Michigan Bassmaster Elite Series angler Nate Wellman secured a 2012 Bassmaster Classic berth and his first major victory on his home water today as he closed out a wire-to-wire win at the Erie Bassmaster Northern Open out of Sandusky, Ohio.
His 18-04 sack gave him a 3-day total of 63-11. He threw a deep-diving ABT Lures crankbait on days 1 and 2, but caught his final-day fish on a dropshot rig tipped with a Berkley Gulp! Minnow or a Poor Boys Baits Erie Darter.
“I can’t even explain what this means to me," he said. "To come here and win means an awful lot, but to get to go to the Classic means the world."
Full details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.
Here's a look at the numbers for the final Top 12.
1. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, MI -- 15, 63-11 -- 315 -- $53,333
Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 23-03 -- Day 3: 5, 18-04
2. Jared Rhode -- Port Clinton, OH -- 15, 61-15 -- 295 -- $12,500
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 21-09 -- Day 3: 5, 22-11
3. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, SC -- 15, 61-00 -- 290 -- $10,417
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04 -- Day 3: 5, 22-02
4. Chris Malone -- Ironton, OH -- 15, 60-08 -- 285 -- $8,333
Day 1: 5, 21-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 19-01
5. Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, TX -- 15, 58-12 -- 280 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-00 -- Day 3: 5, 20-12
6. Kyle Kempkers -- Hamilton, MI -- 15, 58-08 -- 276 -- $6,667
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04 -- Day 3: 5, 19-15
7. John Devries -- Fishers, IN -- 15, 58-03 -- 272 -- $5,833
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 26-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07
8. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 15, 56-10 -- 268 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07
9. Brian Metry -- Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 15 -- 56-03 -- 264 -- $4,167
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 20-02 -- Day 3: 5, 17-03
10. David Reault -- Livonia, MI -- 15, 56-03 -- 260 -- $3,750
Day 1: 5, 19-14 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-06
11. Art Ferguson III -- St. Cloud, FL -- 14 -- 51-06 -- 257 -- $3,333
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06 -- Day 3: 4 -- 12-10
12. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 49-14 -- 254 -- $2,917
Day 1: 5, 20-11 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 11-03
