By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
WADDINGTON, N.Y. — He knows where the giants live, and that hard-earned insight rewarded Cory Johnston in a big way.
Sacking up a 27-pound, 7-ounce limit, the Otonabee, Ontario resident matched rookie Robert Gee with a two-day total of 52-7 to tie for the lead on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at the St. Lawrence River.
“I had one big pod of fish that I could catch one off of every once in a while, and I’d have to leave it alone and go back to it,” Johnston said. “It could’ve been one of those special days; I had a 6-pounder in my hand, and it got off.”
Johnston, who claimed his first blue trophy by dominating the season’s fourth Elite Series event at the St. Johns River, placed 4th on Day 1 with 25-0. He's been fishing in open water and targeting an 80-yard stretch of bottom in about 40 feet. The spot holds a smattering of giant smallmouth, but they’re extremely sensitive.
“I’ll catch one and then they shut down,” Johnston said.
When that happens, time and distance seem to be the best remedy.
“I’m making a big run away from the spot (between catches),” Johnston said of his dual-purpose strategy. “I don’t want to be seen on this spot. There were locals out there fishing all around me. It’s frustrating, but there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Johnston said he’s using a four-bait rotation and ll have produced quality fish. As Johnston explained, picky smallmouth have required a diverse and strategic approach.
“This place just gets the hell beat out of it,” Johnston said of how the smallmouth have shown a marked response to increasing pressure. “It’s like night and day from even two years ago.”
Holding his cards low, Johnston said he believes he found the formula for smallmouth success: “I figured out something today on how to catch them. It has to do with rigging and presentation.”
After two days of pleasant, relatively calm weather, Saturday’s forecast calls for big south winds that promise to roil Lake Ontario. Johnston, who has been making a long run into the lake, said he’s expecting waves as big as 8 feet and, while he’s fished the rough stuff many times, he’s keenly aware of the limitations.
“Tomorrow is going to be nasty windy, but that’s part of this game,” Johnston said. “I’ll be able to get to my spot, but the problem is going to be efficiency. I don’t know if I’ll be able to track them down good enough on (Garmin) Livescope to make the perfect cast, but we have to give it a shot and see what happens.”
As Gee stated, you know you’ve had a special day when a 5-pounder does not help your cause. That’s the largest fish the angler from Knoxville, Tenn., released during his banner day, which he paired with a Day 1 weight of 25-12.
“It was a great day; that was probably the best day of smallmouth fishing I’ve ever had,” Gee said. “There are plenty there, from what I saw, but I don’t feel like I was burning through them.
“A lot of them swerved me, so I’m really hopeful there’s still a bunch down there. I’ll give a full send tomorrow and try to catch another 25 pounds.”
After catching his opening-round weight in Lake Ontario, Gee did all of his Day 2 work inside the St. Lawrence River. Targeting an underwater point stretching from Carleton Island toward the main shipping channel, he quickly found success — and a lot of it.
“The first four I caught were over 5 pounds,” Gee said. “That calmed me down. It was a breath of fresh air.
“I knew if I just sat there, I could catch another 5-pounder. The smallest one I caught on that spot was 3 3/4. I was smiling from ear to ear.”
Rotating through about 20 different spots, mostly boulders, Gee caught his fish on the jighead minnow rig. He used a 1/4-ounce jig with a 5-inch minnow to imitate the hefty gobies the big smallmouth prefer.
Shane LeHew of Catawba, N.C., placed 5th on Day 1 with a limit of 24-13 and moved into 3rd with a second-round limit of 25-12. Tallying a two-day total of 50-9, LeHew reflected on the day-maker that actually started his day.
“I put my trolling motor down and two big fish were swimming under the boat,” said LeHew, who made the run into Lake Ontario. “I dropped down and caught a 6-12 on my first cast. I had a feeling it was going to be a pretty decent day.
“I was a little outside the Bassmaster Classic cut coming into this event, so we’re gonna have to catch them again tomorrow. I’m a little afraid of the conditions, but we still may send it.”
LeHew caught all of his fish on a dropshot with a Berkley MaxScent Flatnose Minnow. His big fish earned the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for Day 2.
Meanwhile, J.T. Thompkins, one of numerous rookies who've excelled on the circuit this season, has been disqualified from the event after failing a polygraph exam regarding the acquisition of waypoints. Thompkins came into the event at No. 4 on the points list. He weighed a 21-6 bag on Day 1 that put him in 43rd place.
For B.A.S.S.' explanation of the Thompkins DQ, click here.
The Top 50 anglers advance to Saturday, with the Top 10 moving on to Sunday. In addition to the $100,000 top prize, the winner earns an invitation to fish the 2025 Bassmaster Classic March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts.
Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., leads the Angler of the Year standings with 747 points. Cory Johnston is in second with 733, followed by Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., with 732, Chris Johnston with 731 and Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., with 727.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.
Day 2 Standings
1. Cory Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 52-07 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 25-00 -- Day 2: 5, 27-07
1. Robert Gee -- Knoxville, TN -- 10, 52-07 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 25-12 -- Day 2: 5, 26-11
3. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 50-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 24-13 -- Day 2: 5, 25-12
4. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 50-06 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 26-02 -- Day 2: 5, 24-04
5. Trey McKinney -- Carbondale, IL -- 10, 49-04 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 23-10 -- Day 2: 5, 25-10
6. Patrick Walters -- Eutawville, SC -- 10, 48-15 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 24-12 -- Day 2: 5, 24-03
7. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 10, 47-11 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 24-04 -- Day 2: 5, 23-07
8. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 47-11 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 24-02 -- Day 2: 5, 23-09
9. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 10, 47-05 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 24-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14
10. Jay Przekurat -- Plover, WI -- 10, 46-13 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 26-09
11. Wesley Gore -- Clanton, AL -- 10, 46-12 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 23-04 -- Day 2: 5, 23-08
12. Bryan New -- Leesville, SC -- 10, 46-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 23-15
13. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 10, 46-03 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 23-11 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08
14. Jeff Gustafson -- Kenora, ON -- 10, 45-12 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 23-03
15. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 10, 45-11 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 25-15
16. Jordan Lee -- Cullman, AL -- 10, 45-00 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 22-00 -- Day 2: 5, 23-00
17. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 44-12 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 23-02 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10
18. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 10, 44-12 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15
19. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 10, 44-10 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 23-12 -- Day 2: 5, 20-14
20. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 10, 44-08 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 21-09 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15
21. John Garrett -- Union City, TN -- 10, 44-08 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 22-12
22. Kyoya Fujita -- Yamanashi, JAPAN -- 10, 44-07 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 25-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15
23. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10, 44-07 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 22-15 -- Day 2: 5, 21-08
24. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 44-07 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 22-10
25. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 44-06 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 22-05 -- Day 2: 5, 22-01
26. Tyler Williams -- Belgrade, ME -- 10, 44-05 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07
27. Logan Parks -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 44-03 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 22-06 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13
28. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 10, 43-15 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14
29. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 10, 43-15 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 21-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08
30. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 10, 43-14 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 22-02 -- Day 2: 5, 21-12
31. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 43-13 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 23-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-11
32. Cole Sands -- Calhoun , TN -- 10, 43-12 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 21-10 -- Day 2: 5, 22-02
33. Kyle Norsetter -- Cottage Grove, WI -- 10, 43-04 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 22-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-12
34. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 10, 43-01 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-10
35. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 10, 42-08 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-01
36. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 42-06 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 21-05 -- Day 2: 5, 21-01
37. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 42-05 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 20-12 -- Day 2: 5, 21-09
38. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 42-03 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 23-05
39. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 42-00 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 22-08 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08
40. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 41-15 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07
41. John Soukup -- Sapulpa, OK -- 10, 41-07 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 21-05
42. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 41-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 20-14 -- Day 2: 5, 20-09
43. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 41-05 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 22-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02
44. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 41-05 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 20-11
45. Ben Milliken -- New Caney, TX -- 10, 41-04 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12
46. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 10, 41-03 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 23-02
47. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 10, 41-02 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 21-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07
48. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 10, 41-01 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 22-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10
49. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 10, 41-00 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 22-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15
50. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 10, 40-14 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-13
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on Day 3
51. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 40-11 -- 53 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 20-04
52. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 40-09 -- 52 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14
53. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 40-08 -- 51 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 21-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08
54. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 40-06 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 23-11
55. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 10, 40-04 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15
56. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 40-04 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-07
57. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 40-04 -- 0 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-12
58. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 10, 40-01 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 23-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15
59. Timothy Dube -- Nashua , NH -- 10, 40-00 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 22-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10
60. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 39-14 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 18-05 -- Day 2: 5, 21-09
61. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 39-12 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 22-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11
62. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 39-11 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06
63. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 39-07 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07
64. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 39-04 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11
65. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 10, 38-15 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05
66. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 38-12 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02
67. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 38-05 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06
68. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 10, 38-04 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12
69. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 38-01 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 18-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06
70. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 37-13 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-06 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07
71. Kyle Patrick -- Cooperstown, NY -- 10, 37-12 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00
72. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 37-06 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-03
73. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 10, 37-04 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 21-08
74. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 10, 36-13 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04
75. Kyle Welcher -- Valley, AL -- 10, 36-12 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01
76. Logan Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 36-10 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13
77. Todd Auten -- Clover, SC -- 10, 36-09 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13
78. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 36-06 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12
79. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 10, 36-04 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09
80. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 36-03 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00
81. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 36-02 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03
82. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 36-00 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08
83. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 35-00 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11
84. Cooper Gallant -- Bowmanville, ON -- 10, 34-14 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 23-01
85. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 10, 34-10 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00
86. Joey Cifuentes III -- Clinton, AR -- 10, 34-09 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 24-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-08
87. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 10, 34-05 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05
88. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 34-05 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14
89. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 34-01 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12
90. Frank Talley -- Belton, TX -- 10, 33-12 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10
91. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 33-10 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12
92. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 10, 32-08 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 21-07
93. Jason Christie -- Dry Creek, OK -- 9, 31-07 -- 11
Day 1: 4, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01
94. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 9, 31-06 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 4, 13-02
95. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 8, 31-05 -- 9
Day 1: 3, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 21-01
96. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 28-08 -- 8
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05
97. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 9, 28-02 -- 7
Day 1: 4, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00
98. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 10, 27-03 -- 6
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06
99. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 18-05 -- 5
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05
100. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 17-07 -- 4
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
101. JT Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 0 -- 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
