It appears bass fishing is better than ever, if you compare the Day 1 results from the Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Go RVing with the Day 1 results from the three previous Elite Series events at La Crosse,
For example, 15 pounds, 13 ounces left both Dean Rojas and Caleb Sumrall in 25th place yesterday. That Day 1 total would have been fourth in 2012, third in 2013 and seventh in 2016 Elite Series tournaments here.
Cliff Pace starts today in a tie for second place with 16-14. Pace has an interesting theory on why the totals were better here yesterday than they have been in previous years.
“I think the fishing is way worse,” Pace said. “Our anglers are way better than they were, When we came here the first time I finished second, and I had 10 or 15 places where I could catch a hundred. You can’t catch a hundred here now anywhere.
“This group of anglers is so much better. Fisheries are not better. Everybody looks at weigh-ins across the country and says fisheries are getting better and better. They’re not, I promise you. But the fishermen we’re competing against are.”