Potomac River Elite by the numbers

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Numbers tell a story … especially on the Bassmaster Elite Series, which is all about pounds and ounces and Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points that can get an angler to the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe in Texas. <p> Here are the important numbers from the Elite event on the Potomac River. <p> <em>All captions: Ken Duke</em>
Numbers tell a story … especially on the Bassmaster Elite Series, which is all about pounds and ounces and Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points that can get an angler to the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic on Lake Conroe in Texas.

Here are the important numbers from the Elite event on the Potomac River.

All captions: Ken Duke

1 – Gerald Swindle not only leads the AOY, but he’s the only angler to earn a check in all eight Elite tournaments this season. His worst finish was 40th to open the season at the St. Johns River. Who was the last angler who’s “worst” was so good? You have to go back to 2011 when Kevin VanDam won his last AOY. That year his worst finish was 33rd. In 2009, Skeet Reese’s worst regular season finish was 29th, but a lackluster postseason cost him AOY honors.
1 – Gerald Swindle not only leads the AOY, but he’s the only angler to earn a check in all eight Elite tournaments this season. His worst finish was 40th to open the season at the St. Johns River. Who was the last angler who’s “worst” was so good? You have to go back to 2011 when Kevin VanDam won his last AOY. That year his worst finish was 33rd. In 2009, Skeet Reese’s worst regular season finish was 29th, but a lackluster postseason cost him AOY honors.
4 — With one regular season event left in the 2016 Elite season, four anglers have limited each day they’ve been on the water — Todd Faircloth, Bobby Lane, Bradley Roy and Chris Zaldain. Faircloth and Lane accomplished the feat in 2008. If they do it again this year, they’ll become the first anglers to limit out for the season twice. Five anglers — Adrian Avena, Russ Lane, Jared Lintner, Jacob Powroznik and Gerald Swindle — had limited each day coming into the Potomac tournament, but the tough fishing took its toll on them.
4 — With one regular season event left in the 2016 Elite season, four anglers have limited each day they’ve been on the water — Todd Faircloth, Bobby Lane, Bradley Roy and Chris Zaldain. Faircloth and Lane accomplished the feat in 2008. If they do it again this year, they’ll become the first anglers to limit out for the season twice. Five anglers — Adrian Avena, Russ Lane, Jared Lintner, Jacob Powroznik and Gerald Swindle — had limited each day coming into the Potomac tournament, but the tough fishing took its toll on them.
5 – Five anglers have not earned a single check in the 2016 Elite season. Byron Velvick and Matt Vermilyea dropped out early without cashing. Jay Brainard, Paul Elias and Fabian Rodriguez are still looking for their first payday.
5 – Five anglers have not earned a single check in the 2016 Elite season. Byron Velvick and Matt Vermilyea dropped out early without cashing. Jay Brainard, Paul Elias and Fabian Rodriguez are still looking for their first payday.
9 – It’s been a tough year for rookies. The season started with 10. Now there are nine. Drew Benton is running away with Rookie of the Year honors. Adrian Avena is on the bubble (50th) to qualify for the AOY Championship, and the rest rank 75th or worse. You have to go back to 2008 to find a year in which rookies struggled this much. That year Bobby Lane took ROY (15th in AOY points) and 10 other rookies ranked 76th or worse.
9 – It’s been a tough year for rookies. The season started with 10. Now there are nine. Drew Benton is running away with Rookie of the Year honors. Adrian Avena is on the bubble (50th) to qualify for the AOY Championship, and the rest rank 75th or worse. You have to go back to 2008 to find a year in which rookies struggled this much. That year Bobby Lane took ROY (15th in AOY points) and 10 other rookies ranked 76th or worse.
10 - That’s the number of anglers who have won multiple AOY titles. They include Roland Martin (9), Kevin VanDam (7), Bill Dance (3), Mark Davis (3), Aaron Martens (3), Guido Hibdon (2), Davy Hite (2), Jimmy Houston (2), Gary Klein (2), and Larry Nixon (2). Gerald Swindle can make it 11 this year.
10 – That’s the number of anglers who have won multiple AOY titles. They include Roland Martin (9), Kevin VanDam (7), Bill Dance (3), Mark Davis (3), Aaron Martens (3), Guido Hibdon (2), Davy Hite (2), Jimmy Houston (2), Gary Klein (2), and Larry Nixon (2). Gerald Swindle can make it 11 this year.
12 — Gerald Swindle has been much better in 2016 than he was 12 years ago when he last won AOY. There were only six qualifying tournaments on the old Bassmaster Tour in 2004. No events were held north of Missouri’s Table Rock Lake, and half the schedule was in Swindle’s home state (Alabama). He had four finishes of 36th or worse, but he was good enough to edge Greg Hackney for the award. This year, Swindle has been positively stellar. His worst finish is 40th, and he has five Top 10 finishes in eight events. Though some may point to Hackney’s disqualification at Cayuga Lake as the moment when Hackney “lost” AOY, the truth is that Swindle would almost certainly be in first place even without Hackney’s misstep. He’s having an AOY-type year and deserves all the credit for it.
12 — Gerald Swindle has been much better in 2016 than he was 12 years ago when he last won AOY. There were only six qualifying tournaments on the old Bassmaster Tour in 2004. No events were held north of Missouri’s Table Rock Lake, and half the schedule was in Swindle’s home state (Alabama). He had four finishes of 36th or worse, but he was good enough to edge Greg Hackney for the award. This year, Swindle has been positively stellar. His worst finish is 40th, and he has five Top 10 finishes in eight events. Though some may point to Hackney’s disqualification at Cayuga Lake as the moment when Hackney “lost” AOY, the truth is that Swindle would almost certainly be in first place even without Hackney’s misstep. He’s having an AOY-type year and deserves all the credit for it.
39 — Bradley Roy ranks 21st in AOY and is a shoo-in to qualify for his first Bassmaster Classic. What’s more, he has the longest consecutive limits streak of any Elite angler — 39 and counting. If he can keep it going at the Mississippi River (where the catching is usually pretty easy) he’ll join some impressive company. Only eight anglers have posted consecutive limit streaks of 40 or more. Kevin VanDam leads the way with 57.
39 — Bradley Roy ranks 21st in AOY and is a shoo-in to qualify for his first Bassmaster Classic. What’s more, he has the longest consecutive limits streak of any Elite angler — 39 and counting. If he can keep it going at the Mississippi River (where the catching is usually pretty easy) he’ll join some impressive company. Only eight anglers have posted consecutive limit streaks of 40 or more. Kevin VanDam leads the way with 57.
46 — That’s how old Gerald Swindle is, and if he wins AOY this year he’ll be the oldest in B.A.S.S. history, surpassing Roland Martin who was 45 when he won his ninth title in 1985. How likely is Swindle to do it? Very likely. There’s one regular season event to go (the Mississippi River out of Wisconsin) plus the AOY Championship (Mille Lacs in Minnesota). None of the AOY contenders have done particularly well on the river (Swindle, Keith Combs and Greg Hackney all have at least one finish in the 60s or worse) and the scoring format of the AOY Championship makes it tough to move up or down very much. Anyone who hopes to have a chance of overtaking Swindle will need to be hot on his heels for the finale.
46 — That’s how old Gerald Swindle is, and if he wins AOY this year he’ll be the oldest in B.A.S.S. history, surpassing Roland Martin who was 45 when he won his ninth title in 1985. How likely is Swindle to do it? Very likely. There’s one regular season event to go (the Mississippi River out of Wisconsin) plus the AOY Championship (Mille Lacs in Minnesota). None of the AOY contenders have done particularly well on the river (Swindle, Keith Combs and Greg Hackney all have at least one finish in the 60s or worse) and the scoring format of the AOY Championship makes it tough to move up or down very much. Anyone who hopes to have a chance of overtaking Swindle will need to be hot on his heels for the finale.
263 – That’s how many consecutive Elite Series competition days Mike McClelland came to the scales with at least one bass … until Day 3 at the Potomac when he zeroed. It is far and away the longest such streak in Elite history and may be the longest in B.A.S.S. history.
263 – That’s how many consecutive Elite Series competition days Mike McClelland came to the scales with at least one bass … until Day 3 at the Potomac when he zeroed. It is far and away the longest such streak in Elite history and may be the longest in B.A.S.S. history.
2004 — That’s when Gerald Swindle won his AOY crown. If Swindle does it again this year, it will be the longest gap between AOY crowns in the history of multiple winners. Jimmy Houston (1976 and 1986) put 10 years between his wins. That’s the current record.
2004 — That’s when Gerald Swindle won his AOY crown. If Swindle does it again this year, it will be the longest gap between AOY crowns in the history of multiple winners. Jimmy Houston (1976 and 1986) put 10 years between his wins. That’s the current record.