Either his popularity, disqualifying himself at Wheeler or the sour taste from the previous two postseasons have voters making Skeet Reese the top choice in Region 4. The question might be whether he’s worked on figuring out the Alabama fisheries for Toyota Trucks All-Star Week or just wants to forget that place altogether.
(also pictured: Gabe Hawks)
Oh, how the worm turned on Alton Jones, who led the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race only to finish on a downer and fall one spot, 29 points, out of the postseason. The 2008 Classic champ wanted a matching AOY badly, and now is relegated to humbly blog to be voted in.
A rising star, Brandon Palaniuk looked like he would take the Elites by storm after his fourth in the Classic. The Federation Nation champ made six of eight top 50 cuts and currently stands as the last man into the 2012 Classic, his goal for the year. Could a unified Fed vote get PB in?
The smile is back and so is the frog, making Ish Monroe dangerous wherever he throws. If fun is the key to fishing well, Ish showed it with four top 12s on the season, including fourths in the final two events that helped end a two-year Classic drought. His resurgence has been compelling enough to bring in the fourth-most votes in Region 4.
Japan’s only Classic winner, Takahiro Omori rounds out the top 5 in Region 4 for the Toyota Trucks All-Star Week Fan Favorites. Omori cashed in at six events and will be making his eighth Classic appearance in the past 11 years, but he has some climbing to reach the postseason.
Aaron Martens had a chance to finish in the top eight and qualify on his merits for Toyota Trucks All-Star Week, but he missed the cut at Wheeler and fell to 16th in the points. The veteran of postseason play could return anyway as he holds the vote lead in Region 3.
A fan favorite for years, Timmy Horton stands second in Region 3 voting. From Muscle Shoals, Ala., he'd be fishing near home and the four-time Bassmaster winner would surely hit Lake Jordan and the Alabama River with his swing-for-the-fence mentality.
Another postseason veteran, Greg Hackney sandwiched a subpar Elite season with two sixth-place finishes, the latter of which propelled him into his 10th Classic appearance. Standing third in the Region 3 voting, if he gets back to Montgomery he might bring some more excitement like his famous plunge above.
Although he finished 89th in the points, Kotaro Kiriyama stands fourth in votes, proving the Japanese vote is strong, albeit divided possibly. Only two of the Japanese contingent are in the same region, leaving one to wonder who would win in a Far East region.
Russ Lane won the first tournament in last year's postseason and is making a run to get back. He's moved into the region top 5 after pledging a $25,000 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. His would be to return, where sleeping in his own bed in nearby Prattville, Ala., gives him a nice advantage.
Jeff Kriet, aka the Squirrel, just might find a nut here as he recently took over the lead in in the region. Consistency had him 24thin the points this year. He’d come to compete at All-Star Week and the affable angler from Ardmore, Okla., would also provide some welcome comic relief.
It’s no surprise Denny Brauer is in the hunt in Region 2 voting, especially not after he rejuvenated his career with two top finishes, included his first victory in five years. With a Classic among 17 career wins, he’s a bass fishing legend.
The Region of Legends grows with the likes of Rick Clunn, the zen master of bass fishing with four Classic victories among 32 appearances. Clunn has caught more than 5 tons (10,393 pounds) in his career, and voters have him third in the region that couldn't get any saltier. Or could it? Next photo please.
Biffle is a good ton behind Clunn, but the Wagoner, Okla., veteran angler is also the stuff of legends, fishing B.A.S.S. for the past quarter century. He might be splitting the old school vote, but he’s got All-Star Week experience.
Season one on the Elites for Jonathon VanDam ended with a 68th in the points, but KVD’s nephew showed promise with two top six finishes and a stick-to-his-guns stand with Denny Brauer. He’s fifth in voting in Region 2. On to the top five in Region 1.
It’s no surprise fan favorite Mike Iaconelli is leading Region 1 voting for Toyota Trucks All-Star Week. He of ‘Never give up’ fame has a TTBAOY and a Classic to his credit, and it probably helps that he entertains lines of fans looking for his autograph and a photo with him.
A sentimental favorite, Shaw Grigsby won the Elite’s first event of the season, the Sunshine Showdown, his first B.A.S.S. win in a decade. It doesn’t hurt that he’s almost always flashing his infectious smile.
John Crews, a postseason veteran, has climbed into contention in Region1, possibly because he promised to donate $25,000 and $5 a pound of fish he catches to a charity helping to put fishing tackle into the hands of kids devasted by the spring tornadoes.
The middle child of three brothers fishing competitively, Bobby Lane comes to compete. He’s reached the Classic and finished well each of the past four years since he joined the circuit. He's fourth in the region and would relish the chance to fish for $100,000 that goes to the winner.
Japan’s favorite son, Morizo Shimizu, also has an effervescence about him, practically laughing his way through weigh-ins whether or not he caught “big mama.” For sure the favorite among Japanese voters.
