Photos: Day 3 weigh-in at Toledo Bend

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Friday marked the final day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors. The tournament began with 380 anglers from 19 different states. Of that number, 124 anglers (62 in both the boater and non-boater divisions) survived the cut to Day 3 on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Here, Oklahoma non-boater Trevor Yates totes his bag toward the check-in area.
Friday marked the final day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors. The tournament began with 380 anglers from 19 different states. Of that number, 124 anglers (62 in both the boater and non-boater divisions) survived the cut to Day 3 on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Here, Oklahoma non-boater Trevor Yates totes his bag toward the check-in area.
There’s Iowa boater Dan Parker lifting a heavy sack of bass from his bag.
There’s Iowa boater Dan Parker lifting a heavy sack of bass from his bag.
Then the anglers anxiously await backstage for their chance to show their haul. This man, Louisiana non-boater Todd Newchurch, had plenty to display. But more on that later.
Then the anglers anxiously await backstage for their chance to show their haul. This man, Louisiana non-boater Todd Newchurch, had plenty to display. But more on that later.
Before any bass are weighed, we pause for the Star Spangled Banner.
Before any bass are weighed, we pause for the Star Spangled Banner.
It’s a special moment not taken lightly at any B.A.S.S. event.
It’s a special moment not taken lightly at any B.A.S.S. event.
Now it’s time for the show! Rodney Bunge of Iowa finished fifth among boaters with a three-day total of 49-10. Boaters could weigh five bass per day.
Now it’s time for the show! Rodney Bunge of Iowa finished fifth among boaters with a three-day total of 49-10. Boaters could weigh five bass per day.
Bert Petrie of Texas placed fifth in the non-boater division with 28-12. Non-boaters could weigh three bass per day.
Bert Petrie of Texas placed fifth in the non-boater division with 28-12. Non-boaters could weigh three bass per day.
Harry Marsh III shows this 8-pound, 4-ounce lunker that helped him to an 18th place finish among boaters.
Harry Marsh III shows this 8-pound, 4-ounce lunker that helped him to an 18th place finish among boaters.
Mike Szczechowski of Missouri was 11th in the non-boater division with 24-13.
Mike Szczechowski of Missouri was 11th in the non-boater division with 24-13.
Greg Phillips of Tennessee finished 12th in the boater division with 45-11 over three days.
Greg Phillips of Tennessee finished 12th in the boater division with 45-11 over three days.
There’s Dan Parker again showing off some of the bag that totaled a Day 3 high of 23-9. Parker finished third in the boater division with 54 pounds.
There’s Dan Parker again showing off some of the bag that totaled a Day 3 high of 23-9. Parker finished third in the boater division with 54 pounds.
John Roth of Indiana finished 13 among boaters with 45-10.
John Roth of Indiana finished 13 among boaters with 45-10.
Minnesota’s Corey Brant had the second-highest bag on Friday by a boater. He caught a 20-14 limit and finished second overall in the individual competition with a three-day total of 56-7.
Minnesota’s Corey Brant had the second-highest bag on Friday by a boater. He caught a 20-14 limit and finished second overall in the individual competition with a three-day total of 56-7.
And as promised, there’s Todd Newchurch again. He caught a three-bass limit on Friday that weighed 17-2.
And as promised, there’s Todd Newchurch again. He caught a three-bass limit on Friday that weighed 17-2.
And he assumed the hot seat reserved for the leading non-boater.
And he assumed the hot seat reserved for the leading non-boater.
Albert Collins of Texas had a great regional, finishing in seventh place in the boater division with 49 pounds.
Albert Collins of Texas had a great regional, finishing in seventh place in the boater division with 49 pounds.
Speaking of good tournaments, there’s Josh Crededio of Team Wisconsin. He finished second in the non-boater division with 31-11 over three days.
Speaking of good tournaments, there’s Josh Crededio of Team Wisconsin. He finished second in the non-boater division with 31-11 over three days.
Iowa’s Greg Vance had a fantastic tournament; finishing fourth overall among boaters with 15 bass weighing 53-8. But Parker claimed the state’s berth in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship with his third-place finish. Here, Vance tells B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart about his week. It was tough luck for a talented young angler. We’re sure to see more of him in the very near future.
Iowa’s Greg Vance had a fantastic tournament; finishing fourth overall among boaters with 15 bass weighing 53-8. But Parker claimed the state’s berth in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship with his third-place finish. Here, Vance tells B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart about his week. It was tough luck for a talented young angler. We’re sure to see more of him in the very near future.
Hunter Young, another talented young stick from Kentucky, finished 10th among non-boaters with 24-13.
Hunter Young, another talented young stick from Kentucky, finished 10th among non-boaters with 24-13.
Kyle Dorsett of Alabama placed eighth among boaters with 46-3.
Kyle Dorsett of Alabama placed eighth among boaters with 46-3.
There’s David Cavell who placed sixth among boaters with 49-10. Cavell was the top angler from Team Louisiana, which won the team competition which was decided on Thursday.
There’s David Cavell who placed sixth among boaters with 49-10. Cavell was the top angler from Team Louisiana, which won the team competition which was decided on Thursday.
It was a close call with Cavell, but Brant has occupied the boater hot seat since he weighed his bass. He claps here, knowing one of his chief competitors has fallen short.
It was a close call with Cavell, but Brant has occupied the boater hot seat since he weighed his bass. He claps here, knowing one of his chief competitors has fallen short.
And the weigh-in continues. Bob Bayless of Indiana finished 14th with 44 pounds over three days.
And the weigh-in continues. Bob Bayless of Indiana finished 14th with 44 pounds over three days.
Nick Coleman, who is president of the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation, did the Bluegrass State proud with a third-place finish in the non-boater division.
Nick Coleman, who is president of the Kentucky B.A.S.S. Nation, did the Bluegrass State proud with a third-place finish in the non-boater division.
T.J. Martin locked up Oklahoma’s boater berth in the Nation Championship with a three-day weight of 43-1.
T.J. Martin locked up Oklahoma’s boater berth in the Nation Championship with a three-day weight of 43-1.
Tom Alsop did the same for Kansas. He’ll compete for national honors courtesy of his 41-13 total that was good for 21st place among boaters.
Tom Alsop did the same for Kansas. He’ll compete for national honors courtesy of his 41-13 total that was good for 21st place among boaters.
Nickolas LeBrun finished ninth overall among boaters with 46-2, but came up a few pounds short of his state’s lead. He did collect a nice check for his effort, however.
Nickolas LeBrun finished ninth overall among boaters with 46-2, but came up a few pounds short of his state’s lead. He did collect a nice check for his effort, however.
Joshua Miller of Wisconsin placed 11th with 45-12 in the boater division.
Joshua Miller of Wisconsin placed 11th with 45-12 in the boater division.
Tim Ward of Alabama led his state’s non-boater contingent with 22-14; good enough for 18th place.
Tim Ward of Alabama led his state’s non-boater contingent with 22-14; good enough for 18th place.
South Dakota’s Shane Stiehl finished 20th in the boater division with 42-2 over three days of competition.
South Dakota’s Shane Stiehl finished 20th in the boater division with 42-2 over three days of competition.
Dolyn Brown of Nebraska led his state’s non-boater division. He finished 31st with eight bass weighing 21-2.
Dolyn Brown of Nebraska led his state’s non-boater division. He finished 31st with eight bass weighing 21-2.
Lee Farber of Minnesota had the third-highest bag on Friday. His limit of 20 pounds jumped him into 15th place among boaters with 43-7 overall.
Lee Farber of Minnesota had the third-highest bag on Friday. His limit of 20 pounds jumped him into 15th place among boaters with 43-7 overall.
We’re down to only one non-boater remaining to weigh his bass. Louisiana’s Charlie Hewitt, right, led the competition for the first two days, and if anyone had a chance to bump Newchurch from the hot seat, it was going to be his teammate and friend.
We’re down to only one non-boater remaining to weigh his bass. Louisiana’s Charlie Hewitt, right, led the competition for the first two days, and if anyone had a chance to bump Newchurch from the hot seat, it was going to be his teammate and friend.
Hewitt had a fine tournament, but he only caught one bass on Friday. That dropped him to fourth place overall in the non-boater division with a three-day total of 28-14.
Hewitt had a fine tournament, but he only caught one bass on Friday. That dropped him to fourth place overall in the non-boater division with a three-day total of 28-14.
Hewitt was disappointed, but he was gracious in defeat and happy for his teammate.
Hewitt was disappointed, but he was gracious in defeat and happy for his teammate.
And that would be Todd Newchurch – winner of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!
And that would be Todd Newchurch – winner of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!
Newchurch, who lives in the small town of Livonia near Baton Rouge, makes many of his own lures. He used some of them to catch his winning bags in this tournament, and he’s likely to give his handiwork another try when he’s in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship later this year.
Newchurch, who lives in the small town of Livonia near Baton Rouge, makes many of his own lures. He used some of them to catch his winning bags in this tournament, and he’s likely to give his handiwork another try when he’s in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship later this year.
Newchurch told Stewart that he had a surprise for his wife. “We’re going to go to the national championship for our 25th anniversary!,” he said with a smile. The $3,250 check he earned with this victory likely could pay for some other fine anniversary gifts, too!
Newchurch told Stewart that he had a surprise for his wife. “We’re going to go to the national championship for our 25th anniversary!,” he said with a smile. The $3,250 check he earned with this victory likely could pay for some other fine anniversary gifts, too!
With the non-boater race settled, there’s only one angler remaining at the scales. Illinois boater Bob Blumenstein, left, seized the lead with a tournament best 25-13 limit on Thursday. Here, he’s taken the stage as both he and Brant anxiously await the results.
With the non-boater race settled, there’s only one angler remaining at the scales. Illinois boater Bob Blumenstein, left, seized the lead with a tournament best 25-13 limit on Thursday. Here, he’s taken the stage as both he and Brant anxiously await the results.
And as Brant walks away, everyone knows it’s Blumenstein who’s going to regain the lead and win the boater division of this regional.
And as Brant walks away, everyone knows it’s Blumenstein who’s going to regain the lead and win the boater division of this regional.
Blumenstein gazes as his five bass settle on the scales.
Blumenstein gazes as his five bass settle on the scales.
And there’s the biggun’ of the bunch. This bass was a 7-pounder and it anchored Blumenstein’s Friday bag, which weighed 16-7. It was his lightest limit of the week, but it was enough to given him the win and the $6,500 check that goes with it.
And there’s the biggun’ of the bunch. This bass was a 7-pounder and it anchored Blumenstein’s Friday bag, which weighed 16-7. It was his lightest limit of the week, but it was enough to given him the win and the $6,500 check that goes with it.
Then he excitedly tells the crowd and Stewart all about his incredible week.
Then he excitedly tells the crowd and Stewart all about his incredible week.
And finally, he hoists the boater champion trophy high above his head for the fans to see.
And finally, he hoists the boater champion trophy high above his head for the fans to see.
Bob Blumenstein, champion of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!
Bob Blumenstein, champion of the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional presented by Magellan Outdoors!