Elite: Revisiting the St. Lawrence River

A look back at previous B.A.S.S. events on the famous St. Lawrence River.

Posted on
When the Elite Series pros first visited the St. Lawrence River in 2013, they found an All-American town straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
When the Elite Series pros first visited the St. Lawrence River in 2013, they found an All-American town straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
No real hustle and bustle so many attribute to life in New York.
No real hustle and bustle so many attribute to life in New York.
A place where they loved fishing and welcomed those who shared that love.
A place where they loved fishing and welcomed those who shared that love.
The town sits on the banks of the St. Lawrence, where huge ships travel with International commerce in the crystal-clear water of the river between Lake Ontario and Montreal.
The town sits on the banks of the St. Lawrence, where huge ships travel with International commerce in the crystal-clear water of the river between Lake Ontario and Montreal.
On one side is Canada, and the other is rural America in a picturesque setting.
On one side is Canada, and the other is rural America in a picturesque setting.
And somewhere in all that countryside, it produced huge crowds, some of them more familiar with the history of Bassmaster on St. Lawrence ...
And somewhere in all that countryside, it produced huge crowds, some of them more familiar with the history of Bassmaster on St. Lawrence …
... like the first event that was held here in 1977, when trucker caps and cowboy hats were popular. The 1977 New York Invitational, was one the closest for B.A.S.S. events at that time. With John Powell (left) and Jim Rogers (right) fighting down to the wire.
… like the first event that was held here in 1977, when trucker caps and cowboy hats were popular. The 1977 New York Invitational, was one the closest for B.A.S.S. events at that time. With John Powell (left) and Jim Rogers (right) fighting down to the wire.
Jim Rogers would win that event by a single ounce.
Jim Rogers would win that event by a single ounce.
And two years later, the sport would see legends like Tom Mann and Roland Martin return.
And two years later, the sport would see legends like Tom Mann and Roland Martin return.
When crowds would gather around a grocery scale for the weigh-in.
When crowds would gather around a grocery scale for the weigh-in.
And eventually see Forrest Wood win his only B.A.S.S. victory.
And eventually see Forrest Wood win his only B.A.S.S. victory.
Wood edged out Bobby Murray for the victory.
Wood edged out Bobby Murray for the victory.
But in 2013, the tournament would be the antithesis of that bygone era, with the top of the standings filled with the 20-something age group.
But in 2013, the tournament would be the antithesis of that bygone era, with the top of the standings filled with the 20-something age group.
The main players in this event, though, were smallmouth bass ...
The main players in this event, though, were smallmouth bass …
And lots of them.
And lots of them.
Big smallmouth that produced eye-catching aerobatics.
Big smallmouth that produced eye-catching aerobatics.
And plenty of splashes by the boat.
And plenty of splashes by the boat.
And more than one tense moment.
And more than one tense moment.
As anglers hoped and fought these wild fish into the boat.
As anglers hoped and fought these wild fish into the boat.
After Day 1, Brandon Palaniuk would be in the lead with an impressive 23 pounds, 9 ounces.
After Day 1, Brandon Palaniuk would be in the lead with an impressive 23 pounds, 9 ounces.
And each day following that the anglers were treated to more fantastic fishing action.
And each day following that the anglers were treated to more fantastic fishing action.
With big smallmouth.
With big smallmouth.
After big smallmouth, would jump...
After big smallmouth, would jump…
...and splash their way into the boat.
…and splash their way into the boat.
There always seemed to be an epic battle taking place on the water between man and fish.
There always seemed to be an epic battle taking place on the water between man and fish.
One that was never quite over.
One that was never quite over.
The strength and wildness along with the size of the smallmouth of the St. Lawrence provided more excitement every day than anything else.
The strength and wildness along with the size of the smallmouth of the St. Lawrence provided more excitement every day than anything else.
They were numerous, too ...
They were numerous, too …
... creating some interesting culling moments.
… creating some interesting culling moments.
And some more than impressive weights. Like Aaron Martens with a 21-pound, 8-ounce stringer that would figure heavily in his winning the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title that year.
And some more than impressive weights. Like Aaron Martens with a 21-pound, 8-ounce stringer that would figure heavily in his winning the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title that year.
And Chad Pipkens would weigh in 22 pounds, 9 ounces on Day 2.
And Chad Pipkens would weigh in 22 pounds, 9 ounces on Day 2.
Or Cliff Pirch would sack 23 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2.
Or Cliff Pirch would sack 23 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2.
Josh Bertrand would get in the act with his own 20-pound-plus sack on Day 3.
Josh Bertrand would get in the act with his own 20-pound-plus sack on Day 3.
Along with Kevin Hawk who would produce a 22-pound sack.
Along with Kevin Hawk who would produce a 22-pound sack.
But the tournament would boil down to three 20-something-year-old anglers, like Ott DeFoe.
But the tournament would boil down to three 20-something-year-old anglers, like Ott DeFoe.
And Jonathon VanDam.
And Jonathon VanDam.
They were led by Palaniuk, who had made a critical error on Day 2 by having six fish in his livewell. Despite the 2-pound penalty, Palaniuk would continue to lead the charge.
They were led by Palaniuk, who had made a critical error on Day 2 by having six fish in his livewell. Despite the 2-pound penalty, Palaniuk would continue to lead the charge.
While the rest of the field was sticking to the river and catching plenty of fish.
While the rest of the field was sticking to the river and catching plenty of fish.
Mostly drifting a drop shot over the rocky bottom of the St. Lawrence.
Mostly drifting a drop shot over the rocky bottom of the St. Lawrence.
And catching plenty of fish.
And catching plenty of fish.
In some wild and crazy action.
In some wild and crazy action.
And finishing up epic battles.
And finishing up epic battles.
Brandon Palaniuk was going against the grain by traveling to Lake Ontario.
Brandon Palaniuk was going against the grain by traveling to Lake Ontario.
Where the placid nature of the St. Lawrence was traded into waves that took Palaniuk up ...
Where the placid nature of the St. Lawrence was traded into waves that took Palaniuk up …
... and then back down, practically devouring his boat.
… and then back down, practically devouring his boat.
The lake was rough.
The lake was rough.
But it produced a lot of bites for the young pro who needed to win to secure a spot into the Bassmaster Classic.
But it produced a lot of bites for the young pro who needed to win to secure a spot into the Bassmaster Classic.
Those fish had the same fight in them of the St. Lawrence fish.
Those fish had the same fight in them of the St. Lawrence fish.
And produced some of the same energetic battles.
And produced some of the same energetic battles.
Even though at times you could see the strain in Palaniuk’s face.
Even though at times you could see the strain in Palaniuk’s face.
Every day Palaniuk would take the gamble on the long run and the rollercoaster ride.
Every day Palaniuk would take the gamble on the long run and the rollercoaster ride.
Spending his day painting a pattern on his electronics ...
Spending his day painting a pattern on his electronics …
... and building big consistent sacks of smallmouth.
… and building big consistent sacks of smallmouth.
Back on land, huge crowds would set an attendance record to watch the Elites every day at Waddington.
Back on land, huge crowds would set an attendance record to watch the Elites every day at Waddington.
Bernie Schultz made the long run to Ontario every day, and showed up with big bags, finishing in sixth place.
Bernie Schultz made the long run to Ontario every day, and showed up with big bags, finishing in sixth place.
While Steve Kennedy found the biggest stringer of the tournament at 23-14 and finished seventh overall.
While Steve Kennedy found the biggest stringer of the tournament at 23-14 and finished seventh overall.
But this was Brandon's tournament.
But this was Brandon’s tournament.
Palaniuk would walk away with a wire-to-wire victory, securing his Classic berth and giving him his second Elite championship.
Palaniuk would walk away with a wire-to-wire victory, securing his Classic berth and giving him his second Elite championship.