This marks the sixth of nine regular season Elite Series events, so the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race will become increasingly in the spotlight from here through the AOY Championship, event #10, in September.
Today’s results on the Mississippi River could significantly influence the final AOY standings. When each angler earns a point for every place in the final results, up to 110 points for the winner, making the two-day Top 50 cut is always important.
Just like at the last event on the Sabine River, today’s cut is going to be a matter of ounces. Almost every place in the standings is a matter of ounces. Jared Lintner starts today in 50th place with 13 pounds, 14 ounces. He’s only one pound out of 34th place – Fletcher Shryock with 14-14. And he’s only one pound ahead of 67th place – Brett Hite with 12-14. That’s 30 percent of the 107 anglers separated by two pounds on either side of 50th place.
To riff off a cliche often used at the Bassmaster Classic, you can’t win the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race on Day 2 at the Mississippi River, but you can lose it.