After turning
pro in 1988, Jay Yelas has fashioned a remarkable career as a professional
bass angler. On the B.A.S.S. Tour alone , Yelas has amassed 5 victories,
and 47 "top 10" finishes, the most notable being his 2002 Bass Master
Classic win in New Orleans, followed by his 1995 win at the Bassmaster
Superstars tournament. Proving his uncanny consistency in catching bass,
Yelas has qualified for 12 consecutive Bassmasters Classics. The amicable
Texas pro is currently 6th on the B.A.S.S. all-time money list, establishing
himself among the sports elite.
Yelas' other Bassmaster victories came at the 2001 Missouri Invitational
on Table Rock, the 1993 Maryland Top 100 on the Potomac River, the
1997 Missouri Invitational at Lake of the Ozarks and a 3rd place finish
at the 1993 Classic on Logan Martin Lake in Alabama.
The
year 2002 has proven to be Jay's best year yet, not only winning the
Bass Master Classic but also capturing the FLW Angler of the Year
title. This achievement has certainly but Jay Yelas at the top of
the list in the sport fishing field.
Yelas began
his pro career out West, after graduating from Oregon State University with
a B.S. in Resource Recreation Management in 1987. His early accomplishments
included a Red Man Tournament of Champions win in 1988 and a WON Bass Angler-of-the-Year
title in 1989. In 1990 he moved to Texas in a strategic move to be closer
to the B.A.S.S. tournaments.
Noted as
being one of the Tours' most versatile fishermen, Yelas will do whatever it
takes to catch bass. His favorite lures, however, are spinnerbaits, jigs,
and crankbaits. His biggest bass was an 11-11 from Lake Toho, FL, January 2001 on a 6" Berkley Power Lizard. His biggest one day creel in a tournament...5 bass...36#-9oz Lake Toho, FL, January 2001 in BASS Florida Top 150 (3rd biggest stringer ever caught in BASS tournament history).
Yelas' sponsors include: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Chevrolet,
Berkley Power Bait, Berkley Trilene and Fireline, Daiwa Rods and Reels,
Motorguide Trolling Motors, Lowrance Electronics, Dual
Pro Chargers, , Sadler Smokehouse and Mustad.
