Adjustments keep Schlapper atop Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
May 16, 2025
Adjustments keep Schlapper atop Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
ORANGE, Texas — Pat Schlapper knew he had to return to the scene of his first-round success, but knowing when and how to adjust enabled him to maintain his lead on Day 2 of the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at the Sabine River.
Schlapper took the top spot on Day 1 with a limit of 12 pounds, 2 ounces. Day 2 was less generous and the Progressive Elite Series pro from Eleva, Wis., added a smaller limit that went 8-7. With a two-day total of 20-9, Schlapper heads into Semifinal Saturday 4 ounces ahead of Cooper Gallant.
“It was a tougher day, but I got one good quality bite and five other keeper bites that I landed,” Schlapper said. “The Sabine River is a tough playing field, but it’s kinda cool because you get a couple of those quality bites and that’s what can make your whole tournament.
“It’s easy to have really bad tournament, but it’s also easy to have a good tournament if you get a couple of those good bites.”
Day 1 saw Schlapper spend his entire day fishing a bridge near the Taylor Slough area. He gave that spot first crack again today, but ended up making a few relocations.
“I started there and I caught a small keeper and then I caught a good one and missed a couple more,” Schlapper said. “Then I left, went and flipped a stretch, and caught a keeper. Then, I came back to the bridge and once I switched baits, I caught two keepers immediately.
“After I caught those two, I left the bridge again. I had a limit and I need it for tomorrow. The bridge is definitely running out of fish but I know there are still some more there.”
Along with his location changes, Schlapper also adjusted his bait presentations. Day 1 saw him catch all of his fish on a 3/8-ounce Do-it Molds compact finesse jig with a Big Bite Baits chunk trailer.
Schlapper tried the jig again on Day 2, but the response was less enthusiastic.
“I fished my normal stuff and they didn’t touch it,” Schlapper said.
When he realized his jig was not happening, Schlapper switched to a finesse presentation and a Texas-rigged creature bait.
Pondering his Day 3 options, Schlapper said he’ll definitely give his bridge another chance to produce, but he’ll likely precede that with a morning stop.
“In practice, I had been getting a good morning bite in other areas, but I haven’t fished them (during the tournament) because I wanted to get right up to that bridge,” Schlapper said. “Now, I’m not super worried about anyone else going there; I think it’s been established. No one else has fished there.
“I’m going to run a couple of things in the morning on the way up and seen if I can pick off a few. Then I’m going to go up to the bridge and see what’s left.”
Despite what he believes is a dwindling bridge opportunity, Schlapper’s optimistic about his overall chances.
“I still have a shot at it; I need to make a little more magic happen,” Schlapper said. “We’re in the game and that’s all you can ask for after two days here.”
Gallant, who lives in Bowmanville, Ontario has turned in the most consistent performance thus far. After placing seventh on Day 1 with 10-2, Gallant added 10-3 on Day 2 and rose to second place with 20-5.
Anchoring his second-round limit with a 4-7, Gallant said his second day’s success came as a pleasant surprise.
“It’s funny, this morning I was saying, I’ve never been sitting in the Top 10 going into Day 2 thinking: ‘Hopefully, I catch a bass,’” Gallant said. “In the morning, I was like, ‘I need 4 pounds; I need to make the cut.’
“To catch 4 pounds out here is not easy, but as the day goes on, I’m like, ‘Holy smokes, I might be on the winning deal, I might be in the winning area. Your mindset goes from making Day 3 to, I want to try and win this thing.’”
Gallant caught all of his fish flipping shallow cover. He’s alternating between a 3/8-ounce hand-tied flipping jig and a 3/8-ounce Outkast Tackle Cage Feider jig, both with X Zone Lures Adrenaline Craw Jr. trailers.
“I feel like every day I’m figuring out more and more and I’m getting more confident in my area and expanding on it,” Gallant said. “Those big bites go a long way in this tournament. If you can figure out how to get one of those big bites a day, that’s probably what’s going to win this tournament.”
Kyoya Fujita of Yamanishi, Japan is in third place with 19-11. A Day 1 limit of 8-8 put him in a three-way tie for 18th place, but Fujita stepped up his performance on Day 2 and added 11-3.
Known for his technological prowess, Fujita made an important clarification: “I didn’t use forward facing sonar today. It was all power fishing.”
Targeting mostly reeds in 1-2 feet of water, Fujita caught his fish by flipping Texas-rigged plastics. With big bites few and far between, he found that fishing fast and covering water was the key to running into the quality fish.
“Speed (was important),” Fujita said. “More casts, more casts, more casts. I caught many little fish, but maybe seven or eight keepers.”
John Crews of Salem, Va., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 4-14.
Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 544 points. Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada is in second with 505, followed by Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill. with 504, Kyoya Fujita of Yamanashi, Japan with 494, and Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala. with 479.
Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., leads the Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year standings with 435 points.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at City of Orange Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River will be available on FS1 on Days 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET before heading over to Bassmaster.com in the afternoon.
The MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River is being hosted by the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
-30-
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2025 MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 5/15-5/18
Sabine River , Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 20-09 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 08-07
2. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 20-05 103
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-03
3. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 19-11 102
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-03
4. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 18-00 101 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 12-09
5. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 17-03 100
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 05-14
6. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 10 17-03 99
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-15
7. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 9 17-03 98
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 07-15
8. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 17-01 97
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 11-09
9. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 17-00 96
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 07-14
10. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 16-15 95
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 10-02
11. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 9 16-15 94
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 5 09-08
12. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 16-14 93
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-15
13. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 16-10 92
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 07-05
14. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 16-10 91
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 07-08
15. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 9 16-07 90
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 05-06
16. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 16-07 89
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-07
17. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 16-05 88
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 07-05
18. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 16-03 87
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 08-09
19. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 16-03 86
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-01
20. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 16-02 85
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-03
21. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 9 16-01 84
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 4 05-12
22. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 16-01 83
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 07-09
23. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 16-00 82
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 08-04
24. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 15-15 81
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 07-09
25. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 9 15-14 80
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 05-02
26. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 15-10 79
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 07-03
27. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 15-10 78
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 08-02
28. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 15-01 77
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-04
29. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 14-11 76
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 07-00
30. Bryan New Leesville, SC 9 14-09 75
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 4 08-12
31. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 14-09 74
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
32. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 14-09 73
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 07-10
33. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 14-08 72
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 07-08
34. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 07-02
35. John Cox Debary, FL 10 14-06 70
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 08-02
36. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 14-04 69
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 05-12
37. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 9 14-03 68
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 07-06
38. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 14-02 67
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 08-02
39. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 14-01 66
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 06-01
40. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 13-15 65
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 06-14
41. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 13-14 64
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
42. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 13-13 63
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 06-01
43. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 9 13-12 62
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 07-13
44. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 13-12 61
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 06-15
45. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 13-06 60
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 05-12
46. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 8 13-05 59
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 05-02
47. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 9 13-01 58
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 4 05-08
48. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 7 13-00 57
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 2 02-13
49. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 13-00 56
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 06-12
50. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 9 12-14 55
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 05-13
51. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 12-12 54
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 07-01
52. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 8 12-11 53
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 3 05-07
53. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 12-09 52
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 04-13
54. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 8 12-08 51
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 5 09-03
55. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 12-07 50
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 05-07
56. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 12-07 49
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 05-10
57. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 9 12-05 48
Day 1: 4 05-07 Day 2: 5 06-14
58. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 8 12-04 47
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 5 07-12
59. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 12-03 46
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 05-10
60. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 9 12-01 45
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 4 05-05
61. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 7 12-00 44
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 4 05-05
62. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 11-15 43
Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 5 06-03
63. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 8 11-14 42
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 3 03-03
64. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 11-13 41
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 04-13
65. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 8 11-11 40
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 3 04-00
66. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 9 11-06 39
Day 1: 4 04-14 Day 2: 5 06-08
67. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 8 11-05 38
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 5 07-03
68. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 8 11-05 37
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 3 04-14
69. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 7 11-02 36
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 2 02-01
70. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 11-01 35
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 06-13
71. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 8 10-15 34
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-15
72. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 7 10-11 33
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 2 01-13
73. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 8 10-10 32
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-09
74. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 10-06 31
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 2 02-03
75. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 9 10-06 30
Day 1: 4 05-00 Day 2: 5 05-06
76. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 8 10-05 29
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 3 03-11
77. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 7 10-04 28
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 2 02-12
78. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 9 10-04 27
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 4 05-04
79. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 7 10-02 26
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 4 05-14
80. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 8 10-02 25
Day 1: 4 04-06 Day 2: 4 05-12
81. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 6 10-01 24
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 01-03
82. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 7 10-00 23
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 2 02-08
83. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 8 09-09 22
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 3 03-08
84. John Garrett Union City, TN 7 09-06 21
Day 1: 4 05-04 Day 2: 3 04-02
85. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 6 09-05 20
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 5 07-10
86. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 7 09-03 19
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 5 06-08
87. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 7 09-00 18
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 5 06-06
88. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 09-00 17
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 3 04-15
89. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 7 08-15 16
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 5 05-15
90. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 6 08-05 15
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 06-09
91. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 7 08-01 14
Day 1: 3 03-00 Day 2: 4 05-01
92. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 07-04 13
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 3 04-00
93. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 6 07-00 12
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 3 03-09
94. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 06-11 11
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 4 05-08
95. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 4 06-07 10
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 2 01-10
96. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 4 06-00 9
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 04-07
97. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 4 05-15 8
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 2 03-02
98. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 05-12 7
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 1 01-05
99. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 05-06 6
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 2 02-04
100. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 05-02 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 05-02
101. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 4 05-02 4
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 1 01-00
102. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 3 04-08 3
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 02-09
——————————
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 04-05 $1,000.00
2 John Crews Jr Salem, VA 04-14 $1,000.00
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 434 664-15
2 62 427 623-01
——————————
131 861 1288-00
