A look at St. Lawrence

The Elite Series ends its seven-week hiatus by returning to Waddington, N.Y., this week for the The Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Black Velvet. With the previous event on the Upper Chesapeake Bay postponed due to dangerous high waters, this is the eighth and final regular season tournament of 2018.
The Elite Series ends its seven-week hiatus by returning to Waddington, N.Y., this week for the The Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence presented by Black Velvet. With the previous event on the Upper Chesapeake Bay postponed due to dangerous high waters, this is the eighth and final regular season tournament of 2018.
The 107 anglers will fish the huge waterway that drains the largest freshwater system on the planet. The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and is a major waterway for shipping.
The 107 anglers will fish the huge waterway that drains the largest freshwater system on the planet. The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean and is a major waterway for shipping.
The St. Lawrence River, which is part of the international boundary between Canada and the U.S., runs 1,900 miles from its farthest headwater to the mouth.
The St. Lawrence River, which is part of the international boundary between Canada and the U.S., runs 1,900 miles from its farthest headwater to the mouth.
Last year, Kevin VanDam went wire-to-wire on the St. Lawrence, catching 90 pounds, 3 ounces of smallmouth. His largest fish was a 6-5 and the big bass of the event. The closest angler to KVD, Brock Mosley, finished 8 pounds back.
Last year, Kevin VanDam went wire-to-wire on the St. Lawrence, catching 90 pounds, 3 ounces of smallmouth. His largest fish was a 6-5 and the big bass of the event. The closest angler to KVD, Brock Mosley, finished 8 pounds back.
The win was VanDam's 24th with B.A.S.S., increasing the record he holds (He now has 25). The win had more special meaning as he fished his first Bassmaster tournament on the St. Lawrence River in 1987. It also just happened to be his 300th event with B.A.S.S., as well as his third victory on the fishery.
The win was VanDam’s 24th with B.A.S.S., increasing the record he holds (He now has 25). The win had more special meaning as he fished his first Bassmaster tournament on the St. Lawrence River in 1987. It also just happened to be his 300th event with B.A.S.S., as well as his third victory on the fishery.
When the Elites visited the St. Lawrence in 2015, Edwin Evers won by going against the grain. He went downriver, or northeast, to find the winning fish. Evers’ plan was to follow the full moon and fish shallow. His second key was going where there’d be the least amount of angler traffic.
When the Elites visited the St. Lawrence in 2015, Edwin Evers won by going against the grain. He went downriver, or northeast, to find the winning fish. Evers’ plan was to follow the full moon and fish shallow. His second key was going where there’d be the least amount of angler traffic.
There were plenty of pleasure boaters who passed Evers and his spots, but he caught 77 pounds, 10 ounces to win by nearly four pounds. Evers became the first in the history of the Elites to win back-to-back events, and his 10th victory put him in a select group of six with double-digit wins.
There were plenty of pleasure boaters who passed Evers and his spots, but he caught 77 pounds, 10 ounces to win by nearly four pounds. Evers became the first in the history of the Elites to win back-to-back events, and his 10th victory put him in a select group of six with double-digit wins.
In 2013, Brandon Palaniuk was coming off a disqualification that quite possibly cost him victory on the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wis. After explaining his accidental cull just yards on the wrong side of the state line, Palaniuk said he’d just have to go out and win the next one.
In 2013, Brandon Palaniuk was coming off a disqualification that quite possibly cost him victory on the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wis. After explaining his accidental cull just yards on the wrong side of the state line, Palaniuk said he’d just have to go out and win the next one.
Palaniuk did. He went wire-to-wire on the St. Lawrence, catching 88-12 of smallmouth to win by 7-8 and keep his streak of Classic berths alive.
Palaniuk did. He went wire-to-wire on the St. Lawrence, catching 88-12 of smallmouth to win by 7-8 and keep his streak of Classic berths alive.
This will be the 18th event on the St. Lawrence River, which hosted the Bassmaster Classic in 1980. Louisiana pro Bo Dowden weighed 54-10 to beat Roland Martin by more than 10 pounds. Dowden’s catch included a 6-6 bass that took big-fish honors for the entire tournament. The St. Lawrence is schedule to host another Elite in 2019.
This will be the 18th event on the St. Lawrence River, which hosted the Bassmaster Classic in 1980. Louisiana pro Bo Dowden weighed 54-10 to beat Roland Martin by more than 10 pounds. Dowden’s catch included a 6-6 bass that took big-fish honors for the entire tournament. The St. Lawrence is schedule to host another Elite in 2019.
In 2013, Palaniuk’s gamble of running 200-plus miles to and from Lake Ontario paid off. This week, Ontario is off limits. The anglers can fish from the mouth of Ontario to the Moses Saunders Dam near Cornwall.
In 2013, Palaniuk’s gamble of running 200-plus miles to and from Lake Ontario paid off. This week, Ontario is off limits. The anglers can fish from the mouth of Ontario to the Moses Saunders Dam near Cornwall.
The crowds in 2013 broke the previous four-day record of 33,650 that was set that season in Orange, Texas. In 2015, the event in Waddington drew 31,600, which ranks as the fourth all-time attendance at an Elite event.
The crowds in 2013 broke the previous four-day record of 33,650 that was set that season in Orange, Texas. In 2015, the event in Waddington drew 31,600, which ranks as the fourth all-time attendance at an Elite event.
The Elites will launch at 6:15 a.m. ET each morning from Whittaker Park Boat Launch, 192 Pine St., Waddington, NY 13694. The weigh-ins are scheduled each day for 3 p.m. at the same location.
The Elites will launch at 6:15 a.m. ET each morning from Whittaker Park Boat Launch, 192 Pine St., Waddington, NY 13694. The weigh-ins are scheduled each day for 3 p.m. at the same location.
One reason that might help the size of the crowd in Waddington is the Party in the Park. There’ll be live music, fireworks on Saturday night, kids’ activities, local vendors, great food, cold drinks and more! For more information, visit www.waddingtonpartyinthepark.com.
One reason that might help the size of the crowd in Waddington is the Party in the Park. There’ll be live music, fireworks on Saturday night, kids’ activities, local vendors, great food, cold drinks and more! For more information, visit www.waddingtonpartyinthepark.com.
A 5-meter high statue of St. Lawrence, a third century deacon after whom the river was named, was erected on a cliff east of the Ivy Lea International Bridge on the Canadian side. It is only visible to boaters and adventurous hikers.
A 5-meter high statue of St. Lawrence, a third century deacon after whom the river was named, was erected on a cliff east of the Ivy Lea International Bridge on the Canadian side. It is only visible to boaters and adventurous hikers.
The St. Lawrence is a sight to behold as it includes an archipelago of 1,864 islands, ergo the name The Thousand Islands. The area stretches for 50 miles from Lake Ontario downstream. These islands are as small as an outcropping of rock to 40 square miles. To be included, there must be at least one square foot of land above water level and support at least two living trees.
The St. Lawrence is a sight to behold as it includes an archipelago of 1,864 islands, ergo the name The Thousand Islands. The area stretches for 50 miles from Lake Ontario downstream. These islands are as small as an outcropping of rock to 40 square miles. To be included, there must be at least one square foot of land above water level and support at least two living trees.
Besides a first-place prize of $100,000 being on the line, the anglers will battle to be among the top 50 who advance to the Toyota AOY Championship on Lake Chatuge, Sept. 20-23. The fight for berths to the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods will be finalized on the Georgia lake and the coveted AOY trophy will be awarded.
Besides a first-place prize of $100,000 being on the line, the anglers will battle to be among the top 50 who advance to the Toyota AOY Championship on Lake Chatuge, Sept. 20-23. The fight for berths to the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods will be finalized on the Georgia lake and the coveted AOY trophy will be awarded.