To catch fish, you have to know where they are. But looking past that obvious truth, knowing where they are often requires an understanding of where they’re going.
Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Pat Schlapper said that principle will factor keenly into the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River.
“It’s the time of year when mornings are starting to get cool and fish are probably going to transition into fall stuff,” Schlapper said. “In my opinion, it’s probably going to be at the early stages of (the transition).
“I think you’ll see the main channel play. I think you’ll see backwaters play. A little bit of everything will be going on. I think it should be a good tournament.”
As Schlapper explained, the fall transition finds fish heading toward the sites that they’ll use to ride out winter’s harshness. The fish move gradually, but steadily, and they do their best to fill their bellies along that course.
“Both smallmouth and largemouth want to feed, but they’ll typically set up on different places depending on where they’re moving to,” Schlapper said. “In certain areas, you will catch a mix of fish off a spot; or one day, it’ll be smallmouth on a spot, and the next day, it’ll be largemouth.
“That happened the last time we were at La Crosse, and that’s all about those fish migrating. You could definitely catch both on the same type of (main-river) stuff, but you’re not gonna go find a school of smallmouth way in a backwater on a patch of duckweed.”
Competition days will be August 21-24 with daily takeoffs from the Loggers Baseball Stadium at Copeland Park at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 3 p.m.
The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in, and the Top 10 anglers after the third competition day will compete on Championship Sunday.
The winner earns the $100,000 first-place prize and a coveted blue trophy.
The Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River is free and open to the public.
Live coverage of the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River will be available on Bassmaster.com Thursday and Friday beginning at 8 a.m. ET and running until 3 p.m. Roku will have coverage on Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Noon to 3 p.m. Coverage on Saturday will be available on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. before moving to Bassmaster.com from Noon to 3 p.m. Championship Sunday coverage can be found on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with afternoon action to follow on Bassmaster.com.
The Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River is being hosted by Explore La Crosse.
WHO: The tournament pits the top bass anglers in the world, including Elva, Wis., pro Pat Schlapper and Plover, Wis., pro Jay Przekurat, against big bass and one another as they battle for the coveted championship trophy, $100,000 first-place prize and a total purse of more than $455,000.
WHERE: Loggers Stadium, 1130 Copeland Park Dr., La Crosse, WI 54603
RESOURCES: B.A.S.S. has a media boat and media boat driver available in two-hour increments each day of the tournament, launching at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. Please email mpascal@bassmaster.com to request a spot.
Angler interviews and photography/video are available to help preview the tournament. Daily results, leader photos and video clips are available upon request at Bassmastermedia.com.
Backstage access, preferred seating and a designated angler interview area will be available at the venue.
The final BassmastHER workshop of the season will occur on Saturday, Aug. 23 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Loggers Baseball Stadium. This event gives females the opportunity to network with a community of anglers to develop skill sets and confidence on and off the water.
WHEN:
Thursday & Friday, Aug. 21-22
7:00 a.m. CT The full field of anglers will launch from Loggers Stadium
3:00 p.m. CT Official weigh-in takes place at Loggers Stadium. Coverage on Bassmaster.com
Saturday, Aug. 23
7:00 a.m. CT The Top 50 anglers launch for Semifinal Saturday
9:30 a.m. CT BassmastHER workshop begins at Loggers Stadium
Noon CT Bassmaster Elite Series Outdoors Expo opens. It includes:
Fun for everyone with a kids’ corner, food trucks and merchandise vendors.
Fishing’s BIGGEST brands, including Pro-Guide Batteries, Yokohama Tire, the Toyota experience, Power-Pole, Garmin & Yamaha.
Free demo boat rides from Nitro/Ranger/Mercury & Skeeter/Yamaha.
Military & First Responder Appreciation Day: Show military or first responder ID to a staff person n the Bassmaster merchandise booth for a free hat. (Limited to the first 100 people.)
3:00 p.m. CT Official weigh-in takes place at Loggers Stadium. Coverage on Bassmaster.com
Sunday, Aug. 24
7:00 a.m. CT The Top 10 anglers launch for Championship Sunday from Loggers Stadium
Noon CT Bassmaster Outdoors Expo opens
B.A.S.S. Member Appreciation Day: Show your B.A.S.S. member card to the Bassmaster DJ and get a free Bassmaster hat! (Limited to the first 100 people.)
3:00 p.m. CT Championship Sunday official weigh-in. Coverage on Bassmaster.com
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