Division 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN has been nothing short of bizarre. Due to extreme weather, only one tournament in the three tournament schedule, has been completed as planned.
The first tournament of the year at Sam Rayburn Reservoir set the tone. Day 1 was canceled due to high winds, and with the threat of strong thunderstorms and tornadoes, the tournament’s final day was also canceled, leaving anglers one day to catch what they could.
Rapidly rising water at Norfork Lake forced another one-day derby. Kentucky Lake was the only full tournament completed so far, but it was no cake walk, as strong winds made fishing difficult.
So it is fitting that the season ends in northern Minnesota at Leech Lake, one of the most underrated smallmouth fisheries in the country, but a potentially treacherous one to navigate when the wind is blowing the wrong direction. In fact, the 2024 Open saw one day cancelled due to gusty winds.
In a tight race to make the Top 50 in points and advance to the EQ round, anglers below the cutline are certainly hoping a full tournament takes place, but forecasted 10 to 20 mph winds on the tournament’s opening day may have something to say about that.
Let’s take a look at the storylines that will shape the points race at Leech Lake.
A boy named Fisher
During the 2024 Bassmaster High School National Championship, a then 18-year-old Fisher Anaya had already decided he was going to try his hand at the Opens in 2025. He finished third in that Championship and third in the Team Championship leading up to the 2025 season. In his first full season as a pro angler, the now 19-year-old has made quite the impression and currently leads the points race with 572 points. He has finishes of 9th, 11th and 11th.
Even if he stumbles at Leech, the Alabama native has all but secured his spot in the EQ race and will no doubt be making a run at one of the 10 Elite Series invites up for grabs.
Round 2 at Leech
Bassmaster made its maiden voyage to Leech for last year’s Open, and plenty of the anglers who fished this year are back again in 2025, several who are in a precarious position in the points race.
Yui Aoki, who is second in points right now, finished 18th at Leech last year. Ty Faber, who is currently fourth, finished 130th last year. Other notable returners to Leech Lake include:
- 10th: Jimmy Washam (44th at Leech in 2024)
- 11th: Jack Dice (8th)
- 14th: Austin Cranford (23rd)
- 20th: Joey Nania (148th)
- 24th: Jack York (50th)
- 29th: Trey Schroeder (11th)
- 31st: Christian Ostrander (40th)
- 36th: Garrett Paquette (24th)
- 36th: Casey Scanlon (136th)
- 42nd: Randall Tharp (71st)
- 43rd: Blake Smith (168th)
- 45th: Josh Douglas (124th)
- 46th: Brad Leuthner (88th)
- 48th: Greg Bohannan (107th)
- 49th: Darold Gleason (56th)
- 50th: Trevor McKinney (177th)
- 53rd: Chris Beaudrie (132nd)
- 55th: Kollin Crawford (79th)
- 59th: Andrew Behnke (188th)
Who can make a comeback?
In Division I, Zach Goutremout started the final tournament in 65th place. He rose to 39th on the back of a second place finish at the St. Lawrence River. Will someone come from further back to advance to the EQ in Division II?
Currently in 67th is Aaron Jagdfeld with 347 points, less than 40 points behind Trevor McKinney, who is the current bubble boy, a manageable deficit to overcome in a division that has averaged well over 200 boats. As it stands, 214 boats are expected to compete this week.
99 points is the gap from 50th to 101st place Jacob Bigelow, certainly a more challenging comeback, but not impossible with the field size.
The one question mark will be the anglers who qualified in Division I. How many who are already qualified for the EQ round will make the trip to Leech? If they do fish, how many will double qualify? A smaller than expected field size will hurt those trying to make a monumental rebound.
Browning leads the former Elites
Stephen Browning fished both Divisions this year. He unfortunately struggled at the St. Lawrence River and fell below the cutline to qualify for the EQ in Division I. As much as that hurt, no doubt, Browning is in much better standing heading into Leech Lake. He is 18th in Division II, 87 points above the cutline, so even a solid showing will send him to the EQ’s.
Other former Elites fighting to get back:
- Garrett Paquette (36th, 411 points)
- Casey Scanlon (39th, 395 points)
- Randall Tharp (42nd, 391 points)
- Darold Gleason (49th, 382 points)
- Chris Groh (69th, 335 points)
- Cliff Crochet (73rd, 326 points)
- Jonathan VanDam (107th, 270 points)
