Shane Lineberger knows the high and lows of the Elite Series like no one else. This is his second season, and he’s desperately trying to re-qualify for 2018. This week is his final opportunity to move into the top 70 in Angler of the Year points, which would guarantee him a berth next season.
Lineberger, 45, has now made the Day 2 cut in five of the nine regular season events. However, he came into St. Clair 84th in AOY points. The problem is Lineberger had some major bombs in the other four events – 109th at Sam Rayburn, 108th at the St. Lawrence River, 92nd at Toledo Bend and 78th at Okeechobee.
“Absolutely I want to come back,” said Lineberger, whose eyes welled with tears at the thought of this possibly being his last Elite Series event. “I promise you there ain’t nobody out here that’s any more passionate about this sport than I am. It’s always been a dream.”
Lineberger caught a dream smallmouth bass on Day 2 – 6 pounds, 10 ounces, which is the big bass of the tournament so far. It was a huge factor in his 18-3 limit that left him in 35th place entering today. He caught it drop-shotting a 3-inch Duo Realis V-Tail Shad.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said the 45-year-old North Carolina angler. “It looked like a whale. Luckily, I played it just like I should have.”
BASSTrakk currently shows Lineberger with a 17-12 limit that has him in 28th place. He probably needs to finish just a few places higher to make 70th place in AOY points, but he’s close.