What up! Kumars did the last college graduation this weekend + Monday – means I'm getting a raise! No urchins, guitars or firearms will be safe from me in the state of TX! Lol kidding.

My wife informed me that weddin's are next to pay for...😭 Timmy Horton owns a wedding venue and told me at Redcrest what weddings cost now. I about fell over. WOW.

Shared in the past that covid + whatever caused deep divides in the birth fams of my wife and I – meaning we and a few others got blackballed (one reason we're in TX). It appears that outside of God moving in some huge way, that ain't gonna change.

Mentioning because my daughter and her first cousin graduated from the same college the same day, and my wife's family purposely avoided us (word is they saw us, and yes my ever-optimistic Irish Gal did reach out to them).

How crazy is that man. Like legit throw Coikes all day crazy lol! 🤪

I could also tell you how bad that crazy northeastern university – professors, administrators, coaches, students – treated my outspoken Christian "conservative" daughter. Terrible stuff. Bet you also wouldn't believe that (or maybe you would?). Might relate it another time. Too bad for them it made her stronger than ever. ✝️💪💪

Things are nuttier than a squirrel nest now. Sometimes every day seems crazier. I feel for and admire all you younger peeps – you came up through some tough/bad stuff and are still making it. Good job and keep going man!

And through it all bass fishing is still AMAZING and never won't be! Let's bass!

Gitcha Blaster video fix here:

Believe it or not, Chris' 1st Elite win – that first Canadian Elite win – was 6 years ago, on the St Lawrence. Since then he's had 4 2nds before smashing his 2nd 1st: As you probably know, Chris had 2 30+ days and beat Brandon Palaniuk by a solid Santee limit: 19-12. Insane!

After winning AOY last year, Chris had not been tearing it up this year until this tourney. Hs best finish was a 12th and he was coming off a 75th at Murray. Just goes to show again – never count a Johnston out! Here's how he won this time – and remember it was a no-FFS tourney.

Going in and practice

> "Going into practice I hadn't seen the lake in a couple years. I knew there was a lot of grass and thought it'd be won out of the grass somewhere. So I was really gonna focus on the grass.

> "I knew there might be a few spawners, but you wouldn't be able to win on spawners that time of year.

> "That's how I started my practice in the bottom lake, just fishing grass. I had 1 4-lber, a 3, a couple little ones – it wasn't very good for me.

> "...just happened to be some docks in front of me, and I thought, I'm gonna go try those docks, do something a little different. The first dock I threw a Coike at, I caught a 4-lber. I went down 2 docks and shook off a 5-6 lber. ...alright there's something to this.

> "I fished 10 more in that are, had 2 more bites. That's when I clued in like, it's a bit of a deal here. So I ran every dock I could the rest of that day...clear water so I could see a lot of them, and they were all 3-4 lbs for the most part, with 1 big one.

> "Day 2 [of practice] I ran a similar pattern – cypress knees and docks and stuff – in the upper lake, Marion. I probably had 20-25 bites that day, and on Santee Cooper if you can catch 10-15 bass a day you'll get a couple good bites.

> "I couldn't see them [in Marion], and on that Coike, when you get a bite...they drop it really quick when you're shaking them off. It's not a like a jig or wacky rig...as soon as they bite it almost, they drop it. So I thought a lot were smaller ones with a coupel decent fish.

> "I thought if I could mix in some grass with that dock pattern, it might be the winning deal.

> "I wanted a secondary deal [the grass]...I looked for more grass and stuff but I couldn't find it."

Tournament

> "Day 1 I went to the bottom of the lake and it didn't really work out. I had 2 3.75s so I went to the top lake, caught 3 over 4 lbs and saved the fist day.

> "The 2nd day [he decided to] fish the stuff where I had 20 bites day 2 of practice. By 8:00 in the morning I had 27 lbs, so they were a little bigger than I thought.

> "...not going to beat up on other stuff where I shook fish off, so I fished new water. Any docks that fit the pattern. Basically every stretch I went to, I got a big one. The next spot I caught a 5, another stretch I caught an 8 and a 5.75. That's how I got up to the 30-lb mark.

[Days 2 and 3 he basically practiced – where he caught one, he tried to expand his dock deal. He was saving his bet stretches for day 4. Day 4 he planned to start on some stretches he'd fished, then head to his juice.]

> "I thought some of my main-river docks were running out and not replenishing. So I thought, I'm gonna fish them pretty quick, then I want to spend the last 4 hours in some more popular creeks that have a better population of fish.

> "Turns out...I ended up catching quite a few big ones again on the main river so I didn't even make it down to where I wanted to go til 1:00. I lost a 5.5, caught a couple 4s that didn't help and caught a 6.

> "I didn't even get to fish all the stuff I wanted to...everywhere I went I was getting bites."

The docks and the Coike

> "[The right docks] had to be 3-10' of water. If it was an isolated dock or it stuck out more – or it had a little deeper water on a stretch – those were the higher-percentage ones.

> "They were typically on the outside of the dock under the big platform with the most shade.

> "If it wasn't for that Coike, I wouldn't have caught those giant fish off those docks. [Without it] I feel like I might have caught 1 of every 10 of those big fish.

> "It was the first thing I picked up when I went to a dock [in practice]. I had it rigged up...to try it on some different stuff on Santee [like docks].

> "Obviously knowing it works on LiveScope, I wanted to try it blind. I'm not an expert at it by any means...."

> "I feel like the Coike is the next thing – like the Senko and the A-rig. Big ones are curious...these fish we were catching were big post-spawn females, and they don't eat a lot of baits this time of year...."

Baits

> HideUp Coike Fullcast – "I was literally begging and trying to get some baits however I could. I ended up paying $120 a pop to get some overnighted after practice ended. I had to bum 1-2 off some Elite guys. It was whatever I could get my hands on so I caught 'em on a variety of colors. I was trying to get more natural ones – red scuppernong, gp, watermelon red flake...."

> 1/0 Gamakatsu EWG Treble, 1/8-oz nail weight, 22-lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluoro ("I upped it after the 1st day of the tournament"), Daiwa Tatula SV Reel (8:1), 7' 3" MH Daiwa Tatula Elite Multipurpose Rod.

> "I was pretending like I was watching it on LiveScope. I'd work it in the same way, I was just doing it blind.

> "It was basically almost like a jerkbait. I learned this from watching it on LiveScope. Jerk it once, that gets their attention. Then you jerk it again and they get curious. Then if you do a quick jerk that gets them fired up...that's when they eat it."

Electronics

> "I used the Garmin depth-shading and I could see the docks on the Garmin mapping. That was huge for me. I looked at them the night before the tournament – I picked out areas before I even went out fishing the next day.

> "The Power-Poles and the Move were key. I would go on high around a dock once I was done fishing it, go to the side of the next dock...stick the Poles down...make 2-3 casts on the side of the dock, put the Poles up, put the trolling motor on 100 [to the next dock]."

Shoutouts

> "...that HideUp Coike Fullcast. Seaguar Tatsu line – I got some fish I thought I shouldn't have got in – wrapped around 3-4 poles, jumping 10' to the side from where my line was. My equipment performed flawlessly."

They just jump in the boat! (Photo by Steve Bowman, and he swears no AI or Photoshop. 🤔) Here's 5 with Chris:

1. People are saying that the only way to get that quality of fish in the boat is you're either Aquaman or related to Aquaman. Is either one of those true? 🤔😁

> "[Laughs] No I'm not, not at all.

> "...when I fell in the lake [day3], we were joking after that that I didn't see any fish under the dock when I was under there...." [But on day 4 he caught a 4-lber under that same dock lol.]

2. Do you believe Cory now when he says the fish practically jump in your boat?

> "[Laughs] No they don't, I have to work way too hard for them still. As much fun as it was this last tournament it was still stressful.

> "This was one of the most-fun tournaments I've had, but no they don't jump in the boat. They jump around my boat, but getting them in the boat is harder."

3. Do you have horseshoes, rabbits feet or any other deal in your console? Or a Mega HydroWave??

> "[Laughs] No I don't have any of those. I've got 2 good luck notes in my boat from my kids. When I start every year, they usually write me a good luck note and draw a fishing picture. I've got that in my tackle compartment. That's the only good luck charms."

[Btw I am not saying Chris is "lucky." Just his brother and at least a couple guys they run with think so, so I'm running with it!]

4. What is the most important deal about fishing an urchin-style bait"

> "The bait is one thing, but how you work it is the big key to it. Not once did I have a fish eat it while it was on the fall. They all are triggered by a reaction, which is how you work the bait."

5. Do you think the winter break you guys have to take helps you in some way?

> "I do find it used to help before all the advances in the last 5-6 years with electronics and new techniques. I do feel like some of the people that get to fish all winter get to play with these new technique styles and dial in these new baits a little better than I can.

> "...I feel like I'm pretty well-rounded in [your traditional techniques]. I can do that with the best of them, in my opinion. And that [winter] break kind of recharged my battery and made me want it more.

> "But now with all these new techniques...I feel like having a chance to dial those in all winter helps you, and you're more confident in practice and you can use them during tournaments regularly. I don't have that opportunity, so now I feel like that break is hurting me a little more than it used to."

2nd: Brandon Palaniuk

> HideUp Coike Fullcast and homemade version ("my buddies call it the Ouchie") both in gp blue, #1 BKK Spear 21 Treble, 3/32-oz Xzone Tungsten Nail Weight in Fullcast and no weight in Ouchie, 20- and 22-lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluoro, Daiwa Steez A (8.5), 7’ 5" M F Alpha Angler Clutch Rod.

> "Figured this bite out during practice and continued to evolve the setup/technique as the week progressed. I mostly keyed on staging fish that were moving from spawn to post-spawn.

> "I could identify key funnels and high-percentage areas where the bigger females were setting up. They were never on the same stretch so I had to look at my Lakemaster charts and fish anything that setup correctly and eventually I would hit a stretch that had a group and have a 15-minute flurry."

> Punching: Xzone Lures Muscle Back Finesse Craw (gp blue, same bait he won with at Champlain in 2020), 3/0 BKK HD Flippin Hook, 1.5-oz Xzone Tungsten Weight, 65-lb Seaguar TactX Braid, Daiwa Zillion HD Reel (7.3), 7’10 Mag H F Alpha Angler Mag-Hitter Rod.

> "I had a small stretch where I had a few smaller bites in practice. After day 1 I had about 26 lbs and didn’t want to keep burning up my main deal so I decided to see what else was happening and ended up catching a 6.25 [punching] that took me to 29-01."

> Jerkbait: Megabass Vision 110 SSR (not out yet but will be later this year) with #6 BKK Hyperlatch 71-SS Trebles, 12-lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluoro, Daiwa Steez CT SV Reel (8.1), 6’ 10" M F Alpha Angler Slasher Rod.

> "SSR means Super Shallow Runner. It dives less than the current SR model and [will be] the shallowest in the lineup.

> "I had been fishing past this shallow pocket every day that had 1 big cypress tree in the back. On day 3, after I lost a bunch of big ones, I found myself with only 4 fish at 1pm. I decided to head toward that tree.

> "On the way in a random 7-8 lber eats my bait and comes off. Then I see a 4-lber cruising but it’s squirrelly so I ease past it, make a lap, and then position myself in the shade. 

> "I get it to eat a dropshot once, but it doesn’t get the worm all the way and then won’t react anymore. So I pull out the jerkbait rod with an Ito Shiner on it, but it dives too deep since there’s at most 1' of water above the grass.

> "I remember I have that SSR so I sit down and tie it on. The BASS LIVE drone is directly above and I get that fish to react 1st cast. 2nd cast I dial in how to work the bait and he reacts more, and the 3rd cast he comes from 20' behind the bait and smokes it – and they could see the entire thing happen on the drone! That gave me a shot going into day 4."

3rd: Drew Cook

> Nories Front Flapper (gp blue), 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power Hook, 1/4-oz Gamakatsu G-Shield Tungsten Weight, 22-lb Sunline Shooter Fluoro, Dobyns Champion Extreme HP 744 Rod.

> Wacky rig: SPRO Wacky Snack (gp and tilapia magic), #2 Gamakatsu Stinger Hook, 12-lb Sunline SX1 Braid to 14-lb Sunline V-Hard Fluoro Leader, Dobyns Xtasy 753 Spin Rod.

> 17mm HideUp Coike (any color), Frenzy Wacky Saddle O-Ring, #1 Gamakatsu Bronze Round Bend Treble, 18.5-lb Sunline Almight Braid to 14-lb Sunline V Hard Fluoro leader, 6' 10" F Dobyns Xtasy 6101 Spin Rod.

> Bed-fishing and docks, 1-7'.

4th: Cory Johnston

> 6th Sense Abstract (gp), #1 BKK Spear Treble, 1/8-oz BKK Tie-On Drop Shot Weight inside the bait, 22-lb Seaguar Tatsu Fluoro, Daiwa Tatula SV TW Reel, 7' 3" MH Daiwa Steez Multi-Purpose Rod.

> He mostly fished docks.

> Why the Abstract vs other urchins: "It actually skips...much better than any of the other baits, and it falls slightly slower than the rest. It's slightly smaller...the body is more elongated rather than round."

> Why such a heavy rig: "I went with as heavy a line as I could get away with because I was fishing around docks and those fish had some much power. They would wrap you around docks...so spinning gear was not even an option."

5th: Pat Schlapper

> 3/8-oz Z-Man JackHammer (mostly b/b colors) with gp trailers (he did catch a couple on a white JackHammer combo), 20-lb Sunline Shooter Fluoro, 7.3 reel, 7' 2" H Mod St Croix Legend Glass Rod.

> 3/8 because he was fishing shallower and "it made me fish it slower." Grass mixes in 2-4'.

> Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (b/b), 4/0 Gamakatsu G-Power Heavy Cover Hook, 1-oz sinker, 60-lb Sunline X-Plasma Braid, high-speed reel, 7' 11" H Mod St Croix Legend Elite Rod.

> "...a few mats here and there – I'd just punch a mat if I came to it."

When the Johnston bros aren't beating each other up or challenging the Lane bros to cage matches 😆 they're beatin' on the rest of the Elites. Cory now is at the top of the Elite points with 3 tourneys to go:

• Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound (FFS)
• Lake Champlain (no FFS)
• St Lawrence River/Johnston stomping grounds (FFS)

So largemouths, large + small, smallmouths. Here's 5 with him:

1. Since you already have 3 top 10s this year, you're smoking your bro's record last year. Was that the goal?

> "[Laughs] The goal is trying to win every event, and beating him is always a bonus."

2. What happened at Murray? [He finished 70th there.]

> "I fished the wrong end of the lake – the 1st day I spent too long on spots that had lots of fish and just weren't biting.

> "I should've hit 50 spots and instead decided to grind it out on spots that I knew had lots of fish – and it just didn't work."

3. Do you think the half FFS and half not schedule this year is helping you?

> "Yes and no. I don't really care either way. I prefer to have every tournament without it, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter to me.

> "I do like that format because the guy who wins AOY has to catch them with and without. But I would say yes it helps."

4. Are you all about the urchin deal now?

> "Last week was the first bass I ever caught on one, so I wouldn't say I'm all about it."

[Lol!]

5. What's your best boat lunch or snack?

> "My cameraman brought me Chick-fil-A both days so I'm gonna go with that from now on."

Bonus Q: When your brother was born, was he holding a horseshoe or a rabbit's foot?

> "Both."

🤣

Well ladies 'n gents:

Guess what the next Berkley bait to sell out is? 😁 It's the MaxScent 'Moeba – which is pronounced "Moe-Baa"...just kidding but I bet a lotta peeps will call it that lol! Or maybe they'll end up calling it "Mo' Bass"?? Alright enough messing around, here's some deets:

> "...delivers subtle, natural movement with minimal rod input, flares naturally on the fall, and maintains a lifelike presence even when deadsticked...."

> "The ‘Moeba has the profile and drawing power to pull fish in, but what really separates it is the MaxScent. That scent field around the bait keeps fish engaged and is often what makes them bite, especially pressured fish that have seen everything."

> 2 sizes: 3.5” and 4.5”

> 6 colors: gp, watermelon, mimizu, bloodshot, black, blue pearl black hologram

> MSRP: $14.99

Supposedly available already but see if you can find any! 

I THINK they don't float, and I'll add that more surface area = more scent dispersion, and this style bait obviously has a lot of surface.

Don't even see 'em listed on TW yet, but they are on the Berkley site (and already sold out!).

1. How 'bout this Jacob Wheeler micro-adjustment

That's what I'm calling it but that's why he's so good. Deal is he uses super glue to seal cuts after he's "finned" or cut by a gill plate. Because he says wrapping with bandaids or whatever decreases your sensitivity of the rod and makes it more difficult to cast.

Dang!

2. Jason Christie likes a spinnerbait vs a swim-jig when...

...he wants to move a shad-type bait slower. For swim-jigs, he likes the BOOYAH Mobster in those new 'bone' colors:

3. AL: 2025 Redcrest economic impact was $3.8 mil

At Guntersville. Wonder if it would've been higher if the weather wasn't horrendous?

4. AZ: WON Havasu won dropshotting, sight-fishing, with a minnow

NV's Cody Steckel won it with 15 for 50.24.

5. NY: How 'bout 2 dirty 30s weighed at Cayuga?

Empire Team Trail:

Thanks to bass-head Shane B for the heads up.

6. Ever see the Rapala CrushCity Creeper?

I think it's only available through Canadian retailers...which might mean Jacob Wheeler didn't design it.

7. New Snagproof Zoo Pop XL

Bigger profile (didn't see a length), bigger popping action and weighs 1/2-oz, plus 5 new colors (like 'silver minnow' ^). Not on TW yet, but they are available on the American Baitworks site. 

Here's JT Kenney talkin' on 'em on IG.

8. KastKing makes dual-tip 2-piece rods!

Cool head-slapper of an idea I never thought of before. Not sure if anyone else does it, but first time I remember seeing it. 2-piece rod that comes with 2 different tips so you can change the power of the rod.

Right now 20% off on the KastKing site, so around $50.

9. TW has the Berkley Magic Swimmer in 2 sick colors

For all you herring-lake guys, that's 'live blueback herring' (top) and 'live emerald herring'.

10. Suzuki Marine up in FY 2025

> The company’s marine business posted revenues of $753.78 mil for the year, up 8.9% year-over-year. Operating profit decreased 13% year-over-year to $167.8 mil. According to the statement, the reduced profit was driven mainly by the impact of US tariffs.

11. AL: IED found on Converse Reservoir dam??

You hear about that deal? IED = improvised explosive device, aka the things that the bad guys use in the Middle East.

Reminds me of the Dept of Homeland Security wanting to close a road that goes along and around 2 dams for little Round Valley Rez in NJ when I was there. They said it was a security risk, and everyone was like, "Huh??" Sounded crazy a few years ago, but now I wonder what they know....

12. West Marine did file for bankruptcy

Sounds like Garmin is owed the most: $8.57 mil.

Use a swivel as a keeper for a buzz toad

Cool IG vid tip from Clark Reehm.

He puts a barrel swivel on his braided line – not tied, just free. Then ties the hook on.

After rigging the hook through the head of the frog, he puts the hook through the free eye of the swivel, then Tex-poses the hook into the toad.

This makes a "keeper" so the bait doesn't slide down.

Dang good idea – he says it works with swimbaits too.

That's the Frog Factory Ribbit (same as the old Stanley) and yep they make it in 'bone' now. He likes the Owner Haymaker Hook.

"One thing about bass tournament anglers, they will do whatever it takes to make sure they can still compete – even if it means selling their youngest child or their wife getting a second job...."

- Lol sorta! Funny quote from bassin' writer Steve "bow" Graf. Got to thinking about it – is that mentality still true with FFS? Let me know what you think....

Those sexy curves are the new Bill Lewis DR24 crank – big deal is those curves are "diving planes along the sides for a sharper diving angle and greater maximum running depth." Also has an internal weight-transfer system, loud knock, and Mustad Triple Grip trebles.

Bait was revealed some months back but I guess now we can all get it:

Amazing version of The Beatles' "Taxman" by Joe Bonamassa and co in a small club in England. Whole band kills it!

Fishers of Men Tournament Trail

Bass Chaplain podcasts

Contact Chris Wells the Bass Chaplain

Advanced Angler

StrayCasts crazy web show!

Champion Jigs

Trophy Bass Co.