They haven’t released the Elite schedule for 2024 yet (other than the Classic). But I have to imagine its going to be the same late summer “northern” swing again at St Claire, Champlain, and St Lawrence. They’d be stupid to not go back to the St Lawrence with people posting 100+ pound weights in 4 days.
Maybe they will hit up LaCrosse and/or Oahe again.
I still can’t quite figure out why they completely removed the AOY tournament that they always had in September. They had it twice on Mille Lacs in 2015 and 2016 and then a couple more years after that and then just stopped doing it. It was the top half of the field for a 3 day event. Weird
That was a little odd that they dropped it. I liked it because it gave the northern lakes another chance of being on the schedule. I wish they would have one last tourney and call it a last chance to qualify for the next year elites and the Classic. Have it only be the fishermen who were not already qualified. Maybe leave like 3 spots left open for the final last chance qualifier.
I was a marshall for both of the AOY events on Mille Lacs in 2016 and 2017. One of the reasons they dropped the AOY tourney was because the anglers that had already made it didn’t take it seriously. Plus, the winner of the tournament wasn’t the winner of the big purse. Seth won it in ’16 and only got a check for $12,500. Gerald Swindle won AOY but came in 46th place in the tournament and got a check for $100,000. Seth didn’t even get a trophy, his friends had a trophy made out of wood and presented it to him. There was a lot of confusion among the fans, and some of the anglers saw it as a non-event. In particular, a friend of mine was also a marshall up there in ’17. His first day pro was Jordan Lee. My friend has a picture of Jordan stretched across the front seats looking relaxed. He had already qualified for the Classic, so there was no pressure on him. Definitely not a knock on the guy’s talent, but it shows the tourney was like the Pro Bowl in the NFL. Again, in 2017 Brandon Palaniuk won AOY and $100,000 but came in 20th place in the tourney.
If anyone remembers the AOY controversy in about 2009 or 2010, when Skeet Reese was just having an amazing year. I believe ESPN was still running BASS at the time. They decided that the Angler of the Year title would be determined by the AOY tournament only. So, KVD won the tournament and was recognized as Angler of the Year, while Skeet was an also-ran. In an interview a couple of months later, Skeet said he won Angler of the Year and KVD won Angler of the Weekend.
Always been some controversy over it, so I wasn’t surprised when they dropped it. I agree, having it set up for maybe a dozen guys that haven’t made the cut trying for their last chance, now that would be a competitive event.
I was a marshall for both of the AOY events on Mille Lacs in 2016 and 2017.
Good info Ford Guy.
I went to the weigh in on the 2nd day both years (which was Friday, as Saturday was a non-fishing day because they had an expo). Walked inside and hit up the casino seafood buffet both times right after the weigh in.
Not sure how many here follow the Classic Bass Champions Bass tour, But they are fishing their Championship today on East & West Rush lake. There is a fully rigged Skeeter Bass boat on the line for the winner. Noah Schultz has won 3 out of the 4 championships they have had along with 3 boats. I see he’s currently sitting in 2nd at this one. Some of the best local fishermen fishing this series. You can follow the online updates live on Classic bass website
Not sure how many here follow the Classic <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>Bass Champions <em class=”ido-tag-em”>Bass tour, But they are fishing their Championship today on East & West Rush lake. There is a fully rigged Skeeter Bass boat on the line for the winner. Noah Schultz has won 3 out of the 4 championships they have had along with 3 boats. I see he’s currently sitting in 2nd at this one. Some of the best local fishermen fishing this series. You can follow the online updates live on Classic bass website
Ya beat me to it! I wonder if they know the current standings live as they’re fishing? They take 1 hour break at 11:00. Maybe they see the standings at that point. Would be some nerve wracking fishing for sure!
Ya beat me to it! I wonder if they know the current standings live as they’re fishing? They take 1 hour break at 11:00. Maybe they see the standings at that point. Would be some nerve wracking fishing for sure!
I have always wondered that as well. A good buddy of mine is a big part of running these. I will have to ask him the next time I see him.
It looks like at the break that Arnold Helgerson has a nice 11Lb. lead and has caught 6 more fish than 2nd place Noah Schultz. I would not bet against Schultz though. Not with his record in these championships with a boat on the line.
With 1 Hour of fishing time remaining, It looks like Noah Schultz is in the lead by a fair amount and is on his way to winning a 4th Boat in 5 Years. That’s crazy that he has been that successful in these Championships. Must be one Hell of a great fishermen. 4 times in 5 years is far more than good luck !!!
Schultz did it! I don’t follow Classic Bass very closely, but that guy is unreal!
Schultz did it! I don’t follow Classic Bass very closely, but that guy is unreal!
Yes he is. He almost could make a living just off of winning boats at the Championship each year. Outside of the championships I don’t think he’s ever had a win in the Regular season. That what you call stepping it up at the the Big event each year.
Feider looks as much out of place in a suit as a Pig would.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like Schultz has won 3 regular season events. Leech, Pokegama and Gull.
Then won championships on Bay, Mille Lacs, Serpent and now Rush. There’s been 23 total Champions Tour tournaments since 2019 and he’s won 7 of them!
Add in his Blackfish Classic win on Minnetonka this year. Noah is a hammer.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like Schultz has won 3 regular season events. Leech, Pokegama and Gull.
Then won championships on Bay, Mille Lacs, Serpent and now Rush. There’s been 23 total Champions Tour tournaments since 2019 and he’s won 7 of them!
You are correct. I miss read his tour profile:
Noah Schultz
Waseca, MN
Years on Tour: 6
Champions Tour Wins: 3
Champions Tour Top Tens: 7
Champions Tour Championship Qualifier: 5
Champions Tour Championships Wins: 3
Sponsors: Bagley Baits, Blackfish Gear, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Kistler Rods
Lifetime Champions Tour Earnings: $54,550 + (3) Skeeter Boat w/Yamaha SHO
I read the Tour wins as 3 and thought that included the Championships. But those were listed separately. My bad.
I’m still trying to figure out why he isn’t fishing a bigger tour by now. How many Skeeters does a guy need? I’m sure he’s selling them and making more many than any payout he’d be getting, but seriously.
I’m still trying to figure out why he isn’t fishing a bigger tour by now. How many Skeeters does a guy need? I’m sure he’s selling them and making more many than any payout he’d be getting, but seriously.
Maybe he just doesn’t have the time needed to move up to a higher level of fishing. Some of those tour’s just require so much time commitment. Or maybe he’s just happy fishing local events and winning boats
Money and family.
However he did announce he will try the opens for 1 year if he did well this year. So lets wait and see.
I’m not judging him at all, it’s a helluva run, just interesting.
Just talked to one of my business associates in New York last night about this very thing. He’s good friends with a bass guy from upstate New York who fished on the Elite trail for 3 years. In that time, his friend got divorced, lost his house, truck and boat in the divorce. He was already over $60K in debt from traveling around the country fishing and not making any money. Now he’s in debt up to his eyeballs and gets to see his kids twice a month. He had that competitive drive inside, but couldn’t keep up with the pressure.
Just talked to one of my business associates in New York last night about this very thing. He’s good friends with a bass guy from upstate New York who fished on the Elite trail for 3 years. In that time, his friend got divorced, lost his house, truck and boat in the divorce. He was already over $60K in debt from traveling around the country fishing and not making any money. Now he’s in debt up to his eyeballs and gets to see his kids twice a month. He had that competitive drive inside, but couldn’t keep up with the pressure.
My guess is that this guys Marriage and Finances were not in Great shape prior to his deciding to try and fish the Elite trail. There are only a few guys that make good money fishing for a living. For every one of those guys there are probably 20+ sleeping in their truck and eating Ramen Noodles for dinner each night.
Gerald Swindle recently conducted a poll with all the Elite anglers who were on tour this season about the use of FFS/Live Sonar and 72% responded with that it should be banned. Some elites are coming out of the wood work on this after the last three events on the northern swing, with everyone just sitting there looking at a screen and drop shotting. In the past, anglers have been reluctant to speak up on the subject for fear of losing sponsorships. BASS ratings were also down during live coverage due to the “boring” style of fishing that is used during these northern smallmouth events in midsummer.
Even AOY Kyle Welcher openly admitted that he is not a fan. He’s from Alabama and grew up power fishing.
I think there’s a reasonable chance that we see some movement on this subject in the future. Maybe not next season but if it continues to be like this, there is going to be some sort of ban or restriction on live sonar during BASS events. The PMTT already banned it this season. I realize that muskie fishing isn’t bass fishing, but if one pro circuit can do it, so can another.
I personally can’t stand watching it. The only thing worse than doing it is watching it.
The Bassmaster Open on Watts Bar in Tennessee starts today. Tuma is boat 41 and should be weighing in around 3 PM. He has a Co with him and has one small fish registered on Basstrak right now. He said it was tough sledding as of a couple of days ago.
Tuma has an 8lb limit. Hopefully, it’s closer to 9 than 8. From what I understand, 10lbs is doing good on this lake. They have added a live AOY tracker to Basstrack, but it’s kind of meaningless, with most of the field not having the ability or want to enter their weights. Tuma has a history of coming in bigger than his bass track weight.
Day 1 Weigh IN is about to start at Bassmaster.com
Tuma made par with a 9/5 bag, setting him up for a possible payday and a good finish if he can up his bag a little bit with a long day tomorrow.
Tuma was unable to get a 5th keeper on Day 2. I think he actually gained a spot in the standings, finishing in 57th despite weighing 1/6 lighter than yesterday. I think he will be in 9th or 10th Place in the EQ Points when this one wraps up today. Not getting that 5th keeper may end up costing him.
Bobby Lane made the Day 3 cut on the strength of his Day 1 bag and is a take-no-prisoners bass assassin. At this point, I assume Bobby is going to make the Elites, leaving only two or three spots for Keith to step into. I think Ish got too far behind for his Top 10 in this one to make a difference.
Tuma is in 7th Place now, with the three guys behind him within 10 points. He is going to need to catch them better than the last two if he is going to make it. They are at Lake of the Ozarks this week.
The wheels fell off for Keith at Lake of the Ozarks. He didn’t get a limit either day and finished in 138th.
Leech Lake is going to host a Bassmaster Open next year August 22-24th. And they will be at La Crosse Sept. 12-14th.
Keith fell to 20th. He will need a miracle to make the Top 9 with so many guys ahead of him.
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