Jamie Hartman is the only eligible rookie fishing today in the race for Toyota Bassmaster Rookie of the Year.
That gives him a solid lead going into the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year finale at Mille Lacs next month.
As of yesterday Hartman had 698 points. Dustin Connell comes in second with 678 and Mark Daniels Jr. is third with 621 points.
“Winning rookie of the year was a big goal for me,” he said. “This class of rookies is about as strong as there has been in recent years.”
“Fishing against them for this title has been quite an honor.”
Indeed. Hartman has five Championship Sundays this season. Earlier this year Connell won the Elite Series held at Ross Barnett in Mississippi. Daniels came with three years as an FLW Tour pro, having qualified each time for the Forrest Wood Cup. Jesse Wiggins, in fourth place, already has a world championship with two wins in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens.
Hartman has another edge. The final event is a smallmouth haven, and those fish fall into the wheelhouse of the New York angler.