GEORGETOWN, S.C. — John Proctor has three advantages following the
first day of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional Wednesday.
Local knowledge, tidal fishing savvy and the first-day individual lead are the
assets. Proctor’s limit weighed 14 pounds, 8 ounces, to give him a narrow lead
in the tournament underway on the Pee Dee River Basin.
Basin is an understatement in size when compared to the fishable water
available to the contestants from seven states. The tournament waters encompass
232 miles. Sheer size is where the second advantage is key in this tournament.
“There is a lot of water here, and that can be intimidating to a newcomer,”
said Proctor, of nearby Conway, S.C. “What’s really key here, though, is
reading the tide.”
Tidal bass tournaments hinge on the ebb and flow of the water. Timing is
everything. A dry fishing area on low tide becomes nutrient rich when covered with
water. You must plan to be on spot when the time comes.
“For me there are four good hours and the low tide is best,” the Conway
Bassmasters member said.
That practically eliminates one-half of the fishing day. Anglers are due back
beginning at 2:30
p.m. ET after departing the dock at 6:30
a.m.
Proctor made a 45-mile run to his area, claiming it was best prior to the
rising tide. Traveling so far was a gamble that paid off. He targeted an area
rich with spawning female bass. The result was the tournament’s biggest bass
weighing 7-9.
“That was the plan, to catch a big female and then go fill my limit,” he said.
Thursday’s
strategy calls for a change-up. Proctor abandoned the area after catching the
lone bedding bass.
“It was a gamble that I don’t plan on making tomorrow,”
he said. “I’m going for more of a quality bite all around and not just one
kicker.”
He likely will need more than one big bass to hold off his competitors. Anyone
in the Top 10 is within striking distance. Only 4 pounds separate Proctor from
10th-place angler Hayes Hudson.
Proctor and Bryan Gunter, the current runner-up, have South Carolina leading
the team standings. The team’s cumulative weight is 106-7. Alabama is second
with 93-3 and Georgia has 78-8 for third place. North Carolina is fourth with
78-7. Notably, all four states are home to tidal bass fisheries.
The winning state team is awarded a Triton 189 TrX
rigged with Mercury outboard, Lowrance electronics and a MotorGuide
trolling motor. The complete package is valued at $33,340.
The contestants from seven states qualified from their local bass clubs and
state championships to be here at the B.A.S.S Nation Southern Divisional. Each
team has 14 members. Two of the 14 members are high school anglers part of
another competition underway here.
State championship high school teams are competing alongside the adults to hone
their skills. Cumulative weight caught is added to the overall score of the
state team. The winning team receives $500, with $250 going to the runner-up.
Each adult angler winning his state here advances to the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S.
Nation Championship in the fall.
Takeoff Thursday,
Day 2 of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional, will take place
at Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex in
Georgetown at 6:30
a.m. The weigh-in will occur at the same location at 2:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in for the
final day of competition Friday
will take place at the same times and location.
Visit Bassmaster.com for live daily coverage of the 2015 Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S.
Nation Southern Divisional.
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley,
Evan Williams Bourbon, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: A.R.E. Accessories, Carhartt,
Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Huk,
Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Nationwide, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture
of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member
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(The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45
years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each
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