2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain Day 3: Chris Johnston Secures Lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 4th,Gustafson 30th & Cooper Gallant 33rd.

Canadian pro Chris Johnston has taken the lead on Day 3 of the 2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain with a three-day total of 62 pounds, 13 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS Press Release

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — He was dealing with a cold front, but Chris Johnston had the hot hand. That productivity gave the accomplished pro from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada the Day 3 lead in the SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain.

Keeping himself in the conversation from the start, Johnston placed eighth on Day 1 with 19 pounds, 14 ounces and rose to third a day later on the strength of his 21-7 limit. Adding a Semifinal Saturday bag that weighed 21-8, Johnston tallied a three-day total of 62-13.

Heading into Championship Sunday, Johnston leads Bryan Schmitt by 3 ounces.

Despite turning in his best bag of the week, Johnston said the weather system moving through the area interrupted the game plan he’d been following.

“The wind is what really hurt me and maybe the cold,” Johnston said. “A lot of my smallmouth have been coming shallow. I’ve been trying to get a couple kicker largemouth, but I’ve been filling my limit with 3 1/2- to 4-pound smallmouth.

“I’ve been sight-fishing those big smallmouth. The only way I can catch those big ones, for the most part, is to visually see them. Today, I got lucky and got one to eat by just blind fishing, but if it slicks off and gets sunny, that’s my best chance to catch those big ones.”

Many of Champlain’s bigger smallmouth roam deep open water, but it’s nearly impossible to consistently target those fish without forward facing sonar. Shortly after B.A.S.S. announced the 2026 schedule, a coin flip selection identified five events that would allow forward facing sonar and four that would not. The Champlain event does not allow this live sonar technology.

After two mostly calm days offered favorable sight-fishing conditions, Johnston was able to cover broad areas of grass and rock, pick out his targets and then make precise casts with a finesse bait.

“If it’s ripply, I can’t see the smallmouth,” Johnston said. “I have to cover a mile to maybe see three or four fish (in calm conditions). There are not many, but there are some decent ones, if I can find them.”

2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain Day 2: Carl Jocumsen Continues to Lead!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 3rd, Cory Johnston 4th, Gustafson 24th, Cooper Gallant 48th & Evan King 67th! 

Australian pro Carl Jocumsen maintains the lead on Day 2 of the 2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain with a two-day total of 43 pounds, 1 ounce. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Better-than-expected weather conditions allowed Carl Jocumsen to pad his lead and test a theory that’ll no-doubt benefit his effort to win his second blue trophy in the SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain.

After taking the Day 1 lead with 23 pounds, 2 ounces, the pro from Toowoomba, Australia added a second-round limit that weighed 19-15. With a two-day total of 43-1, Jocumsen heads into Semifinal Saturday with a 1 1/4-pound lead over Seth Feider.

“Today almost went to exact plan,” Jocumsen said. “I feel like potentially, there’s more fish (in my main area) than I thought there was, which is a good thing.”

Jocumsen, who became the first Australian to win a Bassmaster Elite tournament by topping the 2019 Lake Tenkiller event, followed his Day 1 game plan and returned to the Ticonderoga area. Colloquially called “Ti,” this area named for the historic fort on Champlain’s west side, holds abundant shallow grass that’s known for good numbers of big largemouth.

With Ti sitting approximately 70 miles south of Plattsburgh, Jocumsen committed 90 minutes of running time both ways. His results justified the time gamble, as he caught all of his Day 1 weight and four of his Day 2 fish in Ti’s fertile waters.

“It was the same drill; the fish were all in the same areas where I left them yesterday,” Jocumsen said. “There’s just something about these certain sections that have some fish.

Alabama pro Greg Vinson comes out on top in his home state for the NPFL victory at Stop #4 of the 2026 Season.

Story by Justin Brouillard, NPFL Press Release

A week of ups and downs, added pressure each day, weekend boat traffic and increasing winds on Showdown Saturday—those were just a few of the challenges the field faced this week at Stop Four of the NPFL on Logan Martin Lake in Oxford, Alabama.

Veteran pro Greg Vinson saved his best for last, catching the biggest bag of the tournament on Showdown Saturday to earn his first NPFL victory with a three-day total of 46-2. Vinson opened the event with 15-10 on Thursday, survived a tough Day Two with 12-10 to sit in seventh place, then rallied with a 17-14 limit on the final day to secure the victory.

“I have been doing this a long time, guys,” Vinson said. “Over 20 years. I worked my way up with the full support of my family, my son Gaige, my wife Steph, my friends. So many ups and downs in this sport. There were so many times I didn't know if I had another year left. I put it in God's hands, and He kept me in this game. I've had a rough couple of years, questioning things, but God gave me direction. This moment tells me God wants me to keep fishing.”

Also saving his best day for last, Jon Canada finished second with a three-day total of 44-9. Fishing from the dam to roughly 2 miles below it, Canada relied on years of history on Logan Martin to identify several productive stretches. Increasing his weight each day, Canada opened with 12-11, added 14-10 on Day Two, and capped off his tournament with 17-4 on Showdown Saturday.

Alabama pro Wes Gore finished third with 43-10, while South Carolina's Corey Casey placed fourth at 43-1 after leading the tournament entering the final day. Rounding out the top five, Indiana pro Bill Lowen finished with 42-0.

Jordan Osborne claimed Big Bass honors at Logan Martin with a 6-0 largemouth caught on Day Two.

Finesse Pays Off for Vinson

In his home state, Greg Vinson made it all come together, earning his first major victory. It was a long time coming, and it came on arguably the toughest day of the week on Logan Martin. With increased boat traffic, Vinson still made his pattern work.

Jason Christie Wins 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound

BASS Press Release  

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — At no point did Jason Christie think he was going to win the Maxam Bassmaster Elite Series at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. That is until he held the trophy over his head. 

The Dry Creek, Okla., pro caught a four-day total weighing 92 pounds, 7 ounces, outlasting Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Fisher Anaya and Ohio native Hunter Shryock for his second victory of the 2026 season. That total weight was done with only 19 bass after he fell short of a limit on Day 2.

“Even today, I thought my luck was going to run out,” Christie said. “I could go up there tomorrow and not catch one. It was so random where I was catching them.”

This marks Christie’s 10th B.A.S.S., joining Kevin VanDam, Rick Clunn, Denny Brauer, Larry Nixon and Roland Martin as the only anglers to win double-digit Bassmaster events. Seven of those victories are Elite Series wins, two are Opens victories and last but not least a Bassmaster Classic. 

All of that was done in 139 events. 

“They’ve all been surprising,” Christie said. “Whenever I have a good practice, I usually don’t catch them. Practice here was not good. I just really had to keep my bait wet. I didn’t even catch a limit one day.”

Christie made the trek up to the Chowan River every day of the tournament, staying in the front half of the river so he only had to get gas once. Most of the bass were located 2 feet under the surface in 6 or 7 feet of water. As hard as he tried, he could never find a consistent pattern to run. He caught bass off cypress trees, laydowns and stumps, but nothing stayed consistent. 

One dock, however, saved his tournament. Fellow competitor David Mullins told Christie about that dock after Day 2, and Christie caught over 28 pounds off that one dock between Semifinal Saturday and Championship Sunday. 

“It is the best dock I have ever fished. It took care of me yesterday and today. Without that, I wouldn’t be standing here.” Christie said. “It was something about the current. When I would pull up there would be baitfish jumping out of the water.” 

After Day 3, Christie remarked he had a new arrow in his arsenal. That bait was an unnamed urchin-style bait in watermelon he purchased at a Scheel’s event several weeks ago. He doesn’t know the name, but it carried him all week on the Chowan.

“I’m 100 percent serious when I say I don’t know the name of them,” he said. “I bought one, tried it at home and caught two bass on it. I had to work an event at Scheels, and I bought three or four there. I won (using) that one.”

2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound Day 3: Christie Jumps into Lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 47th

Oklahoma pro Jason Christie has taken the lead on Day 3 of the Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 7 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Jason Christie can’t believe he is leading the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. 

The nine-time B.A.S.S. champion entered this tournament just trying to get plenty of points to stay inside the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour cutline. Instead, Christie is out in front with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 7 ounces with the opportunity to claim his second blue trophy of the 2026 season.

“(I'm) Absolutely shocked. This tournament was all about getting points for the Classic,” the 2022 Classic champion said. “Missing it two years in a row, and the next one being at Hartwell, it wouldn’t be a cool Hartwell Classic if I wasn’t there.” 

Remarkably, he leads this tournament after falling one bass short of a limit on Day 2. After opening the tournament with 24-1, Christie only brought four bass weighing 15-8 to the scales Day 2. Then, the Oklahoma pro cracked 26-14 on Semifinal Saturday, the second biggest bag of the day. 

He anchored that limit with a 9-7 largemouth that took over Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. 

2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound Day 2: Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock has taken the lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 48th, Chris Johnston 57th, Gustafson 79th, Kung 83rd & Gallant 94th

Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock has taken the lead on Day 2 of the Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Stetson Blaylock has never liked vast tidal fisheries like the Albemarle Sound. Success seems to find him anyway. 

The Arkansas pro leads the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces. Blaylock added 18-12 to his 23-8 Day 1 limit to take a 4-ounce advantage over Alabama’s Wesley Gore heading into Semifinal Saturday.

“Anytime you are in contention, it is a good thing. But you want to be in contention with bass you know are getting better, and I’m not sure if they are getting better. I have a lot of decisions to make before takeoff, but I’m in a good spot.” 

Fishing was noticeably better across the system on Friday. Multiple bags over 24 pounds hit the scales, including one limit over 26 and another over 27 pounds. 

Blaylock’s first Elite Series victory came at Winyah Bay in 2019, another coastal system along the Carolina coast. In that tournament, he was able to focus on one tactic most of the tournament. So far this week, the six-time Classic qualifier has been able to lock in on a pattern once again.

“I keep saying I don’t like these types of fisheries because there are so many things you can do,” Blaylock said. “There’s going to be someone tomorrow who scraps their plan, does something different and catches a big stringer. That is something I struggle with. At Winyah Bay, I was able to stay in one area all four days. That’s what has been best for me, not running around.”

One area far from takeoff in Elizabeth City has produced the bulk of Blaylock’s limit. With higher salinity across the system, Blaylock has tried to find the freshest water possible. Along with a good population of bass, there’s a plethora of baitfish in the area as well. 

“It is a well-kept area,” he explained. “The trick here right now is finding fresh water. I’m going way way back in this river, and I feel the further back you get, the better opportunity you have to catch a big fish.”

Alex Davis Wins 2026 Work Sharp NPFL Stop 3 on Lay Lake!

Alabama pro Alex Davis earns his first NPFL win at Lay Lake with a three-day total weight of 51-10.

By Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

NPFL Press Release

While things were changing across Lay Lake, the one thing that did not change at the Work Sharp NPFL Stop 3 was Alabama angler Alex Davis’ game plan. He started strong, stayed consistent, and caught fish early and often all three days to seal the deal.

Davis weighed 19-5 on Day One to take a share of the lead, added 18-5 on Day Two to move into the solo lead, and caught 14-0 early on the final day to build a comfortable cushion heading into the afternoon. While things got tougher across the fishery with increased boat traffic and fishing pressure, Davis had done enough to earn the NPFL shield and $100,000 with a three-day total of 51-10.

No stranger to NPFL victories, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters came close to earning another. Walters started strong on Day One with 19-4, including a 5-3 kicker, added 16-7 on Day Two, and weighed 15-1 on the final day to finish second with a three-day total of 50-12.

Chris Johnston Wins 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes : Cory Finishes 4th!

Johnston Coike’s his way to victory at Santee Cooper Lakes

Canadian pro Chris Johnston has won the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 113 pounds, 12 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Ever since joining the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Chris Johnston has wanted to win a tournament centered around southern largemouth. 

The Peterborough, Ontario native achieved that goal this week by winning the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 113 pounds, 12 ounces, breaking away from second-place Brandon Palaniuk to earn his second blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, a margin of victory of 19-12.

“I’ve been pegged as a smallmouth guy up north, but I have been very consistent with these southern fisheries and had some close calls with Bassmaster,” Johnston said. “So, to win one in this fashion is unbelievable. To have the week I had, catching 5-,6- and 7-pounders the whole time, you couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been that dialed in a tournament ever.”

Not only is it Johnston’s second career Elite Series win, his first coming at the St. Lawrence River in 2020, but he also earned his second career Century Belt and became the third angler to earn a belt on both a smallmouth fishery (St. Lawrence River in 2023) and a largemouth fishery. 

Lakes Marion and Moultrie have now produced nine Century Belts since the inaugural 2006 Elite Series season, and Johnston’s four-day total is the second-highest winning weight after Preston Clark’s 115-15 beatdown in 2006. 

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes Day 3: Chris Johnston Splashes into Lead!

Canadians Cory Johnston 4th & Kung 17th

Canadian pro Chris Johnston has taken the lead on Day 3 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 82 pounds, 13 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Not much went right for Chris Johnston on Day 3 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. He got hung up a lot, fell in the lake and left a pair of sunglasses and a flip flop in the water, but what he took out of the lake was much more important.

The Peterborough, Ontario pro caught 29 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 3 to claim the lead with 82-13. He will carry a 3-2 advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk into Championship Sunday. 

“It felt like I couldn’t do anything wrong other than falling in the lake. Maybe that’s good juju, I don’t know. I smell like Santee Cooper for sure,” Johnston said. 

The tournament lead has changed every day so far, and multiple anglers have a chance at breaking the century mark this week on Lakes Marion and Moultrie. If he can keep pace for one more day, this will be Johnston’s second Elite Series win and potentially his second Century Belt. 

“It would be awesome to win here, especially catching all of these giants,” he said. “This is the way to do it. You are having so much fun, but it stresses me out when they are going crazy jumping and swimming around the wood. Getting them in the boat is a feat all its own.” 

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes Day 2: Brandon Palaniuk Scores Big Lead!

Canadians Chris Johnston 2nd, Cory Johnston 4th, Kung 16th, Gustafson 53rd & Gallant 96th

Rathdrum, Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk has taken the lead on Day 2 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a two-day total of 59 pounds.(Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Brandon Palaniuk’s Santee Cooper Lakes hot streak continued on Day 2 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. The Idaho native landed 29 pounds, 15 ounces to take the lead with a two-day total of 59-0. 

“The Prodigy” anchored his limit with an 8-6 postspawn largemouth, a bass that helped him build a 4-5 advantage over Canadian pro Chris Johnston. The gap from Johnston to third-place Carl Jocumsen is 5-15. 

“I was nervous after practice, to be honest, that I was gonna blow the good reputation I have here,” Palaniuk said. “Today was unreal. I didn’t see it coming yesterday and I didn’t see it coming today.”

Palaniuk has yet to miss a Championship Sunday cut, let alone a Day 3 cut, at Santee Cooper Lakes in three attempts. He’s 4/4 now with Semifinal Saturday’s and in prime position again to make the final day. 

So far this week, Palaniuk has called one broad area of Lake Marion home, targeting postspawn largemouth around particular pieces of cover. One bait has generated most of his bites so far. While the one area has stayed the same, the eight-time Bassmaster champion said the same pieces of cover have produced bites two days in a row. 

2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes Day 1: Cory Johnston Sack 29-6lbs!

Canadians Chris Johnston 16th, Kung 50th, Gustafson 74th & Gallant 95th

Canadian pro Cory Johnston has taken the lead on Day 1 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a total of 29 pounds, 6 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS Press Release

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — On paper, there are few similarities between southern Canada and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, but Cory Johnston feels at home one way or the other. 

The 41-year-old from Peterborough, Ontario brought in a limit weighing 29 pounds, 6 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. Johnston holds a 5-ounce advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk.

“I love fishing shallow. That is kind of my deal,” Johnston said. “It really fishes a lot like home. It may not look like it, but with the grass and everything it does feel like home.”

It is a two-man breakaway at the stop of the standings on Day 1. The gap between Palaniuk and the third-place tie between Bob Downey and Justin Hamner is 5-6. In total, 28 anglers caught over 19 pounds on Lakes Marion and Moultrie and nearly the entire field reached a limit. 

Both Johnston and Palaniuk have dueled at the top of the Santee Cooper leaderboard before. When “The Prodigy” won in the fall of 2020, Johnston finished third while each earned a Top 10 finish in 2022.