A look at the St. Lawrence

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After the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Cayuga Lake was canceled last week, B.A.S.S. will now begin its Northern Swing at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite on St. Lawrence River, July 23-26. The organization and anglers are pleased to just be fishing as New York adopted strict policies to fight COVID-19.
After the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Cayuga Lake was canceled last week, B.A.S.S. will now begin its Northern Swing at the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite on St. Lawrence River, July 23-26. The organization and anglers are pleased to just be fishing as New York adopted strict policies to fight COVID-19.
The Elites can fish the American side of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, but it has yet to be determined if fishing the Canadian waters will be allowed. The weigh-ins have been moved to Clayton in Jefferson County, which along with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce will serve as hosts.
The Elites can fish the American side of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, but it has yet to be determined if fishing the Canadian waters will be allowed. The weigh-ins have been moved to Clayton in Jefferson County, which along with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce will serve as hosts.
Here is the document most desired by the 86 Elites, a negative COVID-19 test. B.A.S.S. has worked with New York officials to ensure the event adheres to the state health and safety guidelines.
Here is the document most desired by the 86 Elites, a negative COVID-19 test. B.A.S.S. has worked with New York officials to ensure the event adheres to the state health and safety guidelines.
B.A.S.S. will be fishing its 20th event on the St. Lawrence, which stands fifth all-time in venues visited. The St. Lawrence was ranked the top fishery overall last year in the <em>Bassmaster</em> Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes, and it stands 12th in the 2020 rankings that take into account the past decade.
B.A.S.S. will be fishing its 20th event on the St. Lawrence, which stands fifth all-time in venues visited. The St. Lawrence was ranked the top fishery overall last year in the Bassmaster Magazine’s Best Bass Lakes, and it stands 12th in the 2020 rankings that take into account the past decade.
Record crowds have attended St. Lawrence event — the 2013 event there set the mark with 34,100 attending then 36,200 broke that last year. Alas, to adhere to state coronavirus guidelines, no fans will be allowed this year, and the pros and B.A.S.S. tournament officials will follow strict safety protocols at takeoffs and weigh-ins.
Record crowds have attended St. Lawrence event — the 2013 event there set the mark with 34,100 attending then 36,200 broke that last year. Alas, to adhere to state coronavirus guidelines, no fans will be allowed this year, and the pros and B.A.S.S. tournament officials will follow strict safety protocols at takeoffs and weigh-ins.
The event will hopefully enjoy a larger audience as ESPN2 will air 26.5 hours of Bassmaster LIVE, which puts viewers in the anglers’ boats with commentary from Tommy Sanders, Mark Zona and the rest of the crew. The Day 1 coverage will be picked up in progress and run from 8:30 a.m.-noon ET and 1-3 p.m. For Days 2 and 3, coverage runs continuously from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and Championship Sunday will air from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
The event will hopefully enjoy a larger audience as ESPN2 will air 26.5 hours of Bassmaster LIVE, which puts viewers in the anglers’ boats with commentary from Tommy Sanders, Mark Zona and the rest of the crew. The Day 1 coverage will be picked up in progress and run from 8:30 a.m.-noon ET and 1-3 p.m. For Days 2 and 3, coverage runs continuously from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., and Championship Sunday will air from 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Former Classic champ and two-time Angler of the Year Davy Hite will provide on-the-water reports. Hite said he’s excited at the opportunity to illuminate bass fishing to a larger cable TV audience. (Look for story soon). At last month’s Lake Eufaula event, ESPN2 helped Bassmaster LIVE garner 2.8 million viewers and 85 million minutes viewed, which topped the entirety of last season’s LIVE webcasts.
Former Classic champ and two-time Angler of the Year Davy Hite will provide on-the-water reports. Hite said he’s excited at the opportunity to illuminate bass fishing to a larger cable TV audience. (Look for story soon). At last month’s Lake Eufaula event, ESPN2 helped Bassmaster LIVE garner 2.8 million viewers and 85 million minutes viewed, which topped the entirety of last season’s LIVE webcasts.
The St. Lawrence River is a smallmouth mecca, where anglers like Seth Feider are expected to excel. Last year, Feider predicted the winning weight to be 100 pounds, which would have been the first time a smallmouth fishery produced a Century Belt.
The St. Lawrence River is a smallmouth mecca, where anglers like Seth Feider are expected to excel. Last year, Feider predicted the winning weight to be 100 pounds, which would have been the first time a smallmouth fishery produced a Century Belt.
Caleb Sumrall had the closest prediction of the winning weight, 1 ounce shy of the actual total. Winner Micah Frazier was close to his winning mark of 87-4 with a guess of 90 pounds. In 2018, the winning weight was 95-3. The biggest bag in Elite events here the past three years was 27-12.
Caleb Sumrall had the closest prediction of the winning weight, 1 ounce shy of the actual total. Winner Micah Frazier was close to his winning mark of 87-4 with a guess of 90 pounds. In 2018, the winning weight was 95-3. The biggest bag in Elite events here the past three years was 27-12.
Last year, Frazier was among the 25 anglers who eclipsed the 20-pound mark on Day 1. With 20-11, he was in the hunt at 16th.
Last year, Frazier was among the 25 anglers who eclipsed the 20-pound mark on Day 1. With 20-11, he was in the hunt at 16th.
Canadian Chris Johnston felt right at home on the St. Lawrence, taking the Day 1 lead with the biggest bag and holding the top spot for the first three days of competition.
Canadian Chris Johnston felt right at home on the St. Lawrence, taking the Day 1 lead with the biggest bag and holding the top spot for the first three days of competition.
Meanwhile, consistency had Frazier sticking around. He was 12th after two days, and he was the last in the Top 10-cut to fish Championship Sunday after his third day with 20-plus pounds.
Meanwhile, consistency had Frazier sticking around. He was 12th after two days, and he was the last in the Top 10-cut to fish Championship Sunday after his third day with 20-plus pounds.
Frazier began the final day 4-10 out of the lead, but he was in the right area of the river on the Canadian side. “Last year, 100% of the guys ended up where I won,” he said. “That 2- or 3-mile section of river was better than everywhere else.” Here, Scott Canterbury, who took the Angler of the Year lead by posting a third-place finish on the St. Lawrence, watches Frazier wrangle in a fish.
Frazier began the final day 4-10 out of the lead, but he was in the right area of the river on the Canadian side. “Last year, 100% of the guys ended up where I won,” he said. “That 2- or 3-mile section of river was better than everywhere else.” Here, Scott Canterbury, who took the Angler of the Year lead by posting a third-place finish on the St. Lawrence, watches Frazier wrangle in a fish.
With the big bag of the event at 25-9, Frazier took the hot seat reserved for the event leader. “I had no idea I had that much weight,” Frazier said then. “I’m terrible at judging smallmouth. Still, I felt like I had an outside shot at winning as long as the leaders didn’t crush them.”
With the big bag of the event at 25-9, Frazier took the hot seat reserved for the event leader. “I had no idea I had that much weight,” Frazier said then. “I’m terrible at judging smallmouth. Still, I felt like I had an outside shot at winning as long as the leaders didn’t crush them.”
Frazier’s big day gave him a 14-ounce margin of victory over Chris Johnston and the first-place prize of $100,000. It was the second time in three events that the final angler into the Top 10 leapfrogged all to win.
Frazier’s big day gave him a 14-ounce margin of victory over Chris Johnston and the first-place prize of $100,000. It was the second time in three events that the final angler into the Top 10 leapfrogged all to win.
B.A.S.S. is excited to resume the season with a major opportunity to make more fans, and many fans are curious to see whose big bass dreams are realized.
B.A.S.S. is excited to resume the season with a major opportunity to make more fans, and many fans are curious to see whose big bass dreams are realized.