One of the biggest surprises on Day 1 at Mille Lacs was Jamie Hartman’s 48th place finish. He was one of only two anglers who failed to catch a limit. Hartman came into this final event with a 23-point lead over Dustin Connell for the Rookie of the Year title. The New York native cut his teeth fishing for smallmouth bass, so it seemed Hartman could salt this one away handily in what has been a back-and-forth battle between those two all season.
But Hartman didn’t have any experience at Mille Lacs, and it showed both in practice and on Day 1.
“It has been brutally tough,” said Hartman yesterday. “I’m missing something, but I can’t figure out what it is. I left the (Rookie of the Year) door open. I realize that. It’s not a good feeling.”
Hartman undoubtedly is feeling better today. A 4 1/2-pounder at 2:31 gives him 23-8 today and moves him into 28th place, according to BASSTrakk. That door he left open for Connell on Thursday is getting slammed shut today.