Northern Open's Detroit River: Brian Metry's Battle Plan!

Brian Metry, of Michigan, was in firm control of the Bassmaster Northern Open on day 1 and 2. He brought outstanding limits of smallmouth and seemed likely to march on to a victory. Unfortunately, his boat failed him and day 3 was a mad scramble to secure another boat and then a winning limit. 

By the end of the tournament, Jason Christie, of Oklahoma, worked hard and earned the win. Muddled under the surprise victory of FLW touring pro Christie was the dominant pattern Metry ran to land over 62 pounds for 15 smallmouth bass. 

Brian needed the whole family to show off his giants.
(Photo: David Hunter Jones BASS)

Here is his own words on his pattern for the BASSMASTER Open on the Detroit river .

Jason Christie Wins BASS Northern Open!

By Pete Robbins

(BASS Press Release)

JUL 21, 2012

A win and a trip to the Classic!
What a week.
(Photos: BASS)

DETROIT — Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., claimed that his status as a non-local enabled him to stay focused and win this week’s Northern Open on Michigan’s bountiful Lake St. Clair, but he’s hoping to have a local advantage when he fishes the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, the body of water where many consider him a prohibitive favorite. 

Christie slammed the door shut today with 22 pounds, 13 ounces, to beat a field studded with Tour-level stars and a cadre of top local sticks. It was his third straight bag heavier than 21 pounds, and it will enable him to fulfill a lifelong dream.

“No. 1, you dream about fishing any Classic,” he said. “But to get to fish a Classic on your home lake is a dream come true.”

Besides his Classic berth, Christie won a fully rigged Nitro Z-9 bass boat with a Mercury OptiMax 250.

He said that his advantage over the many St. Clair regulars was that he didn’t have many decisions to make. He found one key area in the mouth of the Detroit River with patchy 

2012 Bass Pro Shops Northern Open #2 Detroit River Day 2: Giants Everywhere!

By Pete Robbins

(BASS Press Release)

JUL 20, 2012

DETROIT – The weather changed for all of the competitors at the Northern Open on Lake St. Clair today, but the sun continued to shine the brightest on local angler Brian Metry. Many pros complained that the emerging sun and fierce winds didn’t have their expected effect, but Metry added 22 pounds to his 23-05 catch from Day One and has a 14 ounce lead over Oklahoman Jason Christie.

Everyone in the Metry family gets to hold a giant.
(BASS Photos)

“They were really crunching it today,” Metry said, referring to his Jack-It Products crankbait. “I’m fishing a deep spot where the water is cool, and the current is helping to replenish the area.” He intends to make the same rotation tomorrow, starting in a place where he can virtually will a 15-pound limit to the boat, then going to his big fish spot to upgrade. Starting with an early limit helps him to relax, he explained. “I have all kinds of temptation to do it differently, but if I stick to my game plan instead of following temptation I might win this thing.” 

Despite adding 21-07 to his 23 pound Day One catch, Christie said the fishing was tougher. He only landed 10 keepers and caught the last good one with 10 minutes left to fish.