Cory Johnston Wins Bassmaster Elite on St. Johns River
A four-day total of 93 pounds, 6 ounces gave the pro from Otonabee, Canada, a winning margin of 21-2 over Texan Brad Whatley. But Johnston's Day 3 total, 73lbs 13oz, would have edged Whatley's tournament total of 72-4 by 1-9. Johnston's winning margin was the second largest in Elite history (behind Patrick Walters' 29-10 record at Lake Fork in 2020). This is only the 15th time an Elite Series competitor has recorded a double-digit winning margin. All week, Johnston targeted bed fish in Salt Springs, which runs off the northwest side of Lake George. Noting that he relied heavily on Garmin Perspective Mode and his Power-Pole Move trolling motor, Johnston said he caught those fish by flipping various worms and creature baits and drop shotting a finesse worm. The 6th Sense Bongo 3.7 was his secret weapon, he rigged it on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens Finesse Heavy Cover Flipping Hook, with a 1/4-ounce 6th Sense Tungsten Weight. Corey also found sucess with a 6th Sense Fishing Panorama rigged on a 6/0 Gamakatsu Extra Wide Gap hook, with a 5/16-ounce 6th Sense Tungsten weight.
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Bassmaster Elite St. Johns River - Top 10
2nd Place - Brad Whatley - 72lb - 4oz - $35,000
Whatley continued his hot streak in the sunshine state with a second consecutive Championship Sunday appearance. A key bait for Brad was a 1/2-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. For flipping and pitching, Whatley turned to a 1/2-ounce Epic Baits Tournament Grade Swimbait, with a 4-inch Bass Assassin Lures Woopah Craw.
3rd Place - Jacob Foutz - 71lb - 6oz - $30,000
Foutz rotated between a swimbait and topwater dog-walking action bait for schoolers. Jacob used a 3/16-ounce jighead, with a Strike King Z-Too Soft Jerkbait. For surface-feeding schooling bass, he used this Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil.
4th Place - Drew Benton - 70lb - 11oz - $25,000
Benton chose lures to mimic the shad spawn, and for flipping pads and sight fishing. A 3/8-ounce Dirty Jigs No-Jack Swim Jig, with a SPRO Pocket Tail 3.5 proved to be a hot choice for Drew. For flipping pads and sight fishing, Benton picked a Nories Front Flapper, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Power Heavy Cover Hook, with a 3/8-ounce Elite Tungsten weight.
5th Place - Chris Johnston - 70lb - 0oz - $20,000
Johnston used a soft plastic stick bait to target spawning bass. Chris selected a 4-inch Nories Lures Front Flapper, rigged on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Aaron Martens G-Power Heavy Cover Hook for flipping and pitching applications.
6th Place - Greg Hackney - 67lb - 15oz - $19,000
Hackney primarily used a spinnerbait designed specifically for shad spawn scenarios, a 1/2-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Shad Spawn Spinnerbait. The lure features four willowleaf blades, making it appear like a shad spawning in the water.
7th Place - Jason Christie - 66lb - 9oz - $18,000
Christie rotated through lures for the early morning shad spawn, and baits for covering water near the shoreline around cypress trees, lily pads and other cover. The Heddon Zara Spook was Christie's choice for the early morning action. He used a personal tournament-winning bait that he designed, a 1/2-ounce BOOYAH Covert Spinnerbait with double willowleaf blades througout the day. For flipping heavy cover, he turned to a YUM Christie Critter, rigged on a 5/0 TK130 Lazer Trokar Flipping Hook with a 3/8-ounce tungsten weight.
8th Place - Ray Hanselman Jr - 66lb - 9oz - $17,000
Hanselman chose a topwater walking bait and lipless crankbait for the shad spawn and schooling bass, and then a Carolina rig for later in the day. For the shad spawn, he used this 6th Sense Dogma 115. To change things up, Ray switched to a 6th Sense Duke 55 for schooling bass and the shad spawn. Hanselman constructed his Carolina rig with a 6th Sense Bamboosa 5.3 Worm, rigged on a 1/2-ounce 6th Sense Carolina Pre-Rig with a 4/0 Owner Hook.
9th Place - Matt Arey - 64lb - 13oz - $16,000
Arey's focused on flipping pads in the main river with Texas-rigged soft plastics, and Neko rigs for bedding bass. A key bait for Matt was a Texas-rigged 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick, rigged on 3/0 hook with 3/8- or 5/16-ounce Titan Tungsten weights. For bed fishing, Arey used a Neko-rigged 5-inch Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick, rigged on a No. 2 weedless wacky hook, with an O ring and nail weight. A soft plastic craw imitator on a 3/0 hook with a 3/8-ounce Titan Tungsten weight was his choice for heavy cover.
10th Place - Logan Latuso - 63lb - 15oz - $15,000
Logan Latusu began his mornings with a bait for the shad spawn, and then transitioned to a flipping pattern in lily pads. For the shad spawn, he used a 3/8-ounce Delta Lures Swim Jig, with a Missile Baits Chunky D for a trailer. Latuso picked a Missile Baits The 48, rigged on a 5/0 Haybusa FPP Straight Heavy Cover Hook with a 1/4-ounce weight.
