Feider Wraps Up AOY As Schultz Continues To Pace

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., wrapped his arms around a lifelong dream as he kissed the Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophy on day 2 of the Elite Series regular-season finale at the St. Lawrence River.

The seventh-year Elite Series pro currently sits in 8th place with a two-day total of 42-03, so he’ll be competing for at least one more day. More importantly, though, his points total of 792 gave him enough of a cushion to secure the coveted AOY title no matter how he finishes the tournament.

“It’s a milestone; it’s a (lifetime of) work,” Feider said. “Ever since I was a little kid, every minute fishing was to get to this, it feels amazing.

“It feels like the weight of the world is off my shoulders now that it’s all over. It’s been a stressful last couple of months.”

While Feider can relax and make plans to spend the $100,000 prize that comes with the AOY title, there is still much to be decided this week.

Leading the event, Gainesville, Fla., pro Bernie Schultz overcame a painful loss Friday to maintain the top spot with a two-day total of 47-14. Schultz added 22-09 to the 25-5 he weighed on day 1.

How painful? Put it this way: Schultz is one of the coolest heads on the water, but when Bassmaster LIVE showed a big fish that Schultz estimated at 5 pounds come unbuttoned right at the boat, the seasoned pro experienced an understandable moment of obvious exasperation.

Returning to the same 250-yard flat near Chippewa Bay where he caught his day-1 limit, Schultz found the fish scattered over various sections of broken bottom comprising rock, gravel, sand and grass clumps.

“The composition changes depending on what part of the flat you’re on,” Schultz said. “There’s a secondary channel edge that the flat drops into, and I think that’s what’s bringing the fish to it. They have that deep-water access nearby.”

Schultz said he is catching fish in 8 feet of water, although he’s caught them in 5 or less when he’s fished this spot in previous years. Presuming this to be a post-spawn positioning preference, Schultz said he is mostly fishing for unseen fish.

“They prefer open areas,” he said. “They like that other stuff around them, but they like to be on clean bottom.”

Schultz tried to capitalize on the morning’s dim, overcast conditions with a Rapala X-Rap Pop, but to no avail. He ended up catching his fish on a 1/4-ounce VMC Ned Head jig with a 3-inch Yamamoto Senko in the green-pumpkin/watermelon laminate color.

“I actually use the 4-inch Senko and I cut an inch off the end,” he said. “I do that because the 4-inch Senko has a wider diameter and it fits better against that jighead. It’s a plumper bait and the fish seem to like that look.”

On Thursday, Schultz led the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings with a 6-02. On Friday, he had two that went 5-01 each.

Chris Johnston, of Peterborough, Ontario, is in 2nd place with 46-05. Having tied his older brother Cory for 2nd on day 1, he added 22-14 to Thursday’s bag of 23-07.

Johnston, who became the first Canadian to win an Elite title at last year’s St. Lawrence River event, spent the majority of his day in Lake Ontario, not far from the mouth of the river. He hit about 10 different spots and caught his fish in 5 to 30 feet of water.

“It was nice today; it laid down and I could move around, which was nice,” Johnston said of the day’s calm conditions. “I hit a couple of new spots, and one of them ended up having quite a few fish on it.”

Johnston caught his bass on a mix of reaction and finesse baits. His biggest fish of the day was a 5 1/4-pounder.

Hailing from Cavan, Ontario, Cory Johnston bolstered his first-round effort of 23-07 with Friday’s limit of 22-02 for a 3rd-place total of 45-09. Targeting a mix of main-river rock reefs and isolated boulders, he caught his fish on a dropshot.

Johnston said he fished multiple spots throughout a 90-mile stretch from the takeoff area to Chaumont Bay outside the mouth of the St. Lawrence.

“This place is incredible; I say that every time we get to fish here,” Johnston said. “I left some fish out there for tomorrow and I found a few new ones.

“I ran a lot of the same stuff I ran yesterday and ran some new stuff and found some new groups of fish.”

Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., captured the day-2 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-05.

Chris Johnston is in 2nd place in the AOY standings with 729 points. Former AOY (2017) Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is in 3rd with 702 points, followed by Walters with 668 and Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with 667.

Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., leads the Rookie of the Year standings with 552 points.

The Top 45 remaining anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET from Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m.

Day 2 Standings

1. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 47-14 -- 100 -- $1,000
Day 1: 5, 25-05 -- Day 2: 5, 22-09

2. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 46-05 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 23-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14

3. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 10, 45-09 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 23-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-02

4. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 44-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 23-03

5. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 10, 44-04 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 21-06 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14

6. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 42-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 21-15

7. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 42-06 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 21-05

8. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 42-03 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 22-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03

9. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 41-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 21-08

10. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 41-01 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 22-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15

11. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 40-13 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14

12. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 40-03 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 20-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08

13. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 39-14 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 21-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-08

14. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 39-02 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-10

15. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 38-14 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02

16. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 38-06 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06

17. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 10, 38-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-01

18. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 38-04 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-13

19. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 38-03 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-08

20. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 38-03 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14

21. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 10, 38-00 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15

22. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 10, 37-09 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-00

23. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 10, 37-04 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10

24. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 10, 37-01 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 19-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

25. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 36-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11

26. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 36-13 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06

27. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 10, 36-11 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09

28. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 36-09 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05

29. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 36-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03

30. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 36-06 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01

31. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 35-14 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-09

32. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 35-13 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10

33. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 10, 35-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03

34. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 10, 35-07 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01

35. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 10, 35-07 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02

36. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 35-05 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09

37. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 35-04 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 19-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

38. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 10, 34-15 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12

39. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 34-15 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02

40. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 10, 34-13 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06

41. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 10, 34-10 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12

42. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 34-05 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

43. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 34-03 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-10

44. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 10, 33-13 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04

45. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 33-04 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13

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

46. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 33-03 -- 55 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 17-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

47. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 10, 33-01 -- 54 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

48. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 9, 32-14 -- 53 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 22-06

49. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 10, 32-13 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15

50. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 32-13 -- 51 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01

51. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 32-12 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-08

52. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 10, 32-12 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05

53. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 32-11 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10

54. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 10, 32-11 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07

55. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 32-10 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00

56. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 32-05 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15

57. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 32-02 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02

58. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10, 32-01 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04

59. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 10, 31-14 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03

60. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 31-11 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

61. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 10, 31-10 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15

62. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 10, 31-08 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

63. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 31-06 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

64. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 31-05 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04

65. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 10, 30-09 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

66. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 30-08 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

67. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 10, 30-06 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04

68. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 30-05 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07

69. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 30-05 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06

70. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 10, 30-04 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10

71. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 30-01 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

72. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 10, 29-14 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11

73. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 10, 29-14 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12

74. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 29-11 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15

75. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 29-10 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

76. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 9, 29-05 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 4, 13-14

77. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 8, 29-04 -- 24 -- $1,000
Day 1: 3, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03

78. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 10, 29-02 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

79. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 10, 29-01 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-03

80. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 28-15 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01

81. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 10, 28-10 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

82. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 28-09 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07

83. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 10, 28-08 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15

84. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 28-00 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

85. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 27-13 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15

86. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 27-07 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10

87. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 27-00 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

88. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 26-10 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

89. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 8, 23-03 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 3, 05-14

90. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 9, 21-01 -- 11
Day 1: 4, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

91. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 7, 20-03 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 2, 04-12

92. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 13-10 -- 9
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

93. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 5, 12-15 -- 8
Day 1: 3, 06-15 -- Day 2: 2, 06-00

94. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 6, 11-03 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 02-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00