Johnston, Gee Tie for Lead at Elite Tournament at St. Lawrence River

August 16, 2024
B.A.S.S. News

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — He knows where the giants live, and that hard-earned insight rewarded Cory Johnston in a big way.  acking up a 27-pound, 7-ounce limit, the Canadian superstar from Otonabee, Ontario, matched rookie Robert Gee with a two-day total of 52-7 to tie for the lead on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at 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 fourth on Day 1 with 25-0 and has 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 this 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. All 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, Semi-final Saturday’s forecast calls for big south winds that promise to roil Lake Ontario. Johnston, who has been making a big 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 fifth on Day 1 with a limit of 24-13 and moved into third 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 drop shot with a Berkley MaxScent Flatnose Minnow. His big fish earned the $1,000 Big Bass award for Day 2. Joey Cifuentes III is in the lead for Big Bass of the tournament honors with his 6-15.

Johnston leads the Monster Bag of the Tournament standings with his 27-7. The Top 50 anglers advance to Semi-Final Saturday, with the Top 10 moving on to Championship 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 Bassmaster 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 of Otonabee, Ontario, with 731, and Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., With 727. McKinney leads the Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 732 points.

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.

 

2024 Bassmaster Elite tournament at St. Lawrence River 8/15-8/18
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         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   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   24-13     Day 2: 5   25-12   
4.  Taku Ito               Dalton GA 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 Ontario CANA 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 CA JAPAN      10  44-07   82
  Day 1: 5   25-08     Day 2: 5   18-15   
23. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 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 Ontario CANADA 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 OK JAPAN          10  40-14   54
  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   19-13   
51. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  40-11   53   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   20-04   
52. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  40-09   52   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   22-14   
53. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  40-08   51   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   19-08   
54. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  40-06   50   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   23-11   
55. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  40-04   49   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   22-15   
56. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  40-04   48   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   18-07   
57. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  40-04    0   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   20-12   
58. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC      10  40-01   46   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   16-15   
59. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH             10  40-00   45   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-06     Day 2: 5   17-10   
60. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  39-14   44   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   21-09   
61. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  39-12   43   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   22-01     Day 2: 5   17-11   
62. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  39-11   42   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   20-06   
63. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  39-07   41   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   19-07   
64. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  39-04   40   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   18-11   
65. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  38-15   39   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   19-05   
66. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  38-12   38   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   19-02   
67. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  38-05   37   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   18-06   
68. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  38-04   36   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   18-12   
69. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  38-01   35   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   19-06   
70. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  37-13   34   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   20-07   
71. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         10  37-12   33   $2,500.00
  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 Ontario CAN 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   $1,000.00
  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   
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Joey Cifuentes III       Clinton, AR         06-15      $1,000.00
 2   Shane LeHew              Catawba, NC         06-12      $1,000.00

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Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        96       491      2000-08
 2        98       494      2015-09
----------------------------------
         194       985      4016-01