There are seven anglers fishing today who are among the top 11 in the Toyota Angler of the Year standings. Determining the 2019 AOY winner might not be done until the final day of the AOY Championship on Lake St. Clair, but great finishes by two anglers have taken them off the bubble and solidified their hopes to reach next year’s Bassmaster Classic.
Jeff Gustafson and David Mullins both came into the SiteOne Elite on Cayuga Lake only about 30 points inside the cut to qualify for the 50th Classic on Lake Guntersville next March. Their top 10 finishes have certainly made things more comfortable before next month’s rescheduled Elite finale on Fort Gibson Lake.
Gustafson, a newcomer to the Elites, has jumped from 36th place to 32nd in the season-long point standings, but he’s now 75 points from the current cut line for the Classic, which is 42nd. He was only 29 points above the cut.
Mullins, who made only his third top 35 cut this year at Cayuga, has moved from 35th to 31st in the standings, 76 points above the cut line, which has him in line to qualify for his first Classic.