Two Basscat teams advance to Nationals
Published 5:27 pm Tuesday, June 14, 2016
It was a hot weekend, but nothing hometown anglers haven’t endured before. The Bainbridge High School bass team showed us that much.
Four Bainbridge Basscats will be fishing Kentucky Lake in Tennessee for the National Tournament come August after making a big splash at the 2016 High School State Classic on Lake Seminole.
Cuyler Duke and Bryson Arthur, with boat captain Troy Arthur, claimed third place Sunday afternoon, catching five fish on Saturday for 17.66 pounds and one fish Sunday for 3.85 pounds. They will accompany the other three teams in the Top Four to Lake Kentucky for the chance to compete in the National Tournament.
Duke and Arthur were sitting at first place after Day 1, more than three pounds ahead of the second place team. But despite Duke and Arthur’s burnt-red skin from the South Georgia sun, and a few missed opportunities on Sunday, they were all smiles.
“It feels awesome,” Duke said.
When asked what they were looking forward to most for Nationals, Arthur had only one thing to say.
“Catching big fish,” he said.
Jackson Conley and Stokes Moore, with boat captain Brandon Conley, were not far behind, finishing in sixth place with nine fish and a two-day total of 18.68 pounds. Both eighth graders said Carolina rigs, flipping and frogs were what got them the sixth place finish.
Bryson Arthur, Cuyler Duke, Stokes Moore, Pam Martin Wells, Jackson Conley, Hunter Davis and Lanie Birdsong stand together after the 2016 High School State Classic at the Earle May Boat Basin.
“The best part of the day was when my dad (Brandon Conley) said there was no way I was going to catch a fish on a frog in the middle of the day,” Conley said. “I caught a five-pounder right as he finished saying that.”
Earning a trip to the Junior Nationals Tournament was the team of Lanie Birdsong and Hunter Davis, who were awarded the Junior State Championship title for their six fish at 12.5 pounds. Their boat captain was Lance Birdsong.
Other teams heading to Nationals are Lindsey Stevens and Clayton Scott of Ola High School (first place, 31.42 pounds), Preston Williamson and Nathan Hardin of Bremen High School (second place, 30.39 pounds) and Parker Guy and Jordan Gilbert of Irwin Bass Anglers (fourth place, 19.8 pounds).
The Costa Bassmaster High School National Championship and Junior Championship will be held August 2-6 at Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tennessee.
