Here come the Elites

Hop in line as the Top 50 Elites head out into Sturgeon Bay to see who will grab those precious Bassmaster Classic Spots in the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship.

September 17, 2015

Hop in line as the Top 50 Elites head out into Sturgeon Bay to see who will grab those precious Bassmaster Classic Spots in the Toyota Angler of the Year Championship. Always nice to have a police escort.

The anglers pull away from the dock.

Aaron Martens leads the pack out. Having already clinched the 2015 AOY title, Martens is just fishing for bragging rights.

Dean Rojas sits in second in the Angler of the Year standings. Since there's no way to mathematically pass Martens, Dean is strictly fishing out of defense. Nowhere to go but down, but down would mean a loss of $10,000. — Dean Rojas sits in second in the Angler of the Year standings. Since there’s no way to mathematically pass Martens, Dean is strictly fishing out of defense. Nowhere to go but down, but down would mean a loss of $10,000.

A beautiful dawn breaking at Sturgeon Bay.

Brent Ehrler takes his position in line.

Jacob Powroznik won last year's Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year event at Bays de Noc. — Jacob Powroznik won last year’s Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year event at Bays de Noc.

This fan gains a little different perspective.

Papparazzi... — Papparazzi…

on the police escort.

For Aaron Martens, this event is about putting an exclamation point on an amazing Elite Series season.

Fans find vantage points all along the waterway.

Together, Edwin Evers and Aaron Martens have won half the Elite Series events this year. That's impressive. — Together, Edwin Evers and Aaron Martens have won half the Elite Series events this year. That’s impressive.

Justin Lucas knows what winning feels like, having grab his first Elite Series win at the California Delta this year.

One to watch here this week, Jacob Powroznik made his presence known on the Elite Series last year winning two events.

As the remainder of the field idles along... — As the remainder of the field idles along…

the frontrunners ready for blast off.

The police escort shoots out of the way as they clear the no wake zone.

And their off. Aaron Martens heads out onto Sturgeon Bay.

Lucas and Rojas takeoff.

Away they go.

Jacob Powroznik

Edwin Evers

Brent Ehrler

Bernie Shultz

Chris Zaldain

Jason Christie

Jason Christie

The dawn is on.

Matt Herren

Matt Herren

Brandon Palaniuk

Clifford Pirch

Clifford Pirch

Jordan Lee

Bill Lowen

Keith Combs

Greg Vinson

Chris Lane

Chris Lane

Alton Jones

Bobby Lane

Kevin VanDam

John Crews

John Crews

Micah Frazier

Micah Frazier

Boyd Duckett

James Elam

James Elam

Skeet Reese

Chad Pipkens

Billy McCaghren

Mark Davis

Josh Bertrand

Josh Bertrand

Marty Robinson

Brandon Coulter

Todd Faircloth

Gerald Swindle

Ott DeFoe

Mike Iaconelli

Jonathon VanDam

Jonathon VanDam

Jeff Kriet

Mark Menendez

Ish Monroe

Leaving it with this guy. He can shoot the pictures from here on out.