Brad Shepherd, of Templeton, Calif., won the 2017 California B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier 4, earning his spot on the state team and cementing the rest of the team based on points.
Shepherd is one of 20 anglers on the newly assembled state team that will compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Western Regional in spring.
NACIMIENTO, Calif. — With Brad Shepherd’s win at Lake Nacimiento on Nov. 12, the 2018 California B.A.S.S. Nation State Team was set.
Shepherd, of Templeton, Calif., won the 2017 California B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier 4, earning his spot on the state team and cementing the rest of the team based on points.
Shepherd, who is a member of the Valley Bass Club in Bakersfield, won the boater division of the two-day tournament with 21.64 pounds. Chris Gilkison, also a member of Valley Bass Club, won the nonboater division with 14.98 pounds. Both men qualify for the state team as the final tournament winners of the season.
Competitors who won the first three events also qualified for the State Team. They are Jim Graddy and Jared Harris, who won at New Melones Reservoir; Randy Pierson and Mateo Gomez, who won at Oroville; and Mike Coleman and Jay Williams, for their victory at the Delta.
The remaining six spots in each division for the state team are determined by points. Their best three tournaments of the season counted toward their selection on the team. An alternate is also selected in each division based on points.
The boaters who qualified for the 2018 California B.A.S.S. Nation State Team based on points are, in order of points, Nick Wood, Jonathan Bradford, Bruce Harris, Adrian Murar, Cliff King, Kalib Lund, and DeJon Lewis (alternate).
The nonboaters who qualified by points are, in order of points, Shaun Leytem, Mark Torrez, Luke Johns, Don Edmonds, Louie Marques, Jim Grebel and Kong Moua (alternate).
The 2018 California B.A.S.S. Nation State Team advances to the 2018 B.A.S.S. Nation Regional in spring, at a date and location to be announced. California’s top boater and top nonboater at that event advance to the 2018 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship with a chance to compete for a spot in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic.
The schedule for the 2018 California B.A.S.S. Nation trail will be announced soon. Keep up with announcements by following California B.A.S.S. Nation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CaliforniaBassNation).
To join a B.A.S.S. Nation club and earn eligibility for entry to compete, contact California B.A.S.S. Nation president, Mark Torrez, at (805) 233-0883.
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