LA CROSSE, Wis. — A flurry of activity early Friday pushed the Winona State University (WSU) bass fishing team of Cade Laufenberg and Wyatt Stout into the lead on Day 2 of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Midwestern Regional.
Laufenberg and Stout have 29 pounds, 8 ounces of bass after two days of fishing on the Mississippi River. They checked in with a five-bass limit weighing 15-1 Friday, much of it caught shortly after fishing began. The pair had a limit by 6:15 a.m. They started the day on a hot spot that produced most of their first-day catch as well.
“We have a school of fish that’s been producing for us really well,” Laufenberg said. “We probably caught 15 to 20 bass out of there quick, mostly on a Lethal Weapons football jig, fishing it really slow.”
To keep from depleting the school, the WSU anglers visited other parts of the river. Frog lures netted a chunky smallmouth weighing about 3 pounds, enabling them to upgrade their total for the day by nearly a pound.
“That helped take some pressure off our primary spot,” Laufenberg said. “We think there should be plenty of fish there still for tomorrow.”
WSU holds a slim margin of 13 ounces over the second-place team of Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell of Northern Michigan University, who have 28-11 after two days.
For leading on Day 2, Laufenberg and Stout take home the Livingston Lures Leader Award. Troy Switajewski and Daniel Carlson of St. Cloud State are leading for the Carhartt Big Bass award with a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass they caught Friday.
With Northern Michigan University less than a pound behind and only 5 pounds separating the Top 10, Winona State’s anglers will be under pressure to repeat, or even improve upon, the heavy limits they put together the first two days.
Others in the Top 5 include Ty Woodward and Max Hellmann of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, third with 26-14; Sheldon Rogge and Lance Maldonado of Kansas State University, fourth with 26-11; and Austin Brimeyer and Anthony Riesberg of the University of Dubuque, fifth with 25-14.
In addition to the Midwestern Regional title, at stake are 13 qualifying spots in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. In 13th and on the bubble as the final round begins are Kit Benson and Wes Lashmett of Western Illinois University, who led after the first day of competition but dropped in the standings after catching only 9-1 Friday.
After a cut to the Top 20 teams, the remaining boats will head out onto the Mississippi River for one more day of competition Saturday. The final day’s festivities begin with launch at Veterans Freedom Park beginning at 5:30 a.m. CT and conclude with the Day 3 weigh-in also held at Veterans Freedom Park starting a 2 p.m. CT. Follow Bassmaster.com throughout the day for coverage from on the water and to view the LIVE streaming weigh-in at the end of the day.
The local host for the event is the LaCrosse Convention and Visitors Bureau.
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2015 Bass Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, GoPro, Humminbird, Mercury, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha
2015 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Partners: A.R.E. Accessories, Dick Cepek Tires, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, 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 organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (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 level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by TNT Fireworks, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Advertising