The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season finale at the St. Lawrence River provided fans with must-see TV and one of the most incredible finishes I can remember as a competitive angler and Bassmaster LIVE analyst.
You couldn’t script more drama than an event that included a close race for Angler of the Year, Rookie of the Year and a ton of big smallmouth bass.
The title races weren’t settled until the last day when Trey McKinney edged Cory Johnston for the AOY title and Caleb Hudson squeaked past Fisher Anaya for the rookie title. In addition, Mike Iaconelli’s last tournament before retiring added spice to fan interest.
I have been involved in tight finishes on that same body of water, but as tense as those battles were, they didn’t have the numerous storylines this one did.
In 1995, Kevin VanDam and I went into the last day neck and neck, but KVD won and I finished second.
Let’s not forget that a 3 1/2-pound average put you in position to win in those days, and neither Kevin nor I had a 4-pound average.
This year, a 4-pound average wouldn’t get you in the Top 50! It’s incredible how much the smallmouth bass fishery has grown within the St. Lawrence system.
While the big smallmouth certainly intrigued fans who followed the tournament, the high-stakes drama on the water and at the weigh-in kept everyone captivated.
The TV and online streaming numbers back that up. The Fox Sports Saturday show drew 256,000 viewers with 396,000 on Sunday. The Saturday coverage was up 58% compared to last year’s finale on the Mississippi River while the Sunday viewership was up 11%.
Also, Bassmaster live streaming of the weigh-in produced the most viewership ever for a last-day, end-of-season Elite Series event.
You’ve got to give credit to the embattled McKinney — he proved he belonged and the title was well deserved. Anytime a young angler finishes second in AOY and the Bassmaster Classic in his first two years, and fights through the stress to win AOY on his third try, it erases any doubt of his angling abilities.
Often labeled as a “scoper” who relies on forward-facing sonar, he won the title when four of the events were non-scoping events.
Historically, when a young angler gets off to a good start as a pro angler, it’s not easy to sustain because life gets in the way.
I’m speaking from first-hand experience. Like many of today’s young anglers, I was young and hungry. I spent tons of hours prefishing events and living on the road. But as my career progressed, I backed off to spend more time at home with the family and sponsors. It affected my fishing, but it was a choice that I made with absolutely no regrets.
You’ve got to spend more time fishing to be competitive, and that may be even more of a critical element in today’s bass world. The young guys on the Elites, especially McKinney, are proving that.
And finally, hats off to Ike, who finished his amazing Bassmaster career at the St. Lawrence and battled to the bitter end. He had a heckuva career, winning nearly $3 million, a Classic and an AOY title while building his brand as he chased his childhood dream for some 30 years.
Indeed, it was a storied season, and I can’t wait to see what 2027 brings!
