By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Scott Dobson didn't capture the Angler of the Year title on the Northern Toyota Series this year, as he'd done in 2019. He closed out the schedule with a flourish, however, by winning the event at the Detroit River with an average of just under 20 pounds per day.

It was the second career Toyota Series triumph for the big-water smallmouth ace from Michigan – he prevailed at 1000 Islands in 2016. The victory moved him up to No. 8 in the final Northern points standings, actually one spot lower than his placement on this year's FLW Pro Circuit.

Now he looks forward to the Toyota Series Championship, which will take place in early December at Lake Cumberland in Kentucky.

"That one will be interesting," he said. "It could be 20 degrees or 60."

Put In His Time

Dobson said he found himself with little else to do during the week leading up to the Detroit River, so he put in 5 days of practice. He divided that time between Lake St. Clair, the river itself and the area around the mouth (where it empties into Lake Erie).

"Never in a million years did I think the lakes would be put off limits on the first 2 days," he said in reference to the decision made by tournament staff due to strong winds. "We were restricted to a 20-something mile stretch and everyone was in the first 5 to 7 miles – there were 87 boats piled on top of each other. "It was like (ledge-fishing at) Chickamauga with people almost bumping into each other."

Determined to stay out of the crowds, he began running points, current breaks and "a lot of stuff I'd never fished and places where I'd never caught fish" when the event got under way. He caught his biggest stringer of the event on day 1 (20-14) and then reversed his rotation the following day to add 19-12, making the Top-10 cut in 2nd place.

"The current was ripping super-fast on days 1 and 2 and guys were killing their batteries by 11 a.m.," he said. "Having MTech Lithium batteries with the Lowrance Ghost trolling motor gave me the power to run all day.

"Brushless motors with lithiums are much more efficient – it's crazy how little juice they use compared to brushed trolling-motor units. I still had 75 percent of the juice on my battery meter at the end of the day."

With travel restrictions lifted for the final day, he opted to head toward St. Clair. However, with the knowledge that two local circuits were holding year-end championship tournaments on the lake that day, he wanted to catch a couple of keepers from the river before he arrived in case his best stuff was covered up.

He managed to accomplish that, then added three keepers from the lake. He caught what turned out to be the winning fish – a 4 1/2-pounder – upon his return to the river at the end of the day.

"I slung (an umbrella rig) around a little bit, then that fish bit on my second cast with a spinnerbait," he said. "The spot was just a little upwelling where the current hit the edge of a (side) channel."

He made it back to the check-in point with 1 1/2 minutes to spare, believing that the 18-09 he'd sacked up (for a 59-03 total) wouldn't be enough weight to win.

"No, not at all," he said. "I thought I had a decent chance at coming in 2nd."

Winning Gear Notes

With the smallmouth in the system keying in on the shad migration and set up on points, ledges and other cover that deflected the current, Dobson threw a wide variety of moving baits and dragging. His moving lineup included a Shane’s Baits Mini Blades of Glory umbrella rig with Keitech Swing Impact FAT swimbaits. a 3/4-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait with gold and silver willow-leaf blades and a trailer hook and three jerkbaits – a Megabass Vision 110+1 or Lucky Craft Pointer 100 for shallow water and a Duo Realis 100DR for deeper applications.

His dragging baits included a 5-inch tube on a 3/4-ounce head and a magnum Ned rig with a Z-Man Giant TRD (cut in half) on a 1/2-ounce Nichols Lures Magnum Ned Rig Jig Head. He also mixed in a dropshot with a Poor Boy's Erie Darter and a 3/8-ounce weight.

His umbrella-rig rod was a 8-foot Dobyns Champion 806 CB designed for throwing deep-running crankbaits. He employed a Champion 685 for his jerkbaits and a Champion 735 for the spinnerbait.

His line was P-Line fluorocarbon (15- to 20-pound).



Final Standings

1. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 20-14 (5) -- 19-12 (5) -- 18-9 (5) -- 59-3 (15) -- $27,534

2. Troy Stokes -- Brownstown, Mi -- 21-4 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 18-10 (5) -- 57-12 (15) -- $10,669

3. Wilson Burton -- Findlay, Oh -- 20-7 (5) -- 20-4 (5) -- 16-4 (5) -- 56-15 (15) -- $9,260

4. Josh Kolodzaike -- Toledo, Oh -- 19-10 (5) -- 18-3 (5) -- 18-8 (5) -- 56-5 (15) -- $6,883

5. Mike Trombly -- Belleville, Mi -- 18-4 (5) -- 17-4 (5) -- 19-3 (5) -- 54-11 (15) -- $6,195

6. Chase Serafin -- White Lake, Mi -- 16-13 (5) -- 19-14 (5) -- 17-10 (5) -- 54-5 (15) -- $5,507

7. Randy Ramsey -- Burlington, Mi -- 18-9 (5) -- 18-0 (5) -- 15-7 (5) -- 52-0 (15) -- $4,818

8. Matt Becker -- Finleyville, Pa -- 14-12 (5) -- 18-0 (5) -- 16-7 (5) -- 49-3 (15) -- $4,130

9. Robert Lefere -- Jackson, Mi -- 15-9 (5) -- 18-2 (5) -- 15-3 (5) -- 48-14 (15) -- $3,442

10. Ryan Davidson -- Branchland, WV -- 15-8 (5) -- 18-4 (5) -- 6-8 (2) -- 40-4 (12) -- $2,753

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.

11. Steve York -- Bronson, Mi -- 16-12 (5) -- 15-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 32-1 (10) -- $2,581

12. Kevin Martin -- Crown City, Oh -- 16-7 (5) -- 15-5 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 31-12 (9) -- $2,409

13. Mark Peiser -- Pittsboro, In -- 16-11 (5) -- 15-0 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 31-11 (10) -- $2,065

14. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, On -- 15-6 (5) -- 16-1 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 31-7 (10) -- $2,065

15. Tom Beale -- St Clair Shores, Mi -- 18-13 (5) -- 12-1 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 30-14 (9) -- $2,065

16. Rick Taylor -- West Olive, Mi -- 15-12 (5) -- 14-11 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 30-7 (9) -- $2,146

17. Pat Upthagrove -- Monroe, Mi -- 17-1 (5) -- 13-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 30-3 (10) -- $2,065

18. Chris Flint -- Arab, Al -- 13-12 (5) -- 16-5 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 30-1 (10) -- $2,065

19. Jim Vitaro -- Wooster, Oh -- 19-2 (5) -- 10-2 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 29-4 (8) -- $2,065

20. Mark Flick -- Delton, Mi -- 17-3 (5) -- 12-0 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 29-3 (9) -- $2,065

21. Cody Salzmann -- Clarkston, Mi -- 13-3 (5) -- 15-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 28-10 (10) -- $1,893

22. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, Mi -- 13-7 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 28-4 (10) -- $1,893

23. Dan Cornelius -- Glenmoore, Pa -- 17-1 (5) -- 10-1 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 27-2 (8)

24. Brandon Johnson -- Mount Sterling, Ky -- 13-6 (5) -- 13-9 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 26-15 (10) -- $200

25. Jason Root -- Fostoria, Oh -- 16-7 (5) -- 9-13 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 26-4 (8)

26. Angel Rosario -- Kalamazoo, Mi -- 9-1 (2) -- 16-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-8 (7)

27. Tommy Robinson -- Westland, Mi -- 11-12 (5) -- 13-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-3 (10)

28. Dan Mittlestat -- Woodhaven, Mi -- 20-9 (5) -- 4-9 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-2 (7)

29. Bret Loomis -- Groveland, NY -- 14-4 (5) -- 10-12 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 25-0 (8)

30. Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, De -- 10-12 (4) -- 13-14 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-10 (9)

31. Cody Kelley -- Portage, Mi -- 11-9 (5) -- 12-14 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-7 (9)

32. Lee Rogers -- Newton, NJ -- 11-12 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-7 (10)

33. Matthew Kiefer -- Fort Wayne, In -- 18-1 (5) -- 6-5 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-6 (7) -- $81

34. Jason Elliott -- Warsaw, In -- 14-1 (5) -- 10-0 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 24-1 (8)

35. Jacob Bigelow -- Cecil, Wi -- 15-7 (5) -- 7-6 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-13 (8)

36. Chad Brousseau -- Colchester, Vt -- 13-6 (5) -- 9-1 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-7 (9)

37. Donald Tripoli -- Webster, NY -- 12-5 (5) -- 9-15 (4) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-4 (9)

38. Justin Hicks -- Roanoke, Va -- 14-15 (5) -- 7-2 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 22-1 (8)

39. Joe Bauer -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 15-1 (4) -- 6-13 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 21-14 (6)

40. Mike Oberski -- Ann Arbor, Mi -- 13-1 (5) -- 7-3 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 20-4 (7)

41. Tim Wilson -- Marion, In -- 15-8 (5) -- 3-13 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 19-5 (7)

42. Beau Bickford -- Findlay, Oh -- 12-8 (4) -- 6-2 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 18-10 (6)

43. Tony Mitchell -- Plainwell, Mi -- 12-1 (5) -- 5-12 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-13 (7)

44. John Hauserman -- Towson, Md -- 7-13 (3) -- 9-15 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-12 (6)

45. Heath Wagner -- Angola, In -- 17-2 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 17-2 (5)

46. Scott Cooke -- Marengo, Oh -- 11-6 (4) -- 4-13 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 16-3 (6)

47. Darryl Esterly -- Fleetwood, Pa -- 2-13 (1) -- 12-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-12 (6)

48. Buck Mallory -- Lawton, Mi -- 2-12 (1) -- 12-7 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 15-3 (6)

49. Brett Haake -- Shorewood, Il -- 13-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-15 (5)

50. Alex Redwine -- Cincinnati, Oh -- 11-8 (4) -- 2-7 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 13-15 (5)

51. Gary Greenwood -- Irwin, Pa -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-15 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-15 (5)

52. Chris King -- South Amherst, Oh -- 9-4 (3) -- 3-3 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-7 (4)

53. Leo Reiter -- Greenup, Il -- 5-6 (3) -- 7-1 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-7 (6)

54. Cliff Blackford -- Addison, Mi -- 5-11 (2) -- 6-12 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 12-7 (4)

55. Dylan Drephal -- Black Creek, Wi -- 7-8 (3) -- 4-6 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-14 (4)

56. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, Pa -- 8-3 (3) -- 3-6 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 11-9 (4) -- $200

57. Jonathan Fulton -- Ray, Oh -- 4-3 (2) -- 6-12 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-15 (4)

58. Curt McGuire -- Buchanan, Tn -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-7 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-7 (3)

59. Tim Sprouse -- Clarksville, Tn -- 5-14 (2) -- 4-9 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-7 (4)

60. Ron Johnson -- Chandler, Az -- 2-10 (1) -- 7-11 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-5 (3)

61. Mandel Pettus -- Rocky Point, NY -- 10-0 (5) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 10-0 (5)

62. Matt Elkins -- Spencerville, Oh -- 8-7 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-7 (3)

63. Joe Lucarelli -- Center Harbor, Nh -- 8-6 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-6 (3)

64. Shane Hatch -- Owlshead, Me -- 5-14 (2) -- 2-6 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 8-4 (3)

65. Dick Parker -- Lorain, Oh -- 7-6 (3) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-6 (3)

66. John Zubkoff -- Monroe, Mi -- 7-2 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 7-2 (2)

67. David Kranz -- Woodstock, Il -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-8 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-8 (2)

68. Jonathan Dietz -- Corry, Pa -- 4-5 (2) -- 2-0 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 6-5 (3)

69. Drew Six -- Clinton, Oh -- 5-14 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 5-14 (2)

70. John Watts -- Flushing, Mi -- 4-12 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-12 (2)

71. Jason Kervin -- Raymond, Me -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-11 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-11 (2)

72. Steve Gilland -- Mineral City, Oh -- 4-10 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-10 (2) -- $500

73. Hugh Cosculluela -- The Woodlands, Tx -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-4 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-4 (1)

74. Sam Caron -- Pleasant Lake, Mi -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-3 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-3 (1)

75. Robert Grosse -- Thornville, Oh -- 4-2 (2) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-2 (2)

76. Neal Ramsey -- Harrison, Oh -- 1-13 (1) -- 2-3 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 4-0 (2)

77. Craig Saylor -- Oak Hill, Oh -- 1-15 (1) -- 1-15 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 3-14 (2)

78. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Oh -- 0-0 (0) -- 3-10 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 3-10 (1)

79. Shannon Shuler -- Superior Township, Mi -- 3-10 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 3-10 (1)

80. Lucas Bogosian -- Harrington Park, NJ -- 0-0 (0) -- 2-11 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 2-11 (1)

81. Drew Sanford -- Springfield, Mo -- 2-10 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 2-10 (1)

82. Kirk Sullivan -- Minden, On -- 2-10 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 2-10 (1)

83. Harold Marietta -- Hunker, Pa -- 2-1 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 2-1 (1)

84. Ronald Martinez Jr. -- Walton Hills, Oh -- 1-15 (1) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 1-15 (1)

Shawn O'Malley -- Fogelsville, Pa -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0)

Jacob Jarrell -- Crown City, Oh -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0)

Jamie Jacobus -- Johnstown, Oh -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0) -- 0-0 (0)