By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
A patient approach to what Bernie Schultz described as a slow area rewarded the Gainesville, Fla., pro with a five-bass limit that weighed 25-05 to lead day 1 of the St. Lawrence River Bassmaster Elite Series in Waddington, N.Y.
“I found a spot near where I fished last year,” Schultz said of his upriver area near Chippewa Bay. “I haven’t seen another tournament boat in two years and I hope I don’t – unless it’s a camera boat.”
Schultz, whose best finish on the St. Lawrence was 6th place in 2013, described his spot as a flat approximately 200 yards long with depths of 3 to 8 feet. Starting on one end of the flat in practice, he quickly caught a 4-pounder, and by the time he’d completed his drift, he had another 4- and two 3-pounders.
“It’s a really good area and it’s protected,” Schultz said. “That’s what I like about it – it has everything the fish want and it has everything I need to fish, no matter what the weather does.
“There are numerous islands and I’m cradled right in the middle of them. I decided to start there today and it was a good call. It started quickly and I left them biting.”
Despite an impressive performance, which included the day’s biggest bass – a 6-02 – Schultz said the spot he fished required such a laborious effort that he believes most anglers would have abandoned it.
“It’s a precise drift that I’m making,” he said. “It’s slow enough that if anyone practiced there, they probably would have gotten discouraged.
“The fish are in certain sections of the flat and I had to locate them today because they moved a little bit. I had a 5, that 6-02 and a 3-pounder pretty quickly, but after that I had to move around on the flat to find them.”
Schultz fished a diverse arsenal of baits including a 1/2-ounce Hildebrandt Drum Roller spinnerbait, a Shimano jerkbait (debuting next week at ICAST), a 1/8-ounce black marabou jig, a dropshot with a green-pumpkin Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm and a Ned rig with a 3-inch green-pumpkin watermelon laminate Yamamoto Senko.
It is a well-known truth that two of the biggest obstacles to winning on the St. Lawrence share the same last name. Brothers Chris and Cory Johnston of Canada strengthened that lore by catching identical 23-07 limits and sharing 2nd place.
Adding to the statistical oddity, the Johnstons nearly matched one another’s top fish. Chris caught a 5-05 while his older brother had a 5-04.
Chris Johnston, who won last year’s St. Lawrence River event, started his day by running upriver to the Clayton, N.Y., area and targeting fry-guarders – male bass that hover near the spawning bed to protect recent hatchlings – on flats in 8 to 10 feet. He found a handful of those fish early in practice but noticed Wednesday that a couple of them had left.
“I was a little disappointed yesterday, so today I thought I’d better go catch the ones that are left in that area,” he said. “That gave me a good start to the day, so I could relax a little bit.”
Around midmorning, Johnston left this area and added a few keepers, including a 5-08, in Lake Ontario’s Cape Vincent area. Contrasting his 2020 victory, he said the fish are significantly less concentrated this week.
“They’re not set up good like they were last year,” he said. “They’re scattered anywhere from 5 feet to 25 feet. I don’t have a spot that has a big group of them so I’m looking and trying to find random fish.
“The reason is that there are still fish spawning. There are fish that are guarding fry and fish that finished spawning a month ago and they’re already making their way out. There are fish up shallow trying to do their thing, and they’re everywhere in between.”
Cory Johnston devoted his day to the river and fished a hodgepodge of locations. Covering a 90-mile stretch from Waddington to Lake Ontario, he fished traditional rock reefs and shoals from 5 to 35 feet.
“I just kind of ran all over the place, wherever the wind allowed me to go,” he said. “I caught all of my fish in the river; I didn’t weigh a fish out of the lake.
“I didn’t have any specific area, I just hit 30 spots. I have a game plan and I have something in my back pocket where if I need a fish I can grab one quick in a couple of little areas. I needed a couple today and that’s what I did.”
Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., maintained his lead in the Angler of the Year standings with 795 points. With a 66-point margin over Chris Johnston (729), Feider just needs a decent showing Friday to conclude his best professional season with an AOY title.
Former AOY (2017) Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is in 3rd place with 702 points, followed by Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with 676 and Caleb Sumrall of New Iberia, La., with 669.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m. After Friday’s weigh-in, only the Top 45 anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.
Day 1 Standings
1. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 25-05 -- 100 -- $1,000.00
Day 1: 5, 25-05
2. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 23-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 23-07
2. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 23-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 23-07
4. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 22-02 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 22-02
5. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 22-00 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 22-00
6. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 21-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 21-12
6. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 21-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 21-12
8. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 5, 21-06 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 21-06
8. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 21-06 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 21-06
10. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 21-01 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 21-01
11. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 20-13 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 20-13
12. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 20-11 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 20-11
13. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 5, 20-10 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 20-10
14. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 20-05 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 20-05
15. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 20-00 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 20-00
16. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 5, 19-10 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 19-10
17. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 19-07 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 19-07
17. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 19-07 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 19-07
19. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 19-05 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 19-05
19. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 5, 19-05 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 19-05
21. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 19-04 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 19-04
22. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 19-03 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 19-03
23. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 5, 19-02 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 19-02
24. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 19-01 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 19-01
25. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 18-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 18-14
26. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 18-09 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 18-09
27. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 18-08 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 18-08
28. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 5, 18-07 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 18-07
29. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 5, 18-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 18-06
30. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 18-05 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 18-05
30. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 5, 18-05 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 18-05
30. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 18-05 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 18-05
33. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 18-03 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 18-03
33. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 18-03 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 18-03
35. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 5, 18-02 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 18-02
36. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 5, 18-01 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 18-01
37. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 18-00 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 18-00
38. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 17-15 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 17-15
39. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 17-14 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 17-14
40. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 17-14 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 17-14
41. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 17-12 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 17-12
42. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 17-11 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 17-11
43. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 17-10 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 17-10
44. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 17-06 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 17-06
45. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 17-05 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 17-05
46. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 5, 17-03 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 17-03
47. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 17-02 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 17-02
48. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 16-14 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 16-14
49. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 16-13 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 16-13
50. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 16-11 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 16-11
51. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 16-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 16-07
51. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 16-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 16-07
51. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 16-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 16-07
54. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 5, 16-04 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 16-04
55. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 16-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 16-03
56. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 16-02 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 16-02
57. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 16-01 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 16-01
58. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 15-13 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 15-13
59. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 15-12 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 15-12
60. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 15-09 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 15-09
61. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 15-08 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 15-08
62. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 15-07 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 15-07
62. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 15-07 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 15-07
64. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 15-06 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 15-06
65. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 5, 15-03 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 15-03
66. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 5, 15-02 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 15-02
67. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 15-00 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 15-00
68. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 14-15 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 14-15
69. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 14-14 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 14-14
70. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 14-13 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 14-13
71. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 14-12 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 14-12
71. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 14-12 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 14-12
73. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 14-09 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 14-09
73. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 14-09 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 14-09
75. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 14-04 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-04
75. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 14-04 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-04
77. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 14-01 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 14-01
78. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 5, 13-14 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 13-14
78. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 13-14 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 13-14
80. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 13-13 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 13-13
81. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 13-11 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 13-11
82. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 5, 13-10 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 13-10
82. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 13-10 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 13-10
84. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 13-09 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 13-09
85. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 13-02 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 13-02
86. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 13-01 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 13-01
87. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 12-11 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 12-11
88. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 5, 12-09 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 12-09
89. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka JAPAN -- 4, 10-08 -- 12
Day 1: 4, 10-08
90. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 09-14 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 09-14
91. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 3, 09-01 -- 10
Day 1: 3, 09-01
92. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 09-00 -- 9
Day 1: 4, 09-00
93. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 3, 06-15 -- 8
Day 1: 3, 06-15
94. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 1, 02-03 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 02-03
