PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Sometimes victory is bittersweet and comes with a price.
Moments after Bryan Schmitt hoisted a tournament-winning trophy, Ish Monroe relished in his win.
Schmitt won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open finale on Lake Champlain. Fishing in only his fourth B.A.S.S. event, the Maryland angler took home the top prize of a Triton 19 TrX/Mercury 200 Pro XS rig worth $45,000, along with $6,528 in cash.
That is where the celebration ended for Schmitt.
Where it began for Monroe is a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
The goal of pros fishing the Opens is winning one of three tournaments on the schedule. That meant fishing events on Oneida Lake in July, the James River in August, and this month on Lake Champlain.
Schmitt only competed in two of the three.
“Because Schmitt did not fish Oneida, he is not eligible for the Classic,” said Trip Weldon, B.A.S.S. tournament director. “I just notified Ish that he is invited to the Classic.”
As a result, Monroe will fish his 10th Classic dating back to 2003.
Elite Series pros Keith Poche and Fred Roumanis remain on the Classic qualifying bubble. Both have opportunities, like Monroe, to qualify, with two events remaining. Those are both in Louisiana. The next Open is Sept. 29-Oct. 1, on the Red River. The final event is Oct. 27-29, at the Atchafalaya Basin.