FLORENCE, Ala. — Bethel University’s Dalton Wilson and Randall Morris held the winning hand at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Wild Card on Pickwick Lake.
Wilson and Morris won the Wild Card with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 4 ounces of bass. After bringing in 27-5 in the first round Friday to take the lead, they slammed the door on the competition with 20-15 today to not only win the event, but also qualify for the 2014 Carhartt College Series National Championship. The team also took home the Livingston Lures Leader Award, worth $500 in Livingston products and the Nitro Big Bag honors for their Day 1 bag of 25-7.
“We had one big bass at 10:30 and only two fish with about 15 minutes to go,” Wilson said. “We were running in and decided to make one more stop on a school we hadn’t been able to get on all week.”
Dalton Wilson and Randall Morris of Bethel University win the 2014 Carhartt College B.A.S.S. Wild Card on Pickwick Lake with a two-day total weight of 48 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Shaye Baker/Bassmaster
That stop paid off big. With only a few minutes to fish before they were due back at the docks, Wilson and Morris stopped their boat and quickly started firing casts. The bass were fired up as well.
Morris lost the first bass that bit, but Wilson boated his. “Then we both cast out and doubled. I netted mine, and he ‘boat-flipped’ his, and then we were gone.”
The duo relied heavily on a Ben Parker Signature Series spoon. It’s basically an oversized flutter spoon about 8 inches long. Wilson and Morris would fire the bait out, let it sink to the bottom, then snatch it vigorously back up into the water column before letting it fall again.
“Those were the only five keepers we caught all day,” Wilson said. “That’s the thing with that spoon, it’s tough to catch one, but when you do it’s the kind you need.”
The team that started the day in second finished in the same place. Bethel University’s Cody Ross and Dewey Swims brought a two-day total of 42-14 to the scales to finish 5 pounds. 6 ounces behind their teammates. Swims captured Carhartt Big Bass honors with his 7-10 largemouth from Day 2.
Justin Atkins and Joseph Marty of Mississippi State University finished third with 42-10.
In all, 17 of the Top 20 teams qualified for the Carhartt College Series National Championship. Three of the Top 20 teams had previously qualified for the National Championship, extending the Wild Card invitations down to 20th place.
The National Championship on Chatuge Reservoir is the next stop along the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series. That event will be held in Young Harris, Ga., July 31s through Aug. 2. Check your local listings for the airing of this week’s Wild Card on ESPNU.
Top 20
1. Dalton Wilson – Randall Morris- Bethel University
2. Cody Ross – Dewey Swims- Bethel University
3. Justin Atkins – Joseph Marty-Mississippi State University
4. Mitch Mitchell – Evan Reid-Auburn University
5. Dawson Lenz – Robb Young- University of North Alabama
6. Jacob Nummy – Tyler Strock-AUM
7. Adam Neill – Logan Shaddix-University of Alabama
8. Scott Cain – Jacob Argo- UAB
9. Mike Huff – John Hunter-Georgetown College
10. John Nolan – Tyler Collins- University of West Georgia
11. Justin Cooper – John Ledet-Northwestern State University
12. Kenny Johnson – Bradley Rilling-University of West Georgia
13. Andrew Warbington – Mark Grant-University of West Alabama
14. John Maner – Ryan Darracott-University of North Alabama
15. Bryan Carroll – Alan Horwatt-Clemson University
16. Hayden Tilley – Alex Clayton-Northeast Alabama Community College
17. Thomas Oltorik III – Aaron Comeens- Daytona State College
18. Patrick Walters – Gettys Brannon- University of South Carolina
19. Michael Corbishley – Ronnie Moore- East Carolina University
20. Tyler Craig – Joseph Grassi-U. of Louisiana Monroe
2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Quantum, Yamaha
2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Partners: Booyah, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Motorguide, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano
2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival
