Day 2 started on the Mississippi River with Winona State University sitting in third place but ended with WSU’s Cade Laufenberg and Wyatt Stout perched atop the Midwestern Regional leaderboard. Laufenberg and Stout brought in 15-pounds 1-ounce today, the Bass Pro Nitro Big Bag of the event so far worth.
An early morning flurry on a hot spot that also produced several of their Day 1 fish gave Laufenberg and Stout a limit by 6:15 and the day just got better from there.
“We have a school of fish that’s been producing for us really well,” said Laufenberg. “We probably caught 15-to-20 fish out of there quick, mostly on a Lethal Weapons Football Jig fishing it really slow.”
In an effort to let their primary area rest, WSU decided to throw a frog in a few areas nearby and were able to upgrade twice with fish over 3-pounds.
“That helped take some pressure off our primary spot,” said Laufenberg. “We think there should be plenty of fish there still for tomorrow.”
WSU holds a small margin of 13-ounces over second place team Justin Brown and Brandon Bissell of Northern Michigan University. That lead is thanks in part to a chunky smallmouth and midday cull from another area.
“That fish was over 3-pounds and probably culled three-quarters of a pound for us,” said Stout. “We knew there were a couple good smallmouth in the area guarding fry because they had come up on our topwaters yesterday.”
For leading on Day 2, Winona State University’s Cade Laufenberg and Wyatt Stout take home the Livingston Lures Leader Award. Troy Switajewski and Daniel Carlson of St. Cloud State take over the Carhartt Big Bass with their 4-pound 6-ounce kicker from Day 2.
With Northern Michigan University less than a pound behind and only 5-pounds separating the Top 10, Winona State certainly can’t rest on there laurels on Day 3. In addition to the Midwestern Regional title, 13 qualifying spots are still at stake for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The remaining 20 boats will head out onto the Mississippi River one more day to see how it all shakes out. The final day’s festivities begin with launch at Veterans Freedom Park beginning at 5:30 AM CT and conclude with the Day 3 weigh-in also held at Veterans Freedom Park starting a 2 PM 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.