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With the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title already wrapped up with a bow on it for Aaron Martens, the AOY Championship at Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., is going to be all about the final qualifying spots for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
In terms of Classic berths, 480 is a critical number. It's expected to take somewhere in the neighborhood of 480 AOY points after Sturgeon Bay to finish in the Top 40 for the season, and 40th place is currently where the cutoff stands for Classic qualification.
But 40 is a solid cutoff number to work with at this point. Keep in mind that big point-swings will be unlikely, since there are only 50 anglers competing. Points will be awarded in descending order of finish, from 100 down to 51 for 50th place. (You do, by the way, have to weigh-in at least one bass to earn those 51 points, but that’s hardly a consideration at the Sturgeon Bay tournament waters of Lake Michigan.)
The focal point is between 36th place and 45th place – the Classic bubble – where 10 anglers are separated by only 9 points. That’s where ounces, not pounds, could decide who competes in the Classic and who works the Expo. Nine tournaments from March through September and your fate could be determined by an ounce or two. There will be some ecstasy and agony surrounding the Classic bubble, for sure. Here’s a look at the anglers who still have work to do to secure a Classic berth.
Photo: Julius Morgan
50th, 380 points, Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif.
Monroe won a tiebreaker with Andy Montgomery and Keith Poche, who also finished the regular season with 380 points. Monroe had more total weight on the full field days (Thursday and Friday) of the eight regular season events to earn the 50th spot at Sturgeon Bay.
Monroe won a tiebreaker with Andy Montgomery and Keith Poche, who also finished the regular season with 380 points. Monroe had more total weight on the full field days (Thursday and Friday) of the eight regular season events to earn the 50th spot at Sturgeon Bay.
Photo: Shaye Baker
With 100 points available to the winner this week, Monroe has a thin path to the Classic: Win and he’s in. That’s the only way he can get to 480 points. A place or two below first might get him there, based on a multitude of scenarios breaking his way.
Photo: James Overstreet
49th, 381 points, Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
Menendez made a push at the end of the season with a 36th-place finish at the St. Lawrence River followed by placing ninth at Chesapeake Bay. That put him 36th in AOY points.
Menendez made a push at the end of the season with a 36th-place finish at the St. Lawrence River followed by placing ninth at Chesapeake Bay. That put him 36th in AOY points.
Photo: Steve Bowman
But his 87th-place showing at Lake St. Clair made Menendez part of the big shuffle that took place in the final regular season event, and in the wrong direction in his case. Menendez probably needs a Top 3 finish at Sturgeon Bay, at least.
Photo: James Overstreet
48th, 385 points, Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
Entering the St. Clair event, Kriet was inside the Classic cut at 35th, but he finished 84th and fell 13 spots.
Entering the St. Clair event, Kriet was inside the Classic cut at 35th, but he finished 84th and fell 13 spots.
Photo: James Overstreet
The Oklahoma native has qualified for eight Classics, but he missed the 2013 event at Grand Lake. Kriet needs to finish sixth or better to get to 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
47th, 388 points, Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
JVD has lived on the edge all season, best exemplified by coming from 52nd place after two days at Lake Havasu to finish ninth.
JVD has lived on the edge all season, best exemplified by coming from 52nd place after two days at Lake Havasu to finish ninth.
Photo: James Overstreet
He also made the biggest move at Lake St. Clair, where an eighth-place performance moved him up from 66th place in the AOY standings. VanDam needs to finish ninth or better to get to 480 points.
Photo: Seigo Saito
46th, 392 points, Morizo Shimizu, Suita, Osaka, Japan
Shimizu made four checks in a row, from Lake Havasu (33rd) to Chesapeake Bay (14th), finishing higher in each event than he had in the previous one.
Shimizu made four checks in a row, from Lake Havasu (33rd) to Chesapeake Bay (14th), finishing higher in each event than he had in the previous one.
Photo: Seigo Saito
Then he took a hit at Lake St. Clair (71st) and fell from 37th in the AOY standings. Shimizu needs to finish 13th place or better to reach 480.
Photo: James Overstreet
45th, 396 points, Mike Iaconelli, Pitts Grove, N.J.
Iaconelli held his spot on the bubble at Lake St. Clair. It was his face-splat at the tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay (95th), where he expected to excel, that put him here.
Iaconelli held his spot on the bubble at Lake St. Clair. It was his face-splat at the tidal waters of Chesapeake Bay (95th), where he expected to excel, that put him here.
Photo: James Overstreet
Iaconelli has qualified for 16 Classics, including 14 in a row, and he was fourth in 2013 at Grand Lake. He needs a minimum of 17th place for 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
44th, 398 points, Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
Kennedy is trying to rebound from a horrid start – 91st at the Sabine River and an unthinkable 102nd at Lake Guntersville.
Kennedy is trying to rebound from a horrid start – 91st at the Sabine River and an unthinkable 102nd at Lake Guntersville.
Photo: James Overstreet
He has finished 49th or better, including two Top 20s, in the last six Elite Series events. Kennedy has qualified for seven of the last nine Classics. He needs to finish 19th to reach 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
43rd, 400 points, Ott DeFoe, Knoxville, Tenn.
DeFoe was another victim at Lake St. Clair. His 92nd-place finish there dropped him 17 places in the AOY standings, from 26th.
DeFoe was another victim at Lake St. Clair. His 92nd-place finish there dropped him 17 places in the AOY standings, from 26th.
Photo: Seigo Saito
DeFoe has qualified for four Classics in a row and finished 11th at Grand Lake in 2013. He must place 21st to reach 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
42nd, 401 points, John Murray, Phoenix, Ariz.
Like Steve Kennedy, Murray is trying to come back from a lousy start, when he was 63rd at the Sabine River and 101st at Guntersville.
Like Steve Kennedy, Murray is trying to come back from a lousy start, when he was 63rd at the Sabine River and 101st at Guntersville.
Photo: James Overstreet
Murray helped himself in a big way by placing 31st at Lake St. Clair to move up from 52nd place in the AOY standings. He needs 22nd place to get to 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
41st, 402 points, Gerald Swindle, Warrior, Ala.
Like Ott DeFoe, Swindle fell 17 spots in the AOY standings at Lake St. Clair from 24th.
Like Ott DeFoe, Swindle fell 17 spots in the AOY standings at Lake St. Clair from 24th.
Photo: James Overstreet
He has been a yo-yo lately – 18th at Kentucky Lake, 94th at the St. Lawrence River, fourth at Chesapeake Bay and 94th again at St. Clair. Swindle must place at least 23rd to reach 480.
Photo: Chris Mitchell
40th, 403 points, Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Faircloth wasn’t even thinking about the Classic after missing the cut for five tournaments in a row. One of the most accomplished and consistent anglers on the Elite Series, since 2004 Faircloth has only once gone two B.A.S.S. tournaments in a row without earning a check.
Faircloth wasn’t even thinking about the Classic after missing the cut for five tournaments in a row. One of the most accomplished and consistent anglers on the Elite Series, since 2004 Faircloth has only once gone two B.A.S.S. tournaments in a row without earning a check.
Photo: Steve Bowman
He was simply hoping to end the season on a good note in the final two events of the regular season. Then he finished 17th at Chesapeake Bay and won at Lake St. Clair. Faircloth is suddenly on the verge of making his 14th Classic and 10th in a row. He finished ninth at Grand Lake in 2013. He needs to finish at least 24th to get to 480.
Photo: Steve Bowman
39th, 404 points, Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
The 45-year-old Elite Series rookie from Knoxville has put himself in contention for the Classic by finishing in the Top 40 in three of the last four tournaments.
The 45-year-old Elite Series rookie from Knoxville has put himself in contention for the Classic by finishing in the Top 40 in three of the last four tournaments.
Photo: James Overstreet
He jumped 12 spots in the AOY standings with his 33rd-place finish at Lake St. Clair. Coulter needs to finish smack in the middle of the pack – 25th – to reach 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
38th, 404 points, Scott Rook, Little Rock, Ark.
Rook is trying to earn his 10th Classic berth. That appeared unlikely after the St. Lawrence River, when he was 63rd in the AOY standings.
Rook is trying to earn his 10th Classic berth. That appeared unlikely after the St. Lawrence River, when he was 63rd in the AOY standings.
Photo: James Overstreet
But Rook closed by placing 22nd at Chesapeake Bay and 40th at Lake St. Clair. Like Brandon Coulter, he needs 25th place to reach 480 points for the year.
Photo: James Overstreet
37th, 407 points, Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
Robinson got off to a solid start by finishing 18th at the Sabine River and 22nd at Lake Guntersville, but he’s been hanging around the Classic bubble for a while now after finishing 50th, 70th and 56th in the last three Elite Series events.
Robinson got off to a solid start by finishing 18th at the Sabine River and 22nd at Lake Guntersville, but he’s been hanging around the Classic bubble for a while now after finishing 50th, 70th and 56th in the last three Elite Series events.
Photo: James Overstreet
Robinson is trying to earn his third Classic berth. He was 20th at Grand Lake in 2013. He needs 28th place to finish with 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
36th, 407 points, Josh Bertrand, Gilbert, Ariz.
Bertrand had finished 42nd or better in four Elite Series events in a row, including 11th place at the St. Lawrence River.
Bertrand had finished 42nd or better in four Elite Series events in a row, including 11th place at the St. Lawrence River.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
He was able to withstand a 74th-place finish at Lake St. Clair, which dropped him only four places in the AOY standings. Like Marty Robinson, he needs to finish 28th to get to 480.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
35th, 412 points, Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
The 1995 Bassmaster Classic champion is trying to qualify for the 19th time in his stellar career.
The 1995 Bassmaster Classic champion is trying to qualify for the 19th time in his stellar career.
Photo: Gary Tramontina
Davis is another guy who stumbled at Lake St. Clair, finishing 79th, which dropped him seven places in the AOY standings. Davis must finish 33rd to reach 480 points for the season.
Photo: Seigo Saito
34th, 413 points, Billy McCaghren, Mayflower, Ark.
McCaghren is trying to reach the Classic for the second time. His last appearance was in 2010.
McCaghren is trying to reach the Classic for the second time. His last appearance was in 2010.
Photo: Ronnie Moore
A 10th-place finish at Kentucky Lake and 18th place at the St. Lawrence River have put him on the verge of doing so. McCaghren needs to finish 34th to reach 480.
Photo: James Overstreet
33rd, 414 points, Brandon Card, Caryville, Tenn.
Card is trying to qualify for his second Classic. He finished 39th at Grand Lake in 2013. If he does so, it would be after a horrendous start to the season, when he was 103rd at Lake Guntersville and 105th at the Sacramento River – two zeroes in terms of AOY points.
Card is trying to qualify for his second Classic. He finished 39th at Grand Lake in 2013. If he does so, it would be after a horrendous start to the season, when he was 103rd at Lake Guntersville and 105th at the Sacramento River – two zeroes in terms of AOY points.
Photo: James Overstreet
Card was on a roll – eighth at Kentucky Lake, fourth at the St. Lawrence River and 18th at Chesapeake Bay – until stubbing his toe at Lake St. Clair (72nd). Card needs to place 35th at Sturgeon Bay to get to 480.
Photo: Wes Moody
32nd, 415 points, Chad Pipkens, Holt, Mich.
Not even Angler of the Year Aaron Martens has been as hot as Pipkens lately. Pipkens finished third at Chesapeake Bay and fourth at Lake St. Clair. And he’s needed every bit of that to rescue a train wreck of a season.
Not even Angler of the Year Aaron Martens has been as hot as Pipkens lately. Pipkens finished third at Chesapeake Bay and fourth at Lake St. Clair. And he’s needed every bit of that to rescue a train wreck of a season.
Photo: James Overstreet
Pipkens was 93rd in the AOY standings after Kentucky Lake, where he posted his second 110th-place finish of the year. The first was at the Sabine River. But Pipkens made the biggest jump of all at Lake St. Clair – 27 places – from 59th in the AOY standings. Pipkens needs to finish 36th to reach 480 points for the season.
Photo: Garrick Dixon
31st, 417 points, Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
Hite has rescued a roller-coaster season with, finally, some consistency at the end. He was 107th at Lake Havasu, third at Kentucky Lake, then 92nd at the St. Lawrence River.
Hite has rescued a roller-coaster season with, finally, some consistency at the end. He was 107th at Lake Havasu, third at Kentucky Lake, then 92nd at the St. Lawrence River.
Photo: Chris Mitchell
But in closing with 24th place at Chesapeake Bay and ninth at Lake St. Clair, Hite is nearly qualified for the fourth Classic of his career. If he finishes 38th at Sturgeon Bay, Hite will have 480 points for the season.
Photo: Seigo Saito
30th, 423 points, Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
Lester doesn’t have to do much at Sturgeon Bay, but he’s got to be concerned a bit about the way his season has closed – with finishes of 67th, 66th and 68th, after placing ninth at Kentucky Lake.
Lester doesn’t have to do much at Sturgeon Bay, but he’s got to be concerned a bit about the way his season has closed – with finishes of 67th, 66th and 68th, after placing ninth at Kentucky Lake.
Photo: James Overstreet
This would be Lester’s second Classic. He needs to finish in 44th place at Sturgeon Bay to reach 480 points.
Photo: James Overstreet
29th, 428 points, James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Elam is listed here only because he’s an X-factor in determining Classic berths. He qualified for the Classic with his win in the Central Open at Fort Gibson last week, provided he competes in the final Central Open at Table Rock in October.
Elam is listed here only because he’s an X-factor in determining Classic berths. He qualified for the Classic with his win in the Central Open at Fort Gibson last week, provided he competes in the final Central Open at Table Rock in October.
Photo: Seigo Saito
But Elam would be double-qualified and push the AOY qualifying spots from 39 to 40 if he finishes any place other than last at Sturgeon Bay. A 49th-place finish would give him 52 points and put him at 480 for the season.
Photo: James Overstreet
