DOVER, Tenn. — Joshua Butts and Justin Rivers of Wallace State Community College pulled a come-from-behind win on the final day of the Carhartt College Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Butts and Rivers caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds to end the tournament with 42 pounds, 5 ounces.
Teams from McKendree University held down the top spots on the first two days, making them favorites to win the title until unseated by Wallace State.
Phillip Germagliotti and Shane Campbell took second with 40-2, while classmates Jordan Ledbetter and Trent Robinson finished third with 37-7.
On Lake Barkley, the winning team focused on fishing a dropoff tapering from 5 feet into the main river channel.
“The key was a shell and rock bottom,” said Rivers, 27, who is majoring in industrial maintenance. “It’s the hardest bottom around and really held the fish for us all three days.”
Butts and Rivers slowly worked ΒΌ- and 3/8-ounce leadhead jigs in the shallow shell beds to trigger strikes. Jig trailers included Biffle Bug and Paca Craw brand soft plastic lures. Strikes occurred as the lure dropped into deeper water where the bass were staging to feed.
The area produced consistently each day and gave the anglers no reason to search for new water.
“Current didn’t even matter that much,” said Butts, 22 who is majoring in welding. “That was huge since the current moved fish deeper in a lot of similar areas.”
Wallace State entered the final round in third place, behind the two teams from McKendree University. Day 2 proved a challenge after a 2-hour fog delay postponed the start of the competition.
“We were making a long run and the delay really cut into our fishing time,” said Rivers.
The top 13 teams in the final standings are invited to the 2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The championship is July 9-11 at Lake DuBay on the Wisconsin River.
Teams received these contingency awards in the following categories.
Livingston Lures Day 2 Leader Award: McKendree University’s Jordan Ledbetter and Trent Robinson led the tournament on Day 2 with 28-11 to share the $500 award.
Bass Pro Shops/Nitro Big Bag: On Day 3 Justin Singleton and Zac Bennett of Georgia State caught a 5-bass limit weighing 17-11 to rank as the heaviest single-day catch. The anglers received Bass Pro Shops $250 Gift Cards.
Carhartt Big Bass: Lance Freeman of Murray State University and Justin Singleton of Georgia College tied for the $500 award after catching largemouth bass weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces.