BILL WEIDLER TAKES BASSMASTER TROPHY
Alabama angler credits Christian music with victory at tournament
Pro fishermen have an abundance of tricks and techniques at their disposal, ranging from specialized technology to select spots on the water to drop their lines.
Helena, Ala., pro Bill Weidler credits Christian music with helping him to calm down and get centered as he came from behind to win the 2020 YETI Bassmaster Elite trophy on Sunday at Lake St. Clair Metropark.
Weidler’s four-day total of 86 pounds, 7 ounces was enough to put him over the top for a firstplace prize of $100,000 and Angler of the Year points for berths in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic
“I’ve been wanting to win this one,” he said after the trophy presentation. “I’m 51 and I’ve been wanting to win this one forever. It means everything to me.”
Heading into the final day of the four-day tournament on Sunday, John Cox of DeBary, Fla. was the leader, with a three-day total of 66-2. Cox, who stayed in the main lake before heading up to the St. Clair River, finished in third place with 85 pounds, 12 ounces.
In contrast, Weidler said he “tooled through Anchor Bay” before settling on a spot near Strawberry Island. He said he wasn’t optimistic as smallmouth
bass have never been his specialty.
Still, he held his own against the likes of Canada’s Cory Johnson, who placed second. Weidler said called on his secret weapon — a song called “Red Letters” by Christian band Crowder. The title refers to the letter Jesus Christ spoke when he was on Earth, the angler said.
“I really liked it and started listening to it a lot,” he said. “It was the oddest thing: Every time I started playing the song, I would get extremely calm. I’d have chills come over my body and I’d start seeing fish all over. And I just caught ‘em all week. It was phenomenal”
Weidler said he prayed for some assistance on Sunday morning before heading to Lake St. Clair Metropark where he set off fishing around 6:30 a.m.
“I had a horrific start to the season, so I got on my knees this morning and prayed I would catch (some fish.) It was unbelievable. I’m not going to take credit for what the Lord did for me this week. He guided me all week, I fought and fought...I knew I had to get some work done,” he said.
The tournament started with 85 anglers, which was pared down to 40 and finally down to 10 on Sunday.
The fishing pros encountered some new challenges in the form of high water for the lakes and Canada’s COVID-19 restrictions, which limited anglers to the U.S. waters of Lake St. Clair and all connecting rivers, creeks and canals, including Lake Huron. The Ambassador Bridge is the southern boundary of the tournament waters.
The gleaming waters of Lake St. Clair, the fifth stop of the season for the Elite Series, captured plenty of airtime as the national fishing tournament had live exposure on ESPN2.
Tour director Trip Weldon had plenty of nice things to say about Macomb County, the lake and Lake St. Clair Metropark personnel as he spoke to a national audience Sunday.
“Great hosts here in Macomb County,” he said.
The coronavirus restrictions also prevented the big party that has accompanied the Bassmaster event every August at the Metropark.
The fishing tournament usually has a craft beer and barbecue festival featuring live music, boat demonstrations, vendors and more. It typically draws several thousand live spectators for each of the four days.
Not this year. But more than three dozen vessels docked in the water near the shore of the Harrison Township park to observe much of Sunday’s weigh-in.