Meanwhile, on the other scoreboard

Have you seen the new features in BassTrakk? I’m referring to the multiple tabs across the top of the scoreboard that include real-time scores for Phoenix Big Bass, Catch Times and AOY. The latter tab is worth a look, considering what is unfolding right now on Lake Fork.

In the Bassmaster Angler of the Year lead is Seth Feider with 437 points and just behind him is Patrick Walters with 433 points. Now, you can even dial into how an angler is doing in a given tournament. So far, Feider has gained 96 points, with 100 points for Walters. Both anglers are battling it out at the top of the BassTrakk standings for Saturday.

What is so telling is that Feider and Chris Johnston, two “northern” anglers, are inside the Top 5 after five events, with two days remaining in this tournament.

Feider and Johnston have shed the expectations that they have the potential to be at their best and charge up the AOY scoreboard on the “northern run” of the two final events. They still can, but look at what they have already achieved in the southern events.

Those final two derbies are at Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River, where Johnston won in 2020. With two consecutive Alabama events before the two final events, they have more time to gain points, before going into familiar territory.

This proves anything can happen, regardless of how we sometimes profile guys based on where they are from.