Gordon and Deason Capitalize On Early Bites to Lead Junior National Championship

Gordon and Deason Capitalize On Early Bites to Lead Junior National Championship

Rooksby Gordon and Fisher Deason of Alabama’s American Christian Academy are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with 11 pounds, 7 ounces. Photo by Laura Agee/B.A.S.S.

HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — An early opportunity and a stellar save allowed Rooksby Gordon and Fisher Deason of American Christian Academy to turn in a limit of 11 pounds, 7 ounces and lead Day 1 of the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.

Starting on the lake’s upper end, the anglers began their day by flipping cover in about 7 to 8 feet. After the anglers boated a couple of smaller fish, Gordon hooked what turned out to be one of the day’s biggest bass — a 4-13.

“When I hooked the fish, it swam right into a log,” Gordon said. “I thought it was going to come off, but I put the trolling motor on high and went over to it.

“The fish came off before we got to it, but (Deason) netted it before it got away.”

With a thunderstorm passing through central Tennessee this morning, the scheduled 5:45 a.m. takeoff was postponed 35 minutes due to lightning. Once the hazardous weather passed, anglers fished in rain for most of the morning.

Deason said this proved beneficial, as it complemented their overall game plan.

“We tried to find some deeper wood because the water temperature would be cooler,” Deason said. “We think the rain was an advantage for us because it cooled the water down.”

Gordon said he and Deason caught their bass on a mix of reaction baits and slower presentations.

“We were using the slower bait offshore on the deep wood and we were using the reaction baits shallow in the early morning,” Gordon said.

As Deason explained, dialing in spots with large bluegill populations was essential to their game plan. In their view, the fish feeding on the larger forage would likely be the size they wanted.

“We tried to present our baits with a lot of action,” Deason said. “We tried to (entice) the fish better.”

After securing their limit by mid-morning, the leaders upgraded a couple times throughout the day. With significantly less chance of rain in Saturday’s forecast, Gordon said he believes he and Deason will need to work at a faster pace.

“I feel like we’ll need to catch our fish faster tomorrow, because once the sun comes out, it will slow down,” he said.

Deason agreed and added this: “I feel like today, with the rain, they were on a feeding frenzy.”

Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Jr. Bassmasters are in second place with 10-7. As Cerja noted, he and his partner tried to put themselves in high-percentage areas.

“We were looking at big clumps of grass,” he said. “There’s a lot of wood cover on this lake, but there’s a lot of dead water too. Docks were a big factor, brushpiles were a big factor.”

Cerja said he and his partner came into the event planning to leverage slower presentations to entice summer-weary fish. A 4-inch finesse worm, a 7-inch Berkley Power Worm and a white fluke produced all of their bass. The latter yielded their biggest fish — Richardson’s 4-7.

“I caught that fish about 5 minutes before we came in,” Richardson said. “I just saw something that looked good and cast to it. I dead-sticked the bait near a weed clump and the fish ate it.”

Owen Ray and Camdyn Cranfill of the Rhea County Eagle Anglers are in third place with 10-3. Cranfill said he and his teammate did not have much practice success, so they started with a tried-and-true summertime pattern and found success.

“We targeted docks with reaction baits because of the shade,” he said. “Most of them were in 10 feet.

“We were mostly throwing topwaters because that seemed to be the most consistent with catching bigger fish.”

Ray said the bass preferred a slower presentation in the morning, but as the day progressed, increasing retrieve speeds seemed to help.

Brothers Sullivan and Beckett Kraft of Horseheads, N.Y., lead the big bass standings with a 5-4.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 5:45 a.m. CT at the Carroll County Lake Launch. The weigh-in will be held at 19463 West Main Street at 2:15 p.m.

The Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship is being hosted by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce.

2022 Bassmaster Junior Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster Junior Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster Junior Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Strike King, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster Junior Series Youth Sponsors: Shimano, SPRO

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 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, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

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Media Contact: Emily Harley, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]

2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship – Carroll County Lake 7/29-7/30
Carroll County One Thousand Acre Recreational Lake, Huntingdon  TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Rooksby Gordon – Fisher Deason               American Christian Academy – AL       0
Day 1: 5   11-07   Total:   5  11-07
2.  Mark Cerja Jr – Gus Richardson               Lone Star Jr Bassmasters TX           0
Day 1: 5   10-07   Total:   5  10-07
3.  Owen Ray – Camdyn Cranfill                   Rhea County Eagle Anglers             0
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
4.  Hayden Mallory – Archer Dill                 Ohio                                  0
Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
5.  Sullivan Kraft – Beckett Kraft               Horseheads NY                         0
Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
6.  Brody Kellum – Carson Thompson               Franklin County Middle School –       0
Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
7.  Camden Randall – Peyton Davidson             Mount Pleasant TN                     0
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
8.  Ander Cowan – Alex Fitzpatrick               PA Bassin Juniors                     0
Day 1: 4   07-00   Total:   4  07-00
9.  Vegas Iaconelli – Maxsim Hughen              Youth Division – NJ                   0
Day 1: 5   06-10   Total:   5  06-10
10. Christopher Volpe – Brayden Rivest           Off the Hook Bassmasters IL           0
Day 1: 5   06-07   Total:   5  06-07
11. Anderson Mesplay – Kelby Conrady             Mid-Kansas Kastmasters                0
Day 1: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-06
12. Boone Baxter – Hunter Stewart                Fort Jennings Crestview OH            0
Day 1: 5   06-00   Total:   5  06-00
13. Tristan Stewart – DJ Johnson III             Mount Pleasant TN                     0
Day 1: 5   06-00   Total:   5  06-00
14. Wyatt Reynolds – Peyton Roland               Foothills Youth Anglers VA            0
Day 1: 5   05-14   Total:   5  05-14
15. Luke Stewart – Austin Craze                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters            0
Day 1: 5   05-08   Total:   5  05-08
16. Mitchell Henderson – Joseph Frierson         Laurence Manning Academy SC           0
Day 1: 5   05-04   Total:   5  05-04
17. Nic Sitton – Dawson Cooper                   Melbourne AR                          0
Day 1: 5   05-02   Total:   5  05-02
18. Foster Hall – Caden Hall                     Hall Academy KY                       0
Day 1: 5   05-02   Total:   5  05-02
19. Kieran Stephenson – Grady Stanley            Fuquay Varina Middle School NC        0
Day 1: 5   05-00   Total:   5  05-00
20. Caleb Logue – Hayden Reynolds                Three Rivers Bassmasters GA           0
Day 1: 5   04-14   Total:   5  04-14
21. Jack Varnado – Dylan Johnson                 Jr. Southwest Bassmasters of Den      0
Day 1: 5   04-13   Total:   5  04-13
22. Zac Arnold – Ross Clark                      Good Hope Fishing Team AL             0
Day 1: 5   04-11   Total:   5  04-11
22. Jaylin White – Colden Baker                  Lugoff-Elgin Middle SC                0
Day 1: 5   04-11   Total:   5  04-11
24. Elijah Ambrose – Landon Hinkle               Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA      0
Day 1: 5   04-10   Total:   5  04-10
24. Caleb Jackson – Evrett Hunter                Nassau Christian Bass Club FL         0
Day 1: 5   04-10   Total:   5  04-10
24. Cameron Prokop – Tommy Shumowsky             New Age Bass Fishing Club IL          0
Day 1: 5   04-10   Total:   5  04-10
24. Caden Stevens – Hunter Crittenden            Franklin County Jr. Bass Team TN      0
Day 1: 5   04-10   Total:   5  04-10
28. Camdon Fauver – Thomas Newman                Frederick County BASS VA              0
Day 1: 5   04-07   Total:   5  04-07
29. Conner McClellan – Drew Mcclellan            Indiana Jr Bassmasters                0
Day 1: 5   04-06   Total:   5  04-06
29. Nolan Savage – Jake Paradis                  LA Jr Bassmasters ME                  0
Day 1: 5   04-06   Total:   5  04-06
31. Judd Byrd – Samuel Nicholas                  Oak Grove MS                          0
Day 1: 5   04-05   Total:   5  04-05
32. Karson Dick – Kipton Dick                    Wayne Middle WV                       0
Day 1: 5   04-03   Total:   5  04-03
33. Mason Samson –                               NH Junior Bassmasters                 0
Day 1: 4   04-03   Total:   4  04-03
34. Oliver Neumann – Grayden Neumann             Zimmerman MN                          0
Day 1: 5   04-02   Total:   5  04-02
35. Bo Hollen – Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Bassmaster’s WV            0
Day 1: 5   04-01   Total:   5  04-01
36. Tucker Randolph – Kaleb Smarr                Warrensburg Middle School MO          0
Day 1: 4   04-01   Total:   4  04-01
37. Clayton Barry – Tanner Sikes                 Columbia High School FL               0
Day 1: 5   04-00   Total:   5  04-00
38. River Huffman – Rob Barter                   Chatuge Anglers GA                    0
Day 1: 5   03-15   Total:   5  03-15
39. Landon Pierce – Korbin Neat                  Casey County – KY                     0
Day 1: 5   03-14   Total:   5  03-14
40. Andy Stewart – Trenton Wells                 Pisgah MS                             0
Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-14
41. Dylan Frickey – Reid Scott                   Ontario Juniors                       0
Day 1: 4   03-12   Total:   4  03-12
41. Jesse Lancaster – Fisher Lancaster           Lancaster Academy NC                  0
Day 1: 4   03-12   Total:   4  03-12
43. Sawyer Knickerbocker – Grant Williams        SWLA Jr Anglers LA                    0
Day 1: 5   03-11   Total:   5  03-11
44. Beau McQuade – Kahl Cordell                  Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA      0
Day 1: 5   03-09   Total:   5  03-09
45. Maverick Hardebeck – Carson Tithof           Grand Haven Lakeshore Middle Sch      0
Day 1: 4   03-08   Total:   4  03-08
46. Bryce Cast – Ayden Cast                      St. Louis Area Bassmasters IL         0
Day 1: 4   03-05   Total:   4  03-05
47. James Barkley – Nikolas Foster               New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters      0
Day 1: 5   03-03   Total:   5  03-03
48. Peter Mcdonald – Preston Hartzell            Rocky Mountain High School – CO       0
Day 1: 4   03-03   Total:   4  03-03
49. Turner Tharpe – Blake James                  Rhea County Eagle Anglers TN          0
Day 1: 3   03-02   Total:   3  03-02
50. Parker Terrell –                             Port City Jr. Bassmasters NY          0
Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-01
51. Will Oberhoffer – Max Droessler              Roosevelt Middle School IA            0
Day 1: 3   02-08   Total:   3  02-08
52. Landon Gabby – Carson Bruner                 Southern Illinois Future Anglers      0
Day 1: 3   02-07   Total:   3  02-07
53. Caden Strawn – Drew Turner                   Sand Springs Clyde Boyd OK            0
Day 1: 3   02-06   Total:   3  02-06
54. Jaxton Collier – Reece Roberts               South Side Anglers IN                 0
Day 1: 3   02-05   Total:   3  02-05
55. Jonas Lawler-White – Cale Denney             Lansing Middle School – Bobcat B      0
Day 1: 3   02-03   Total:   3  02-03
56. Lawson Gamble – Gray Hardy                   Headland Bass Team AL                 0
Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-13
57. Charlie Brekke – Michael Putman              Fighting Fishsticks Jr Club CO        0
Day 1: 2   01-09   Total:   2  01-09
57. Bradie Talaski – Carter Osantowski           Bad Axe Junior – MI                   0
Day 1: 2   01-09   Total:   2  01-09
59. Ty Cooper – Landen Mclauchlin                Central Florida Youth Anglers         0
Day 1: 2   01-08   Total:   2  01-08
60. Hunter Harrison – Austin Moreland            Magnet Cove AR                        0
Day 1: 2   01-05   Total:   2  01-05
61. Bryce Rhody – Gavin Brubaker                 Susquehanna Valley Fishing Team       0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
62. Brady Harrison – Bryce Blackmon              Cayuga  – TX                          0
Day 1: 1   00-06   Total:   1  00-06
63. Dillyn Dill – Andrew Knight                  Shelby County Jr Anglers AL           0
Day 1: 2   00-00   Total:   2  00-00
64. Tugger McCuistion –                                                                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
64. Liam Northway –                              Eastern Iowa Bassmasters              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        38       264       283-06
———————————-
38       264       283-06

 

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