ONAMIA, Minn. — On any given tournament day the object is catching as much weight as possible. Catch a limit and then upgrade the weight. Repeat until weigh-in time. That’s how the game is won, right?
Not always. Such is the case at the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship.
The goals are many. Winning the tournament isn’t everything. An overall tournament winner will be determined. So will the 35 qualifiers to the 2018 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. The Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year and its rookie counterpart are on the line.
Most important of all is finishing inside the top 35. Fishing consistently for all three days is what it will take. Run out of fish before the derby ends, get passed up by someone else and miss the Classic cut.
“My main goal this week is not to win the AOY championship,” said Alton Jones Sr. “The goal is excelling at fish management.”
Fish management has a two-part definition. Conserving enough fish to cover the entire fishing week is the first part. The other is earning a goal. For Jones, that is catching just enough weight to stay inside the Classic cut.
So far so good. After Day 2, Jones has a total weight of 42 pounds, 11 ounces. He is not overly concerned about being 18th in the standings.
“In a tournament like this I am always watching the AOY points, trying to figure out exactly where I need to stay in order to qualify for the Classic.”
On Mille Lacs the heavyweight catches mean staying ahead of the curve. The benchmark here for success is a daily limit weighing in excess of 20 pounds. Jones has consecutive days with limits over 21 pounds, keeping just above the mark where he needs to be.
Leaving the fish biting after reaching the desired benchmark weight seems risky. Someone else can move into the area. It also has advantages.
“When my smallest fish is a four pounder then I’m going to use the remainder of the day as practice,” he explained.
On Day 1 the payback was upgrading with a 5-pounder after going into practice mode. On Day 2, Jones returned to the same area and caught a fish duplicating that weight.
Saving the best for last is another advantage of planning ahead and finding new areas fitting the criteria of the pattern. Jones has areas saved for the final day. He’s never made a cast at any of those during the tournament.
“There’s no way I’m going to roll up on a good spot like that and potentially catch a four pounder,” he said. “What wouldn’t help me today could tomorrow.”
That is when fish management ends. So does the conservative approach. It’s an all out assault on any and all productive areas. On the final day it will be catch a limit, upgrade and repeat.
Doing so will help him achieve a goal of returning next March to Lake Hartwell. That was where Jones won the Classic title in 2008.