2010 Arklahoma Cup, Grand Lake:
Stakes couldn’t have been higher for the University of Arkansas, Oklahoma State, and University of Oklahoma bass teams this past weekend as they participated in the first ‘Arklahoma Cup’ on Grand Lake. Trash talking was immense between the friendly rivalries as they took to the water on Saturday. “Nothing is worse than losing to your own friends,” said Jerid Jones, member of the UA bass team. “I basically told the team this is a must-win.”
There were a total of 16 teams from the schools. Arkansas had the most with eight, OSU followed with seven, and OU had one. The format was designed to make it more of a school versus school event. The top two limits per day per school were used for each school participating. “This way everyone can contribute,” said Orie Chambers, president of the OSU bass team. “If you blank on the first day, you can come back on the second day and catch 15 lb’s and contribute to your team.” There were also individual team standings but the majority of the pride rode on the school standings.
Arkansas was able to conquer the field for the first, of hopefully many future cups. “It’s great to win the first one,” said Turner Hall, president of the UA bass team. “I know this means a lot to our guys to be able to say we are the Arklahoma Cup champions.” The team totaled an impressive 66 pounds, 27 one-hundredths for the two days of competition. OSU followed with 52 pounds, 91 one- hundredths. OU was third with 36 pounds, 64 one-hundredths.
Individual winners Jerid Jones and Taylor Denniston bested the field by over 10 pounds. The two brought in an impressive two day total 41 pounds, 25 one-hundredths. “We caught fish on a lot of different things,” Denniston said, “our best two baits though were War Eagle spinner baits and Bass-X jigs from Hook Line & Sinker.” The two took big bass honors with a 7 pound, 15 one-hundredths hog. In second were James Elam and Orie Chambers from OSU followed by Turner Hall and Stephen Mouton of Arkansas.
All of the schools that particpated in the cup hope to make this an annual event. "We would like to get all the schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma involved," said Chip Porche, president of the OU bass team. "This was kind of our trial run, and I think it was a huge success."
Individual standings:
Big bass: Jerid & Taylor 7 pounds, 15 one-hundreths.
|
Team
|
School
|
2 day total
|
Day 1 & Day 2
|
|
Jerid Jones & Taylor Denniston
|
Arkansas
|
41.25 Lb’s
|
18.82 & 22.43 Lb’s
|
|
James Elam & Orie Chambers
|
Oklahoma State
|
30.52
|
12.56 & 17.93
|
|
Turner Hall & Stephen Mouton
|
Arkansas
|
24.78
|
13.80 & 10.98
|
|
David Whitmire & Hunter Lake
|
Arkansas
|
22.63
|
14.04 & 8.59
|
|
Justin McCall & Ben Bifforo
|
OSU
|
22.39
|
13.80 & 8.59
|
|
Chip Porche & Logan Van Loo
|
OU
|
18.32
|
5.89 & 12.43
|
|
Trip Elliot & Nate Bounsoula
|
OSU
|
11.06
|
6.76 & 4.30
|
|
Benny Williams & Kyle Curry
|
Arkansas
|
10.04
|
4.15 & 5.89
|
|
Chad Coleman & Josh Goseland
|
Arkansas
|
8.77
|
8.77
|
|
Corey Sloan & Taylor Wilson
|
OSU
|
7.57
|
7.57
|
|
Trevor Parks & Chase Edmenston
|
OSU
|
7.24
|
5.51 & 1.63
|
|
Sam Mahaffey & Chad Stewart
|
Arkansas
|
7.19
|
|
|
Jonathon Moore & Devin Valenta
|
OSU
|
6.82
|
|
|
Nolan Bartow & Heath Turley
|
Arkansas
|
2.05
|
|
|
Paul Leflore
|
Arkansas
|
1.90
|
|
|
Chad Warren & Austin Mcginnis
|
OSU
|
0.00
|
|
March 2010, Table Rock qualifier:
Expectations were high heading into the March qualifier. Last time the team visited the Rock it took 15 pounds to win. This time the team was greeted with much colder conditions as winter was still clinching on. Water temperatures remained below 50 degrees and morning air temperatures were in the 30's, and even 20's the week leading up to the event. Clay Ramey and Kyle Billingsly were able to overcome tough conditions and take the victory. "I love mamma," Ramey said. The team had 8 pounds. In second was Sam Mahaffey and Chad Stewart. They managed 3 pounds, 14 ounces. Up next is the Arklahoma Cup between Arkansas and OSU on April 17th and 18th on Grand Lake O' the Cherokee.
| Clay Ramey & Kyle Billingsly | 8 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Sam Mahaffey & Chad Stewart | 3 pounds, 14 ounces |
| Taylor Denniston & Mook Miller | 3 pounds, 2 ounces |
| Henry Dust & Sean Flynn | 2 pounds, 9 ounces |
| Nolan Bartow & Heath Turdley | 2 pounds, 3 ounces |
| Derick McConnell & Keith Gardner | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Hunter Lake & David Whitmire | |
| Kyle Curry & Benny Williams | |
| Max Light & Clay Welsholer |
February 2010, Lake Eucha qualifier:
The 2010 season is underway for the Arkansas bass team! The team headed west to Lake Eucha for the first qualifier of the year. Winter still had a grip on things as water temperatures hovered around 42 degrees. The veteran team of Jerid Jones and Calvin Vaughan were able to scrape four fish together to take the victory. The team credited their success to fishing very slow with a jerk-bait. Sliding into second was Randy Hall and Moonshine. "Were in the business of winning," said Moonshine,"if you're not first your last."Next up for the team is Table Rock lake in mid March. Team member Sam Mahaffey had this to say about Table Rock, "I pitty the fools who think they can beat me at the Rock!" Stay Tuned!
| Jerid Jones & Calvin Vaughan | 6 pounds, 12 ounces |
| Randy Hall & Moonshine | 4 pounds, 14 ounces |
| Taylor Denniston & Mook Miller | 4 pounds, 3 ounces |
| Nolen Bartow & Heath Turdley | 2 pounds, 2 ounces |
| Tyler Avery & Billy Groves | 2 pounds, 2 ounces |
| Clay Ramey & Kyle Billingsly | 1 pound, 6 ounces |
| Henry "Mountain Man" Dust | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
| David Whitmire & Hunter Lake | |
| Keith Gardner & Deric Mcconnell | |
| Sam Mahaffey & Chad Stewart | |
| Benny Williams & Kyle Curry |
October 2009, Table Rock qualifier:
For the final qualifier of the year, the team ventured to the rolling hills of Southern Missouri to find Table Rock lake flooded with bushes. Practice proved that fish were still in somewhat of a funk but a few managed to figure something out. The team of Jerid Jones and partner Randy Hall blistered the field with four fish weighing 14 pounds, 9 ounces. "We were able to figure out an area that was holding some fish shallow, "Jones said, "but we didn't know what kind of potential was there." It seems the team found the right 'potential'. "It feels good to win," Hall said, "especially like this." In second was Clay Ramey and partner Kyle Billingsly with one smallmouth weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces. "My goal is to get to Lewisville," Ramey said, "it's all about the points." Randy also commented that he managed to eat three cheeseburgers before launch.
Big bass: Jones & Hall 4 pounds, 0 ounces.
| Jerid Jones & Randy Hall | 14 pounds, 9 ounces |
| Clay Ramey & Kyle Billingsly | 2 pounds, 6 ounces |
| Taylor Denniston & Mook Miller | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Paul LeFluer & Ben McGuire | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Sam Mahaffey & Chad Stewart | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
September 2009, Hudson qualifier:
The second stop of the season was on Lake Hudson of the Grand River chain. Hudson is well known for excellent bass fishing. September proved to be tough though as 11 pounds won the event. Clay Ramey and partner Kyle Billingsly took the victory with four fish weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces. "We struggled in practice, so we just went out swinging for the fences," Billingsly said. The combo celebrated their first win of the season. "We just let our conscience be our guide," Ramey said, "it means a lot to finally notch a win." Taking second was Jerid Jones and partner Calvin Vaughan with 11 pounds, 3 ounces. "It was a junk-fish day," said Vaughan. "We really struggled but managed to catch our fifth fish with minutes to spare." Team president Randy Hall struggled at Hudson but said he had a game plan for next time. "I'm just going to start eating more cheeseburgers," said Hall, "I think the more cheeseburgers I eat, the better I will become."
Big bass: Ramey & Billingsly 3 pounds, 6 ounces.
|
Clay Ramey & Kyle Billingsly
|
11 pounds, 5 ounces |
| Jerid Jones & Calvin Vaughan | 11 pounds, 3 ounces |
| Sam Mahaffey & Chad Stewart | 5 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Taylor Denniston | 3 pounds, 2 ounces |
| Randy Hall & Stephen Mouton | 1 pound, 15 ounces |
| David Whitmire & Hunter Lake | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
| Paul LaFluer & Ben McGuire | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |
August 2009, Grand Lake qualifier:
The season is underway as the team held it's first qualifier of the season at Grand Lake O' the Cherokee on August 22, 2009. The team was greeted with beautiful weather on Saturday as the high was only 80 degrees. Taking the victory was verteran member's Jerid Jones and Bodie Drake. The team had a four fish limit weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces. "It was good to start off the season with a win," Drake said, " I graduate in December so this may have been my last qualifier with the team." Second place was a tie with both teams weighing 9 pounds, 2 ounces. "I would rather win but second is OK for now," said David Whitmire. Drake credited the teams success to vertical spooning in 40-56 feet of depth. "They were holding funny," Drake said, "you had to get the spoon to hit bottom then jerk the heck out of her."
Big bass: Jones & Drake 3 pounds, 7 ounces.
| Jerid Jones & Bodie Drake | 10 pounds, 12 ounces |
| Clay Ramey & Kyle Billingsly | 9 pounds, 2 ounces |
| David Whitmire & Hunter Lake | 9 pounds, 2 ounces |
| Sam Mahaffey & | 7 pounds, 5 ounces |
| Taylor Denniston & Mook Miller | 6 pounds, 11 ounces |
| Randy Hall | 0 pounds, 0 ounces |