{"id":444,"date":"2025-05-27T01:51:27","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T01:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/?p=444"},"modified":"2025-05-27T01:51:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T01:51:27","slug":"schlapper-claims-first-bassmaster-elite-title-in-wire-to-wire-win-at-sabine-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/schlapper-claims-first-bassmaster-elite-title-in-wire-to-wire-win-at-sabine-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Schlapper claims first Bassmaster Elite title in wire-to-wire win at Sabine River."},"content":{"rendered":"

May 18, 2025<\/span><\/p>\n

ORANGE, Texas \u2014 A marathon, not a sprint. You\u2019d be hard pressed to find a more fitting phrase to describe Pat Schlapper\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0wire-to-wire win at the\u00a0MAXAM Tire\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite at the Sabine River<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Schlapper set the early mark with a Day 1 limit of 12 pounds, 2 ounces. The pro from Eleva, Wis.,\u00a0would follow with daily weights of 8-7, 8-9 and 9-10 for a winning total of 38-12.<\/p>\n

Edging fellow\u00a0Progressive\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite Series<\/a>\u00a0pro\u00a0Patrick Walters<\/a>\u00a0by a margin of 2-4, Schlapper collected the top prize of $101,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means a lot to me that my friends and family surprised me and showed up,\u201d said Schlapper, whose brother passed away last year. \u201cThis is for my family and my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n

A week after 62-11 earned him a 32nd-place finish in the\u00a0Tackle Warehouse\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite at Lake Fork<\/a>, Schlapper endured the notoriously challenging Sabine River\u2019s stingy ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cI caught my fish a few different ways; I had figured out\u00a0different things and knowing when to do (each one) was the key,\u201d Schlapper said. \u201cI think one of the biggest reasons I out-fished a lot people in the area is that I was fishing a lot faster.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people were fishing really slow, but I was just covering as much water as I could. I think that made a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

With cloudy, windy weather creating classic largemouth feeding conditions, Schlapper enjoyed his best morning of the week. Getting off to a quick start, Schlapper had a limit that went a little more than 9 pounds by 9 a.m.<\/p>\n

As soon as he reached his first spot, he experienced an intense flurry that jump started his big morning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was unbelievable the way that happened this morning,\u201d Schlapper said. \u201cThat was actually the first spot that I found (in practice). I pulled in and the wind was just perfect to throw a Brazalo clacking buzzbait. It had a big gold blade and a black toad on the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just got to whompin\u2019 on \u2019em for about\u00a020 minutes and they were all quality fish. I missed one, but the rest of them choked it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Schlapper did all of his Day 1 work on the foundations holding a set of elevated pipes that crossed a canal off Taylor Bayou. On Day 2, he fished the pipe crossing, but also worked open bank.<\/p>\n

Days 3\u00a0and 4\u00a0mostly comprised bank fishing, where he targeted grass, wood\u00a0and undercut points. The first three days, Schlapper caught fish on a homemade 3\/8-ounce Do-it Molds compact finesse jig with a Big Bite Baits chunk trailer, a dropshot and a Texas-rigged creature bait.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt really good going into this tournament for some reason,\u201d Schlapper said. \u201cI was super confident, super calm. I feel like I made all the right moves and all the right decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the Sabine River.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walters of Summerville, S.C. finished second with 36-8. With his first three days yielding limits of 7-6, 7-2\u00a0and 9-9, respectively, Walters entered Championship Sunday in 10th place. Finishing strong with 12-7 \u2014 the event\u2019s second heaviest (behind John Crews\u2019 12-9) \u2014 Walters gained eight spots.<\/p>\n

Describing the key to his final-round success, Walters said: \u201cDecision making. The Sabine is all about making decisions. You put some baits in your hand that you feel confident in and covering a lot of water until you find the fish.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walters caught most of his fish on a spinnerbait. Given the level of fishing pressure his main area had received, the final round presented an opportunity to make a bold decision that worked out as well as Walters could have ever hoped.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been catching all my fish in Taylor Bayou, but today, I didn\u2019t see it happening,\u201d Walters said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t going to pan out because we had beaten it too much. The second day, there were 78 boats over there.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was way too many people over there, so I decided to stay close and fish close. The water had been dropping and clearing up and we just ran into them. I lost one good one, but I can\u2019t complain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Japan’s\u00a0Kyoya Fujita<\/a>\u00a0finished third with 36-8. (Ties are broken by heaviest single day weight.) His daily limits went 8-8, 11-3, 8-9\u00a0and 8-4.<\/p>\n

Fujita, who placed fourth last week at Lake Fork, caught his fish on a Texas-rigged Jackall Pine Shrimp and a Neko-rigged Jackall 4.5 Yammy. Spending most of his time targeting reeds in Taylor Bayou, Fujita kept his foot on the trolling motor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not catch my fish on forward facing sonar; I caught all of my fish power fishing,\u201d Fujita said. \u201cSpeed is important. I made more casts, more casts, more casts to cover water.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Crews<\/a>\u00a0of Salem, Va., won the $2,000\u00a0Phoenix Boats<\/a>\u00a0Big Bass honors for his Day 2 4-14.<\/p>\n

Wisconsin’s\u00a0Jay Przekurat<\/a>\u00a0won the $1,000 award for leading the\u00a0Progressive\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Angler of the Year<\/a>\u00a0standings.<\/p>\n

Minnesota’s\u00a0Austin Felix<\/a>\u00a0won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award.<\/p>\n

Crews also won the $2,000\u00a0Rapala CrushCity<\/a>\u00a0Monster Bag award for his Day 2\u00a0limit of 12-9.<\/p>\n

Japan\u2019s\u00a0Taku Ito<\/a>\u00a0took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the\u00a0Toyota Bonus Bucks<\/a>\u00a0program, while Alabama\u2019s\u00a0Kyle Welcher<\/a>\u00a0earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.<\/p>\n

As part of the\u00a0Yamaha Power Pay<\/a>\u00a0program, Schlapper earned an additional $4,000, while Walters claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.<\/p>\n

Jay Przekurat<\/a>\u00a0of Plover, Wis.,\u00a0leads the\u00a0Progressive\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Angler of the Year<\/a>\u00a0standings with 544\u00a0points.\u00a0Chris Johnston<\/a>\u00a0of Otonabee, Canada is in second with 502, followed by Fujita with 494,\u00a0Trey McKinney<\/a>\u00a0of Carbondale, Ill., with 487, and\u00a0Will Davis Jr.<\/a>\u00a0of Sylacauga, Ala., with 480.<\/p>\n

Paul Marks<\/a>\u00a0of Cumming, Ga., leads the\u00a0Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year<\/a>\u00a0standings with 418 points.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0MAXAM Tire\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite at Sabine River<\/a>\u00a0was hosted\u00a0by the\u00a0Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

2025\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite\u00a0Series\u00a0Platinum Sponsor:<\/strong>\u00a0Progressive, Toyota
\n2025\u00a0<\/strong>Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite\u00a0Series\u00a0<\/strong>Premier Sponsors:\u00a0<\/strong>Bass Pro Shops,\u00a0<\/strong>Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
\n2025\u00a0<\/strong>Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite\u00a0Series<\/strong>\u00a0Supporting Sponsors:\u00a0<\/strong>AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance,\u00a0Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

About B.A.S.S.<\/strong><\/p>\n

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0tournament 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\u2019s fully integrated media platforms include the industry\u2019s leading magazines (Bassmaster<\/span><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0B.A.S.S. Times<\/em>), website (Bassmaster<\/span>.com<\/a>), 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.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Elite Series, St. Croix\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0High School Series,\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Junior Series,\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Team Championship, Newport\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft,\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0College Kayak Series, Yamaha\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter\u00a0and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops\u00a0Bassmaster<\/span>\u00a0Classic presented by Under Armour.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Courtesy of BASS, LLC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

May 18, 2025 ORANGE, Texas \u2014 A marathon, not a sprint. You\u2019d be hard pressed to find a more fitting phrase to describe Pat Schlapper\u2019s\u00a0wire-to-wire win at the\u00a0MAXAM Tire\u00a0Bassmaster\u00a0Elite at the Sabine River. Schlapper set the early mark with a Day 1 limit of 12 pounds, 2 ounces. The pro from Eleva, Wis.,\u00a0would follow with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/schlapper.jpg?fit=1620%2C1080&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=444"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":446,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/444\/revisions\/446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thebasshog.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}