The reality is beginning to sink in for some anglers that the season is coming to an end. Those guys would be on two cutlines. And specifically between 42nd and 51st places in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year rankings.
At the high end of the standings is the cutoff for the 50th Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. The cutoff man in 42nd place is Jake Whitaker. Between 43rd and 50th places are the anglers who are striving to seal their fate for the Classic.
A more precarious spot to be is 51st place or one spot out of qualifying for the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship that is set for early October. In between are this event and one more qualifier at Fort Gibson in late September to get inside either of the two cutlines. The obvious and most important for this group is getting inside 50th place.
Here are the anglers sweating it out and where they rank.
Paul Mueller: 43rd place with 413 points
Bill Weidler: 44th place with 413 points
Clark Wendlandt: 45th place with 412 points
Yusuke Miyazaki: 46th place with 411 points
Mike Huff: 47th place with 408 points
Jay Yelas: 48th place with 407 points
Cliff Prince: 49th place with 401 points
Robbie Latuso: 50th place with 398 points
Jesse Tacoronte, Chad Morgenthaler, Brad Whatley, Derek Hudnall, and Koby Kreiger are 51st through 55th, respectively, and only 12 points are keeping them out of the AOY Championship.