Winners and losers, Day 1

Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing has one leader, Casey Ashley. But as the season winds down, the Bassmaster Toyota Angler of the Year points become increasingly critical. Anglers are fighting for a chance at a Classic berth, their last chance at getting into the AOY Championship, and in some cases, gaining enough points to keep their career alive. The following are some of the winners and losers in the points race after Day 1.
Day 1 of the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing has one leader, Casey Ashley. But as the season winds down, the Bassmaster Toyota Angler of the Year points become increasingly critical. Anglers are fighting for a chance at a Classic berth, their last chance at getting into the AOY Championship, and in some cases, gaining enough points to keep their career alive. The following are some of the winners and losers in the points race after Day 1.
Gerald Swindle actually shares the winner and loser title. He fared well enough with a 24th place finish to hold on to the AOY lead. But, he gave up a couple of points to challenger Keith Combs, who sits in 20th.
Gerald Swindle actually shares the winner and loser title. He fared well enough with a 24th place finish to hold on to the AOY lead. But, he gave up a couple of points to challenger Keith Combs, who sits in 20th.
Keith Combs would have liked to have made up more ground on Swindle on Day 1.  But any points gained has to be considered a win. Combs started the day 38 points out of the lead, and finished 34 points behind. It may not mean much now, but those could be big points in next week’s AOY Championship.
Keith Combs would have liked to have made up more ground on Swindle on Day 1. But any points gained has to be considered a win. Combs started the day 38 points out of the lead, and finished 34 points behind. It may not mean much now, but those could be big points in next week’s AOY Championship.
Drew Benton, by virtue of ending the day in 46th place, basically wrapped up the Rookie of the Year title  -- if he can hang on for another day. That position dropped him in the overall AOY standings from 9th to 12th, but was not enough to render him reachable by any of the other challengers.
Photo by Bassmaster Marshal Jason Willwerth
Drew Benton, by virtue of ending the day in 46th place, basically wrapped up the Rookie of the Year title — if he can hang on for another day. That position dropped him in the overall AOY standings from 9th to 12th, but was not enough to render him reachable by any of the other challengers.
Photo by Bassmaster Marshal Jason Willwerth
Where things get interesting is in those positions around the Classic
Where things get interesting is in those positions around the Classic “bubble.” Skeet Reese was smack in the middle of that bubble at 35th, with expectations that 39th place will be the cutoff. Reese finished the day in 28th place, well into the Classic (at the moment).
Casey Ashley helped his cause. Going into the morning he was in 41st and actually stood the chance of not making the AOY Championship. But with the Day 1 lead, he’s now 30th in the standings.
Casey Ashley helped his cause. Going into the morning he was in 41st and actually stood the chance of not making the AOY Championship. But with the Day 1 lead, he’s now 30th in the standings.
Kevin VanDam leads our list of losers for the day. He was 26th in AOY points going into the day, and now sits in 35th, placing him in the middle of the bubble.
Kevin VanDam leads our list of losers for the day. He was 26th in AOY points going into the day, and now sits in 35th, placing him in the middle of the bubble.
Brent Ehrler had a similar fall in the standings. He was 31st going in, but now sits in 46th place, putting him in danger of not making the AOY Championship.
Brent Ehrler had a similar fall in the standings. He was 31st going in, but now sits in 46th place, putting him in danger of not making the AOY Championship.
Chris Lane is feeling the pressure. He started the day in 32nd and wanted nothing more than to get a 51-point cushion on 40th place going into the AOY Championship. But an average showing on Day 1 dropped him to 39th, making him the bubble boy going into Day 2.
Chris Lane is feeling the pressure. He started the day in 32nd and wanted nothing more than to get a 51-point cushion on 40th place going into the AOY Championship. But an average showing on Day 1 dropped him to 39th, making him the bubble boy going into Day 2.
Stephen Browning started the day outside the bubble for the Classic and on the bubble for the AOY Championship (46th place), but was able to move away from the bubble and move into the first man out bubble for the Classic in 40th.
Stephen Browning started the day outside the bubble for the Classic and on the bubble for the AOY Championship (46th place), but was able to move away from the bubble and move into the first man out bubble for the Classic in 40th.
Andy Montgomery lost some ground and has his work cut out for him. He started the day in 37th place, inside the Classic cut. He fell outside the cut to 44th place.
Andy Montgomery lost some ground and has his work cut out for him. He started the day in 37th place, inside the Classic cut. He fell outside the cut to 44th place.
Gary Klein moved off the Classic cut of 39th to 36th, while Keith Poche moved from 38th to 37th. Those jumps may not seem like much, but they matter to Poche, who finished tied for 50th last season and was left home on the tiebreaker with Ish Monroe.
Gary Klein moved off the Classic cut of 39th to 36th, while Keith Poche moved from 38th to 37th. Those jumps may not seem like much, but they matter to Poche, who finished tied for 50th last season and was left home on the tiebreaker with Ish Monroe.
Brandon Card may have pulled off a miracle if he can make it last another day. He was well out of the AOY Championship cut in 65th place going into the day. He has given himself a shot at making that event by moving up to 49th after a strong Day 1 performance at La Crosse.
Brandon Card may have pulled off a miracle if he can make it last another day. He was well out of the AOY Championship cut in 65th place going into the day. He has given himself a shot at making that event by moving up to 49th after a strong Day 1 performance at La Crosse.
Adrian Avena was languishing in 50th place and needing a good finish here to make his first AOY Championship. With a 29th place standing in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing he now sits in 45th place in the AOY standings.
Adrian Avena was languishing in 50th place and needing a good finish here to make his first AOY Championship. With a 29th place standing in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing he now sits in 45th place in the AOY standings.
While Avena was moving up, John Crews was moving down. He was on the bubble for the AOY at 49th, but fell to 58th after Day 1 action.
While Avena was moving up, John Crews was moving down. He was on the bubble for the AOY at 49th, but fell to 58th after Day 1 action.
Tommy Biffle, who won here during the Elite’s last appearance, could only manage a 58th place finish on Day 1, which moved him from 43rd in the AOY to 47th. He is in need of a strong Day 2 performance to stay in contention for the championship and have a chance at making the Classic.
Tommy Biffle, who won here during the Elite’s last appearance, could only manage a 58th place finish on Day 1, which moved him from 43rd in the AOY to 47th. He is in need of a strong Day 2 performance to stay in contention for the championship and have a chance at making the Classic.
Mark Menendez is another who left a lot of work for himself to make up on Day 2. He started Day 1 in 47th in the AOY, but after an 83nd place finish in the tournament, he is now on the outside of the Championship in 55th place.
Mark Menendez is another who left a lot of work for himself to make up on Day 2. He started Day 1 in 47th in the AOY, but after an 83nd place finish in the tournament, he is now on the outside of the Championship in 55th place.
Mike McClelland started the day in 52nd place and on the cusp of sliding into the AOY Championship. But after what he called a “bone-head” mistake on Day 1, his catch was disqualified. The venerable professional unintentionally culled a bass on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River. Culling is forbidden in Minnesota. The zero from the day dropped him to 71st. He would need to make at least the top 20 on Day 2 for a shot at making the AOY Championship.
Mike McClelland started the day in 52nd place and on the cusp of sliding into the AOY Championship. But after what he called a “bone-head” mistake on Day 1, his catch was disqualified. The venerable professional unintentionally culled a bass on the Minnesota side of the Mississippi River. Culling is forbidden in Minnesota. The zero from the day dropped him to 71st. He would need to make at least the top 20 on Day 2 for a shot at making the AOY Championship.
The biggest winner of all, though, may be Matt Lee, whose lackluster year had him in 91st in the AOY standings and looking at the possibility of losing his Elite status. A 19th place finish on Day 1 shot him up those standings to 84th, putting him in a much better position with a few days left to go.
The biggest winner of all, though, may be Matt Lee, whose lackluster year had him in 91st in the AOY standings and looking at the possibility of losing his Elite status. A 19th place finish on Day 1 shot him up those standings to 84th, putting him in a much better position with a few days left to go.