With two events remaining in the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Jay Prezkurat of Stevens Point, Wis., is leading the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

July 28, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., is back in first place in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race. It’s where he’s been for five of the seven Elite Series tournaments this season. But Prezekurat entered the recent Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River in third place after posting finishes of 74th at Lake Fork and 66th at Pickwick Lake.

Przekurat, who turned 23 in June, was expected to thrive when the Elite Series made its annual end-of-season Northern Swing to fisheries dominated by smallmouth bass. However, no one expected him to win at the St. Lawrence River, where he’d never before competed, even if smallmouth bass were the dominant species.

And what did Przekurat do? He became the youngest angler to ever win an Elite Series tournament and became the first to win with over 100 pounds in an Elite Series tournament. Przekurat’s winning weight of 102 pounds, 9 ounces, over four days was thus remarkable in many ways.

With only two tournaments left, including a finale at the Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wis., Przekurat is back in the favorite’s position for the ROY title.

However, it would be unwise to overlook Jacob Foutz, the Charleston, Tenn., resident who grew up fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake Erie. He showed his strength on smallmouth waters by taking the lead on Day 1 at the St. Lawrence River before ultimately finishing 27th. Foutz had a rough start to his rookie year, finishing 84th, 62nd and 55th in the first three Elite events. He has since posted finishes of third at Chickamauga Lake, 28th at Lake Fork, fourth at Pickwick Lake and 27th at St. Lawrence. Foutz trails Przekurat by only 11 points after seven events.

The ROY standings were shaken up at the St. Lawrence when previous leader, Joseph Webster of Hamilton, Ala., finished 88th and fell to fourth place. Cody Huff of Ava, Mo., moved up to third place, his highest spot in the standings this season.

The strength of the 10-angler 2022 rookie class stood out, especially on Day 1 at the St. Lawrence when Foutz was in first place with 27-15 with Przekurat right behind in second with 26-13.

The Elite Series field takes to the water again August 18-21 at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe in South Dakota.