Losing the Chance at $200,000 in 1 Bassmaster Tournament

All right, day four, St. Lawrence River. Made the top 10 in this one. It's the first time ever that I've top 10ed a smallmouth dominated event, so not bad. We'll take it. We did it at the right time, too, but we got a shot to win this one. We just gotta get out there and catch definitely north of 25 pounds. Probably gonna need 27 or 28 pounds to have a shot at this one. Not even 24 hours old, our brand new angler of the year. Let's hear it for your progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Stone Cold Kyle Welcher. Kyle, what was last night? I mean, I kind of joked with you backstage, you kind of screwed it up. Well, normally the Angler of the Year goes out and parties, but you obviously had a tournament to focus on. Yeah, you know, I would say, unfortunately, we couldn't, but it's nice to have a shot at this tournament also. So, I mean, it kind of set in last night and I was looking at the trophy and I was just texting pictures of the trophy to some of my buddies and I'm like, man, I can't believe I got this thing. It's one of the most coveted trophies in professional sports, but one more Elite Series title and you're five fish away from it and you have that dude in front of you with a disheveled mustache trying to take that title and get yet another century belt on his resume. Yeah, you know, there's no way I thought that mustache could possibly be good luck, but it turns out it must be. So, I mean, that might be the trend for all of us next year. Well, and the hair thing has been a thing for you, like literally since you started catching them, you have not cut your hair, correct? I was actually trying to get a haircut before Okeechobee and we had back-to-back ones. So, I went to Okeechobee, made the cut, and then I went to Seminole and made the cut. So, I said, as soon as I miss a cut, I'll cut it that night and it hasn't happened yet. So, we'll see how long it gets. I can't wait to see you when we kick off next season. Let's hear it for Aaron right here. Let's go, Paul. Paul Welter. And we're 20 seconds away from kicking off the final championship summit of 2023. From Somerville, South Carolina, Patrick Walter, putting behind the two-time ambassador, brand new progressive bassmaster angler of the year from Alabama, Stone Cove, Paul Welter. So, first of all, congratulations on winning angler of the year yesterday. Right. This morning, things not going quite as well as they were yesterday afternoon. Tell us a little bit about what happened. Yeah, you know, yesterday was kind of like a storybook thing. And then today is the exact opposite. But, you know, you fished up here in this big water, you know the strain it puts on equipment, you know, and I use some of the best equipment in the world, but just multiple days of pushing it and sending it through those big water and big waves. Man, it's wear and tear on your equipment. So, a couple of mechanical issues this morning, but hopefully we can figure it out pretty quick and get back out there to the lake where them big ones live. So, everybody's been watching this week. Now, you've been going a long way with not much time. You know, we're still standing here in the parking lot right now. Are you still gonna go make that run to try to get those bigger fish or fish close? Yeah, there's no doubt. You know, the first day, it took me like two hours to get over there. And then in 45 minutes, I had 25.10. So, I mean, that could happen at any time. And then I'll actually have a little bit more time to fish today, but we'll get over there and the wind's supposed to calm down. So, I think I can push it, stay out there a little bit longer today, because there is an evening bite. It seems like after 12.30 that it really starts to pick up. So, maybe I can capitalize on some of that bite this evening, cut it close, then make it back to weigh in with a little bit smoother water. So, I talk about momentum in this sport. You know it in all sports, it's all about momentum. It's incredible. You just won Angler of the Year yesterday. You're second place, but you're standing in the parking lot and they're catching them. Right, right now. And you still think you can win this tournament? Yeah, definitely. You know, all it takes is, like this tournament right here, there's so many three and three quarters to four and a quarter fish in this lake. All it takes is a couple of those six pound small mouth, or I've had two six and a half. Those types of bites, they only take two minutes, you know, and that's what really separates yourself. So, get out there and fill a limit with some, you know, four pounders, couple fives, and then catch one of those great big bites. And then that's how you catch one of those 27 pound bags. That's awesome. Love the confidence. Standing in the parking lot, other guys are out there, he still thinks he's gonna win this thing. We're gonna try. Found a big one. Finally found one. And it ain't no baby. It ain't no great biggin'. He came up in a wave out there and I was like, biggin', but it ain't. First one we've thrown at, it's not a bad sign. It's crazy how this point looks so consistent. And then I get to a way point, which is where I've caught them in the past, and there's fish there. But there's like nothing special about it, as far as I can tell. Come on. Maybe it's bigger than I think. Oh yeah, it's a biggin'. Yeah, it's a nice one. That's a nice one. Okay, okay. I'm ready to be done if you are. We can just call a truce on all this fightin' stuff. We'll go take you a picture. Make me a little more money. It'll be a very cordial environment. We ain't got long to do it today. But we might do it. Or just like that one. Just like him. He's gotta be a four pounder at least. Oh yeah. Yep. His teeth's on my line bad. Yeah, but his line's on my teeth, so I'm playin' him super, super light. And his teeth's on my line. No, it is a biggin'. I didn't bring no scissors. I found some. Maybe. I did find some. They ain't quite as stout as my Sunline scissors, but they'll do. I think so. Do you have it in your mouth? Little bit of aerodynamics on that one. I need you, baby. I'm lookin' right at the fish and I see the fish swimmin' up and I couldn't see my bait, but then it was just, I was like, he's gotta have it, because he's not followin' it down. It's a nice one. We will take anything right now that's over three pounds. Another one with it, right beside it. I mean, swallowed. That right here. Had to make a little adjustment. Hard to adjust in three hours, but had to. Just need a biggin'. Looks like a one over three pounder anyways. He's almost to the rocks, so I gotta stop him. I just snagged him when he came up one time. Messed around with his joke. Nope. Shout out to Justin for lettin' me use his boat. I appreciate it. Your Christmas present's gonna be some flyers and some scissors. I mean, he's like 15 feet deep and I can just see him perfect. And I can see the two more that are bitin' my weight right now. When it gets slick, it looks absurd. How big are them other ones? I don't think they're no bigger than this one. We're in 16 feet and you can just see the bottom. All right, come on. I'm ready if you're ready. And if you're ready, we're ready. He's not bad. He's not gonna be my smallest one. Oh man, fumble. He might be my smallest one, actually. Oh goodness, he's never callin'. Number five. That's a good one. It ain't big, but it's a good one. I think it's gonna call. I need like two pounds for the century mark. I hope he's bigger than he looks. I think so. You don't need this one. You got me? Man, we had a lot of trials and tribulations today, but still caught a decent bag. Not good, you know. Probably a very average bag for this lake and probably gonna be the smallest bag of the day. But we overcame a lot of stuff and still had a pretty eventful day fishin'. So can't complain too much and definitely can't complain with winning AOI yesterday. So we'll take it for sure. There was a small adjustment that I needed to make today and I didn't have time to figure it out. Because I seen them still. I seen them enough. But I just didn't think I needed to do much about it. Ain't used to this kind. You know what? Ain't used to this kind. Yeah, I hear you. I was happy when he bit that. Amazing. That water is so much warmer than the level of it. First pack then they were. I brought my son over last year. He had the one that opened. Get the mic up here. Do you have pretty- No, everybody's impressed by your calmness and your cool. No, you still- I'm not showing it anymore. That's the trick. I'm showing it. Exactly. Good job, good job. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you. All right. Thank you. I got you wet. You serious? Yeah. I was wondering when you get past me this morning. I can't look at that. I was about to. I just got out of the boat late, came up there. We got a tournament to decide. And more fitting that we go from our rookie of the year to this next angler. He is a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. He was your day two leader. He is officially your Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year from Alabama, Stone Cold Ty Welchner. Started the day with 79 pounds of five ounces. Five fish to add to that here today. He's 24 pounds and eight ounces to take the lead. 20 pounds and seven ounces. Puts him in fourth place with 99 pounds and 12 ounces. Let's hear it for him, ladies and gentlemen. Well, to steal a line from the great Bob Cobb, the thrill of victory and the agony of angling. This time yesterday, you hoisted one of the most coveted trophies in professional bass fishing. But today was a much different day. I mean, when I saw you, you left, it was all good. But tell me what happened after you left. Yeah, so I made it about a mile and a half and I had some mechanical issues. So shout out to Justin Atkins. He came and got me, towed me back in. We went to the service yard, got everything fixed out, put it back in, made it like half a mile. And I had an issue again. So changed some stuff out. Then I ran like 10 miles, had the issue again. So I got it back working, ran like five more miles. And then finally, I just got Justin to bring me his boat. We swapped on the water. I still got to fish for enough where I feel like I should have caught him a little bit better, but definitely did miss, you know, over half the day. But hey, this is still a phenomenal fishery. We went out there on a short time and caught 20 pounds. So that just, my hat's off to this lake. This week, I mean, obviously, I mean, I know the competitor you are. None of them are happy with second ever. None of, you know, you come here to win everything, but man, you're an angler of the year and watching you deal with adversity today. Anybody can be a champion when things are going right, but watching you deal with adversity today, dude, you didn't get flapped the whole day. It looked like you felt like you had a shot to win this right to the very end. And you lived up to your name, Stone Cold Kyle Welch, because you are unflappable, dude. Well, I mean, some of the things you just can't control. Like I will get a little frustrated if I make mental decisions or if I do something wrong that I know better, you know, like mechanical problems, stuff like that, losing fish sometimes, like all that type of stuff. You can't control it. So, I mean, you get mad about it, it's just gonna ruin the rest of your day. So I just try to control everything I can. And that's, you know, something I can't control. So we just do the best we can, be as prepared as we can. And if it happens, it happens. It's been a great season with you. Let's hear it for your angler of the year.