ESCANABA, Mich. — Bassmaster Elite Series tournament officials postponed competition in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship for an unprecedented third consecutive day today because of unsafe boating conditions.
The third day of competition was postponed Sunday because of steady north winds gusting to 20 miles per hour which resulted in small craft advisories for the Escanaba area of Lake Michigan.
“Winds through the north were up to 25 mph and higher,” said Trip Weldon, B.A.S.S. tournament director. “It's especially rough here at the takeoff location.”
The Top 50 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers are competing this week on Big Bay de Noc and Little Bay de Noc in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the coveted title of Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year and a purse of $900,000.
Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., remains the frontrunner for the Angler of the Year title, but he’s being chased by Todd Faircloth of Texas and Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala. Also at stake are berths in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic to be held on Lake Hartwell out of Greenville, S.C.
Competition is set to resume Monday, Sept. 21 as the final day of the Toyota AOY Championship. Anglers will takeoff from Ludington Park at 7:30 a.m. and weigh in at the same location at 4 p.m.