Exactly one week ago 13 Fishing professional Kyle Welcher put it all on the line at the final stop of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series at St. Lawrence. He was one of only a few of the 104 angler field to head out of the river and into a very treacherous Lake Ontario on Day One. He wasn’t just staking his claim to the spots he wanted to fish for this tournament, he was staking his claim to one of bass fishing’s most prestigious trophies – the Bassmaster Angler of the Year. But as both seasoned professionals and bass fans know all too well, that trophy does not come easy.
“I didn’t come this far to play it safe,” said Welcher. “I would rather lose taking a big risk trying to win than to lay up and lose. I would never forgive myself.”
Bassmaster Elites at St. Lawrence: Welcher Lands a Giant in the Waves
Going into the last tournament with a very slim lead over Brandon Cobb, it was clear right from the start that Kyle was going all in. He was going to push the limits and do everything he could to come home with that trophy.
By the end of Day One, boats and competitors alike came into the dock battered and beaten, some visibly shaken up by the incredibly challenging conditions. But not “stone cold” Kyle Welcher, who clearly knew that his gamble had paid off with 25 lbs. 10 oz. which was good enough for 5th place.
With much better conditions on Day Two and Cobb still within striking distance, the points race was anything but decided.
“I knew the weights would improve with more guys fishing the lake, but I had a little cushion on the field after weighing a good bag on Day One. I also knew the fish would relocate but I was confident that if I got around them I could find where they moved to and catch ‘em. So I just focused on my pace and how I worked through areas.”
And catch them he did, sacking a VMC monster bag of 27 lbs. 12 oz. which put Welcher not only in 1st place in points, but also in the tournament.
Not the type to take his foot off the gas, Welcher said from the weigh-in stage, “There’s still two days to fish and I just need to stay on top of them.”
As Day Three unfolded, it started to look like Kyle Welcher was going to join the ranks of a very select few who can call themselves Angler of the Year when BassTrakk showed him in position to make the second cut. Cobb appeared to have a solid bag, but according to BassTrakk, not one big enough to continue on to Sunday.
“Day Three backstage I knew I had a really good bag, but you never know how it's gunna go until they are on the scales. After being so close at the Classic (where he finished 2nd by only a few ounces), I wasn’t going to be excited until it was confirmed.”
Despite his skepticism, Welcher had done it. Weighing over 25 lbs., he had officially won Angler of the Year. By far the biggest accomplishment of his short, but already highly successful professional career.
“For me this feels like my real breakout win. I’ve had some great tournaments and come really close to some big moments, but they just never came to fruition. Now it feels like the pressure is off and I will be able to focus on trying to accomplish even more goals.”
“I don’t think it has really set in yet. I can’t believe it is true just yet,” Welcher said. “It has been a great season and winning AOY is one of those things where everything just has to go right for nine tournaments, including your equipment, and the 13 Fishing rods and reels had me covered for every situation from heavy cover frogging in Lake Okeechobee to Great Lakes super finesse smallmouth fishing.”
Kyle’s go-to equipment this season has been the Envy Black rods, the Concept C casting reels, along with an all new spinning reel that is currently in the final stages of testing.
When we asked Kyle if this win changes any of those goals or any of the expectations for next season, he had this to say:
“I judge myself based on the effort I put in and the decisions I make. I always have huge goals for myself in competition but there is only so much you can control. So for me it’s still the same goals that I’ve had since day one – work hard and make good decisions. I find when I do those two things, good things happen.”
Please join us in congratulating Kyle on an incredible season! Be sure to subscribe to his YouTube channel and give him a follow on his Instagram page to check out all of his awesome fishing content.
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