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by bassnomad

The Great 8: FLW Tour Angler of the Year down to the wire

Surprise surprise, Livingston Lures pro Andy Morgan holds the AOY lead heading into Champlain. Photo by Joel Shangle for Livingston Lures.
V&M Baits pro Jeff Sprague has hovered in the Top 3 for most of the 2016 season. Photo by Joel Shangle.
Shimano pro Jeff Gustafson is having his best Tour season ever! Photo by Joel Shangle for BassFIRST.
Perennial AOY contender Jacob Wheeler is in the hunt again. Photo by Joel Shangle for BassFIRST.
Kei Blaylock has made sure his dad Stetson was on his game this season. Photo by Joel Shangle.
Tennessee River hotshot Michael Neal has put together a consistent season in 2016. Photo from Pickwick in 2015. Photo by Joel Shangle.
Mud Hole pro John Cox was AOY runner-up last year. Can he pull it off this time at Champlain? Photo by Joel Shangle.
Garmin Tour rookie Chris Johnston started off hot at Okeechobee, finishing third. Photo by Joel Shangle for Garmin.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN, New York – It seems appropriate that the last race of the Triple Crown was recently completed, because we’re looking at one heckuva horse race down the stretch for the FLW Tour Angler of the Year title. As we enter the final regular-season event of the 2016 season at Lake Champlain this week, a mere 32 points separates No. 1 (two-time AOY Andy Morgan) and No. 8 (Tour rookie Chris Johnston).

Of course, it’s hard to bet against Morgan: he’s called the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) for a reason. But with that few points separating the pack, anything could happen on Champlain.

Here’s a glimpse at how the Great 8 got here, as seen through the Bass Nomad lens.
-Joel Shangle