Ito Leads Elite Tournament at St. Lawrence River

August 15, 2024
B.A.S.S. News

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — It was a case of quality over quantity, but Japanese superstar Taku Ito was just fine with the 5-bass limit of 26 pounds, 2 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at St. Lawrence River. Ito, who won the 2021 St. Lawrence Elite event — also run out of Waddington — and claimed his second blue trophy June 30 at Smith Lake, heads into Day 2 with a 6-ounce margin over rookie Robert Gee.

One of the highlight reel moments from Ito’s first Elite win was his crowd-pleasing tale of finding a brown-fish-laden spot he named “Smallmouth Disneyland.” The Lake Ontario goldmine that yielded a 26-pound Championship Sunday limit held so many fish that Ito claimed he got downright picky about only targeting the bigger fish on his screen. Flash forward three years and Ito said he saw fewer fish, but the ones he saw were the ones he needed.

“The fish were alone today; I couldn’t find (schools) of bass,” said Ito, who makes his home in Chiba, Japan. “I only caught six or seven bass. It was so hard, but they were big ones.

“I think the 3-pounders and 2-pounders are schooling, but the 5- and 6-pounders are always alone.”

Making the 80-plus-mile run to Lake Ontario, Ito fished in 15 to 35 feet of water and looked for scattered rock bottom throughout a 2-mile area. This habitat, he said, holds lots of crawfish, which he believes attracts the bigger fish.

“I used the trolling motor a lot and went everywhere shallow to deep,” Ito said. “When I’d finally find a fish, it was very simple: Cast, hold, shake, bite; easy.

“My area is not perfect. There are (fresher) areas somewhere, but I like the crawfish-eaters. They are swimming very close to the bottom.”

Anchoring his bag with a 6-pounder, Ito said he made a few casts with a Neko rig but ended up catching the majority of his fish on a drop shot. Using a 1/2-ounce weight, Ito tied his drop shot with an 18-inch leader — a detail he believes made a strategic difference in his presentations.

“With a short leader, casting accuracy is good, but a longer leader makes a softer fall and that’s (more stealthy),” Ito said. “When I cast, the fish find the bait (higher in the water column) and with a soft fall, I’ll get a bite.”

With Day 1 bringing mostly calm conditions and Friday’s forecast showing a similar complexion, Ito’s hoping to stack his numbers ahead of what’s expected to become a rougher weekend.

“For my fish, calm weather is good, because they’re swimming close to the bottom,” Ito said. “But in big waves I can’t see them.

“I have a couple of areas that I didn’t check today, so I will find some spots if (the weekend brings rough weather). I’m in a big area, so I’m always looking around.”

Hailing from Knoxville, Tenn., Gee is in second place with 25-12. Doing most of his work in the lake with a drop shot, Gee ended his day by fishing areas close to takeoff. All of his weight came from Lake Ontario.

“I stayed on one spot (in the lake) all day long, caught what I caught by noon and then ran back and threw a spinnerbait around Waddington,” he said.

Gee said he matched his drop shot baits to the gobies and crawfish he believes the big fish are eating. Notably, Gee finished second to Ito at Smith Lake. Suffice to say, he’s planning to even the score, but he knows that doing so will require a crafty plan.

“The fish are very, very smart here now,” Gee said. “The first time I came here in 2019 for a college tournament, they would meet your drop shot halfway before it got to the bottom and catch it. Now, they’ve been fished for so much, it’s really tough to get them to bite.”

Kyoya Fujita of Yamanishi, Japan, is in third place with 25-8. Fujita, who won the season opener at Toledo Bend Reservoir, fished the mouth of Lake Ontario and caught his fish on a drop shot. Speaking through a translator, Ito said he fished clean and did not lose any bass. Fujita also noted that he’s optimistic about his position and his potential.

“I’m only 10 ounces behind the leader, and there is a big chance that I can catch 30 pounds (on Day 2),” he said. “It can happen. I just have to have the big fish bite tomorrow and I’m going to go for it.”

Joey Cifuentes III is in the lead for Big Bass honors with his 6-15. Ito leads the Monster Bag of the Tournament standings. Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., leads the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 749 points. Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, is in second with 747, followed by reigning Bassmaster Classic champion Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., with 746, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, with 730, and Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., with 724. McKinney leads the Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 724 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

2024 Bassmaster Elite tournament at St. Lawrence River 8/15-8/18
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          5  26-02  103
  Day 1: 5   26-02   
2.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  25-12  102
  Day 1: 5   25-12   
3.  Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       5  25-08  101
  Day 1: 5   25-08   
4.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA          5  25-00  100
  Day 1: 5   25-00   
5.  Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  24-13   99
  Day 1: 5   24-13   
6.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           5  24-12   98
  Day 1: 5   24-12   
7.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  24-07   97
  Day 1: 5   24-07   
8.  Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  24-04   96
  Day 1: 5   24-04   
9.  Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  24-02   95
  Day 1: 5   24-02   
10. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  24-01   94   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   24-01   
11. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  23-12   93
  Day 1: 5   23-12   
12. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  23-11   92
  Day 1: 5   23-11   
13. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  23-10   91
  Day 1: 5   23-10   
14. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              5  23-04   90
  Day 1: 5   23-04   
15. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  23-02   89
  Day 1: 5   23-02   
15. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  23-02   89
  Day 1: 5   23-02   
15. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       5  23-02   89
  Day 1: 5   23-02   
18. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  5  22-15   86
  Day 1: 5   22-15   
19. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA  5  22-09   85
  Day 1: 5   22-09   
19. Bryan New              Leesville, SC            5  22-09   85
  Day 1: 5   22-09   
21. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  22-08   83
  Day 1: 5   22-08   
22. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  22-08   82
  Day 1: 5   22-08   
23. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  22-07   81
  Day 1: 5   22-07   
24. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              5  22-06   80
  Day 1: 5   22-06   
24. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               5  22-06   80
  Day 1: 5   22-06   
26. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  22-05   78
  Day 1: 5   22-05   
27. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  22-03   77
  Day 1: 5   22-03   
28. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  22-02   76
  Day 1: 5   22-02   
29. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  22-01   75
  Day 1: 5   22-01   
29. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  22-01   75
  Day 1: 5   22-01   
31. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              5  22-00   73
  Day 1: 5   22-00   
32. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  21-14   72
  Day 1: 5   21-14   
33. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  21-13   71
  Day 1: 5   21-13   
33. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  21-13   71
  Day 1: 5   21-13   
35. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  21-13   69
  Day 1: 5   21-13   
36. John Garrett           Union City, TN           5  21-12   68
  Day 1: 5   21-12   
37. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  21-11   67
  Day 1: 5   21-11   
38. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN             5  21-10   66
  Day 1: 5   21-10   
39. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  21-09   65
  Day 1: 5   21-09   
40. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            5  21-08   64
  Day 1: 5   21-08   
40. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  21-08   64
  Day 1: 5   21-08   
42. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  21-07   62
  Day 1: 5   21-07   
43. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  21-06   61
  Day 1: 5   21-06   
44. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  21-05   60
  Day 1: 5   21-05   
45. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           5  21-01   59
  Day 1: 5   21-01   
45. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  21-01   59
  Day 1: 5   21-01   
47. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  21-00   57
  Day 1: 5   21-00   
48. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  20-14   56
  Day 1: 5   20-14   
49. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  20-13   55
  Day 1: 5   20-13   
50. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  20-12   54
  Day 1: 5   20-12   
51. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  20-10   53
  Day 1: 5   20-10   
52. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  20-09   52
  Day 1: 5   20-09   
53. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  20-07   51
  Day 1: 5   20-07   
53. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  20-07   51
  Day 1: 5   20-07   
53. Mike Huff              London, KY               5  20-07   51
  Day 1: 5   20-07   
56. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  20-04   48
  Day 1: 5   20-04   
57. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  20-02   47
  Day 1: 5   20-02   
58. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              5  20-00   46
  Day 1: 5   20-00   
59. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  19-15   45
  Day 1: 5   19-15   
60. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  19-12   44
  Day 1: 5   19-12   
60. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  19-12   44
  Day 1: 5   19-12   
62. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL               5  19-11   42
  Day 1: 5   19-11   
63. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  19-10   41
  Day 1: 5   19-10   
63. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  19-10   41
  Day 1: 5   19-10   
65. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  19-08   39
  Day 1: 5   19-08   
65. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  19-08    0
  Day 1: 5   19-08   
67. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  19-05   37
  Day 1: 5   19-05   
68. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  19-03   36
  Day 1: 5   19-03   
69. Frank Talley           Belton, TX               5  19-02   35
  Day 1: 5   19-02   
70. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  18-15   34
  Day 1: 5   18-15   
71. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  18-14   33
  Day 1: 5   18-14   
71. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               5  18-14   33
  Day 1: 5   18-14   
73. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               5  18-12   31
  Day 1: 5   18-12   
74. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  18-11   30
  Day 1: 5   18-11   
75. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  18-10   29
  Day 1: 5   18-10   
76. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  18-10   28
  Day 1: 5   18-10   
77. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  18-08   27
  Day 1: 5   18-08   
78. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  18-05   26
  Day 1: 5   18-05   
79. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  18-04   25
  Day 1: 5   18-04   
80. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               5  18-03   24
  Day 1: 5   18-03   
81. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  18-01   23
  Day 1: 5   18-01   
82. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  18-00   22
  Day 1: 5   18-00   
83. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  17-11   21
  Day 1: 5   17-11   
84. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  17-09   20
  Day 1: 5   17-09   
85. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  17-07   19
  Day 1: 5   17-07   
86. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  17-06   18
  Day 1: 5   17-06   
87. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  17-05   17
  Day 1: 5   17-05   
88. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  16-11   16
  Day 1: 5   16-11   
89. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  16-11   15
  Day 1: 5   16-11   
90. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  16-07   14
  Day 1: 5   16-07   
91. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  16-03   13
  Day 1: 5   16-03   
92. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  15-12   12
  Day 1: 5   15-12   
93. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  15-05   11
  Day 1: 5   15-05   
94. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            4  14-06   10
  Day 1: 4   14-06   
95. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  14-05    9
  Day 1: 5   14-05   
96. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  12-13    8
  Day 1: 5   12-13   
97. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            4  12-02    7
  Day 1: 4   12-02   
98. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  11-13    6
  Day 1: 5   11-13   
99. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  11-01    5
  Day 1: 5   11-01   
100. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             3  10-04    4
  Day 1: 3   10-04   
101. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               0  00-00    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00   
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Joey Cifuentes III       Clinton, AR         06-15      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        97       496      2021-14
----------------------------------
          97       496      2021-14