Queen’s quiet start

Rookie of the Year leader KJ Queen has had a slow start on Day 1 of the Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

The 24-year-old just boated his first keeper moments ago — a small keeper that was entered as a one-pound fish on BassTrakk.

Believe it or not, Queen has fished on the St. Lawrence River a couple of times in the last two years. The North Carolina pro first fished the river in 2019 for the Carhartt College Series event, where he finished up in 21st. The event was in the middle of June, which had the majority of the fish spawning.

“It was crazy,” Queen said. “I had 234 fish marked on bed before that tournament.”

The Elite Series rookie is fishing the same general area that he fished back in 2019, but approaching it from a different angle.

“I know they’re still in here,” he said when asked if he’s fishing some of the same areas.

On what most would consider the biggest day of his young career, Queen seems calm and collected early on Day 1 despite the slow start.