AOY: Ups and downs

Posted on
With so many titles and berths on the line in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing, the points race has more ups and downs than a see-saw. The following are some of those who finished the stormy day on an upside, and some who saw the downside of tournament angling.
With so many titles and berths on the line in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing, the points race has more ups and downs than a see-saw. The following are some of those who finished the stormy day on an upside, and some who saw the downside of tournament angling.
Upside: Gerald Swindle not only took back the 4 points he lost yesterday in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, but he added 4 over his closest challenger Keith Combs. Swindle has yet to relinquish the lead since getting it at Lake Oneida. And with a 41-point cushion he could walk out of here with the AOY title locked up if he could gain another 10 points in the next two days.
Upside: Gerald Swindle not only took back the 4 points he lost yesterday in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, but he added 4 over his closest challenger Keith Combs. Swindle has yet to relinquish the lead since getting it at Lake Oneida. And with a 41-point cushion he could walk out of here with the AOY title locked up if he could gain another 10 points in the next two days.
Downside: Keith Combs (read the previous slide). It’s hard to put Combs on the downside. He’s had an incredible season, but at every turn it seems Swindle has pushed him away and Day 2 was no different.
Downside: Keith Combs (read the previous slide). It’s hard to put Combs on the downside. He’s had an incredible season, but at every turn it seems Swindle has pushed him away and Day 2 was no different.
Upside: Seth Feider feels like the biggest winner of the day. He boated an amazing 19 pounds, 4 ounces and vaulted into third place in this event from 39th on Day 1. He had made a move on Day 1 that put him in 59th, up from 65. But Day 2’s big weight moved him to 52nd in the standings. A little help from friends and enemies and he could slip into the top 50 and go to the AOY Championship on Mille Lacs Lake, where he would be the consensus favorite.
Upside: Seth Feider feels like the biggest winner of the day. He boated an amazing 19 pounds, 4 ounces and vaulted into third place in this event from 39th on Day 1. He had made a move on Day 1 that put him in 59th, up from 65. But Day 2’s big weight moved him to 52nd in the standings. A little help from friends and enemies and he could slip into the top 50 and go to the AOY Championship on Mille Lacs Lake, where he would be the consensus favorite.
Downside: Casey Ashley lost his lead in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing. After a full day of storms and clouds, though, Ashley expects he can bounce back. He needs to stay in that neighborhood too. He’s sitting in 30th in the AOY standings, any more drops and he could be nearing the bubble category by week’s end.
Downside: Casey Ashley lost his lead in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing. After a full day of storms and clouds, though, Ashley expects he can bounce back. He needs to stay in that neighborhood too. He’s sitting in 30th in the AOY standings, any more drops and he could be nearing the bubble category by week’s end.
Upside: Alton Jones is quietly climbing up the standings. He’s locked up an AOY Championship bid and a probably a Classic berth in the last two days. Now with nothing to lose, he’s in the mix to win this event.
Upside: Alton Jones is quietly climbing up the standings. He’s locked up an AOY Championship bid and a probably a Classic berth in the last two days. Now with nothing to lose, he’s in the mix to win this event.
Upside: Drew Benton basically locked up the Rookie of the Year title. His points differential is so large that Adrian Avena can’t catch him in the next two events.
Upside: Drew Benton basically locked up the Rookie of the Year title. His points differential is so large that Adrian Avena can’t catch him in the next two events.
Downside and Upside: Adrian Avena will not win the Rookie of the Year title. But he has made the 50-angler cut and still has a shot fishing the AOY Championship. He’s currently sitting in 48th. He was 45th when the day started. But 50th when the event started.
Downside and Upside: Adrian Avena will not win the Rookie of the Year title. But he has made the 50-angler cut and still has a shot fishing the AOY Championship. He’s currently sitting in 48th. He was 45th when the day started. But 50th when the event started.
Upside: Andy Montgomery salvaged a mediocre Day 1 with a good Day 2, not only making the 50-man cut in this event but moving up the AOY standings. He’s currently in 43rd in the tournament, up 25 places from Day 1 and locking him into the AOY Championship. That move jumped him from 44th to 38th, just inside the Classic cut.
Upside: Andy Montgomery salvaged a mediocre Day 1 with a good Day 2, not only making the 50-man cut in this event but moving up the AOY standings. He’s currently in 43rd in the tournament, up 25 places from Day 1 and locking him into the AOY Championship. That move jumped him from 44th to 38th, just inside the Classic cut.
Downside: Gary Klein started the day 36th in AOY points and a few places within the Classic cut. He finished the day in 47th, on the bubble for the AOY Championship and the Classic. Klein failed to make the cut in this event, finishing in 66th. While it would take a myriad of things to happen to knock him out of the top 50, it is still possible. Not a good feeling sitting on the bank.
Downside: Gary Klein started the day 36th in AOY points and a few places within the Classic cut. He finished the day in 47th, on the bubble for the AOY Championship and the Classic. Klein failed to make the cut in this event, finishing in 66th. While it would take a myriad of things to happen to knock him out of the top 50, it is still possible. Not a good feeling sitting on the bank.
Upside: Brent Ehler almost hurt himself in a huge way on Day 1. With just one fish to show for 8 hours of work, Ehler dropped to 46th in the AOY standings and on verge of getting cut from the AOY Championship. A strong Day 2 and he’s now in 41st and should make that championship. But he left himself some work to get to the Classic.
Upside: Brent Ehler almost hurt himself in a huge way on Day 1. With just one fish to show for 8 hours of work, Ehler dropped to 46th in the AOY standings and on verge of getting cut from the AOY Championship. A strong Day 2 and he’s now in 41st and should make that championship. But he left himself some work to get to the Classic.
Downside: Chad Morgenthaler has moved out of 50th in the AOY list down to 54th. He does have an upside; he made the cut at 41st and has a lot of room to improve. But on Day 3, he most certainly will have to climb to keep his Classic hopes alive.
Downside: Chad Morgenthaler has moved out of 50th in the AOY list down to 54th. He does have an upside; he made the cut at 41st and has a lot of room to improve. But on Day 3, he most certainly will have to climb to keep his Classic hopes alive.
Upside: Kelly Jordon moved to 50th in the AOY list, after a sub-par day on Day 2, but he has a lot of room to improve. Jordon is still alive and that’s a big advantage over 50 anglers who wish they were there with the same chance to move up. He sits in 46th in the tournament and holds his own destiny.
Upside: Kelly Jordon moved to 50th in the AOY list, after a sub-par day on Day 2, but he has a lot of room to improve. Jordon is still alive and that’s a big advantage over 50 anglers who wish they were there with the same chance to move up. He sits in 46th in the tournament and holds his own destiny.
Downside: Josh Bertrand started this event in 44th in the AOY standings, but after two days finished 82nd in the event, which dropped his AOY standing to 53rd. After starting well within the cut for the AOY Championship, he is headed home.
Downside: Josh Bertrand started this event in 44th in the AOY standings, but after two days finished 82nd in the event, which dropped his AOY standing to 53rd. After starting well within the cut for the AOY Championship, he is headed home.
Upside: Clifford Pirch is sitting 10th in this event and that has bumped his AOY standing from 41st to 31st overall. That takes him off the Classic bubble.
Upside: Clifford Pirch is sitting 10th in this event and that has bumped his AOY standing from 41st to 31st overall. That takes him off the Classic bubble.
Upside: Boyd Duckett helped his own cause. Going into Day 2 he was in 52nd in the AOY points and on the proverbial bubble of getting knocked out of any post-season fun. He finished the day in 19th with a smaller weight than he had on Day 1. By virtue of poor performances around him, he’s moved up the AOY standings to 44th and is now on the bubble for the Classic.
Upside: Boyd Duckett helped his own cause. Going into Day 2 he was in 52nd in the AOY points and on the proverbial bubble of getting knocked out of any post-season fun. He finished the day in 19th with a smaller weight than he had on Day 1. By virtue of poor performances around him, he’s moved up the AOY standings to 44th and is now on the bubble for the Classic.
Upside: David Mullins is currently sitting in 6th place in the standings for this derby. And if he could hold close to that position for another day, he will be moving on some post-season play. Mullins started this event in 58th in the AOY standings, just far enough out most folks didn’t include him on the bubble. After two strong days, though, he’s sitting in 43rd place in the AOY standings and will be looking to earning a Classic berth next week.
Upside: David Mullins is currently sitting in 6th place in the standings for this derby. And if he could hold close to that position for another day, he will be moving on some post-season play. Mullins started this event in 58th in the AOY standings, just far enough out most folks didn’t include him on the bubble. After two strong days, though, he’s sitting in 43rd place in the AOY standings and will be looking to earning a Classic berth next week.
Upside: Jeff Kriet is praying for some last-minute heroics. He’s currently sitting in 20th in this event. He started the derby in 73rd in the AOY standings and Day 3 will be his last shot of getting into the top 50 for the post-season. He’s currently in 56th.
Upside: Jeff Kriet is praying for some last-minute heroics. He’s currently sitting in 20th in this event. He started the derby in 73rd in the AOY standings and Day 3 will be his last shot of getting into the top 50 for the post-season. He’s currently in 56th.