Door County, WI— The final tournament of the year for the Elite Series pros is often full of drama and excitement, and this year definitely fit the bill.
There was little doubt as to who would win the Angler of the Year title, as Martens had a solid points lead going into the tournament on Sturgeon Bay.
What was in question were the fates of anglers on the bubble.
Out of the top 50 pros, only 40 would be taking a spot in the Bassmaster Classic.
One notable individual who missed the cut is Gerald Swindle. G-Man finished 43rd, which will force the perennial fan favorite to watch the Classic from the Expo floor.
Swindle would say, “You just can’t have two or three bad tournaments…and expect to appear in the Classic.” He would go on to lament his approach on the Lake Havasu tournament, saying, “I lost quite a few big fish at Lake Havasu because I was in a hurry and tried to force the issue a few too many times.”
Other notables who will not launch their boat for the Classic include Mark Menendez and Jonathon VanDam.
Ehrler Wins Rookie of the Year Honors
California native Brent Ehrler has been a dominant staple in the FLW ranks for years, but 2015 was his first season fishing in the B.A.S.S. Elite Series.
His success in FLW translated well, as he finished 7th in the overall AOY points standings.
While the title may seem strange to those who have followed his career for the last decade, we can safely expect big things from Ehrler on the Elite Series trail from now on.
Chris Zaldain Takes the Tournament Crown
With all of the excitement surrounding the points standings, it’s easy to forget an actual tournament was fished on Sturgeon Bay.
San Jose California native Chris Zaldain boated 53 pounds, 4 ounces of Wisconsin smallmouth; good enough to best the field by about 3 pounds. While technically not the “winner” due to the format, he took home a $30,000 pay day for his efforts.
Targeting bass feeding on suspended baitfish, Zaldain tossed a 1/4 ounce round head jig sporting a 3 inch Megabass Spark Shad.
The next thing on the Elite pros minds is the big show.
The Bassmaster Classic will be taking place March 4-6 on Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees in Oklahoma.