A look at Elite venues

A look at Chatuge

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The top 50 in points meet this week on Lake Chatuge out of Hiawassee, Ga., for the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. The competition is Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with Saturday off for an expo and Bassmaster University.
The top 50 in points meet this week on Lake Chatuge out of Hiawassee, Ga., for the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship. The competition is Thursday, Friday and Sunday, with Saturday off for an expo and Bassmaster University.
The fishery hosted Bassmaster College Championship events in 2014 and 2015, but it is a first-time venue for the Bassmaster Elite Series. Lake Chatuge’s 10.9 square miles, approximately 7,000 acres, are divided almost equally between Georgia and North Carolina. The lake, which has around 130 miles of shoreline, was finished in 1942 for flood control but a generator was later added.
The fishery hosted Bassmaster College Championship events in 2014 and 2015, but it is a first-time venue for the Bassmaster Elite Series. Lake Chatuge’s 10.9 square miles, approximately 7,000 acres, are divided almost equally between Georgia and North Carolina. The lake, which has around 130 miles of shoreline, was finished in 1942 for flood control but a generator was later added.
Chatuge is a clear water lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains that sits about 1,922 feet above sea level. The lake averages around 30 feet deep and is 144 feet deep at the dam.
Chatuge is a clear water lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains that sits about 1,922 feet above sea level. The lake averages around 30 feet deep and is 144 feet deep at the dam.
Years ago, Chatuge was a smallmouth bass destination. The state record smallmouth of 7 pounds, 2 ounces was caught there in 1973, but the unauthorized introduction of spotted bass in the 1980s created a precipitous decline in smallmouth.
Years ago, Chatuge was a smallmouth bass destination. The state record smallmouth of 7 pounds, 2 ounces was caught there in 1973, but the unauthorized introduction of spotted bass in the 1980s created a precipitous decline in smallmouth.
Elite angler Jake Whitaker, who lives a couple hours away, offered his scouting report. Whitaker, who is vying for the Rookie of the Year title with Roy Hawk, said to expect mixed bags of largemouth and spotted bass. The spots offer a more consistent bite but are considerably smaller, he said, adding largemouth up to around 8 pounds can be caught.
Elite angler Jake Whitaker, who lives a couple hours away, offered his scouting report. Whitaker, who is vying for the Rookie of the Year title with Roy Hawk, said to expect mixed bags of largemouth and spotted bass. The spots offer a more consistent bite but are considerably smaller, he said, adding largemouth up to around 8 pounds can be caught.
B.A.S.S. invites the public free of charge to watch the anglers take off each day at 7 a.m. ET from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road in Hiawassee, Ga., and come back for the daily weigh-ins at 3:45 p.m ET at the same location.
B.A.S.S. invites the public free of charge to watch the anglers take off each day at 7 a.m. ET from the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road in Hiawassee, Ga., and come back for the daily weigh-ins at 3:45 p.m ET at the same location.
The top storyline at the event is the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, which has come down to a battle of best friends, Justin Lucas and Josh Bertrand.
The top storyline at the event is the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, which has come down to a battle of best friends, Justin Lucas and Josh Bertrand.
Lucas leads the season-long point race with 716 points, and Bertrand stands nine back with 707. Each had steady seasons, and Bertrand won his first Elite event in the season-ender on the St. Lawrence River. Lucas was second and said if he couldn’t win, he was happy his friend did.
Lucas leads the season-long point race with 716 points, and Bertrand stands nine back with 707. Each had steady seasons, and Bertrand won his first Elite event in the season-ender on the St. Lawrence River. Lucas was second and said if he couldn’t win, he was happy his friend did.
Lucas said he just wants to finish in the top eight so he cannot be eclipsed. “Of course, I will be happy for Josh if he wins,” he said, “but I probably won’t be as happy as I was at the St. Lawrence. That was a different scenario.”
Lucas said he just wants to finish in the top eight so he cannot be eclipsed. “Of course, I will be happy for Josh if he wins,” he said, “but I probably won’t be as happy as I was at the St. Lawrence. That was a different scenario.”
Bertrand would like nothing more than to parlay his first Elite win into an AOY, but he knows he’s the underdog. “At the end of the day, it’s not a bad thing to be head-to-head with your buddy; it’s a good thing,” Bertrand said. “Ultimately, there’s no one you’d rather see it be. It’s not a win-win scenario, but it’s almost a win-win scenario.”
Bertrand would like nothing more than to parlay his first Elite win into an AOY, but he knows he’s the underdog. “At the end of the day, it’s not a bad thing to be head-to-head with your buddy; it’s a good thing,” Bertrand said. “Ultimately, there’s no one you’d rather see it be. It’s not a win-win scenario, but it’s almost a win-win scenario.”
Last year, Brandon Palaniuk was a first-time winner of the AOY, and he will hand off the trophy to either Lucas or Bertrand as one of them will become only the 23rd angler to ever win a B.A.S.S. AOY.
Last year, Brandon Palaniuk was a first-time winner of the AOY, and he will hand off the trophy to either Lucas or Bertrand as one of them will become only the 23rd angler to ever win a B.A.S.S. AOY.
There is a wild card - Bertrand might not even stick around for the entire event. His wife, Chantel, is pregnant with their second child and her due date is Sept. 28. She is staying home in Arizona, and Bertrand has said he will do everything in his power to return once she goes into labor, which includes leaving in the middle of the event.
There is a wild card – Bertrand might not even stick around for the entire event. His wife, Chantel, is pregnant with their second child and her due date is Sept. 28. She is staying home in Arizona, and Bertrand has said he will do everything in his power to return once she goes into labor, which includes leaving in the middle of the event.
Now for those attending the festivities at Lake Chatuge, the new venue offers some never-before-seen attractions. As usual, the Bassmaster Expo has demo rides with Nitro, Skeeter and Triton, huge booths from Toyota and Carhartt with prizes, the Berkley Experience trailer with live aquarium, and more from Yamaha, TH Marine, Power-Pole and more. There is no weigh-in Saturday, but fans can meet the pros and attend Bassmaster University seminars. In their free time, folks can visit several nearby sites, like Bell Mountain here.
Now for those attending the festivities at Lake Chatuge, the new venue offers some never-before-seen attractions. As usual, the Bassmaster Expo has demo rides with Nitro, Skeeter and Triton, huge booths from Toyota and Carhartt with prizes, the Berkley Experience trailer with live aquarium, and more from Yamaha, TH Marine, Power-Pole and more. There is no weigh-in Saturday, but fans can meet the pros and attend Bassmaster University seminars. In their free time, folks can visit several nearby sites, like Bell Mountain here.
Bell Mountain, which is southeast of the lake, was mined in the 1960s for car glass. Since that time, it became a hiking destination then used by four-wheel enthusiasts, while visitors have sadly left their marks. The land was donated and now there’s a paved road to an observation deck that at around 3,400 feet offers panoramic views.
Bell Mountain, which is southeast of the lake, was mined in the 1960s for car glass. Since that time, it became a hiking destination then used by four-wheel enthusiasts, while visitors have sadly left their marks. The land was donated and now there’s a paved road to an observation deck that at around 3,400 feet offers panoramic views.
Not far due south of Chatuge is the highest point in Georgia, Brasstown Bald. The observation tower is 4,784 feet up, and on clear days visitors can see the skyline of Atlanta.
Not far due south of Chatuge is the highest point in Georgia, Brasstown Bald. The observation tower is 4,784 feet up, and on clear days visitors can see the skyline of Atlanta.
Along with the top spot, anglers will be vying for Classic berths on Lake Chatuge. The final top 35 in the points receive automatic berths to the 2019 Bassmaster Classic, but number is expected to increase by several as a handful of anglers could double qualify through the Bass Pro Shops Opens series.
Along with the top spot, anglers will be vying for Classic berths on Lake Chatuge. The final top 35 in the points receive automatic berths to the 2019 Bassmaster Classic, but number is expected to increase by several as a handful of anglers could double qualify through the Bass Pro Shops Opens series.
Chad Pipkens is among those vying to receive an automatic bid (here he shows a nice largemouth on his third cast of a pre-practice session). After the Opens championships next month, there will be one final avenue for Elites to qualify for the Classic. The Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Classic Bracket will pit 16 anglers against each other over four days for three berths.
Chad Pipkens is among those vying to receive an automatic bid (here he shows a nice largemouth on his third cast of a pre-practice session). After the Opens championships next month, there will be one final avenue for Elites to qualify for the Classic. The Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Classic Bracket will pit 16 anglers against each other over four days for three berths.

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