Jocumsen Crushes Day 1 at Champlain, Takes Commanding Lead
Aussie Angler Shocks Lake Champlain: Carl Jocumsen Leads Day 1 with Largemouth Masterclass
What Happened on Day 1?
The 2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain kicked off in Plattsburgh, New York, and Australian pro Carl Jocumsen stole the show. He caught a five-fish limit of largemouth bass (the "green ones") weighing 23 pounds, 2 ounces — taking a 1 pound, 6 ounce lead over second place.
Fun Fact: Jocumsen celebrated with a classic Aussie cheer: "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!"
Lake Champlain: A Tale of Two Bass
Lake Champlain is famous for two types of bass:
| Bass Type | Nickname | Behavior | Where They Hang Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smallmouth | "Brown ones" | Roamers — chase baitfish over deep water | All over the lake (huge territory) |
| Largemouth | "Green ones" | Homebodies — stay near cover | Grass beds, rocks, docks, laydowns |
Why this matters: Smallmouth usually dominate Champlain tournaments because there are more of them and they roam more area. But this year? Largemouth stole the spotlight.
Why Largemouth? The "No Sonar" Rule
Here’s the game-changer: Forward-facing sonar (FFS) was NOT allowed at this event.
- What is FFS? A high-tech fish finder that lets anglers see fish swimming in real-time, far from the boat.
- Why it matters: FFS is amazing for finding roaming smallmouth in open water.
- The coin flip: Earlier in 2026, a coin toss picked 5 events with FFS and 4 without. Champlain landed in the "no sonar" group.
Result: Without their favorite tech tool, many pros struggled to track smallmouth. Jocumsen saw this coming and pivoted to largemouth.
Jocumsen’s Winning Strategy (Step-by-Step)
-
Started North, Didn’t Work
He began at the lake’s upper end trying smallmouth tactics. No luck. -
Made the Long Run South
Drove 1.5 hours to Ticonderoga ("Ti") — the lake’s best largemouth zone, packed with underwater grass. -
Fished Deeper & Outside the Crowd
- Most anglers fish shallow grass edges.
- Jocumsen fished 7–8 feet deep (deep for largemouth here).
- He targeted the outside edges of grass beds where others weren’t casting.
-
Found "Sweet Spots" on a Half-Mile Stretch
He identified tiny habitat changes — little points, patches of different grass — where fish "switch on" during bite windows. - Slow Presentations, Maximum Patience
Used slow-moving baits. Waited for bite periods. Anchored his bag with a 5 lb, 4 oz kicker.
PRO TIP CALL OUT
Jocumsen’s Edge: "I’m fishing on the outside of where most others are fishing… I think it just pushed the fish to me."
Sometimes, doing the opposite of the crowd pays off big.
The Chasers: Cook & Zaldain
| Place | Angler | Weight | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | Drew Cook (Cairo, GA) | 21-12 | Mixed bag: 4 smallmouth (crankbaits/bladed jigs) + 1 big largemouth (wacky rig in milfoil). Needed 17 lbs of smallmouth first before switching. |
| 3rd | Chris Zaldain (Fort Worth, TX) | 21-10 | All largemouth in the upper end. Used a unique, "off-the-wall" presentation on a specific habitat feature. Believes pattern holds 4 days. |
Both Cook & Zaldain agree: Largemouth offer more consistency than nomadic smallmouth on Champlain.
Angler of the Year & Rookie Races (After Day 1)
Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings
- Trey McKinney (IL) — 640 pts
- Drew Cook (GA) — 637 pts (2019 Rookie of the Year)
- Cory Johnston (Canada) — 634 pts
- Jason Christie (OK) — 566 pts (2022 Classic Champ)
- Brandon Cobb (SC) — 566 pts
Pro-Guide Batteries Rookie of the Year
- Caleb Hudson (GA) — 559 pts
What’s Next? (Schedule & How to Watch)
| Day | Takeoff | Weigh-In | TV / Stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday (Day 2) | 7:00 AM ET | 3:00 PM ET | Bassmaster.com (Live from 8 AM) |
| Saturday (Day 3) | 7:00 AM ET | 3:00 PM ET | FS1 (8 AM – 12:30 PM) → Bassmaster.com |
| Sunday (Championship) | 7:00 AM ET | ~1:00 PM ET | FS1 (8 AM – 1 PM) → Bassmaster.com |
Location: Plattsburgh City Marina, Plattsburgh, NY
Hosts: Discover Plattsburgh & Adirondack Coast
Summary: Key Takeaways
- Carl Jocumsen (AUS) leads Day 1 with 23-02 — all largemouth.
- No forward-facing sonar = smallmouth harder to find = largemouth advantage.
- Jocumsen ran south to Ticonderoga, fished deeper outside grass edges slowly, and found micro-spots with bite windows.
- Drew Cook (2nd) and Chris Zaldain (3rd) also leaned largemouth for consistency.
- Angler of the Year race is tight: McKinney leads Cook by just 3 points.
- Three days left — anything can happen on Champlain!
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
1. What’s the difference between largemouth and smallmouth bass?
Largemouth have a bigger mouth (extends past the eye), are greener, and love shallow cover (grass, wood, docks). Smallmouth are browner, have a smaller mouth, and prefer rocky, deeper areas where they roam and chase bait.
2. What is "forward-facing sonar" (FFS) and why is it banned here?
FFS is like a live underwater radar — you see fish swimming in real-time up to 100+ feet away. It’s revolutionary for finding roaming smallmouth. A coin flip before the season decided which Elite events allow it. Champlain drew the "no FFS" card.
3. Why did Jocumsen drive 1.5 hours south to Ticonderoga?
"Ti" has the densest largemouth habitat on the lake — thick submerged grass (milfoil, eelgrass). He gambled that heavy pressure up north would push fish (and anglers) away, making the south end a "sneaky" goldmine. It paid off.
4. What does "wacky rig" mean? (How Cook caught his big largemouth)
A wacky rig is a soft plastic worm hooked through the middle (not the nose). It flutters slowly as it sinks — irresistible to bass in grass. Cook used a SPRO Wacky Snack in a milfoil bed.
5. Can Jocumsen hold the lead for 3 more days?
Maybe! He admits: "There are bite periods… I have to fish really methodically and hope it happens again." Champlain is tricky. But he’s done this before — he won the 2019 Elite at Lake Tenkiller. First Australian to win an Elite event. He knows how to close.
Article based on Bassmaster.com coverage of the 2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, Day 1.