Shocking Day 3 Shift: Who’s Winning Lake Champlain?
The Johnston Brothers Are Dominating Lake Champlain (But It’s Not Over Yet!)
What’s Happening at Lake Champlain?
Imagine a big fishing contest where the best anglers (that’s a fancy word for fishermen) from all over come to compete. Right now, they’re at Lake Champlain — a huge lake between New York and Vermont — for a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. Think of it like the "Major Leagues" of bass fishing!
After three days of fishing, two brothers from Canada — Chris Johnston and Cory Johnston — are sitting in 1st place and 4th place. They’re on track to win their third "Angler of the Year" trophy in a row! That’s like winning the MVP award three seasons straight.
Important Point: Canadian Thanksgiving is October 12th this year — so the Johnston brothers might be bringing that trophy to Thanksgiving dinner!
Why This Tournament Is Super Close
Even though the Johnston brothers are leading, nobody can relax yet. Here’s why:
- The difference between 1st place and 10th place is only 4 pounds, 5 ounces — that’s about the weight of a newborn baby!
- Lee Livesay (a pro angler) said it best: "Anybody in the top 10 has a shot."
- Remember Aaron Martens? In 2017, he came from 19th place on the final day and won by just 14 ounces! Right now, anglers in 2nd through 6th place are all within that same "Martens Window" — they can still catch up.
Cool Stats & Fun Facts from Day 3
Big Weights Everywhere
- 6 of the top 10 anglers caught 20+ pounds today!
- 10 out of 50 total anglers hit the 20-pound mark
- Bryan Schmitt had the best day with 23 lbs, 8 oz — he jumped to 2nd place overall!
- Lee Livesay wasn’t far behind with 23 lbs, 1 oz
The Johnston Brothers’ Secret Weapon
Get this: Cory Johnston is the ONLY angler in the top 10 to catch 20+ pounds all three days!
- Day 1: 20-8
- Day 2: 20-8
- Day 3: 20-2
But here’s the scary part — everyone ELSE in the top 5 has had a day over 22 pounds. The Johnston brothers’ best single day is only 21-8. That means one of them might explode with a giant bag tomorrow!
Records & Milestones Being Made
Justin Atkins’ Weird Streak… BROKEN!
Justin Atkins has fished 86 Bassmaster events since college. He’d finished 19th or better 28 times, and 30th once — but NEVER 20th through 29th. Until today! He finished 24th and finally broke that bizarre streak.
Seth Feider: "I’d Rather Win THIS Than the Bassmaster Classic!"
That’s a HUGE statement. The Bassmaster Classic is like the Super Bowl of fishing. But Seth (a two-time runner-up here) is in 5th place, only 2 lbs, 7 oz behind the lead. He’s hungry!
Rookie Beau Browning Making History
Beau Browning (only 24 years old) sits in 9th place with 58-14. This guarantees:
- Best Elite Series finish of his career (previous best: 36th)
- Beating his dad Stephen’s best Champlain finish (17th in 2006)
- His dad has 10 Classic appearances and 4 BASS wins — talk about pressure!
The Cut: Who Keeps Fishing?
After Day 3, only the top 10 anglers advance to the final day. This is called "making the cut."
- Cut weight: 58 lbs, 8 oz (average of 19-8 per day)
- 5 anglers missed by 1 pound or less
- 10 anglers missed by 2 pounds or less — that’s HEARTBREAKING!
Important Point: Making the cut means you keep fishing for the trophy AND earn points toward staying on the tour next year!
Age Is Just a Number (But Also… Maybe Not?)
The average age of the Top 10 is 38.1 — surprisingly "old" for modern fishing! Half are 41 or older. Beau Browning (24) is the only twenty-something.
Some think it’s because forward-facing sonar (live sonar) is banned this week — but that’s debatable. Either way, it was a tough week for anglers 50+. Hank Cherry (52) ended up as the top finisher in that age group at 26th place.
Day-by-Day Trends: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not?
| Angler | Trend | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Johnston | Weight went UP every day | Peaking at the perfect time! |
| Carl Jocumsen | Weight went DOWN every day | Led Days 1 & 2, now 7th place |
| Cory Johnston, Carl Jocumsen, Beau Browning | Worst day today | Need a bounce-back tomorrow |
| Chris Johnston, Bryan Schmitt, Brandon Lester, Lee Livesay | Best day today | Momentum on their side |
Biggest Bass Caught (So Far!)
| Angler | Weight | Record Status |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb Sumrall | 6 lbs, 10 oz | Biggest in Elite Series history at Champlain! |
| Cory Johnston | 6 lbs, 7 oz | 2nd biggest in Elite history here |
| Drew Cook | 6 lbs, 5 oz | 3rd biggest in Elite history here |
| Frankie Appalucio | 6 lbs, 15 oz | Biggest in ALL Bassmaster history at Champlain (caught in 2024 Nation event) |
What Happens Tomorrow? (The Final Day)
Here’s what the anglers are doing tonight to prepare:
- Tighten bolts on their boats
- Restring reels with fresh line
- Study maps & electronics to find fish
- Figure out how to add just a little more weight per fish
- Get some sleep — it’s going to be a GRIND!
Important Point: The "Martens Window" is OPEN — but one gust of Champlain’s cruel wind could slam it shut!
Summary
- Chris Johnston leads after 3 days, Cory Johnston is 4th — brothers dominating!
- Only 4 lbs, 5 oz separates 1st from 10th — anyone can win
- Bryan Schmitt had a monster day (23-8) and sits 2nd
- Seth Feider (5th) says he wants this more than the Classic
- Rookie Beau Browning (9th) is having a career week
- Cut was brutal — 15 anglers missed by 2 pounds or less
- Final day tomorrow — nobody’s resting easy!
The Johnston brothers want to run the table. Don’t bet against them — but don’t count out the chasers either!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
What is "Angler of the Year" (AOY)?
It’s the season-long championship! Anglers earn points at every tournament. The one with the most points at the end of the year wins the AOY title — it’s the biggest honor in bass fishing.
What does "making the cut" mean?
After 3 days, only the top 10 anglers get to fish the 4th and final day. Everyone else goes home. Making the cut = more money, more points, chance at the trophy!
What’s a "limit" in bass fishing?
In Elite Series events, anglers can only weigh in 5 bass per day. They try to catch the 5 heaviest fish possible. A "20-pound bag" means their 5 fish weighed 20 pounds total.
What is forward-facing sonar, and why does it matter?
It’s live sonar that lets anglers see fish swimming in real-time (like a video game). It’s banned this week, which levels the playing field and might explain why older, experienced anglers are doing well.
How do they keep the fish alive?
Great question! Anglers use livewells — aerated tanks on their boats that pump fresh, oxygenated water. Fish are released alive after weigh-in. Conservation is HUGE in tournament fishing!
Article based on Bassmaster Elite Series coverage from Lake Champlain. All weights, standings, and quotes preserved from original report.