A look at Elite venues

A look at Lake St. Clair

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It all comes down to this. The top 50 anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series will be battling this week at the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship on Lake St. Clair near Detroit.
It all comes down to this. The top 50 anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series will be battling this week at the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship on Lake St. Clair near Detroit.
The 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series coveted AOY title is on the line, as well as 42 berths to the 50th anniversary Bassmaster Classic. The angler with the top weight over three days takes home a blue trophy and $25,000.
The 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series coveted AOY title is on the line, as well as 42 berths to the 50th anniversary Bassmaster Classic. The angler with the top weight over three days takes home a blue trophy and $25,000.
There will be $1 million awarded at the event, starting with $100,000 for the AOY champion. Second place earns $55,000 and third gets $45,000. Payouts decrease $5,000 for fourth through sixth and drop $1,000 from seventh to 15th. The next five receive $20,000, then 21st-25th receive $14,000 and the bottom 25 each get $11,000 paychecks.
There will be $1 million awarded at the event, starting with $100,000 for the AOY champion. Second place earns $55,000 and third gets $45,000. Payouts decrease $5,000 for fourth through sixth and drop $1,000 from seventh to 15th. The next five receive $20,000, then 21st-25th receive $14,000 and the bottom 25 each get $11,000 paychecks.
The event will have a true postseason feel as festivities begin at noon Saturday, with all 50 anglers taking part in the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo at Lake St. Clair Metropark. From 1-4 p.m. ET, anglers will sign autographs, pose for photographs and conduct seminars, while fans are also treated to boat demo rides, food vendors and displays from industry leaders like Toyota, Carhartt, Yamaha, T-H Marine and Power-Pole.
The event will have a true postseason feel as festivities begin at noon Saturday, with all 50 anglers taking part in the Bassmaster Outdoors Expo at Lake St. Clair Metropark. From 1-4 p.m. ET, anglers will sign autographs, pose for photographs and conduct seminars, while fans are also treated to boat demo rides, food vendors and displays from industry leaders like Toyota, Carhartt, Yamaha, T-H Marine and Power-Pole.
Fishing for the three-day event gets under way on Sunday. Daily takeoffs are at 7:10 a.m. ET from the Metropark in Harrison Township, Mich., and weigh-ins are back at the park each day at 3:30 p.m. While B.A.S.S. events are free, there is a $10 parking fee.
Fishing for the three-day event gets under way on Sunday. Daily takeoffs are at 7:10 a.m. ET from the Metropark in Harrison Township, Mich., and weigh-ins are back at the park each day at 3:30 p.m. While B.A.S.S. events are free, there is a $10 parking fee.
The famed smallmouth fishery, which is about 430 square miles and has an average depth of 11 feet, ranks eighth on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2019 list of 100 Best Bass Lakes.
The famed smallmouth fishery, which is about 430 square miles and has an average depth of 11 feet, ranks eighth on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2019 list of 100 Best Bass Lakes.
Scott Canterbury goes into the event leading the season-long AOY point standings, but he is being closely pursued by four other anglers who stand within 28 points. It is the closest race in AOY Championship history.
Scott Canterbury goes into the event leading the season-long AOY point standings, but he is being closely pursued by four other anglers who stand within 28 points. It is the closest race in AOY Championship history.
Canterbury has 761 points and the Alabama pro will be looking to close out the title. “It would be a dream come true,” Canterbury said, who has gotten emotional over the thought. “It’s a little different for me than a lot of guys. I work for a living and give up everything. This is my life, and it’s pretty special to me.”
Canterbury has 761 points and the Alabama pro will be looking to close out the title. “It would be a dream come true,” Canterbury said, who has gotten emotional over the thought. “It’s a little different for me than a lot of guys. I work for a living and give up everything. This is my life, and it’s pretty special to me.”
The closest contestant behind Canterbury is Chris Zaldain, just 9 points back with 752. The Californian now living in Fort Worth has had a chance to win several events this season, and he would love nothing more than to leave St. Clair with the trophy.
The closest contestant behind Canterbury is Chris Zaldain, just 9 points back with 752. The Californian now living in Fort Worth has had a chance to win several events this season, and he would love nothing more than to leave St. Clair with the trophy.
This season, Zaldain has been runner-up three times, has a third place and went into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville with a shot to win. Zaldain’s second-place finish last week on Lake Tenkiller sliced his deficit from 26 points.
This season, Zaldain has been runner-up three times, has a third place and went into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville with a shot to win. Zaldain’s second-place finish last week on Lake Tenkiller sliced his deficit from 26 points.
Another threat to win is Canadian Cory Johnston, who sits third with 747 points. Johnston, who just missed the cut at the St. Lawrence River after day-long boat issues, kept his title hopes alive with a third-place finish at Tenkiller. He climbed within range from 30 to 14 points back.
Another threat to win is Canadian Cory Johnston, who sits third with 747 points. Johnston, who just missed the cut at the St. Lawrence River after day-long boat issues, kept his title hopes alive with a third-place finish at Tenkiller. He climbed within range from 30 to 14 points back.
In fourth place is Stetson Blaylock, who won at Winyah Bay this season. The Arkansas pro made up 11 points on the lead by finishing eighth at Tenkiller and now stands 20 points back.
In fourth place is Stetson Blaylock, who won at Winyah Bay this season. The Arkansas pro made up 11 points on the lead by finishing eighth at Tenkiller and now stands 20 points back.
Drew Cook is fifth, 28 points out of the lead. The Florida rookie led the AOY after Guntersville but Canterbury wrested the lead from him after the New York swing. Cook actually regained the lead after two days on Tenkiller, standing third while Canterbury was 29th, but Cook landed only one fish on Day 3 to finish 28th. With one fish catch on St. Clair, Cook will secure the Rookie of the Year title and its $10,000 windfall courtesy of DICK’S Sporting Goods, as he leads that race by 58 points over Lee Livesay.
Drew Cook is fifth, 28 points out of the lead. The Florida rookie led the AOY after Guntersville but Canterbury wrested the lead from him after the New York swing. Cook actually regained the lead after two days on Tenkiller, standing third while Canterbury was 29th, but Cook landed only one fish on Day 3 to finish 28th. With one fish catch on St. Clair, Cook will secure the Rookie of the Year title and its $10,000 windfall courtesy of DICK’S Sporting Goods, as he leads that race by 58 points over Lee Livesay.
Brandon Lester comes into the championship sixth in points with a mathematical chance. He has 722 points, 39 points back of Canterbury. The event winner will add 100 points to their total, and 50th receives 51 points. So Lester, and Bill Lowen (seventh with 714 points) would both need all of those above them to bomb on St. Clair. With dropping payouts, every point and place will be valuable.
Brandon Lester comes into the championship sixth in points with a mathematical chance. He has 722 points, 39 points back of Canterbury. The event winner will add 100 points to their total, and 50th receives 51 points. So Lester, and Bill Lowen (seventh with 714 points) would both need all of those above them to bomb on St. Clair. With dropping payouts, every point and place will be valuable.
The other big race at St. Clair is the hunt to qualify for the 50th Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for March 6-8, 2020 on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.
The other big race at St. Clair is the hunt to qualify for the 50th Bassmaster Classic, scheduled for March 6-8, 2020 on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville.
That race began back in February when the Elite Series pros opened their regular season on the St. Johns River in Florida, where Rick Clunn pulled off an inspiring comeback. In total, the Elites have competed at nine events in seven states. Brandon Cobb and Jamie Hartman have each won twice this season, while Clunn, Blaylock, Micah Frazier and Carl Jocumsen have won titles.
That race began back in February when the Elite Series pros opened their regular season on the St. Johns River in Florida, where Rick Clunn pulled off an inspiring comeback. In total, the Elites have competed at nine events in seven states. Brandon Cobb and Jamie Hartman have each won twice this season, while Clunn, Blaylock, Micah Frazier and Carl Jocumsen have won titles.
While Paul Mueller brought home the title in Lake Lanier in February, the Connecticut pro stands 42nd and currently is the last man into the Classic. Mueller has 538 points, only two above the next competitor trying to pass him.
While Paul Mueller brought home the title in Lake Lanier in February, the Connecticut pro stands 42nd and currently is the last man into the Classic. Mueller has 538 points, only two above the next competitor trying to pass him.
Jake Whitaker, last year’s Rookie of the Year, is first man out as he sits 43rd with 534 points. Whitaker almost fell out of AOY and Classic contention at Tenkiller but rallied to take 26th and climb in the standings. Kelley Jaye (44th, 530 points) and Skylar Hamilton (45th, 530) are among those looking for great finishes and a Classic berth.
Jake Whitaker, last year’s Rookie of the Year, is first man out as he sits 43rd with 534 points. Whitaker almost fell out of AOY and Classic contention at Tenkiller but rallied to take 26th and climb in the standings. Kelley Jaye (44th, 530 points) and Skylar Hamilton (45th, 530) are among those looking for great finishes and a Classic berth.
Tyler Rivet finished 18th at Tenkiller to make one of the biggest jumps. He moved from the AOY bubble spot of 50th to inside the Classic cut at 41st with 538 points. Cliff Prince (40th, 552), Todd Auten (39th, 554) are among those near the bubble hoping they don’t get knocked out.
Tyler Rivet finished 18th at Tenkiller to make one of the biggest jumps. He moved from the AOY bubble spot of 50th to inside the Classic cut at 41st with 538 points. Cliff Prince (40th, 552), Todd Auten (39th, 554) are among those near the bubble hoping they don’t get knocked out.
All the races and the big smallmouth in St. Clair should make for an enthralling event. The most recent winner averaged 22-2 over four days. Bassmaster LIVE airs each day of the event from 8-11 a.m. ET and noon-3 p.m. ET, bringing on the water coverage.
All the races and the big smallmouth in St. Clair should make for an enthralling event. The most recent winner averaged 22-2 over four days. Bassmaster LIVE airs each day of the event from 8-11 a.m. ET and noon-3 p.m. ET, bringing on the water coverage.

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