Schlapper’s solitude delivers Day 1 lead in Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River

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ORANGE, Texas — Pat Schlapper had the right tool for the job and that homemade bait played a key role in delivering a 12-pound, 2-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at the Sabine River.

On a day that saw 69 of 102 competitors fill their 5-bass limit, the pro from Eleva, Wis., heads into Day 2 with a 13-ounce lead over Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock.

The Sabine holds a good population of fish, but the average size is significantly less than what anglers found during last week’s Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork. Aware of the fish he’d be targeting, and the shallow cover that typically dominates the Sabine action, Schlapper made a batch of jigs specifically for this event.

“I caught most of my fish on a little Do-it Molds compact finesse jig that I make myself and a Big Bite Baits chunk trailer,” Schlapper said. “It’s a 3/8-ounce jig, but it has a really short shank 2/0 hook. It’s really compact and I tied it with fine cut skirt material so it’s really lifelike.

“The jig is black and blue with a sapphire blue trailer. They like sapphire blue down here; I learned that the first year I fished here. The (entire bait) is not even 3 inches long. I made it specifically for this tournament.”

Schlapper said he made an hour run and caught an early limit. He then moved to his main area and caught a cluster of quality fish, including his biggest — a 4-5.

“There were other people that I think were in that area in practice, but I went there late yesterday and had a couple good bites,” Schlapper said. “I almost didn’t run there right away because I was boat 49 and I thought someone would be there, but nobody was anywhere close.

“Once the sun came up, I caught four good ones in an hour span and lost a couple other nice ones.”

Schlapper said he ran to the back of his area and targeted what he described as the last prominent habitat feature. With few options, the fish seem to be concentrated.

“I know there’s a good amount of fish there because I caught some other ones and I kinda figured out the sweet spot,” Schlapper said. “I just don’t think it’ll replenish. I think it just has resident fish.

“I know there are some other nice ones because the couple good ones I caught in practice, I didn’t catch today and I had another nice one that I shook off in practice.”

Sizing up his Day 2 outlook, Schlapper said: “Nobody was around me today, so hopefully, it stays like that tomorrow. I don’t know if I can catch what I caught today; any limit would be good.

“If I can get left alone in my area tomorrow, things could get ugly.”

Hailing from Benton, Ark. Blaylock is in second place with 11-5. Mentally prepared for a challenging event, Blaylock said he considered his 4-pounder a bonus.

“I was actually satisfied even before I caught that 4-pounder,” he said. “It wasn’t a good bag at that point, but when you have a tough practice, which most of us did, you know you’re looking for one key thing to put you over the top.”

Blaylock said he’s fishing one of the Sabine’s traditionally popular areas. He has plenty of company, but bouncing around and picking off the right bites was his formula for success.

“A big one late in the day is what puts you where you want to be,” Blaylock said of his afternoon kicker. “I don’t expect to catch another 4-pounder, but it’s possible. I saw some nice ones in practice in this area.

“A lot of guys didn’t catch any big ones; they caught a lot of keepers, but I know there are still some big ones to be caught. Who knows what’ll happen, if they’re moving up or moving out. We just have to put it together as we’re going the next couple of days.”

Blaylock fished a mix of reaction and slow baits. He attributes his big fish catch to slowing down and fishing more methodically.

“I had been moving pretty quickly and I had caught a lot of fish moving quickly, but with that particular bite came when I slowed down,” Blaylock said. “I felt like I had worked through an area that had some fish in it and I wan’t getting any bites.”

Taku Ito of Chiba, Japan is in third place with 11-1. Ito, who finished third in the 2021 Bassmaster Elite at the Sabine River, spent his day in a crowded area and had to keep moving to find fishable spots.

“It was a very tricky day, but I moved around and caught a couple good ones,” Ito said. “It was tough. I fished shallow cover, brushpiles, everything.

“At the Sabine River, current is always very important. Hopefully, tomorrow I’ll get big ones again.”

Schlapper is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 4-5.

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 565 points. Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., is in second with 489, followed by Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., with 489, Kyoya Fujita of Yamanashi, Japan with 479, and Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., with 466.

Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 418 points.

Friday’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 Bassmaster.com Days 1 and 2 starting at 8 a.m. ET and ending at 3 p.m. FS1 will carry the morning action on Days 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. 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 ShopsDakota 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.

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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

2025 MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 5/15-5/18
Sabine River , Orange  TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  12-02  104   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-02
2.  Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  11-05  103
Day 1: 5   11-05
3.  Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          5  11-01  102
Day 1: 5   11-01
4.  Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  10-12  101
Day 1: 5   10-12
5.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  10-05  100
Day 1: 5   10-05
6.  Ben Milliken           Omaha, NE                5  10-03   99
Day 1: 5   10-03
7.  Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  10-02   98
Day 1: 5   10-02
8.  Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  09-05   97
Day 1: 5   09-05
9.  Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  5  09-04   96
Day 1: 5   09-04
10. Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX           5  09-02   95
Day 1: 5   09-02
10. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  09-02   95
Day 1: 5   09-02
12. Chris Zaldain          Boyd, TX                 5  09-01   93
Day 1: 5   09-01
13. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  09-00   92
Day 1: 5   09-00
14. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  08-14   91
Day 1: 5   08-14
14. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  08-14   91
Day 1: 5   08-14
16. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  08-13   89
Day 1: 5   08-13
17. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  08-11   88
Day 1: 5   08-11
18. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  08-08   87
Day 1: 5   08-08
18. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  08-08   87
Day 1: 5   08-08
18. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       5  08-08   87
Day 1: 5   08-08
21. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  08-07   84
Day 1: 5   08-07
22. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  08-06   83
Day 1: 5   08-06
23. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  08-03   82
Day 1: 5   08-03
23. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  08-03   82
Day 1: 5   08-03
25. Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN        5  08-02   80
Day 1: 5   08-02
26. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  08-00   79
Day 1: 5   08-00
27. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  07-15   78
Day 1: 5   07-15
27. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  07-15   78
Day 1: 5   07-15
29. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  07-12   76
Day 1: 5   07-12
29. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  07-12   76
Day 1: 5   07-12
29. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  07-12   76
Day 1: 5   07-12
32. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  07-11   73
Day 1: 5   07-11
32. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL               5  07-11   73
Day 1: 5   07-11
34. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA  5  07-10   71
Day 1: 5   07-10
35. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  07-10   70
Day 1: 5   07-10
36. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  07-09   69
Day 1: 5   07-09
37. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  07-08   68
Day 1: 5   07-08
37. Seth Feider            Elko New Market, MN      5  07-08   68
Day 1: 5   07-08
37. Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD  5  07-08   68
Day 1: 5   07-08
40. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            4  07-07   65
Day 1: 4   07-07
41. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           5  07-06   64
Day 1: 5   07-06
42. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  07-04   63
Day 1: 5   07-04
42. Beau Browning          Hot Springs National Pa  5  07-04   63
Day 1: 5   07-04
44. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  07-01   61
Day 1: 5   07-01
45. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  07-01   60
Day 1: 5   07-01
46. Cliff Pace             Ovett, MS                4  07-01   59
Day 1: 4   07-01
47. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  07-00   58
Day 1: 5   07-00
47. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  07-00   58
Day 1: 5   07-00
47. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  07-00   58
Day 1: 5   07-00
47. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  07-00   58
Day 1: 5   07-00
47. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  07-00   58
Day 1: 5   07-00
52. Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA             5  06-15   53
Day 1: 5   06-15
53. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  06-13   52
Day 1: 5   06-13
53. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  06-13   52
Day 1: 5   06-13
53. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  06-13   52
Day 1: 5   06-13
56. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               4  06-13   49
Day 1: 4   06-13
57. Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID                5  06-12   48
Day 1: 5   06-12
58. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              3  06-11   47
Day 1: 3   06-11
59. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  06-10   46
Day 1: 5   06-10
60. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  06-09   45
Day 1: 5   06-09
61. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  06-08   44
Day 1: 5   06-08
61. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  06-08   44
Day 1: 5   06-08
63. Andrew Loberg          Guntersville, AL         5  06-07   42
Day 1: 5   06-07
64. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  06-04   41
Day 1: 5   06-04
64. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  06-04   41
Day 1: 5   06-04
66. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  06-01   39
Day 1: 5   06-01
67. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  06-00   38
Day 1: 5   06-00
68. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           4  05-15   37
Day 1: 4   05-15
69. Bryan New              Leesville, SC            5  05-13   36
Day 1: 5   05-13
70. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA          5  05-12   35
Day 1: 5   05-12
71. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  05-11   34
Day 1: 5   05-11
72. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              5  05-08   33
Day 1: 5   05-08
73. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  05-07   32
Day 1: 5   05-07
74. Paul Marks             Cumming, GA              4  05-07   31
Day 1: 4   05-07
75. John Garrett           Union City, TN           4  05-04   30
Day 1: 4   05-04
76. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  05-00   29
Day 1: 5   05-00
77. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               4  05-00   28
Day 1: 4   05-00
78. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               4  04-14   27
Day 1: 4   04-14
79. Blake Capps            Muskogee, OK             2  04-13   26
Day 1: 2   04-13
80. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            3  04-08   25
Day 1: 3   04-08
81. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            4  04-07   24
Day 1: 4   04-07
82. Cole Sands             Johnson City, TN         4  04-06   23
Day 1: 4   04-06
83. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           3  04-04   22
Day 1: 3   04-04
83. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          3  04-04   22
Day 1: 3   04-04
85. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               3  04-02   20
Day 1: 3   04-02
85. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                3  04-02   20
Day 1: 3   04-02
87. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            2  04-01   18
Day 1: 2   04-01
88. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             3  03-07   17
Day 1: 3   03-07
89. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               3  03-05   16
Day 1: 3   03-05
90. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           2  03-04   15
Day 1: 2   03-04
91. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       3  03-02   14
Day 1: 3   03-02
92. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         3  03-00   13
Day 1: 3   03-00
93. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             2  03-00   12
Day 1: 2   03-00
94. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        2  02-13   11
Day 1: 2   02-13
95. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            2  02-11   10
Day 1: 2   02-11
96. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            2  02-10    9
Day 1: 2   02-10
97. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          1  01-15    8
Day 1: 1   01-15
98. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             1  01-12    7
Day 1: 1   01-12
99. Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL           1  01-11    6
Day 1: 1   01-11
100. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              1  01-09    5
Day 1: 1   01-09
101. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              1  01-03    4
Day 1: 1   01-03
102. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Pat Schlapper            Eleva, WI           04-05      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        69       434       664-15
———————————-
69       434       664-15