  098. SD HS – Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD (SD)         8  13-06  099. Scott Metzger          Springfield, OH (OH)    6  12-03  0100. Bob Kowal              Sparta, MI (MI)         6  10-12  0101. IA HS – Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA (IA)         7  10-08  0102. Shon Nelson            Elberfield, IN (IN)     4  09-01  0103. Orlando Rundle         Monticello, IA (IA)     5  07-12  0104. Timothy Peterson       Springfield, SD (SD)    4  07-04  0———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1       38       319       677-092       74       456       1045-143       73       441       1055-13———————————-185      1216      2779-04

TEAM STANDINGS Day 3———————————-State                Lbs-Oz1 MINNESOTA            456-112 WISCONSIN            401-113 ILLINOIS             372-044 OHIO                 336-125 INDIANA              318-126 SOUTH DAKOTA         310-127 MICHIGAN             295-108 IOWA                 286-12

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3———————————————————————–

IOWAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Greg Vance           Dubuque, IA                 14   35-08  02 Nate Brown           Muscatine, IA               14   34-04  03 Bryan Corley         Des Moines, IA              13   31-13  04 Mark Borchers        Akron, IA                   13   25-10  05 Chris Calkins        Marshalltown, IA            11   23-07  06 Steven Houdek        Calmar, IA                  11   21-04  07 Austin Brimeyer      Dubuque, IA                 11   20-15  08 Brian Searcy         Muscatine, IA               10   19-14  09 Landon Moore         Marion, IA                  10   19-08  010 Bryan Freyermuth     Muscatine, IA               8   18-12  011 Trevor Kettles       Waukee, IA                  8   17-09  012 IA HS – Minton / Hamdorf Lowden, IA                  7   10-08  013 Orlando Rundle       Monticello, IA              5   07-12  0

ILLINOISAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Daniel Brown         Joliet, IL                  15   41-05  02 Curt Samo            Rochelle, IL                15   32-11  03 Mike Pappas          Lagrange, IL                13   31-14  04 Tom Ondras           Jourt, IL                   11   31-11  05 Vaughn Capasso       MARENGO, IL                 15   31-11  06 Rob Melendez         Frankfort, IL               15   29-10  07 Brad Norris          Hudson, IL                  15   27-14  08 David Junk           Quincy, IL                  13   26-08  09 Dave Thompson        Washington, IL              13   26-02  010 IL HS – Zobel / Cook Joliet, IL                  10   25-00  011 Raul Gonzalez        Schrumburg, IL              12   25-00  012 Mark Peterson        Orland Park, IL             13   24-09  013 Mark Emenecker       Matton, IL                  10   18-05  0

INDIANAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Dave Watson          Sullivan, IN                15   34-01  02 Dave Hedge           Greenfield, IN              15   32-14  03 Wes Thomas           Hanover, IN                 15   30-03  04 Dave Schneider       Indianapolis, IN            13   29-05  05 Zach Grounds         Fortvilla, IN               12   29-02  06 Chris Wilkinson      Farmersburg, IN             15   28-08  07 Tim Maupin           Lawrenceburg, IN            12   25-06  08 Brian Hensley        Edwardsburg, MI             11   25-00  09 Marvin Parton        Kokomo, IN                  11   24-02  010 IN HS – Miller / Stafford Bloomington, IN             9   19-10  011 Chad Starrett        Shirley, IN                 9   17-08  012 Eric Hardesty        Nineveh, IN                 8   14-00  013 Shon Nelson          Elberfield, IN              4   09-01  0

MICHIGANAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Jeff Fischer         Farmington, MI              15   37-07  02 Jeff Bostic          Cassopolis, MI              13   37-05  03 Matt Fischer         Farmington, MI              14   29-08  04 Miqell Dawson        Detroit, MI                 9   28-04  05 Kyle Jump            Farmington Hills, MI        12   24-06  06 Jesse Schwark        Athens, MI                  13   23-02  07 John Ling IV         Climax, MI                  11   19-11  08 MI HS – Bombrowski / Hatton South Lyon, MI              10   18-12  09 Jarrod Sherwood      Vassar, MI                  9   18-11  010 Allen Wennerberg     Waterford, MI               8   17-12  011 Kirk Simpson         Waterford, MI               8   15-14  012 Edward Schiller      Wixom, MI                   9   14-02  013 Bob Kowal            Sparta, MI                  6   10-12  0

MINNESOTAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Corey Brant          Minnetonka, MN              15   45-15  02 Andy Hriber          Lakeville, MN               15   41-05  03 Korey Bushman        Eden Prairie, MN            15   39-06  04 Brad Ballard         Winona, MN                  15   38-10  05 Nathan Steinbauer    Edina, MN                   14   38-05  06 Brian Bengtson       Bloomington, MN             15   38-03  07 Scott Bonnema        Zimmerman, MN               15   38-00  08 Tadd Johnson         Lakeview, MN                15   35-03  09 MN HS – Provost / Raveling Jordan, MN                  10   34-08  010 Carl Spande          Mounds View, MN             12   32-09  011 Richard Lindgren     Lakeville, MN               13   30-04  012 Aaron Daeges         Carver, MN                  12   24-06  013 Guy Knudson          Zimmerman, MN               13   20-01  0

OHIOAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Nick Leonard         Cincinnati, OH              15   38-03  02 Paul Amstutz         Gambler, OH                 14   37-03  03 Brandon Osting       Delphos, OH                 15   33-11  04 Scott Cremeans       Albany, OH                  15   31-02  05 Kevin Imer           Marengo, OH                 14   28-11  06 Walter Hart          Washington Court House,  14   28-08  07 Michael Nesbitt      St. Paris, OH               13   28-07  08 Phil Rummel          Mount Vernon, OH            11   24-13  09 OH HS – Kovatch / Pritsel Westerville, OH             10   23-00  010 Terry Hall           Grove City, OH              9   19-02  011 Brian Vogelsang      Zanes Field, OH             9   17-11  012 Robert Doughty       Columbus, OH                6   14-02  013 Scott Metzger        Springfield, OH             6   12-03  0

SOUTH DAKOTAAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Jami Fralick         Martin, SD                  15   41-00  02 Cliff Van Beek       Canistota, SD               12   34-06  03 Joe Pruss            Springfield, SD             10   32-15  04 Corey Peterson       Yankton, SD                 12   31-12  05 Richard Hladky       Yankton, SD                 12   29-15  06 Joseph Sestak        Tabor, SD                   15   29-09  07 Adam Hladky          Volin, SD                   11   21-14  08 James Haas           Yankton, SD                 9   19-07  09 Bob Slama            Harrisburg, SD              10   18-03  010 Tucker Peschl        Tyndall, SD                 10   16-07  011 Mel Williams         Winner, SD                  8   14-10  012 SD HS – Swanson / Hutmacher Oacoma, SD                  8   13-06  013 Timothy Peterson     Springfield, SD             4   07-04  0

WISCONSINAngler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$1 Gary Adkins          Green Bay, WI               15   48-04  02 Ryan Whitacre        Chicago, IL                 15   43-02  03 Ted Heitschmidt      Tomahawk, WI                15   41-12  04 Jim Barczak          Osceola, WI                 15   38-08  05 Levi Warner          Shiocton, WI                13   35-04  06 Brian Saari          Madison, WI                 13   32-00  07 Nathan Ranallo       La Crosse, WI               11   30-08  08 Eric Zoromski        Lena, WI                    15   28-07  09 Chip Goy             Genoa City, WI              12   25-10  010 WI HS – Lindus / Haney Baldwin, WI                 10   23-09  011 Kyler Chelminiak     Franklin, WI                10   20-03  012 Kevin Fassbind       Cottage Grove, WI           7   18-03  013 Chad Kurowski        New Franken, WI             8   16-05  0

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