Canadians maintain floor at Bassmaster Traditional

Picture: Easton Fothergill, by Dalton Tumblin & BASS

Canadians held their floor on the 2025 Bass Professional Outlets Bassmaster Traditional on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Value, Texas from March 21 to 23.

Easton Fothergill, 22, of Minnesota got here out on prime, managing a record-setting three-day basic creel of 76 kilos, 15 ounces, regardless of excessive winds, frigid temperatures, and cussed pre-spawn bass. He completed eight kilos forward of second place Trey McKinney of Illinois, whereas Texas’ Lee Livesay completed third at 66 kilos, 10 ounces.

Bassmaster Canadians

Canadians held their floor within the subject of 56. Peterborough’s Cory Johnston was within the hunt your entire match. He grabbed second place on day one with a first-day catch of 25 kilos, 9 ounces. He was in second after day three, trailing the eventual winner with 10 bass at 45 kilos, 13 ounces. Nothing got here straightforward, nevertheless. On day two, he had solely six bites, however they had been high quality ones. He ultimately fell to fifth place on the again of cranking a inexperienced pumpkin or white-bladed jig with a sixth Sense’s Flush trailer for the final day, aiming to attach with pre-spawn and spawning bass. Earlier within the occasion, he alternated between pitching a jig in cedar timber and a bladed jig.

Johnston’s youthful brother Chris, the reigning 2024 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the 12 months, spent a lot of the occasion catching up from a disappointing twenty ninth end on day one. Just like Cory, he focused pre-spawn bass in coves. His persistence gave him an eight-place end on Championship Sunday. OOD author and 2023 Bassmaster Traditional champion, Jeff Gustafson of Keewatin, was regular and secured twenty ninth. Bowmanville native Cooper Gallant completed forty first. Each obtained $10,000 US in prize cash. The Johnston brothers gained $25,000 and $21,000, respectively, for his or her efforts.

Elite season resumes April 10

The 4 Canadian Elite anglers, plus 2025 Elite rookie Evan Kung of Pickering, will resume the BASS Elite season on April 10 in North Carolina on the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.

Fothergill’s victory was historic not solely as a result of his report weight — which was topped by an eight-pound beast which got here to the boat late within the afternoon of the ultimate day to finish his restrict — however as a result of 19 months in the past, he was awaiting emergency surgical procedure for an contaminated abscess in his mind. Overcoming that, Easton certified for the 2025 Bass Professional Store Bassmaster Traditional introduced by Below Armour with two BASS Open victories in 2024.

Together with successful $308,000 US, Easton overshot the Traditional report for heaviest three-day whole, beforehand held by Kevin Van Dam, and have become the primary Minnisotan to win the championship. He owes his victory to prying suspended bass from shallow timber with a purple bug Strike King finesse worm rigged Neko model.

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