Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
As we reach the halfway mark on the final day, Finale Friday promises to deliver another day of favorable weather for our top anglers. The strategy of targeting cruising smallmouth on shallow, sandy flats has defined this event. Anglers staying close to home are landing respectable catches, but the St. Lawrence demands more than just solid performances.
The leaders, and the event’s biggest fish, have predominantly come from Lake Ontario and the river mouth—a journey of over 100 miles each way. Making this run shaves several hours off their fishing time, leaving them with only a brief window to capitalize on quality fishing. Despite the challenges, those at the top have made it appear effortless. All leaders are consistently hauling in fish, though the Fishing Chaos Catch Track isn’t accurately reflecting their weights.
Kyle Welcher, the current AOY leader with a slim 4-point margin, has already landed over 20 pounds today, putting him in the unofficial lead. Justin Atkins, Shane Lineberger, and John Cox are close contenders, each boasting nearly 20 pounds. Jesse Wise, a seasoned competitor here, rounds out the top five. With plenty of time until check-in—where the first flight is the last to dock—they have ample opportunity to further improve their standings.
Live coverage reveals strong performances from Drew Cook and Patrick Walters, both likely keeping pace at the top. However, the true extent of their hauls remains unknown until the weigh-ins. Initial estimates suggest Walters has netted around 18 pounds today.
Live coverage will continue throughout Finale Friday, capturing the climax of this New York slugfest.
Current Top 10 (Unofficial):
Kyle Welcher 69-12
Justin Adkins 69-3
Shane Lineberger 65-4
John Cox 65-0
Jesse Wise 63-5
Scott Canterbury 63-0
Brandon Cobb 62-8
Todd Auten 61-11
Wes Logan 60-9
Andrew Ready 52-2
Catch the Weigh-In
The weigh-in begins at 3:00 PM EST on TNPFL.com. Don’t miss it!
Follow along on the Fishing Chaos Catch Track for real-time unofficial updates from the water.
Check out the Morning Story and Launch Photo Gallery, here!
