PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Justin Lucas is starting off the Toyota Stage Six Presented by Googan Baits exactly how many MLF fans expected him to: on top of SCORETRACKER®. During Group B’s Qualifying Day 1 on Friday, Lucas caught a total of 50 pounds, 2 ounces. While the competition on Lake Champlain wasn’t the “smallmouth slugfest” that Lucas was hoping for when he started the day, he was able to make the most of the challenging conditions and landed 15 scorable smallmouth.

Lucas proved his smallmouth fishing expertise in 2020 by winning two major events: the Bass Pro Tour Stage Five on Sturgeon Bay and the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lake Erie Super Tournament.

When Lucas returns to Lake Champlain on Sunday for Group B’s Qualifying Day 2, he’ll work to stay in first place so he can skip the Stage Six Knockout Round and earn a spot in the Championship Round. Anglers’ weights will carry over from Qualifying Day 1, which means he’ll start the day with just a 5-15 lead over second-place Brandon Coulter.