2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN Day 2: Goutremout Leads!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 4th, Erik Luzak 7th, Evan Kung 18th,  Adam Howell 21st & Matt Kelly 130th

By David A Brown

BASS Press Release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Zach Goutremout knew he needed a bigger quality bite and following that hunch yielded just what he needed to claim a whisper-thin lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN.

After placing sixth on Day 1 with 24 pounds, 10 ounces, the pro from Chaumont, N.Y., added a second-round limit of 25 pounds for a two-day total of 49-10.

Goutremout heads into Championship Saturday with a 2-ounce lead over Day 1 leader Ryan Lachniet.

“I had four of the five I weighed in by 11 o’clock and then I caught my last kicker about 12:30,” Goutremout said. “I have one area where I feel confident in that 22- to 23-pound range and then I have another area where there’s a lot less fish, but when you get bit, it’s a good one.

“The last two days, I started in that first area and then I went to that big-fish area just to get a couple of kickers.”

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN Day 1: Lachniet Sack 7-Pound Smallmouth and Lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 7th, Evan Kung 8th, Luzak 36th & Matt Kelly 52th

By David A Brown

BASS Press Release

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Ryan Lachniet might have added a few grey hairs to his otherwise dark brown beard, but after enduring the stress storm that a 7-pound, 5-ounce smallmouth unleashed, the Gum Spring, Va., pro leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN.

Sacking up an opening limit of 26-5, Lachniet leads South Carolina’s Kyle Austin by a pound and 2 ounces.

“When I got that (big fish) next to the boat, after fighting him for a couple of minutes, I tried to scoop him and he slipped out of my hand,” Lachniet recalled. “I was like, ‘No, no, no, no, come back. 

“He swam down and fought for another 30 seconds and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh, please don’t get off.’ When I grabbed him, I was like, ‘Wow, this thing is huge!’ It was a great day.”

Elite Angler Kyle Patrick sidelined by tick borne illness

 

An enlarged heart caused by a tick bite has ended Kyle Patrick’s second year on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. Read the “The Daily Limit” article on Bassmaster.com to gain exclusive insight from KGP Fishing and his plans for the future.

ICAST 2025: TATULA is Tops

 DAIWA goes all out with new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods and wins coveted Best Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2025

While DAIWA’s 2025 TATULA Bass Rods was voted Best Freshwater Rod by the fishing industry last week at ICAST, what’s even more significant to retailers nationwide is how the perfectly-priced, technique-specific rods are already flying off the racks.

“Since the TATULA Bass Rod series was introduced in late spring, sales have been incredibly strong,” said DAIWA Senior Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. “The price is perfect, especially for a rod that brandishes the TATULA name – anglers have long associated TATULA with premium quality.”

Mills also mentioned the juxtaposition between technology and kickin’ old school. “We really loaded the TATULA Bass Rods with fundamental DAIWA rod technology like SVF and Braiding X, but at the same time outfitted the entire series with classic cork handles.”

“Ultimately, it’s a lot of fishing rod for under $200. That’s why it was voted best and is selling so well.” From skipping docks with the utmost accuracy, to bombing lures long-distances to cover more water, anglers can rely on DAIWA’s new 23 model 2025 TATULA bass rod series, each designed for specific fishing situations and techniques.

All featuring cork handles, the new TATULA rods are as much as 15% lighter than the previous TATULA series. DAIWA employs its exclusive SVF (Super High Volume Fiber) Nanoplus Technology to lighten and strength the blank. They are also reinforced with DAIWA’s X45 bias carbon technology and Braiding X construction process to resist twisting, provide needed hook-setting power, and maintain rod integrity during high-stress situations. The TATULA series includes two specialized casting models for cranking – the TATULA 701MHRB-G and 721HRB-G, where DAIWA uses its advanced GLATECH construction process with the fiberglass blanks.

Chris Johnston Wins 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches!

By Jody White, Invitations Press Release

MASSENA, N.Y. – Technically, the Johnston family is not inevitable on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, but this weekend, they looked pretty hard to beat. On Lake Ontario, Cory and Lynn Johnston won the Thousand Island Open out of Kingston – with more than a 5 1/2 -pound average per fish. Meanwhile, running nearly to Lake Ontario every day, Chris Johnston weighed 76 pounds, 1 ounce over three days to win Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in fine style. 

Finishing second (again!) Hayden O’Barr tallied 68-8 on the week, and Banks Shaw, Brent Anderson and Clay Reece all got over 67 pounds, but nobody was really close to Johnston after he sailed through Day 2. The win is Johnston’s second at the FLW Tour or Invitationals level, his first coming back in 2018 on the Harris Chain. For this win, he pocketed $80,000 and burnished his already sterling record on the big river. 

Quick recovery puts Johnston on top 

After making a long run on Day 1, Johnston wasn’t exactly feeling the love from his favorite river early on. 

“I went to some spots that were new to me, to be honest,” he said. “I found them in practice and made a long run to them, and they were pretty loaded in practice. I was pretty excited. And, I had four spots where I thought they were all 4 1/2-plus, and there were five to 10 fish per spot. 

“Some of them were gone, some wouldn’t bite, and the wheels started spinning,” he said. “It was 11:00. I had two hours left to fish. And I’m like, ‘I’ve got to get out of this area.’”

Luckily, Johnston is long on experience on the St. Lawrence, and he had some good backup stuff in the tank. 

“I went to a different section of the river, and I landed on a couple spots, and they were biting every spot,” he said. “I just stayed in the other zone where I caught them at the end of the day, and it produced every day. I probably shouldn’t leave that area again, to be honest.”

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MLF announces 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule

 

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced today the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule, which features six high-stakes regular-season events with a top award of up to $115,000 each and the no-entry-fee Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Championship, where anglers compete for a top prize of $135,000 and a coveted berth to REDCREST 2027.

The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will once again spotlight professional anglers battling across six stops for a share of some of the sport’s best payouts and qualification into the prestigious Bass Pro Tour, where every stage features a top award of $150,000. The Bass Pro Tour’s live catch, weigh and immediate-release scoring that has produced some of the sport’s most memorable moments, including Tackle Warehouse Invitationals alum Jake Lawrence’s buzzer beater win over Jacob Wheeler at Stage 4 on Nickajack Lake this season. 

“No other circuit prepares professional anglers for the next step in their career like the Invitationals,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “That makes the Invitationals popular among veteran and up-and-coming pros alike, and this season fans responded to our format, which restricts the use of forward facing and 360-degree sonar to half the qualifying days, with record MLFNOW! viewership at every stop. We’re looking forward to carrying that momentum into the 2026 season as we visit some outstanding fisheries.”

B.A.S.S. announces 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bass fishing’s biggest stage has been set for 2026 with the return of the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, featuring a dynamic schedule that will test the world’s best anglers on some of the nation’s most storied waters — and a few that haven’t hosted an Elite event in years.

The 2026 slate includes nine regular-season events across six states, plus the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn., March 13-15. From grass-laden Southern reservoirs to sprawling Northern smallmouth factories, the season promises drama, big bass and fierce competition from start to finish.

“This is one of the most well-rounded Elite Series schedules we’ve ever built,” said Chase Anderson, CEO of B.A.S.S. “We’re hitting iconic fisheries, revisiting challenging venues we haven’t seen in a decade or more and returning to some fan-favorite locations. This lineup will not only push our anglers to their limits but also deliver incredible action for fans both on the water and watching from home.”

The season kicks off February 5-8 on Alabama’s famed Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro. Known for its sprawling grass mats, giant bass and historic tournament moments, Guntersville is a perennial favorite among both fans and anglers. The last time the Elites visited in 2021, Wisconsin’s Caleb Kuphall claimed victory with 85 pounds, 14 ounces, navigating the thick hydrilla and milfoil to perfection.

MLF announces 2026 Bass Pro Tour Schedule

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced today the 2026 Bass Pro Tour schedule, ushering in a new chapter for the sport’s premier professional bass fishing circuit. Featuring a roster of 51 pros, the 2026 season will spotlight some of the country’s most diverse fisheries and record-setting payouts as the field competes for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and qualification into REDCREST 2027 and the MLF Heavy Hitters all-star event.

The new season kicks off Jan. 15 at Lake Guntersville in Alabama and winds through fisheries in South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio, introducing multiple new venues and back-to-back dual-lake events that will push competitors to the limit.

“Our 2026 schedule showcases everything we love about the Bass Pro Tour – challenging new waters, high-stakes competition and a roster of the most accomplished anglers in the sport,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager. “We’re especially excited about several new stops on the Tour next season, and working on some exciting developments for REDCREST 2026, which we’ll be announcing soon. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sport of professional bass fishing.”

Humminbird XPLORE Wins Best in Category for Marine Electronics at ICAST 2025

Outshining the competition in one of ICAST’s most innovative categories, Humminbird’s XPLORE Series claimed the 2025 Best in Category award for Marine Electronics. This prestigious win further solidifies Humminbird’s position at the forefront of innovation in fishing marine technology.

Selected by respected media and industry retailers, the Best in Category award highlights standout products that deliver ground breaking innovation, performance, and value to anglers. The XPLORE series of fish finders rose to the top in a field packed with cutting-edge entries, reinforcing Humminbird’s reputation of pushing boundaries in marine electronics.

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