Johnson's Patience, Persistence Paid Off

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

Catching a 20-pound stringer of bass on the upper Mississippi River around La Crosse, Wis., is a once-or-twice-a-year occurrence, according to longtime river rat Jimmy Johnson.

It would stand to reason then that after all of the hours and days Johnson has spent fishing the Mississippi that his time would come to pull such a sack of fish out of its waters during a big tournament. He did just that last week on day 1 of the final Central Rayovac Series event of the year.

His 20-04 stringer was by far the heaviest of the tournament – 16-02 was the next biggest – and he rode it, along with his wing dam pattern, all the way to his first Rayovac Series win. He finished with 45-07 to win by 2 1/2 pounds over fellow Wisconsin angler Jeff Ritter.

"I've won smaller stuff before, but nothing of this scale," he said. "I've led the (Rayovacs) a couple times before up here, but haven't been able to finish it. (This win) give me a little justification for all the long hours and days out there. I felt like it was slipping away, though, with the big south wind (on Friday), but I fished smarter and was more dedicated to what I was doing."

He went into the tournament with a strategy to target solely big fish off specific areas and he targeted key stretches of wing dams with a swim jig and Carolina rig to trigger bites.

"I stayed completely on a big-fish pattern and was only getting five or seven bites a day," he said.

Here's how he conquered the mighty Mississippi.

Practice

The weekend prior to the Rayovac Series, Johnson finished 2nd in the two-day BFL Great Lakes Division Super Tournament, which also launched out of La Crosse.

"I was out the week before that so I had a good base of what the changes were with the water on the rise and fall," he said.

He said he spent most of the BFL in Pool 9 and not much on Pool 8, but during the Rayovac, most of his biggest fish came out of 8 and he never once cast a line in Pool 9.

"You try to practice each pool to get a fair assessment of what each pool is going through," he said. "Pool 7 has been off the last couple years. I live there and that used to be my money-maker.

"Pool 8 feels healthy right now. The grass is good and the flow has been right, and the water quality has been right. It also doesn't hurt that most tournaments weigh-in at La Crosse."

He added that the river, as a whole, had been fishing tougher compared to years past, but he believes the higher water keyed up some of the bigger fish and helped them to feed in more predictable areas.

"There were specific targets so you could pattern bigger fish," he said.

Competition

> Day 1: 5, 20-04
> Day 2: 5, 11-06
> Day 3: 5, 13-13
> Total = 15, 45-07

Johnson referred to day 1 of competition as "flawless." He applied what he'd learned in the BFL and said he got clued in to how the fish were setting up different on the final day of practice for the Rayovac.

"I saw a chance happening from the BFL," he said. "It had been primarily point pattern, but it was switching with dropping water flow and water level to wing dams. Being able to notice how those fish were changing was my key. It was good, current information to have."

He ran into a flurry of big fish in the first hour, boating two smallmouths in the 4 1/2-pound range along with a 4-pounder and a 3 1/2, also smallies. He vacated his best spot around 8 a.m. and looking back he wished he hadn't because a shift in wind later in the event took it out of play for him.

"As (Kevin VanDam) says, 'Make hay while the sun is shining,'" he noted. "That place had the potential to kick out a lot of big fish, but Mother Nature took it away."

He said the key to the wing dam that produced his 20-pound bag on day 1 was the current flowing over a low spot.

"There was super deep water really close and a really shallow feeding flat close as well," he said. "They had their home and feeding place all in one."

By noon, he was already in practice mode for day 2 and started running as many spots as he could or spots he didn't stop on in practice.

"I tried to broaden my horizons and I wound up getting one more spot out of the deal and that helped," he added.

He culled twice during the day and brought an all-smallmouth bag to the scale in which his smallest fish was 3-02.

"It was a Lake Erie bag," he quipped. "When it happens on the river, everything has to line up. The conditions were spot-on perfect for that pattern."

A south wind kicked up on day 2, the likes of which many locals hadn't seen before.

"It was almost like the river turned over and it turned off the big fish," Johnson said. "I had fish in pools 7 and 9, but I was committed to the lower end of 8. My other option was to run to 9, but everything I had there was affected by the south win. It would’ve been a mistake to make a run like that and waste time."

Instead, he stayed in Pool 8 and "tried to hit wing dams that were protected," he said. "They were tough to find, especially when dealing with complications like the Minnesota culling rules."

He said he eventually ran up into the clean water of the Black River to finish his limit, which had three smallmouths and two largemouths. His 11-06 was a severe drop from day 1, but he managed to carry a 2 1/2-pound cushion into the final day.

The forecast for the final day initially predicted winds from the north, but after he launched Johnson noticed it was blowing straight out of the southwest.

Instead of trying to ply the same wing dams that he did on day 2, he locked to pool 7 to target largemouths.

"It was a gamble, but I knew the smallmouths wouldn't go in that wind," he said.

After fishing for largemouths all morning, he sensed a shift in the wind around noon which prompted him to make an adjustment.

"As soon as I felt that switch, I ran to a smallmouth wing dam and caught three quality fish and that's what clinched it for me," he said.

Just before 12:30, he had four 14-inchers for about 7 pounds in his livewell. The wind shift and move back to smallmouths saw him put a big one in the boat at 12:30 and another at 1:30 before he upgraded a final time at 2:30.

"I definitely felt like someone could catch me until 12:30," he said. "I felt it slipping away, but whatever triggered that north wind made everything go."

Winning Pattern Notes

> Johnson said it was imperative to make long casts to the wing dams, whether he was throwing a swim jig or a Carolina rig, which he threw at inactive fish.

"One thing I've learned from Tom Monsoor over the years is to stay as far away from the fish as you possibly can, just to not have them feel your presence," he said. "That’s been a standard practice for me. You never want to be right on top of them."

> He also said he'd go 90 minutes sometimes in between bites, but he knew zeroing in on specific parts of the wing dams would eventually produce the fish he was seeking.

"I'd have confidence in 15 to 20 feet of a wing dam that was 100 to 200 yards long. I was just targeting transitional areas on those wing dams," he added.

Winning Gear Notes

> Swim jig gear: 7'5" medium-heavy G. Loomis NRX 893 casting rod, Shimano Calais casting reel, 16-pound Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits Sugoi fluorocarbon line, 3/8-oz. Lethal Weapon IV swim jig (iridescent pearl), 4" Gary Yamamato Custom Baits Swim Senko trailer (smoke purple hologram).

> He trimmed the Swim Senko down a half-inch to give the swim jig and trailer a more compact appearance.

> Carolina rig gear: 7'3" medium-heavy G. Loomis IMX Carolina rig casting rod, Shimano Chronarch casting reel, same line, 1/2-oz. mojo weight, 2/0 Owner Z-neck worm hook, 7" Gary Yamamoto lizard (green-pumpkin).

> Johnson used a 2-foot leader between the weight and the hook on his C-rig and said he prefers the smaller 2/0 hook when fishing a Carolina rig because "I'm pretty adamant about not using a bigger hook," he said. "I've found a bigger hook drives the bait down into the rocks and you get hung up 10 to 20 percent more. It's a time-saver."

> He said the smallmouth bass on the Mississippi devour the lizard bait since it resembles the willow cat or mad tom that are part of the forage base.

The Bottom Line

> Main factor in his success – "I'd say it was my persistence to finally win one of these. I was committed to only fishing for big fish. I had several schools of smallmouth found, but I knew it wouldn't help in achieving what I wanted to achieve. I didn't play it safe in this tournament. I was persistent in knowing where the big ones live on this river and it made me stay on those areas longer than most people would."

> Performance edge – "My Power-Poles. I was able to put my poles down and be in front of a specific spot on a wing dam and present the bait correctly to them."

Much of the tackle referenced above is available at the BassFan Store. To browse the selection, click here.

Final Results

1. Jimmy Johnson -- La Crosse, Wi -- 20-04 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 31-10 (10) -- 13-13 (5) -- 45-07 (15) -- $35,815

2. Jeff Ritter -- Prairie Du Chien, Wi -- 12-12 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 27-10 (10) -- 15-05 (5) -- 42-15 (15) -- $13,878

3. Mark Tucker -- Kirkwood, Mo -- 16-02 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 28-10 (10) -- 12-12 (5) -- 41-06 (15) -- $10,745

4. Mike Brueggen -- La Crosse, Wi -- 15-15 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 27-11 (10) -- 13-03 (5) -- 40-14 (15) -- $8,954

5. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 16-00 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 28-00 (10) -- 12-09 (5) -- 40-09 (15) -- $8,058

6. Kent Priel -- North Platte, Ne -- 12-05 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 28-02 (10) -- 11-11 (5) -- 39-13 (15) -- $7,163

7. Jeff Benson -- Holmen, Wi -- 10-13 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 25-11 (10) -- 12-15 (5) -- 38-10 (15) -- $6,268

8. Jerry Robackouski -- Plainfield, Il -- 12-02 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 25-05 (10) -- 11-14 (5) -- 37-03 (15) -- $5,372

9. Joe Pollak -- Lake Geneva, Wi -- 12-02 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 24-12 (10) -- 12-07 (5) -- 37-03 (15) -- $4,477

10. Terry Fitzpatrick -- Waukon, Ia -- 15-13 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 29-02 (10) -- 3-08 (2) -- 32-10 (12) -- $3,582

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.

11. Mike Foree -- Osage Beach, Mo -- 11-15 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 24-04 (10) -- $3,358

12. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 11-11 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 24-03 (10) -- $3,134

13. Brandon Gann -- Sparta, Wi -- 12-06 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 23-15 (10) -- $2,686

14. Travis Fox -- Rogers, Ar -- 12-03 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 23-15 (10) -- $2,686

15. Austin Brown -- Benton, Ky -- 13-00 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 23-14 (10) -- $2,686

16. Josh Duggan -- Madison, Wi -- 9-07 (4) -- 14-06 (5) -- 23-13 (9) -- $2,686

17. Joe Hall -- Lake City, Mn -- 9-14 (4) -- 13-14 (5) -- 23-12 (9) -- $2,686

18. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 10-10 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 23-11 (10) -- $2,686

19. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, Wi -- 12-12 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 23-09 (10) -- $2,686

20. Kevin Ruh -- Dubuque, Ia -- 9-14 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 23-07 (10) -- $2,686

21. Peter Cherkas -- Grimes, Ia -- 14-10 (5) -- 8-12 (5) -- 23-06 (10) -- $2,462

22. Eddie Norris -- Mannford, Ok -- 11-06 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 23-05 (10) -- $2,462

23. Gary Isgrigg -- Mt. Washington, Ky -- 12-07 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 23-01 (10) -- $2,462

24. Mike Gabel -- Woodridge, Il -- 11-12 (5) -- 11-03 (5) -- 22-15 (10) -- $2,462

25. James Watson -- Waynesville, Mo -- 12-07 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 22-12 (10) -- $2,462

26. Corey Smith -- Perry, Ok -- 13-14 (5) -- 8-07 (5) -- 22-05 (10) -- $2,238

27. Dennis Berhorst -- Holts Summit, Mo -- 11-02 (5) -- 11-01 (5) -- 22-03 (10) -- $2,238

28. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 9-05 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 22-02 (10) -- $2,238

29. Brian Fitzpatrick -- La Crosse, Wi -- 12-02 (5) -- 10-00 (5) -- 22-02 (10) -- $2,238

30. Terry Tretsven -- Center City, Mn -- 9-04 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 22-01 (10) -- $2,238

31. Cody Salzmann -- Charleston, Il -- 10-00 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 22-00 (10) -- $1,791

32. Chris Welch -- Fall River, Wi -- 10-04 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 21-15 (10) -- $1,791

33. Jesse Wolfe -- Nelson, Wi -- 9-07 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 21-14 (10) -- $1,791

34. Adam Ohms -- Edwardsville, Il -- 9-10 (5) -- 12-03 (5) -- 21-13 (10) -- $1,791

35. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 10-02 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 21-13 (10)

36. Nick Trim -- Onalaska, Wi -- 10-06 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 21-12 (10)

37. Tom Stark -- Angola, In -- 10-13 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 21-12 (10)

38. Casey Gallagher -- Pulaski, Wi -- 14-10 (5) -- 7-01 (3) -- 21-11 (8)

39. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, Ok -- 10-00 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 21-11 (10)

40. Troy Anderson -- Galesville, Wi -- 11-04 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 21-09 (10)

41. David Ryan -- Levasy, Mo -- 13-11 (5) -- 7-10 (3) -- 21-05 (8)

42. Shane Long -- Willard, Mo -- 11-09 (5) -- 9-08 (5) -- 21-01 (10)

43. Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ar -- 11-00 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 21-01 (10)

44. Stuart Arthur -- Benton, Mo -- 5-04 (2) -- 15-09 (5) -- 20-13 (7)

45. Doyle Isom Jr -- Bourbon, Mo -- 9-14 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 20-11 (10)

46. Jeff Barth -- Marshfield, Wi -- 7-00 (4) -- 13-10 (5) -- 20-10 (9)

47. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 10-07 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 20-10 (10)

48. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 8-11 (4) -- 11-13 (5) -- 20-08 (9)

49. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 11-08 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 20-08 (10)

50. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 10-14 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 20-01 (10)

51. Michael Williamson -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 9-13 (5) -- 10-03 (4) -- 20-00 (9)

52. Eric Schultz -- Minnetonka, Mn -- 9-14 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 19-15 (10)

53. Tim Brogan -- Arpin, Wi -- 9-13 (5) -- 10-00 (5) -- 19-13 (10)

54. Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ar -- 7-01 (3) -- 12-08 (5) -- 19-09 (8)

55. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 10-02 (5) -- 9-07 (4) -- 19-09 (9)

56. Justin Phillips -- Checotah, Ok -- 7-14 (4) -- 11-08 (5) -- 19-06 (9)

57. Matt Jones -- Spokane, Mo -- 11-05 (5) -- 8-01 (4) -- 19-06 (9)

58. Mike Baysinger -- Marthasville, Mo -- 6-01 (3) -- 13-03 (5) -- 19-04 (8)

59. Rich Dalbey -- Greenville, Tx -- 10-07 (5) -- 8-13 (4) -- 19-04 (9)

60. Dan Thill -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5-13 (3) -- 13-06 (5) -- 19-03 (8)

61. Joe Discerni -- Warren, Oh -- 8-09 (4) -- 10-09 (5) -- 19-02 (9)

62. Doug Stanton -- Winona, Mn -- 13-15 (5) -- 5-01 (3) -- 19-00 (8)

63. Cliff Blackford -- Grass Lake, Mi -- 10-13 (5) -- 8-02 (4) -- 18-15 (9)

64. Dave Doty -- Cottage Grove, Mn -- 8-11 (4) -- 10-04 (5) -- 18-15 (9)

65. Dan Mcgarry -- Tomah, Wi -- 8-03 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 18-14 (10)

66. Mick Fenn -- Grove, Ok -- 10-13 (5) -- 7-15 (4) -- 18-12 (9)

67. Sam Rosefsky -- Morris, Il -- 7-11 (3) -- 10-14 (5) -- 18-09 (8)

68. Clayton Reitz -- Morton, Il -- 5-11 (3) -- 12-08 (5) -- 18-03 (8)

69. Roger Smith -- Auburn, In -- 7-12 (3) -- 10-06 (5) -- 18-02 (8)

70. Stephen Mui -- Bartlett, Il -- 11-00 (5) -- 6-15 (3) -- 17-15 (8)

71. Glenn Walker -- Savage, Mn -- 8-04 (4) -- 9-11 (5) -- 17-15 (9)

72. Kary Ray -- Tiffin, Ia -- 11-01 (5) -- 6-07 (3) -- 17-08 (8)

73. Robert McCumby -- Kalkaska, Mi -- 6-08 (4) -- 11-00 (5) -- 17-08 (9)

74. Dustin Grice -- Robinson, Tx -- 7-05 (3) -- 10-01 (5) -- 17-06 (8)

75. Randy Ramsey Jr -- Chicago, Il -- 10-08 (5) -- 6-09 (3) -- 17-01 (8)

76. Wells Kaiser -- Cuba City, Wi -- 7-12 (4) -- 9-02 (5) -- 16-14 (9)

77. Kenneth Graeber -- Bennington, Ne -- 5-13 (3) -- 10-15 (5) -- 16-12 (8)

78. Lucas McDaniel -- Fishers, In -- 12-04 (5) -- 4-07 (3) -- 16-11 (8)

79. Kevin Johnson -- Sparta, Wi -- 10-13 (5) -- 5-13 (3) -- 16-10 (8)

80. Roman Ryan -- Madison, Wi -- 10-10 (5) -- 6-00 (3) -- 16-10 (8)

81. Michael Black -- Toledo, Il -- 9-02 (4) -- 7-08 (4) -- 16-10 (8)

82. Jason Citta -- Hershey, Ne -- 7-08 (3) -- 9-02 (5) -- 16-10 (8)

83. Kyle Danhausen -- Kankakee, Il -- 3-01 (2) -- 13-05 (5) -- 16-06 (7)

84. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 4-13 (2) -- 11-06 (5) -- 16-03 (7)

85. Shonn Goodwin -- Moore, Ok -- 10-05 (4) -- 5-11 (3) -- 16-00 (7)

86. Adam Rasmussen -- Mosinee, Wi -- 5-14 (3) -- 9-12 (4) -- 15-10 (7)

87. David Dudley -- Dublin, Oh -- 6-01 (3) -- 9-06 (5) -- 15-07 (8)

88. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 7-04 (4) -- 8-02 (4) -- 15-06 (8)

89. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 10-00 (5) -- 5-03 (2) -- 15-03 (7)

90. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 3-06 (1) -- 11-11 (5) -- 15-01 (6)

91. Eric Poindexter -- Eufaula, Ok -- 5-10 (3) -- 9-01 (5) -- 14-11 (8)

92. Bill Tervin -- Pocola, Ok -- 10-02 (5) -- 4-01 (2) -- 14-03 (7)

93. Chuck Loerzel -- Yorkville, Il -- 4-06 (2) -- 9-13 (5) -- 14-03 (7)

94. Tom Murphy -- Richland, Mo -- 7-09 (4) -- 6-07 (3) -- 14-00 (7)

95. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 6-11 (3) -- 6-12 (4) -- 13-07 (7)

96. Rob Vannerson -- Benton, Ky -- 5-05 (3) -- 8-01 (5) -- 13-06 (8)

97. Jayson Shull -- Rockford, Il -- 8-10 (5) -- 4-11 (2) -- 13-05 (7)

98. Jeff Dyer -- Oak Hill, Oh -- 5-09 (3) -- 7-09 (4) -- 13-02 (7)

99. Bob Bungard -- Holmen, Wi -- 4-01 (2) -- 8-15 (4) -- 13-00 (6)

100. Brien Vaughn -- Kinmundy, Il -- 4-01 (2) -- 8-13 (4) -- 12-14 (6)

101. Shawn (Lothar) Kowal -- Linn Creek, Mo -- 6-11 (3) -- 5-14 (3) -- 12-09 (6)

102. Josh Malone -- Alma, Il -- 8-08 (4) -- 3-15 (2) -- 12-07 (6)

103. Ron Cherkas -- Grimes, Ia -- 1-11 (1) -- 10-10 (5) -- 12-05 (6)

104. Richard Lowe -- Soldiers Grove, Wi -- 5-10 (3) -- 6-03 (3) -- 11-13 (6)

105. Chris Aswegan -- Tiffin, Ia -- 11-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-12 (5)

106. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 3-14 (2) -- 7-07 (4) -- 11-05 (6)

107. David Junk -- Quincy, Il -- 6-06 (3) -- 4-14 (2) -- 11-04 (5)

108. Michael Fiedler -- Springfield, Mo -- 7-06 (4) -- 3-13 (2) -- 11-03 (6)

109. Chris Engelage -- Mascoutah, Il -- 5-06 (3) -- 5-12 (3) -- 11-02 (6)

110. Chad Randles -- Elkhorn, Ne -- 9-04 (4) -- 1-13 (1) -- 11-01 (5)

111. Scot Floyd -- Wentzville, Mo -- 6-14 (3) -- 3-10 (2) -- 10-08 (5)

112. Tim Malone -- Gatlinburg, Tn -- 8-02 (4) -- 2-03 (1) -- 10-05 (5)

113. Michael Stetich -- Ankeny, Ia -- 2-08 (1) -- 6-11 (3) -- 9-03 (4)

114. Ken Young -- Saint Louis, Mo -- 3-11 (1) -- 4-14 (2) -- 8-09 (3)

115. Larry Peterson Ii -- Hammond, Wi -- 4-11 (2) -- 3-09 (2) -- 8-04 (4)

116. Cloys Warren -- Bastrop, Tx -- 7-04 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-04 (3)

117. Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ar -- 1-10 (1) -- 5-09 (3) -- 7-03 (4)

118. Kyle White -- Tightwad, Mo -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-02 (3) -- 6-02 (3)

119. Bradley Ksionek -- Wausau, Wi -- 4-03 (2) -- 1-13 (1) -- 6-00 (3)

120. Don Dreiling -- Garden City, Ks -- 5-04 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-04 (3)

121. Andy Smith -- Pewaukee, Wi -- 4-00 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 4-00 (2)

122. Darren Hahne -- Ottawa, Il -- 3-15 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 3-15 (2)

123. Matt Caplis -- Valparaiso, In -- 2-06 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-06 (1)

124. Adam Gunderson -- Hennepin, Il -- 2-06 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-06 (2)

125. John (Jack) Morris Jr -- Robinson, Il -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-03 (1) -- 2-03 (1)

Bobby Mcmullin -- Pevely, Mo -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0)