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.”
Goutremout made a long run to the tournament’s western boundary and started his morning on the U.S. side of Wolfe Island. When he felt it was time to transition to his big-fish strategy, he moved to the island’s Canadian (northern) side.
The latter area, Goutremout said, has benefitted from this year’s weather patterns.
“I’m targeting main spawning areas,” he said. “We had a late spawn this year, so I’m just picking off those fish that are still up there roaming around. We had a really cold spring; it really didn’t warm up until sometime about mid-June. It just stayed cold this spring and kept those fish back.
“Normally, they’re a lot farther along and there are more fish schooled up out deep. They’re kind of scattered this time around. I’d rather be fishing them out deep, but you gotta do what you gotta do to catch those big ones.”
Goutremout’s starting spot actually plays more to his preference. He’s spending the first few hours of his day in a deep spot with depths of 40 to 45 feet.
“I’m catching those deep fish mostly on a drop shot and then going to those shallow flats around 11 to 11:30,” Goutremout said. “I’ve caught a couple of those shallow fish on a drop shot, but most of them have been on a jig.”
Goutremout has been throwing a 1/2-ounce finesse football jig. Rather than using a craw or creature bait trailer, he fits his jig with a 2 3/4-inch Berkley MaxScent Lil General.
“I think it has a lot to do with how much pressure these fish get,” he said. “I’ve tried mixing it up, but I think you get a lot more bites with something simple.
“With the drop shot, I learned pretty quickly that you can’t move it. I’m dropping on these fish and if I move it at all, they run away from it. I’m pretty much just slack lining it and holding it there until I feel a tick.”
Eyeing the potential for his first Bassmaster victory, Goutremout said he’s eager for one more shot at the St. Lawrence.
“I’ve been looking forward to this event for a while now,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get five more bites tomorrow and pull this thing off.”
Hailing from Gum Spring, Va., Lachniet set the early mark with a limit of 26-5. Adding a second-day’s limit of 23-3, he slipped to second with 49-8.
Lachniet said he actually caught more fish on Day 2, but he was missing the two kickers that buoyed his first-round effort.
“Today, my smallest fish was a 4.40-pounder and my biggest one was a 4.58,” Lachniet said. “They were all the same size. I caught three or four other 4-pounders.
“I caught more quality fish today, but yesterday I had a 7-5 (the event’s biggest) and a 5 1/2. There are so many 4-pounders in this place, everyone’s catching 22 pounds, so if you can get that big bite, you’re getting an extra pound or two and that puts you above a lot of people.”
Lachniet again ran about 3/4 of the way to the tournament’s western boundary and returned to the same shallow flat he fished on Day 1. Yesterday, that spot delivered all of his weight, but today, he expanded to another spot with similar makeup within 1 to 2 miles.
“Both of these spots are big grass flats with a couple of sandy spots,” Lachniet said. “This is just a section of the river that sets up well for what I’m doing, so I’m just focusing on this area.”
John Hunter Jr. of Shelbyville, Ky., backed up a solid Day 1 limit of 23 pounds with a second-round limit of 26-0 and rose from 15th to third with a total of 49 pounds.
Hunter has committed both days to the western end of the tournament waters where he targeted a current-breaking rock shoal. He attributes his Day 2 improvement to observation and adaptation.
“Really, I learned a lot more about the place I’m fishing,” he said. “I learned where they set up when there’s less current, when there’s more current, how they move around on it.
“I know everyone loses smallmouth, but I had every bit of 28 to 28 1/2 pounds hooked today. But it was still a special day and I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow, because I feel like I have a chance at another 25-plus pounds if I can get them to bite.”
Hunter caught his fish on a drop shot, a jerkbait and a jighead minnow.
Lachniet is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-5.
Lachniet leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division 1 points standings with 759. Lucas Lindsay of Auburn, Ala., is in second with 757, followed by Matt Adams of Guntersville, Ala., with 747, Tyler Campbell of Martin, Ga., with 737, and Connor Jacob of Guntersville, Ala., with 716.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2 p.m.
Live coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com and Roku beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
This event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.
