Date: Nov. 8, 2022
Venue: Lake T, a small flatland reservoir
Water: 62 degrees, stained
Weather: Cloudy to sunny, calm, high of 75 degrees
Pro: Pat Schlapper, 39, Eleva, Wis. Schlapper double-qualified for the 2021 Elites by winning the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and finishing third in the Eastern Opens Angler of the Year race in 2020. He’s qualified for two Classics.
Boat: Skeeter FXR21 with 250-horsepower Yamaha outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird and Garmin electronics and twin Power-Pole shallow-water anchors
WHEN B.A.S.S. FOUNDER Ray Scott organized the first “national” bass tournament at Beaver Lake, Arkansas, back in 1967, he invited guys he considered to be the best bass anglers in the country to compete. A total of 106 fishermen showed up. I’ve never seen Scott’s invite list, but I’d wager my favorite crankbait that at least 105 of those dudes hailed from the South. Ignoring Yankee bass anglers might seem like a glaring oversight on Scott’s part, but this was the 1960s, when all the hot bass lakes were located in Dixie … not to mention 99% of the companies that made bass lures, bass tackle and bass boats.
Fast-forward to 2023. Surprise! Some of the hottest sticks on the Elite Series are Yankees from the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin’s Pat Schlapper. “Yep, believe it or not, we actually do have awesome bass fishing up in Wisconsin!” the amiable Schlapper enthuses. “Monster smallies? Yep, we got ’em! Big largemouth? You betcha! And the best beer — my buddies
