TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – A little adversity builds character, they say, but the wire-to-wire winners of the 2018 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Oklahoma’s Tenkiller Lake Saturday, said it also builds a bundle of nerves.
After two solid, trouble-free days and even with a 6-pound, 2-ounce lead going into the final day, Bethel University’s Garrett Enders and Cody Huff felt they left the door open when Campbellsville University pulled a miracle from the stingy, sinfully hot waters of Tenkiller — the biggest bag of the contest.
The Tahlequah crowd on the Northeastern State University campus erupted in screams as Campbellsville’s Bradley Dunagan and Nick Ratliff dragged a big green 6-pound anchor across the stage and posted 18 pounds, 2 ounces to climb from fifth place to snatch the hot seat away from West Virginia University’s Nolan Minor and Casey Lanier, who posted 15-4 of their own on the final day.
With just three fish in their bag and a deficit of 7-4 to cover for the win, Enders confessed he had no words to describe the feeling and Huff simply said, “I’m nervous, I’m ready to get it going.”
Their three hardest-won fish of the tournament sealed the win with 9-2 for the day and a total of 41-6 for the three days on Tenkiller.
In addition to taking the championship title, Enders and Huff join the Campbellsville and West Virginia teams, along with Cole Burdeshaw and Peyton McCord of Auburn University as the Top 4 head to the 2018 Carhartt College Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, set for Aug. 14-16 on Milford Lake out of Junction City, Kansas.
A berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, set for March 15-17 on the Tennessee River hosted at Knoxville, will be on the line for the eight anglers there, who will face off in the bracket-style, catch-and-release contest.
The college championship was tough and inconsistent as promised with sultry heat the first two days. Today’s finale brought a little break in the heat, but an invasion of recreational boaters that kept things topsy-turvy.
Enders and Huff were the only anglers to limit both of the first two days, and they did it quickly each morning, and without error.
“We hadn’t lost a fish all week; we lost four keepers today,” Huff said. “I guess you have to pay your dues.” Saturday they also sacrificed 14 flutter spoons to the docks of Tenkiller.
The first fish lost offered an indication of the lackluster luck factor ahead as it snagged a dockside obstacle.
“He jumped up and actually got my jigging spoon’s hook caught on a rope holding a minnow bucket,” Huff said. “He was just hanging there and all we could do was watch him get off.”
(PHOTO and press release courtesy Bethel University sports information. From left, Bethel University coach Garry Mason, Cody Huff, Garrett Enders and coach Kenny Louden)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
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