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. 

2017 ICAST Sunline's Crank FC

2017 ICAST VMC Weedless Neko Hooks

The brand new VMC Neko weedless hook. Offset point, resin closed eye, long shank and wide gaps make is perfect for cover and open water. The 2 strands of Fluorocarbon make it a super weedless hook. The closed eye works well with all sizes and styles of fishing line.

ICAST 2016 New Finesse Fluorocarbon Line from Seaguar with Shaw Grigsby ...

If you fish in clear water or you need an edge over other anglers then try Fluorocarbon. Listen to Shaw Grigsby as he explains the new Seaguar Finesse Fluorocarbon lines.

Denny Brauer Approved Seaguar Flipping Fishing Lines

Seaguar Flippin Line

By Luigi De Rose

Designed by legendary flipper Denny Brauer, Seaguar’s Flippin Line focuses on big bass in cover. Offered in both Fluorocarbon and braid, expect ultra-abrasion resistant, tremendous power with great knot strength. The Fluorocarbon comes in 20lb, 25lb and 30lb tests for anglers who want the invisibility of Fluorocarbon yet demand control. Flippin braid is constructed using 8 ultra-thin strands in a tight, round profile weave in green, 50lb and 65lb tests MSRP $20.99 - $35.99

ICAST 2015: SEAGUAR PARTNERS WITH DENNY BRAUER TO LAUNCH NEW FLIPPIN’ LINES

Seaguar®, the inventor and world leader in fluorocarbon and premium fishing line, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of two new technique-specific fishing lines targeting heavy cover applications.

Flippin’ Fluoro and Flippin’ Braid are the brainchild of Denny Brauer, legendary flipping expert and BassMaster Classic® Champion.

Brauer identified strength and sensitivity as the key characteristics required in the new Flippin’ lines. “This is about pulling big fish out of the nastiest vegetation you can find,” said Brauer. “You’re on a short line, and you need to feel the quick reaction strike and then literally horse the fish out of heavy cover.” He added, “Your line is one of the most important aspects of the presentation, and now Seaguar has made selecting the right line simple.

ThunderCarbon Fishing Line

High-end Fluorocarbon from Niagara Falls Company

By Luigi De Rose

The Niagara Falls based company Thundermist Lures had entered the line business with

ThunderCarbon. ThunderCarbon is a 100% Fluorocarbon made in Japan under strict Japanese specifications. Ivo Coia, Thundermist Lures' owner, felt that customers wanted a primium Fluorocarbon line. Ideal for everything steelhead and brown trout in rivers to flipping largemouth, ThunderCarbon has a line size just right for the angler's needs. Except great knot strength, invisible, better handling, very fast sink rate and exceptional UV and water resistant.

It is available in 4lb, 6lb, 8lb, 10lb, 15lb and 20lb tests.

MSRP $12.99 - $24.99

ICAST 2013 Stren Line with Chris Lane and IBASSIN

Learn what helped Chris Lane win the B.A.S.S Elite Lake St. Clair tournament.

ICAST 2013 Stren Line with Chris Lane and IBASSIN

2013 ICAST we find the IBASSIN team with Bassmaster Classic Champ Chris Lane in the Stren booth. Chris Lane explains all the benefits of fishing with Stren fishing line.

The Albright Knot: Fluorocarbon to Braid

By Luigi De Rose

Here is the video I made for Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine. It explains how-to tie an Albright knot with Fluorocarbon to Braided fishing line. This is a great way to connect Fluorocarbon leaders to braid when using jerkbaits, topwaters, cranks or finesse baits.

3 Soft Stickbait Rigs You Must Know!

By Luigi De Rose

In this month's issue of Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine is my most recent column. The article is called,  3 Soft Stickbait Presentation Every Angler Should Know.  Also, have a look in The Opener section at my article on 3 Knots of Fluorocarbon. A few other must read articles from this issue are: For the Record: The 65 Pound Muskie Question & The Ultimate Wild Game BBQ.

Jerkbait Secrets for Fall Smallmouth

October triggers a switch from largemouth to smallmouth for anglers in the north. This held true last weekend. I honoured my donated fishing trip for two from last year's Ontario Chinese Angler Association's Christmas dinner.  We planned on heading to a well-known smallmouth lake to work jigs on the bottom. I double checked with a few fishing buddies and they confirmed what I expected; it wasn't cold enough and the fishing was poor. With that news, I headed north to a deep, shield lake  rich with smallmouth.

With three of us in the boat, I wanted to ensure my two guests were into fish.  We, particularly myself, alternated between a variety of lures but nothing worked like the jerkbait. By mid-day, all three of us were casting minnow plugs and jerking them back to the boat.

A few interesting things occurred that day. I stuck to the deeper water and limited myself to smaller sized plugs in the 3" to 4" range. My three best were a X-rap, Duel and OSP. Mine were regular baits without any doctoring. I primarily used gaudy coloured or silver baits because I like the flash. Plus it is easy to follow thm and react when a bass follows it.