The first day of the much-anticipated Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels has been canceled because of rough-water conditions.
B.A.S.S. Tournament Director Trip Weldon made the call shortly after returning from a test drive to the edge of Cumberland Bay on Lake Champlain, where the first-round takeoff was to have taken place.
A sustained south wind drove waves as high as 4 feet, he estimated.
In a statement to anglers and others, he said, “Day 1 is canceled due to rough seas running north and south. I took a ride out into the lake, and we made a decision it is not safe to go today.”
While weather forecasts called for moderate winds today, gusts were driving waves dangerously high. Elite angler Hank Cherry lobbied Weldon to cancel fishing for the day. Others who are staying in lakeside accommodations, as Cherry is, supported the decision.
Weldon noted that Elite Series rules call for the full field of 109 anglers to compete on Friday and Saturday, and the final round will include the Top 51 competitors on Sunday.
The Elite at Lake Champlain is the eighth of nine regular-season tournaments in the Elite Series. At stake is $100,000 for the winner and valuable Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
Takeoff Friday, weather permitting, will be at the Plattsburgh City Marina at 6:15 a.m. ET.
The event is hosted by the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and the City of Plattsburgh.
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Nitro Boats, Mercury, Minn Kota, Power-Pole, Shell Rotella, Skeeter Boats
2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, T-H Marine, Shimano, Advance Auto Parts, Livingston Lures, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, Bassmaster website, television show (The Bassmasters), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
By: JamieDay Matthews
