St. Lawrence River: Day 1
1:00 p.m. — With two hours left to fish and many anglers still not reporting, here’s your unofficial top 10.
12:57 p.m. — Chase Sansom reports that Kyle Norsetter is among the conglomerate of boats at Cape Vincent.
“He’s got north of 21 pounds with a 5 and a half pounder in the well and two 3-pounders he needs to get rid of. He can get rid of those two fish with some quality 4-pounders he’ll jump right back up in the top 10”
12:37 p.m. — After a runner-up finish at last week’s Open on Lake Erie, Nick Trim is keeping the late season momentum going. It’s not fast and furious, but he’s culled his way up to about 24 pounds. He’s scoping carefully, casting judiciously.
12:34 p.m. — While Wesley Gore isn’t showing up on BassTrakk, he’s having a solid day, with an estimated 24 pounds – and that’s after losing a couple of giants. He’s close to takeoff, picking apart breaklines near humps with a dropshot.
12:19 p.m. — Dalton Tumblin reports that Easton Fothergill has gone from fighting an illness earlier this week in the hospital to fighting his way up the leaderboard today.
“Fothergill has had a great morning so far at the mouth of the St Lawrence,” Tumblin reported. “He is dragging along a long deep stretch of rocks and getting consistent bites. The only thing he needs now are some good culls to go with it.”
12:12 p.m. — Chase Sansom reports that rookie Aaron Jagdfeld is working the mouth of the river and putting on an absolute clinic.
“He’s right around the Cape Vincent area working these smallmouth deeper than anyone else I’ve seen today,” Chase said. “All the way down in 43 feet. He just caught one that culled him up to 22 pounds and some change. He knows he’ll need more than that to stay in fighting shape here on the St. Lawrence.”
“I know I’m gonna have to cull out every 4 pounder I’ve got to stay at the top,” Jagdfeld added.
12:08 p.m. — It appears that unlike the fictional Wally World, Takumi Ito’s Smallmouth Disneyland was open today. The only way for him to get back to the Classic is a super-high finish, possibly even a win.
He told Seigo Saito this morning that he is scared to run into the lake because of the gusty situation but that decision paid off. He made it to his spot and had a limit when Seigo found him. He said he has about 22 pounds and wants to cull out one more fish.
Immediately after saying that he caught a quality smallmouth and culled.
11:41 a.m. — Mark Menendez is not giving up his tour card without a fight.
11:42 a.m. — If you haven't seen Bassmaster photographer Chase Sansom's photo gallery of Trey McKinney's morning at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River — you need to click here.
11:01 a.m. — AmBASSador Peter Armlovich shared some pictures of Jeff Gustafson’s productive morning, which currently sees him in 2nd place.
“Just survived a major storm,” Armlovich wrote. “Roled through for 12 minutes. Had to hunter down for 12 minutes. Back at it now in light rain, dark skies.”
10:55 a.m. — See the pics below of Trey McKinney surfing on the big lake? It's part of a larger gallery that Chase Sansom is putting together, possibly one of the most epic, memorable and puke-inducing galleries in Bassmaster history. Stay tuned, you'll really want to see this one.
10:28 a.m. — It's rough in most places out there, but Solomon Glenn got a great roll of shots of "running and gunning" before they hit the sloppy stuff. CLICK HERE to check it out.
10:00 a.m. — Mike Iaconelli’s AFTCO raingear is putting in hard work today, but the streetwear sneakers may end up drenched on the trash pile.
9:55 a.m. — Photographer Solomon Glenn reports that ROY leader Caleb Hudson is having a decent morning, with four of the right quality fish. He’s primarily using a dropshot with a little urchin/shrimp bait around current breaks and humps.
9:26 a.m. — If Trey McKinney is feeling any pressure he’s definitely not showing it. The AOY leader is unofficially leading the tournament, too.
9:19 a.m. — Per BassTrakk, Caleb Sumrall – still fighting for a spot on the 2027 Elite Series – is the first angler to 20 pounds.
9:17 a.m. — Photographer Dalton Tumblin got what he could on Cory Johnston, but the conditions are making it tough on the media as well as the anglers.
“He’s making an hour run further out,” Dalton reported.
Chase Sansom is still out there dealing with estimated 6- and 7-footers, and a few rogues that measure higher than that.
“They’re the biggest waves I’ve been in,” he said.
The service crew, photographers and of course the competitors are all earning it today.
8:45 a.m. — Mark Zona: “Drew Cook has gone for an ocean run today. He has gone further than any other angler in the field.”
8:28 a.m. — Cory Johnston: “She is lumpy out here.”
7:08 a.m. — Per photographer Andy Crawford, the lake is a no-go or a game-time decision for many of the anglers.
“I’ve talked to several who said they were not going today, including Gussy,” he said. “Even Chris Johnston said he is going to the mouth of the river and making the decision.”
6:35 a.m. — River or lake? That’s the big question this morning as the anglers consider how to end their seasons. Historically the lake has produced bigger bags but at a greater cost to equipment. The rumors are that this week the river is also producing giant bags. The wind may determine the final choice.
6:37 a.m. — Drew Cook: “We’re going to the lake, come hell or high water. Either we’re going to catch them or we’re not going to make it….It ain’t gonna be no fun.”