Nation Championship: Day 3 weigh-in

The final day weigh-in of the 2014 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Championship gets underway.

Prior to the final weigh-in, 2015 Carhartt College Series Bassmaster Classic qualifier Brett Preuett was presented with a fully-rigged Toyota Tundra and Nitro Z8. Check back soon for a separate gallery with all the details of that presentation.

B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart sings the national anthem prior to weigh-in.

Anglers show their respect.

Friends and family in attendance.

Stephen Lund makes his way to the scales.

Lund brings a big one in.

Lund has 8-15 for today and takes the Western Division lead.

Time to take one of six hot seats set out for our divisional leaders.

Joshua Wray is chomping at the bit.

Wray weighs 8-7 on Day 3.

A look at what Wray sees.

Hot seat time as Wray takes the Central Division lead.

The bar has been set in two divisions now.

The Cavell family cheers for our next angler.

Louisiana’s own David Cavell doesn’t have enough to overtake Wray.

Stratos Orphanides of Zimbabwe reaches in and grabs one.

Stratos Orphanides of Zimbabwe finishes 26th with 17-10 for 3 days.

John Soukup (14th, 21-2)

Gianni Rizzo of Italy finishes 31st with 15-6.

Oh my. What do we have here.

Japie Botha accepted a $50 bet from Jon Stewart to wear his Halloween costumes to the final weigh-in. Botha accepted.

Wow.

Way to own it, Botha.

Not sure what else to say.

Japie Botha, of South Africa, finished the event in 34th with 13-11 for 3 days.

Stewart paid up.

Max Pieper is the first angler ever to represent Namibia in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and finishes the event in 47th with 10-9.

Leo Bevelaqua steps to the scales.

Leo Bevelaqua has 8-0 on Day 3 to take the hot seat in the Eastern Division with a 3-day total of 19-12.

Three hot seats are now filled, three to go.

Jesse Weener takes the lead in the smallest bass division with this 0-13 lunker.

An empty boat is pulled through the weigh-in procession in honor of Idaho B.A.S.S. Nation President Jared Spickelmier who died unexpectedly in his sleep this week.

A tough and touching moment.

Jason Hickey of the Idaho B.A.S.S. Nation represents well for Jared on the final day.

Jason Hickey 9-5 on the final day boosts him to 21st overall.

Greg Alexander (30th, 15-10)

Koji Kuroda of Japan finishes 37th with 13-4.

Kurt Denning takes the lead in the Northern Division.

Kurt Denning brings in 9-10 Day 3.

Tony Choe with a couple of fish on the final day.

This is Tony Choe’s 3rd trip to the B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship representing the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Mike Sentore (32nd, 14-11)

Daniel Gray takes the lead in the Mid-Atlantic.

Gray’s 12-4 final round weights boosts him to 24-1 for three days.

Daniel Gray takes the hot seat in the Mid-Atlantic.

Levi McNeill knows he doesn’t have quite enough.

Levi McNeill (9th, 23-3)

Troy Diede takes the lead in the North.

Troy Diede’s final round weigh of 5-3 was enough to slide into the lead in the Northern Division.

Take a seat.

Doug Brownridge for Canada takes the lead in the Eastern Division.

Albert Collins takes the Central Division lead.

Collins brings in a limit worth 7-3.

Albert Collins waves to his family…

… who surprised him on the final day.

Collins takes his seat.

Only one left to weigh-in from the West.

Tim Johnston steps to the scales along side current leader Stephen Lund.

Stephen Lund wins his division.

Lund will represent the West in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Congrats to Stephen Lund.

J Patton knows this one will be close.

Patton doesn’t have enough.

Troy Diede wins the Northern Division and will represent the North in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

It’s down to Albert Collins and Teb Jones in the Central Division.

Jones knocks off Collins.

All Collins can do is congratulate Jones and mull over a missed opportunity with a 5-pounder on Day 2.

That was close.

Teb Jones of Mississippi takes the win in the Central Division.

Teb Jones will represent the Central Division in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.

Paul Mueller pulls up to the scales.

Paul Mueller and current leader in the Eastern Division, Doug Brownridge, watch as the scales lock in.

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.

Paul Mueller of Connecticut brought in the biggest bag of Bassmaster Classic history in 2014 and brings in the biggest bag of the event here this week with 14-9 on the final day.

Paul Mueller returns to the Bassmaster Classic in 2015 to represent the Eastern Division.

The only one left in Mid-Atlantic, Jeff Lugar pulls to the scales hoping to go back to the Classic for the second consecutive year.

Jeff Lugar takes the Mid-Atlantic lead from Daniel Gray.

Jeff Lugar’s 6-8 on the final day lands him in third for the event that he won last year.

Jeff Lugar heads back to the Bassmaster Classic to represent the Mid-Atlantic.

One angler left to weigh. Coby Carden lead after two days and in effect already won the Southern Division since no other angler from the south had been able to beat his previous two-day weight.

Current overall leader Paul Muller looks on as Carden comes to the scales, remembering his near miss at the Classic this year where he finished 2nd.

Down to two, both will go to the Bassmaster Classic to represent their respective divisions but there can only be one 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation National Champion.