ELITE: Day 3 weigh-in at the St. Johns River

The 2024 Maxam Tires Bassmaster Elite at the St. Johns River is the fourth Elite event of the season. Here is the Day 3 weigh-in.

Leaderboard: https://www.bassmaster.com/tournament/2024-bassmaster-elite-at-st-johns-river/leaderboard/?pro=1

#bassmaster #stjohnsriver #fishing

0:00 – Day 3 weigh-in at St. Johns River
06:14 – Logan Latuso (5th, 52-6)
30:12 – Brad Whatley (2nd, 59-13)
01:09:45 – Jacob Foutz (4th, 54-11)
01:11:04 – Chris Johnston (3rd, 56-14)
01:13:53 – Cory Johnston (1st, 73-13)

and so did Florida thank you guys very
much for being here what a great week it
has been so far I’ve been sleeping the
the past two days so I’ve no idea what’s
going on in this tournament but I’m
excited to be here in plaa Florida it
was horrible not to be here with you
fine fishing folks but before we go any
further I want to say it’s very special
thank you I need everyone to make a lot
of noise while I was under the weather
Chris bow did a great job MC in this
let’s give Chris bow a little love he’s
backstage this the four stop of the 2024
Bassmaster Elite series The Maxum Tire
Bassmaster Elite we have some fine folks
from Maxim Tire here they were doing a
proam let’s hear it for the fine folks
from Maxim
tire without their great support we I
think that was pretty good and I know
it’s hot so I’m not going to burn you
out but without them there’s no way we’d
be back here in pla one more time let me
hear it for maxim
TI that makes them feel all warmer and
fuzzy inside and and it makes me feel
happy that we have a great title sponsor
here this week so many great people to
put this event on but we’ve got 50
Anglers left we got to cut this down to
our top 10 you guys know how this all
works you guys ready to start this
weigh-in all right before we can started
we need to bring out our way Master let
me hear it for LT Lisa
[Music]
Talmage you ready to do this I’m ready
you guys
ready thanks p County and uh plka we
really appreciate you guys thank you
thank you very much I’ll let you set up
the scales you guys know how it works
I’m the world’s least likely cheerleader
I wave this it’ll tellw you make lots
and lots of noise let’s try it one time
one two
[Music]
3 I think that was pretty good but it is
hot so I don’t want to burn you out one
more time I’ll ask you are you
ready I’m going to need your help with
this
part let’s get ready to
web our very first
angler is it f is it f he is an Elite
Series
rookie Wesley Gore says Fouts we need to
reset the computer it’s um it’s under
the weather too hold on grab your fish
go backstage and we’ll do this all over
again cuz I think you guys can do better
now we got
it sorry I’m
new 30 lb 12 bounces coming today he’s
got five fish he’s 37 to get inside the
cck currently more to stay there 1113 he
moves into second place currently with
42 LB and9
Oz Wesley Gore an Elite Series rookie
and what a rookie class we
have Wesley’s already made one top 10
this year came close to making a second
one earlier this year when 11 plays
finished his first stop but another good
one here this week Wesley yeah uh I just
ended up running out of fish I was
running to Rodman and I was catching
frog gers out in the middle of the lake
and uh I mean there’s literally zero
left that I can find there may be two uh
that I couldn’t get to buy but I had a
blast this week I’ve only been here five
days you know so I’m happy with it and
uh I thank you everybody for coming out
I want to thank the people back at home
that support me in PS Mountain Dew my
family and I all the other people so
we’ll see yall at the next one great
finish we’ll see you at the next one
here’s a guy who does real well in
Florida he is a two-time Bassmaster
winner from fville Tennessee the always
lethal Brandon
Lester
had 31 lb 4 oz to start the day looks
like a good day
today 31 lb and 4 oz start of the day
needs 198 to take the lead five fish 15
lb 10 oz not going to take the lead but
he moves into second place with 46 lb
and 14 oz hot up a top 10 just last week
may have just made another one here this
[Music]
week 46 lb and 14
oz second place right now and see how it
all shakes out I mean we got 48 more
Anglers left to go but uh might have
just made back-to-back 10 cuts here in
Florida it’s possible I didn’t make the
top 10 last week but I appreciate it
yeah it was like 12th or whatever but
anyway um it it’s been a fun week dude
it really has the first two days I
basically fish shell bars and stuff like
that just like I would on the Tennessee
River this time of year and yesterday
with about an hour to go in the day I
slit up in a little canal and I caught a
couple of fry gers so today I caught
them on a frog and a sinko a lot of fry
gers actually caught one fish off the
bed so it’s kind of been one of those
roll with the punches kind of an events
but uh it’s been a lot of fun it’s
always great to come to Paca love this
crowd appreciate you guys if I don’t
make it tomorrow I’ll see y’all next
time we I hope you make this top 10 you
made it for me next up a two-time FLW
tour winner five-time classic qualifier
from Shelby North Carolina Matt
Ary 39 lb and 2 oz to start the day
today five fish add that looking for
1110 to take the
lead 9 lb 3 oz moves into second place
with 48 lb and 5 oz so a tougher day
today um I mean an absolute I mean it’s
been party Cove all week but it it was a
real party Cove there today I tell you
what man that was tempted just to slide
up in there for a little while and I
know Cory and Chris those Canadians
that’s what they do they like to drink
they like to kill stuff and they like to
catch back don’t act like you don’t know
what I’m talking about Dave not in front
of the crowd I try to act put together
but yes you’re right but everybody was
really respectful in there today minus
one jet ski that apparently didn’t
realize it was a no wake zone he kept
doing circles around everybody but uh I
think somebody called him in um there at
towards the end there so that was that
was a good deal but no overall it’s been
a great week if we don’t make it to
tomorrow you know jump one off off today
is part of fishing that may end up
costing us the top 10 but a great week
overall I want to say hey to my girls
reys Rees and ren hey to my wife Emily
and uh if anybody doesn’t know Turkey
season’s in if I don’t make it I’m
hitting the road and I’m burning rubber
to get back either way sounds like a win
to me we’ll find out how this all works
out at the end of our way and he’s
already made a top 10 in the State of
Florida in very first Elite Series event
from Gonzalez Louisiana Logan
Luso 32 lb and 3 o to start the day
looks like a good day here today he
needs 189 to take the lead 20 lb 3 oz
and Logan Luso is leading the maximum
tires Bassmaster Elite with 52 lb and 6
oz Paca Florida he’s digging deep in
that Crush City weighing bag let’s hear
it for Logan
Luso a crush City monster bag of the day
20 PB and 3
oz with 52 lb and 6 oz he is leading
this event going to see if he takes over
Phoenix boats big bass for the day 64
going to do that so you’re leading the
event you’re leading Phoenix boats big
bass and you may have just made your
second top 10 of your Elite Series
career man that’d be nice after day one
there’s no way I thought I’d be in this
position but you know made have been
making a long run every day running at
Suzuki all the way down and I’d like to
do it again tomorrow and see what
happens we’ll find out we’ll fire
through this way as quick as possible
let’s bring out from Wisconsin his
second season on the Bassmaster Elite
Series Kyle noret
Kyle noret had 31 lb and 3 oz five fish
to add to that here
today 12 lb 3 o gives him 43 lb and 6 o
and Kyle noret moves into fifth
place special shout out to all the
ladies that took part in the very first
bassm her program today
was an incredible program make sure you
check out bassm her in the future and
Kyle noret I got something to Bone to
pick with you I mean I was sick over in
that hotel right there sad I couldn’t be
here and I’m watching the weigh in day
one and you said to Chris Bose hey who
cares about Mercer if I weigh fish like
this I’d like you to
stay you know what says you you know I
was kidding I just got to rub you thin
you know we got to get the crowd going
Dave does a good job as a matter of fact
put your hands together for Dave Mercer
fellas and ladies out there um you know
we couldn’t do it without Dave it’s just
not the same Chris did an amazing job
with Lisa and yeah we don’t want you
gone I had about 10 text messages
wondering where Dave was everybody was
more concerned about Dave than me so you
know we made all four Cuts good season
weight dropped a little bit I kind of
played it safe I wanted to gamble but
aoi points are really really high from
how it was last year so hopefully we can
stick them on Murray that was a 95th
Place finish and move up the ladder from
there and maintain and we’re glad to
have you back Dave glad to be back
thanks for the kind words and I don’t
totally believe you a five-time
Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Lake
Wy South Carolina Todd
auton five fish here today at 32 lb and
7
o and one in point today the entire bass
fishing Universe was freaking out 12 lb
8 oz gives him 44 lb 15 o moves into
fifth place
and the reason they were freaking out is
because it came in as one fish for 10 lb
but it was really five fish for 10 lb
yeah U my Marshall I think he he put in
the wrong number or something and he’s
like oh how do you erase that I said
well I don’t think you can you might
have to call him or something but um so
I don’t know if they got it straightened
out or not but uh I said you know I got
five that’s 10 not one 10 pounder they
bass will call you if you catch a 10th
pounder yeah you get their attention in
a hurry a decent finish no matter what
way you look at it yeah I mean it’s been
good to me here in Florida you know two
cuts in a row made it but um I have a
feeling I’ll be going home um you know
tomorrow so um maybe next time we’ll
we’ll get on a little more fish and uh
but I really enjoy fishing here in
Florida and hope we come back thank
y’all oh it’s great to have you here
Florida I know you’re going to get loud
for one of your very own a six-time
classic qualifier two-time Bassmaster
winner from DeBerry Florida John
[Music]
Cox 34 lb6 Oz coming into
today Bob Fish here
today 9 lb 11 o gives him 44 lb an ounce
he moves into sixth
place John unfortunately not going to
make the cut this time around but I did
notice yes yesterday when you when you
weighed in why we’re just going to keep
I’m trying to get on I’m trying not to
stand in front of her Sor I I noticed
yesterday when you weighed in there was
a whole herd of children up here really
and and I noticed right away she picked
one of the little ones up I believe it
was not for the picture but it was just
so her hands were busy and you wouldn’t
make her hold a bass yeah it was so she
didn’t have to whole one but uh man
awesome week man it’s crowd’s awesome
thanks for everybody for coming out uh
man this is just how the year’s gone so
far it’s been up and down it’s like oh
you’re going to win the tournament
you’re not even close like uh you know
I’m I’m just trying I’m trying to get it
to work out each day and I don’t know if
I’m just moving wrong but uh but man
awesome tournament I just uh you know
hope we put this on the schedule every
year and it was kind of cool coming in
April and uh you know maybe we’ll try a
March date or something you know down
the road and uh yeah and uh I guess
we’ll go on to the next one look forward
to seeing you there always great to have
you here and we’ll see you at our next
event let’s bring out a former
Progressive Bassmaster angler of the
Year from Alabama Scott
canabury oh boy when he does the pinky
hold that is not a good sign 34 lb and 3
oz as of this morning three fish to add
to that 4 lb 9 oz moves into 10th place
with
3812 and uh nothing to see here but lots
of great events ahead yeah there’s a lot
to see here with this crowd out here
this is pretty awesome man I really uh
thought I had something figured out so I
gambled this morning and went to
Crescent looking for a Shad spawn that
didn’t pan out and I just never got
panicked or anything I thought I could
go catch Plenty of Fish I did lose a few
but man I just didn’t get any bites
today I think I was a little bit behind
the tide or something but uh I don’t
know I needed to gain some points I had
it going pretty good I fished a couple
of really good days I had some good
weights and good days but today didn’t
go my way so uh we’ll be looking forward
to the next one then this is an awesome
crowd out here again appreciate
everybody coming out if y’all want to go
out and catch some bass I am completely
out of net bait ions it’s a black black
blue flake a stick bait from net bait
it’s got bait fuel in it and I’m telling
you they’re eating it up this week
always great to have you here safe
travels we’ll see you at the next one a
three-time classic qualifier former
Dakota lithium Rookie of the Year from
North Carolina Jake
Whitaker little
B 35 lb and 7 oz for fish to add to that
here today as he walked on stage she
called them little
Bitties 5 lb 6 oz and I believe your
adjective was correct he moves into
Ninth Place with 40 lbs 13 ounces but as
I always say if the wheels are going to
fall off the bus might as well be on
payday yeah man today was uh I kind of
knew that what I was doing was really
dying out but I was too hard-headed and
I stuck with it and uh you know it just
that’s what happened so uh just like you
said if you’re going to stink it up the
third day is the day to do it but uh man
it’s been a really good uh Florida swing
uh you know made both cuts and and
earned a lot of points so uh you know
really excited about the Florida swing
so appreciate everybody coming out get
to come home see my little girl safe
travels we’ll see you at the next one we
A Lead Series champion from Springville
Alabama the little ball of hate Wes
Logan Wes Logan started today with 32 lb
and 12 oz he’s got five fish to add to
that here
today n lbs even he moves into Ninth
Place currently with 4112 so going to be
most likely short of the top 10 with the
rest of the Anglers left away in but hey
top 50 another good payday yeah we got
paid for sure I I had some I’d had an
incredible or another good bag today
probably another 22 to 24 I just
couldn’t put them in the boat but that’s
go how it goes uh you know like I said
we got paid I was just running around
swimming a jig that I designed for Arc
and flipping a zoom speed worm around
and I don’t know it I had a really good
practice I thought and it just kind of I
don’t know if the pressure got to the
areas or or what happened but they kind
of showed theel again today but just not
as many but I don’t know it is what it
is good tournament um want to thank my
my wife and my parents for taking care
of me this week I got a shoulder problem
so I’ll be headed to Andrew sports
medicine when we get home and just want
to tell everybody I appreciate the
thoughts and prayers and appreciate Paca
it’s always fun fishing here I love this
place it’s been good to me and I hope we
come back safe travels get yourself
taking care of we’ll see you at Lake
Murray next up from Florida he’s a
Bassmaster Open winner get loud for Kobe
creger Kobe creger had 32 lb and 6 o
after two days of
fishing here at the Maxum tires
Bassmaster Elite five fish to add to
that 7 lb 14 o moves into 11th place
with 40 lb and 4 oz tell me about your
week hey glad to have you back today
glad you’re feeling better hey it a
great week you know I sight fish the
first two days and uh I went to the well
one too many times and I knew it was
drying up and waited for 3 hours and
dude I had two fish forever in the last
s minutes I caught three of those
Keepers so saved a little bit of of the
tournament uh but it was a great uh time
here in plaque you guys always show up
and give great support the people in the
town here are awesome the good thing is
I only got a short drive home to see my
wife safe travels we’ll see you up at
Lake Murray another good one next up we
have a six-time classic qualifier
three-time Bassmaster winner from Paduka
Kentucky mark mende
[Music]
Mark Menendez had 32 lb and 3
oz St John’s river been very good to him
two top 10 here five fish added that
here today looking for 810 to get in the
cut 13-1 moves all the way up to fifth
place with 45 lb and 4 oz we’ll see if
it holds out for the sker Yamaha Pro
from Paduka
Kentucky Mark fifth place right now and
I hope it’s enough to keep you in this
but man St John’s river has been very
very good to you it has Dave uh it’s
going to be just that close probably the
wrong side of the flip of the coin but
it’s been a great week um you know you
go through times in your fishing career
where you lose fish for no real reason
and the last day at the Harris chain was
a really ugly day and it’s been two
really ugly days prior to this and lots
of missed opportunities and and and it
just you can’t figure out what’s going
on but it it’s been really tough but
I’ve caught a lot of fish this week um I
have to say the guys over a power pole I
have beat the absolute crap out of that
new motor and it keeps right on going
I’ve tore it up as many ways as you can
and it’s been absolutely fantastic Dave
so if it can live through me it can live
through anybody else congrats on a good
one we’ll see how it all shakes out he’s
a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier
from Del Rio Texas Ray Hanselman
Jr Ray Hanselman started today with 37
pounds even four fish here today one
short of his limit
needs 412 to get inside the cut
currently more to stay there 13 lbs even
moves into third place with 50 PBS
even digging deep in that Crush City
weigh-in baglets here it for Ray
Hanselman
Jr 50 lbs even and inside the cut for
right now I hope that one short of your
limit doesn’t come back to hunt you here
yeah it was it was a definite grind
today I I uh
you know I had a shell bed deal that was
working real good caught most of my big
fish on all week I only got one big one
off of it today um you know the Shad
spawn deal wasn’t happening for me this
morning I ran around about six points
and there were the birds and the fish or
the Shad were there but the bass weren’t
so I I came back down into the river and
flipped flipped up the the other ones
and hopefully it’s enough you know I I
probably didn’t leave myself enough time
down here and to flip pads but uh want
to thank everybody in patka this is is a
great host community and uh we always
love coming here and and uh just want to
thank all my sponsors Cory wisman with
Bullseye services and sker Yamaha and
and Renault tackle and six cents baits I
mean that’s without all them you can’t
get this done but hopefully I’ll see
yall again tomorrow we’ll find out here
at the end of our weigh in and the Rams
won yesterday go Rams his boys play just
his boys play baseball for a team named
the Rams okay just to explain it let’s
bring an 11 time Bassmaster Classic
qualifier an Elite Series champion from
Brookville Indiana dollar bill
[Music]
loen 30 lb 14 o to start the day for
bill loen needs 1111 to get inside the
cut currently more to stay there till
the end of our weigh
in 9 lb 10 o he moves into 13th Place
with 40 lb and 8 oz but another good
Payday for dollar bill
loen proud member of Team Express Yamaha
digging deep in that Crush City weigh-in
bag and if nothing else that is one
Lively fish all of these fish going to
go for a ride in our Yamaha avco live
Release Boats back in the water for you
guys catch for years and years to come
and uh unfortunately we’re going to have
to release you from this tournament but
a good finish bill you know this is the
uh first cut I’ve made all year you know
I’ve been very unfortunate and been
missing the cut by 10 oz 11 o so it
feels good to uh be fishing on a
Saturday you know and Saturdays are
pretty special for me because you know
typically when I fish on Saturday I pick
a kid out of the crowd and give him a
Bassmaster membership for those of you
that don’t know um all I wanted to do
when I was little is stand on this stage
and Bassmaster magazine can help you do
that you know and we’re going to do
something really special today uh Yamaha
decided to step up huge and partner on
me with this one so every kid in the
crowd that’s 12 years and younger is
going to get a free Bassmaster
membership every kid every kid there’s
going to be a lot of people lying about
their age Bill all you got to do it’s
very simple go over to the Yamaha Booth
see my wife and we’ll get it taken care
of you know I’ve been with Yamaha for my
whole career 18 years and um I can’t say
enough about it you know what I mean
unless I’ve done it myself I’ve never
had a mechanical issue that didn’t let
me get back to the dock so big round of
applause for them for stepping up huge
um like I said when I was their age all
I wanted to do was stand on this stage
and Bassmaster magazine helped me do
that but you know without the rest of my
sponsors it wouldn’t be possible to
stand up here and do that so
unfortunately I’m not going to get to
fish tomorrow I’ll be at the Yamaha
Booth working if you want to come get
autographs shake hands talk about my
Express and then Monday we’re going to
head home put the mosio camo on and the
Drake old time get some ball shots h
wrong get us a turkey enjoy hunting and
thanks for such a great thing wow next
up we have our day one leader a
three-time classic qualifier former bass
nation National Champion from Louisiana
Caleb
sual 32 lbs and 3 o to start the day
today still leading for our Cross City
monster bag of the tournament 28 lb and
8 O on day number one five fish here
today
10 lb 8 oz inside the top 10 right now
in 10th place with 42 LB 11 o a great
week for Caleb sura let’s hear it for
him ladies and
gentlemen so Caleb a great finish here
this week I know after after day one it
you know probably doesn’t feel as great
as as you had expected but hey man a
great tournament regardless great points
no man I I I couldn’t for better day one
was magical um I I I’ve said it on stage
I’ve never had a day on the water like
that everything just went right um I was
not expecting to even do that I just
rolled in there and there they laid and
every one of them bit man it was just so
much fun and uh then I it was choke City
when I got the camera in my boat the
next day I don’t know what the no
excuses but uh no went ahead and uh
scratched up a limit today decent finish
Florida I finally got I’m trying to get
on the right track with catching a Mir
in Florida I ran all the way to as her
in my express it did great um Paca y’all
never feel y’all never fail to show out
love y’all thank y’all for coming out
congrats on a good one
brother he’s a three-time Bassmaster
Classic qualifier had a baby last week
from Detroit Lakes Minnesota oh Bob
Downey I mean he didn’t have the baby
but but he was part of it at some point
um what spawning season three fish here
today 713 gives you 46 lb 9 oz puts you
in sixth place so congratulations on
becoming a brand new Daddy I know that
an amazing experience and hopefully it’s
enough to keep you inside the cut it’s
going to be really close I think I’ll
probably miss it by a few places but uh
I really can’t complain I was really
just looking for a top 20 top 30 this
week I’m hoping we’ll still be there um
those two big ones really helped me out
yesterday Everything went perfect
yesterday and it kind of went the other
way today but you do this long enough
that’s going to happen um just want to
say thanks for everyone for checking in
on my wife and I the last couple weeks
um we really appreciate it everything’s
really good back home excited to get
back there and see them um but renewed
faith in the fishing Community a lot of
good people checked in with us and uh
just want to say thanks
congrats he’s a 2022 Bassmaster Classic
champion from Dry Creek Oklahoma Jason
Christie Jason Christie made a top 10
last week had 3314 after 2
days needs 98 to get inside the cut
currently definitely got that 15 lbs 14
o he moves into fourth place with 49 lb
and 12 oz and we’ll see how it all
shakes out but Jason Christie may have
just made a second cut in a row and that
hydraulic gorilla right there is a major
reason why we’re going to weigh that for
Phoenix big bass needs to be better than
64 for the
day 8 lbs for the
tournament 6 lb 12 O So a brand new
Phoenix BS big bass of the day and
you’ve got you in fourth place and you
may be working tomorrow I hope so um you
know I I I think I need some weather uh
to be able to catch me because there’s
big ones around they’re just hard to
catch um I’d love to fish you know the
weatherman says it’s supposed to blow
and and uh front come through and I
think that would I think that’d make it
good you know no matter what happens
it’s been a good trip to Florida I mean
Florida’s Florida can humble you quickly
like it did me today and uh you know the
con I mean if I’d love to fish the top
10 if I don’t I get to go home and see
my family which we’ve been gone you know
two and a half weeks so either way it’s
a win for me but uh you know I love
fishing here because it is different
every single day
well great finish we’ll keep our fingers
crossed and find out how it all shakes
out he’s an eight-time classic qualifier
two-time Bassmaster winner from Fort
Worth Texas the zal dangerous one Chris
zalan Chris zalan had 32 lb 14 oz to
start the day today needs 113 to get
inside the cut
currently five fist for Chris Delane
here in semi-final Saturday 10 lb 9 oz
moves into 11th place with 437 so just
out side of the cut but you’re putting
together a great season Chris hey we
didn’t bomb Florida um and it’s so easy
to do down here had fun this week I was
throwing a frog all week first day I had
like 30 bites on it second day I had
like 12 to 15 bites on it today I only
had six and they were all a two Pounders
so um really fun week kind of chasing
the tide recognizing what the current’s
doing and making really accurate cast so
had a blast thank you all for showing up
and we will see you in South Carolina
see you there safe travels to keep it
rolling he’s a two-time bassm winner
from Wisconsin Caleb
kall Caleb kall had 33 lbs even
yesterday three fish to add to
it had a bit of a podcast going
yesterday on Bass
Live 11 PBS even puts him in 11th place
with 44 lbs even
he’s got one to show you Florida get
your cameras ready there you
go the big bite and that is the reason
Florida is such a special place and the
place that so many Pros look forward to
going to because of those big bites yeah
for sure I mean everywhere uh you know
you can come to place like this and any
c can be a a giant you know was always a
special place but um you know good good
week uh you know made the uh the uh
Saturday cut and you know I’m thankful
for that uh you you know just didn’t get
that many bites today um you know
luckily I landed everything that uh that
bit me today and you know it is what it
is uh looking forward to the next one um
South Carolina I think you were very
entertaining on live yesterday I didn’t
even know I was on live to be honest
with you my camera man supposed to let
me know when we’re on live I heard
nothing all day well he should do that
more because it was very
entertaining next up we have a seven
time classic qualifier a former Dakota
lithium Rookie of the Year from North
Carolina Brandon card
Brandon card hot hot off a super six
finish in the Bassmaster
Classic five fish here
today 10 lb 6 oz puts them in 18th Place
currently with 40 lb and 11 oz so
another good finish for Brandon card all
of these Anglers deserve to be
celebrated half our field already headed
home but the top 50 remain here at the
Maxum tires Bassmaster Elite
and this one was a different one
shortened practice obviously a different
time of year but to be standing here on
Saturday is a good thing yeah I’ll take
it for sure you know I love coming to
Paca um this place kind of reminds me of
where my mom grew up uh she grew up a
couple hours north of here up there on
the uh okioki swamp is there anybody
that lives close to
okoi yeah and so just coming down here
it just feels like home you know I just
I I love it down here um the wild oak
trees with the Spanish moss just uh
can’t wait to come back just had a great
time and uh look forward to see my wife
and little boy in the morning congrats
on a good finish you should move there
it’s a fun thing to say from Oki kokei
next up we have an angler hot of a top
10 a two-time classic qualifier from
Texas Get Loud for Brad
Watley 28 lb and 9 oz coming in today
get your cameras ready ladies and
gentlemen Somebody went to the Piggly
Wiggly and came back with a whole sack
full five fish needs 2314 to take the
lead 31 lb 4 oz
314 and with 59 lb 13 Oz Brad Watley is
leading the maximum Tire Bassmaster
Elite and that right there is the crush
City monster bag of the
day today’s weight 31 lb 4 o he out does
his first two days of this tournament in
just one
day where do you
[Applause]
want Brad Watley leading the maxim Tire
Bassmaster Elite and good googly moogly
look at that that that that that’s
that’s a pretty good day at the office
huh yeah I take that every day and twice
on Sunday 30 1 lb 4 oz the biggest bag
of the
tournament we’ll get those babies out of
the way those little ones and now we’re
going to weigh one for Phoenix boats big
bass needs to be better than 612 for the
day 8 PBS even for the tournament 77 so
a brand new Phoenix boats big bass of
the
day already leading for the day we’re
going to see if he can take over John
Cox who’s leading with an 8 found ER for
the tournament looking for Phoenix BS
big bass to the tournament 8 lb 7
oz leading everything hot off of top 10
last week and dude I often say to people
there’s this chance you may be fishing
tomorrow you’re fishing tomorrow
dude yeah you know
honestly I was kind of struggling I went
through my main area and uh I just I
wasn’t getting bit you know I caught one
little one I told a good Lord I said I’m
going to need a bite pretty quick I’m
like to burn out of here and I’m telling
you man within probably 30 seconds I
catch one almost 6 lbs and then probably
three cast later I catch that eight
something so things worked out they
worked out in a big big way and I better
say to all our leaders look out because
can you get them again tomorrow you know
you never know I mean this is Florida
they live here we all know that I mean
it’s full of giants um I’ve seen a lot
of big fish I’m definitely around some
big fish um we’re just going to need the
cooperation of them and if they bite you
know you know hey we live with a bus
another 30 look out ladies and gentlemen
get some noise for Brad
Watley wow I need to drink of
water let’s keep him rolling our next
angler from Blue Ash Ohio Alex
redwine if I was Brad Watley I’d be
drinking some wine right now to be
honest 29 pounds in an ounce to start
the day you looked like you had a good
day but Brad Wadley ruined this for you
to be honest
19 lb and 4 oz a great day with 48 lb
and 5
Oz 48 lb 5
oz and you’re sitting in seventh place
so a great day a great tournament but it
wasn’t very nice of Brad Watley to go
and weigh the biggest bag of the
tournament right in front of you like
that no not at all he made my six or
five and six pounder look like tiny fish
so I you guys didn’t get very excited
for mine compared to his but
no fun day kind of I didn’t catch a
whole lot of fish today that big one I
caught kind of at the end just I felt
like that fish just gained me so many
points going in for the rest of the year
kind of um it’s been fun here I know
this St John’s river was my first ever
Elite event three years ago and it kind
of took my name and and after having a
decent week last week and then this week
I mean I couldn’t ask for much more for
a Florida swing I got to give a shout
out to millertech batteries um I I only
started my motor twice today this
morning on my way to my spot and on my
way back from my spot and just to have
that reliability and and peace of mind
when it comes to energy you know using a
bunch of graphs all day long and and
still have enough power to crank the
crank the motor up but just want to say
hi to everyone back home it’s been a fun
few weeks down here in Florida and good
to see you Dave I haven’t seen you in a
little bit good to see you too hopefully
we see you tomorrow we’ll find out how
it all shakes out next up we have a
two-time Elite Series champion from
Panama City Beach Florida Get Loud for
Drew
Benton looks like a good day for Drew as
well had 28 lb and 5 O to start the day
five fish to add to that here today
needs
165 to get inside the cut 20 lbs 14 oz
he moves into sixth place currently with
49 lb3
Oz let’s hear it for Phoenix yamama H
Pro Drew
Benton 49 lb and 3 oz and uh Florida
always shows out and so do you every
time we come here not every time but man
I I’ve been fighting a lot of adversity
these last few events and really not
having a lot of fun and then today got
back to having a good time and catching
them and it catching fish always solves
everything and uh every fisherman kind
of deals with it and I’ve been dealing
with it and uh today was a lot of fun I
just hope I get to go tomorrow uh this
this city really shows out we we talked
about the grass last time we were here
and we all see the fences and all the
work that you guys are putting in trying
to get that back and we all appreciate
it I think I speak for everybody so hats
off to you guys for putting in the work
and trying to make this place a better
fishery is already a good fishery but it
could be a great fishery if that ever
comes back great words and we hope you
get out there we’ll find out at the end
of our way and another Bassmaster
Classic qualifier from Baton Rouge
Louisiana Derek hudnell
29b and 6 o to start the day four fish
to add to that here on semifinal
Saturday 9 lb 15 oz puts them in 24th
with 39 lb and 5 O going to dig deep in
that Crush City weigh-in
bag 39 lb and 5 oz so uh another
semi-final Saturday appearance and
that’s a good thing yeah it is today
just wasn’t a good day uh only had four
bites all day um but you know fishing
aside you know patka and St John’s
River’s always been really near and dear
to my heart I fished my first ever Elite
Series event here back in 2019 my rookie
season I weighed in the biggest bass
I’ve ever weighed in in in my career
right here too a couple of years later
um and it’s not just that I mean we get
the privilege of going around the
country and meeting some awesome people
and getting you know to enjoy crowds
like this but the people here in patka
are just so incredibly awesome um and
just humbled by how nice and how
supportive everybody is here and also
the fishing’s great so that’s just kind
of a caveat but uh PATCO we love y’all
and uh hope to see y’all again you sure
do love Pac and I’m sure we’ll be back
here he’s a three-time Bassmaster Elite
Series champion from Auburn Alabama get
loud for Steve Kennedy
31 lb 8 O to start the day unfortunately
just two fish here
today 10 lb 5 oz so for two not so bad
moves into 19th Place and digging deep
in that cross City weighing bag look at
the size of that hydrilla
[Music]
gorilla it’s long and skinny
41 lb 13 Oz for a total we’re going to
weigh that one for Fenix boats big bass
needs to be better than 8 lb 7
oz 77 so not going to take that over but
a welcome addition a tough day today but
that makes it seem a lot better yeah oh
yeah that was an incredible bite I uh
actually had another one my my Marshall
seemed to think he was probably bigger
and uh I wasn’t even watching my bait
when he bit it so uh I didn’t even set
the hook on him but anyway the best area
down there one of our guys probably made
the cut the uh it’s incredible how many
boats are coming out just to go party go
hang out in the springs cool off or just
hang out on a sandbar out there I’ve
never seen so many boats run by in all
my life we’ve been here a bunch of times
but we’re usually here in what February
maybe going into March and it’s it’s
much colder so yeah the boat showed up
in force and had everything rocking and
rolling and and my best deal was not
working so uh anyway had had a couple of
bites I felt like I needed that 18 to 20
to make the cut and I went for it and
I’ll do it again next time I get a
chance always good to have you here good
payday I’ll see you down at party Cove
after this weigh-in next up we have a
three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier
former Strike King College bass Champion
Cody
Huff had 29 lb and 4
oz to start the day need 175 to get
inside the cut currently 15b 5 O just
outside the cut in 13th Place with 44 lb
and 9 oz we’re halfway through our
semifinal Saturday weighin and the quest
to get inside the top 10 and keep your
tournament alive make it into
Championship Sunday at the maximum Tire
Bassmaster Elite so just shorted the cut
in 13th place right now but Florida
swing’s been good for you yeah that’s
exactly right I’m a happy man I’ve had a
bad history of Florida so uh two good
tournaments man it’s awesome start to
the year and just enjoying this pretty
weather is is worth being down here it’s
pretty awesome look forward to seeing
you at the next one let’s bring out an
Elite Series champion took his win in
the great state of Florida from Raceland
Louisiana Tyler
revette 28 lb and 2 oz to start the day
five fish to add to that here
today 10 lb 13 Oz puts him in 27th Place
with 38 lb 15 oz so another good payday
Tyler yeah yeah I’ll take it you know I
hate missing a cut last week but uh it
was little a couple ounces but you know
I made effort this week and got back in
there and uh hopefully we keep making
the cuts I hate missing them you know
like I like the money and uh but no I’m
just glad my family’s here and my
girlfriend uh we’re going to go have
some fun next couple of days we’re going
to go chill at the beach you know get
our toes in the sand and stuff but uh no
I actually hate sand but I made her stay
with me all week so I got to help her a
little bit you know why do you have a
microphone on your head well I don’t
like it touching my neck it feels weird
it looks weird when it’s on your head
well if I put it in the front it looks
like a flower so I don’t know about that
okay so yeah I don’t know I’ll go back
get some drinks get some beers and uh
Cass Cass Cass Cass sorry so they’ve
been doing that at a bay here there’s
been a lot of Cass yeah we’re going to
do that tonight all right I’ll see you
there
from Connecticut his second season on
the Bassmaster Elite Series Get Loud for
Alex
weatherell 27 lb and 7 oz to start the
day five fish to add to
him 10 lb 14 o moves into 29th Place
with 38 lb and 5 O another semi-final
Saturday appearance another good Payday
on the bass Master Elite series for Alex
weatherell so you’re here on Saturday
which is a good thing yeah and you are
too yeah I showed up nice to have you
back good to be here yeah I uh I’m happy
with it I walked away from Florida with
two checks and uh yeah had a little
tougher day but yeah overall I’m pretty
happy made the cut and uh get to drive
all the way back home to Connecticut now
all right safe travels we’ll see you in
Lake Murray in just a few weeks next up
from Old Forge PA Get Loud for Jonathan
Kelly
Jonathan Kelly had 28 lb and 11 o to
start the day five fish to add to that
here
today needs 1714 to get inside the cut
currently 18 lbs even inside the cut
with 46 lb 11
oz moves him into 10th place currently
with 461
4611 so inside the cut right now
probably not going to stay there
obviously we got a lot of Anglers left
to weigh in but a great week this week
yeah absolutely man to be that close I’m
going to come up short and I had one
that I last 10 minutes of fishing it’s
going to haunt me I honestly might not
sleep tonight over it had that one get
away was probably the biggest bite of
the day but other than that it was such
a fun day and I love the St John’s my
first ever bass college tournament was
here had a really good event there and
I’ve loved ever since I’ve fallen in
love with Paca love being down here it’s
a great area but first and foremost I
was feeling a little under the weather
this week kind of like yourself I have
to thank my family they are down here
that my fiance over there as well they
took care of me this week they really
helped me get along get through what I
was feeling honestly didn’t even know if
I was going to be able to fish yesterday
so I pushed through it got out there and
now we’re going to have a really great
finish so I got to be happy with that
great job congrats another good one he’s
a Bassmaster Classic qualifier from
Ville New Jersey GDP Greg
dama 26 lb and 13 ounces to start the
day
today five fish to add to that here on
semi-final
Saturday 9 lb 10 oz puts them in 33rd
Place with 36 lb and 7 oz so you got to
be happy with this one Greg yeah I am
you know I I really enjoy coming here
guys you guys have a gem out back this
is a great fishery to say the least uh
you know it was still a good week for me
you know whenever I lock a drop shot in
my hand I always seem him do really good
so maybe I’m trying to tell myself
something here but uh otherwise it’s
been a good week I’ll see you guys in
the next one and I’m excited for that
one for sure so looking forward to
seeing you there safe travels he’s a
three-time Bassmaster winner from
Maryland Get Loud for Brian
Schmidt Brian Schmidt had 27 lb and 7 o
to start the day today five fish to add
to that on semi final
Saturday 13 lb 7 oz gives him 40 lb 14
oz and Brian Schmidt moves into 23rd
Place currently digging deep in that
Crush City weigh-in bag going to hold a
few High get some pictures here ladies
and gentlemen Paca Florida you guys
always show out and we thank you for
your great
support 40 lbs 14 o 23rd Place so a good
finish whatever way it shakes out yeah
good week uh Dave you know I was making
a really really long run almost to the
southern boundary every day and uh my
whole game was uh frogging frogging some
pads and and fishing shell and um you
know first day everything went really
really easy and really well and then
yesterday I don’t know what happened I
really really don’t I had nine pounds I
wish I could do it over but uh you know
I threw a spro mix stick a spro popping
frog and a mistle baits 48 you know
wacky style and shout out to Hayabusa I
swapped out my TRS on my mcck and I I
believe it put a few extra fish in the
boat they were barely barely grabbing it
these fish are so smart it’s
unbelievable but good week and uh I
guess we’re on to Murray congrats on a
good one we’ll see you up in Murray we
have a four-time Bassmaster winner from
Long View Texas Lee
[Music]
Livy 29 lbs and 7 o to start the day
today five fish to add to that
two-time member of the Bassmaster
Century Club one of the most dominant
Pros in the last 5 years 10 lb 12 O puts
him in 28th Place with 40 lb and 3 oz
tiing deep in that Crush City weigh in
back let’s hear it for Lee
Livy 40 lb and 3 oz Lee 28th Place and
another good Payday on the Elite Series
yeah I lied to everybody yesterday I
promised the world and Bass Live that I
would not take a left out of here the
rest of my life and I took a left and
yeah I know you can boo me if you want
to uh I I’m about as stubborn as you can
get but uh I took a left did not catch
him again for the last time in my life I
think that’ll be the last time I ever go
but man look at this crowd the St John’s
river is where I started my career
actually and I top 10 uh the last time
Rick Clen won here and that’s probably
my you know favorite memory of fishing
the Elites in the last six years besides
the trophies that I’ve won is sitting
right here and watching Rick clone win
that Trophy and I just want to say thank
you for Rick for being a great friend
and a great ambassador of the sport man
I I love him as a friend and angler Rick
Clen you’re the man uh thank everybody
thank you all for coming out thanks all
my sponsors all my family I can’t wait
to get back home and see my wife in uh
Brooklyn and tan thank y’all so much
I’ll see y’all later congrats another
good one brother he’s a bad Master Open
winner he’s a classic qualifier he’s an
Elite Series rookie originally from
Nebraska now makes his home in Texas the
next big thing Ben
milikin had 2615 to start the day five
fist to add to
that five fish here on semi-final
Saturday 13 lb 10 oz with 40 lb and 9 oz
Ben milin moves into 26th Place another
good
Payday for Ben milikin in his rookie
season so another good payday Ben you
got to be happy with the way this one
worked out cuz Florida is never a
guarantee for anyone no it’s not I don’t
really know how I got 13 pounds a day
it’s like the most inconsistent place
ever but I’ll take it Harris chain was
terrible for me and so I really needed
to bounce back and uh we stayed
consistent we we got a goodwi Payday and
we got some points back so on to the
next one and uh it’ll be a better one
looking forward to seeing you at Murray
always great to have you here oh the
hits keep coming from cliston Florida
Bassmaster Open winner two-time classic
qualifier Get Loud for Scott
Martin 28 lbs and 10 ounces to start the
day for Scott Martin five fish to add to
that here today in his home state of
Florida thing looks like a
burrito 8 lb 4 oun that’s a big burrito
but but it we’re not weighing burritos
today unfortunately 36 lb 14 oz so I
mean a good payday you know that’s
really what was about you know I really
fought hard yesterday to make the cut
you know fortunately I won the first
tournament there at okobi this year so I
got my classic for this year uh so
points really don’t matter so today was
a little bit different you know I gave
Canterbury my starting spot hopefully I
don’t know what he called off of it
didn’t look like a whole lot but uh I
ran around and just try to fish some new
stuff and try to learn a little bit
about cuz I’m sure we’re coming back
this is a great great tournament Fishery
because of the complexity of it with the
tides the different you know areas you
can fish and these These basss are
always doing so many different things so
I hope we come back and I had a lot of
fun you know like I said payday I’m
gonna I’m going to go hang out at the
Dakota lithium booth for just a little
bit so I’d love to meet some of you guys
and then I’m headed south probably go
down the keys and hang out with my wife
sounds like a plan way to go we look
forward to seeing you up at Lake Murray
he is your current leader in Dakota
lithium rookie of the year he’s your
current leader in Progressive bassm
angler of the year the youngest Elite
Series champion in history Trey
McKinny 29 lb 15 o to start the day he
needs 1612 to get inside the cut 15 lbs
12 oz he moves into 12th Place with 45
lb 11
oz 19-year-old fishing
Phenom and boy it didn’t take long for
his presence to be felt in the Elite
Series his second Elite Series event he
won Elite Series title and a another
good one here this week Trey yes sir I
mean the main thing was is to survive so
we done that um this place is a beast um
these fish are very picky they got very
their their own ways of doing things and
I’m not aware of so it’s uh it’s
different out there everything you know
the long run I mean it’s it’s a crazy
place but uh it was fun out there this
week so we enjoyed it survived and on to
the next congrats on a good one before
you go you’re used to getting these
another weekly bonus for Trey mckenny
Progressive Bassmaster angry of the Year
$1,000 weekly
bonus and that gets a whole lot bigger
if he keeps leading that to the end of
the year next up we have a two-time
classic qualifier a Bassmaster Open
winner from Bowmanville Ontario Canada
Cooper
Galant 29 lb and 14 oz as of this
morning cp’s got five fish here today on
semifinal
Saturday 11 lb 3 oz gives him 41 lbs in
an ounce puts him in 24th Place and cop
a good one yeah yeah you know what I’m
happy with it last last week on haris
chain I bombed and I needed a decent one
or a really good one this event had a
decent finish um man good crowd today
thanks for coming guys dad he’s been
traveling with me all year he’s been
behind the camera he’s been looking like
that for half the season so thank you
Dad my brother Colin’s here as well he’s
been behind the camera this week too my
mom’s here here love you Carol’s here
and everyone back home thanks for the
support guys sponsors friends and family
thank you and we’ll see you in a couple
weeks on where are we going again Murray
Murray Lake Murray we’ll see you there
thanks guys all right turn that whole
family into your own little sweat shop
Coupe I’m proud of you next up we have a
four-time classic qualifier former
motocross racer Hunter
sh 27b and 2 oz to start the day five
fish to add to that here
today 5 pounds 7 ounces gives him 32
pounds 9 oz put you in 40 first place
but the good news is you get paid to
leave town yeah that’s right I mean uh
it’s a humbling day but you know what we
had to throw a throw a little gamble out
there because what I did yesterday just
didn’t work but uh you guys know the
drill the title River it’s like if if
you’re around them and it’s a right tide
It’s Magic but if you’re not you might
as well just be you know on the bank
somewhere so anyhow it’s it’s been fun
and we always love coming here I went
through I don’t know how many Berkeley
generals and I got to get some more
ordered but yeah it’s going to be a
little quick turnaround and right back
to Murray so we appreciate all you guys
coming out we’ll see you next time good
news is Berkeley’s located right there
so you can pick him up on your way next
up a former Forest Wood Cup champion a
Bassmaster Open winner from Florence
Alabama Justin
Atkins 27 lb in 3 o to start the day
today five fish add of that for Justin
Atkins 12 lb 15 o puts them in 32nd
Place currently so a a good finish this
week again yeah no it was a great finish
um I love St John’s river it’s probably
my favorite fishery in Florida um I grew
up fishing the river system it obviously
wasn’t title but I feel like I have a
decent understanding how it works um had
a little onew deal this week i’ started
on shed spawn and then I’d go to Rodman
and fish brim beds and um you know it it
just turned out good yesterday was a
little bit of a struggle I got behind on
my Shad spawn which put me in a rush and
Rodman and um just didn’t really get it
going but today we got some B TR off and
just picked through them and made a
great week out of it week done with the
family and we look forward to seeing you
at Lake Murray next up we have a 10-time
Bassmaster Classic qualifier he’s a
former ttbc champion from Asheville
Alabama Matt
Heron had 27 lbs in 15 oz as of this
morning five fists add to that here
today 9 lb 11 o gives him 37 lb 10 o you
move into 38th Place and a decent payday
this time around Matt yeah it was you
know it’s good to see you back hope
you’re feeling a little better it’s good
to be back you know I always love coming
to the St John’s river because there’s
so many things you can do you know we
got guys and Robin you got guys side
fishing you got guys all spread out all
over this River and you kind of get to
Fish your strengths and do a lot of
different things as long as you can play
the ties and stuff so I really get into
that kind of fishing but it uh this is
probably the last fishing tournament
we’re going to have we got uh I’m going
to go home get a hypnotist forget
everything I know about bass fishing and
for five tournaments I’m going stare at
the screen all right well good luck with
that next up we have a six-time
Bassmaster winner we have a two-time
progressive bassm angler of the Year
from rat Idaho The Prodigy Brandon penck
27 lb and 14 o to start the day needs
1813 to get inside the cut he’s had a
good day here
today he’s
1813 18 lbs 8
O just 5 O short of the cut he moves
into 12th Place with 46 lb and 6
oz digging deep in that Crush City
weighing bag let me hear for sker Yamaha
Pro Brandon
penck 46 lb 6 oz and just 5 O short of
the cut man I thought I thought you were
going to sneak in there no I was looking
at Bass track back there and I knew I
was going to be just a little bit short
I needed one more Big Bite uh you know
had some opportunities over the last
three days to do that and I was just
came up short but it was I’m I’m happy
to have that I needed a turning point
and yesterday I I told Kyle when he was
filming with me I pulled up I found this
brush pile randomly and I caught a two
and three4 and a two and a half pounder
and that got me inside the cut I was
going to be outside finishing the 70s
before that and I told him that was the
turning point I don’t know why I just
felt it mentally I’ve had this weight on
my shoulders and i’ said something just
feels different now and then today we
went out and we caught him um and I just
hope that we can continue that momentum
the last thing I want to say we’re
raising money for Autism Awareness if
you go to my website it’s BMP
fishing.com
store we’ve got uh the last four years
we’ve done a T-shirt and I donate all
the money to uh autism
research we haven’t broke 10 grand yet
one year one year I think we had 8,500
so I’d like to break 10 grand this year
if you guys go buy a t-shirt 100% of
that’s going all the way to autism
research awesome work thank you and
congrats on a great finish
he’s an Elite Series rookie from
Knoxville Tennessee Get Loud for Robert
G Robert G made a top 10 in his very
first Elite Series event actually
finished third on toled Bend had 27
pounds and 6 o here
today five fish to add to
that 14 lb 6 o moves into 25th place
currently so another good finish for
Robert G here in his rookie season the
incredible rookie class of 2024
continues to make their mark on the
Bassmaster Elite Series in a big big
way 4112 so a good finish here again
this week Robert oh yeah um my goal
coming down here to Florida is just to
cash two checks I’m not a I’m not a
Florida guy honestly and uh that that
was my goal the whole time and today I
just covered water on the Mena Quest all
day and caught 14 PBS so you can’t
really ask for much more um I I really
lacked a big bite this week I got one
big bite and jumped it off but you know
it is what it is I’m pretty happy I made
a check down here in both happy to have
you here on semi final Saturday got to
be proud of that great St tier rookie
campaign next up we have a former Dakota
lithium Rookie of the Year at two-time
Elite Series champion from Newport New
York Jamie the hammer hurtman
oh
boy oh
boy two fish today they only need to be
19 lb 3 oz to get in the
cut you better put both hands on it 2 lb
8 oz puts them in 46th place with 30 lbs
even but guess what there’s people
driving home right now that would love
to be weighing in here in semi-final
Saturday so there’s that yeah I know cuz
every time I lost one today that’s what
I said I got the ching ching anyways I
don’t care man but they gave me that big
old bag to bring up here and I said oh I
only need a zip lock
man but they made me take it anyways and
they made me weigh them in I wasn’t
going to weigh them in but they made me
do it dude but you know that saying you
go out there like I went out in 42nd
today and I said I’m going to swing for
the fence no I didn’t I I didn’t even
say that all I tried to do was just go
catch five fish today and I fish pads
all week man and it’s a of death cuz I
lost a bunch of fish yesterday and I
lost a bunch of fish again today it’s
just these pads are so mature and
they’re so thick man I throw that 50 lb
braid in there and I can’t break it off
but I can’t get my stuff back when I
lose these fish so but I flipped all
week and that’s all I did I’m wore out
to like no end so I fished a a 76 cash
and flipping stick all week and a 50 lb
Bass Pro Shops braid with the uh Bass
Pro Shops River bug black blue and I got
a ton of bites it’s a lot of fun it’s
just very frustrating so I’m glad it was
today that that crap happened right
there and not yesterday well those two
pound 8 ounces may work out to be very
important as this season moves on an
Elite Series champion from Benton
Arkansas Get Loud for Stetson
block had 29 lb and 2 O to start the day
today Jamie Hartman making you feel good
about your B see this is the opposite of
what we’ve seen earlier 15 lb 11 oz he
moves into 16th Place with 44 lb and 13
Oz that’s way better than weighing after
a guy that weighed 31
lbs let’s he it for STS and
block 43 Anglers into our way we’re
going to bring our top 10 out here
shortly but unfortunately not going to
be on it this time around but 16th place
right now so you’re going to have a good
finish most likely a top 20 top 25 but
it all shakes out yeah I can’t complain
with that this week it was all about
making adjustments I caught those big
fish on something different every single
day uh this morning I hadn’t fished
shell beds the entire time this morning
I grafted one saw some fish there and
caught that big one and finished my
limit on that spot and it that’s what
it’s about making good decisions I
didn’t have a very good practice but uh
big ones each day carry you a long ways
in Florida glad to make another good
good tournament good check and uh ready
to get this season going again always
it’s great to have you here congrats on
another good one
next up we have a five-time classic
qualifier returning to the Elite series
The back-to-back Bassmaster Classic
champion from Coleman Alabama Jordan
Lee had 29 lb and 6 o made a top 10 last
week looking for 17 lbs 5 O to make a
top 10 here this week five fish 18 lb 8
oz he moves into Ninth Place with 47 lb
and 14 oz and Jordan Lee continues to
assault our Progressive Bassmaster
angler of the Year leaderboard in the
top three in that race and today going
to help him go a long long
way 47 lbs and 14 oz in in 9th place
currently we’ll see how it all shakes
out but Jordan you’re having a great
season and it’s great to have you back
in the Elite Series and you you haven’t
forgot how to how to go fishing that’s
right man hey I I’ve had a blast this
year I mean it it really couldn’t have
gone any better these first four
tournaments I mean I you know I hadn’t
been here in eight years or so and and
come in uh after four days of the Harris
chain and two short days of practice it
felt like a a big river to cover um I I
you know I just put my head down I I had
two baits that I caught them on a
Berkeley swim jig and a Berkeley maxent
General and I was just fishing the pads
and in today I had my the area I was
fishing wasn’t too far from here but it
kind of dried up I mean had three 12 in
um so three under for under three lbs I
was like man I got to do something
different and ran down to a place I’ve
never never even seen before I was like
we’ll just go in this Creek and just
let’s just go cover water and uh
immediately caught one of those and
caught another one and just kept on
going and just covered a lot of water
with that swim jig and man there were
some I had some good bites in there
didn’t didn’t catch them all but man we
had fun um and like I said it just
couldn’t have gone any better to start
the year um got a couple in Alabama that
I’m looking forward to and uh it’s great
to see everybody you know and be back at
fishing the Elite Series yeah it’s great
season and and the good news is you
don’t have to mess with Jason Christie
today yeah christe’s not up here I mean
you know last week if youall watched the
weighin he tried to whoop me but you
know I I still I I’m
pretty I think I could take him that’s
all I’m saying take him in
what take him in what take him in what I
I think we just need to have a little
brawl oldfashioned brawl I mean I know
I’m a little smaller than he is but you
never know Jason is right here no he’s
not he’s not but if he was he’d be gone
just as quick next up we have a
five-time classic qualifier we have an
Elite Series champion from Mississippi
let me hear it for Brock
Mosley 26 lb and 13 O as of this
morning Mississippi’s Brock Mosley with
five fish here today
9 lb 15 oz gives him 36 lb and 12 O he
moves into 44th place
currently digging deep in that cross
City Way bag let’s here for Dakota
lithium Pro Brock
Mosley 36 lb 12 O So a good finish here
this week yeah you know this is my six
Trip St John’s and this is my first cut
I’ve made here so uh one out of six
ain’t too bad I don’t guess but uh it
seemed like a just getting to day three
but uh you know I’ve had a lot of fun
the last two weeks uh made both cuts and
that’s good for me in Florida but you
know U I want to give a shout out to
Dakota lithium because last night I
didn’t my batteries didn’t get charged I
had a threw a breaker on accident didn’t
know it so I run two tournament days on
one single charge and uh those guys if
you’re looking for some lithium
batteries check out Dakota lithium um
you know two weeks in Florida I wasn’t
expecting it to be this hot uh luckily
had a hook gear to keep me cool and
protected all week but uh all and all
it’s been a good two weeks uh get a
couple weeks off and get ready to go to
South Carolina always great to have you
here safe travels let’s bring up our
raining and defending Progressive
Bassmaster angler of the Year from
Alabama Stone Cold Kyle
welshire head 2715 to start the
day many good memories here in the St
John’s river at 1815 is what he needs to
get inside the cut 12 lbs even moves him
into 30 37th Place with 39 lb 15 oz
digging deep in that Crush City weigh-in
bag and going to hold a few up for you
ladies and Gentlemen let’s hear for
mercury Pro Stone Cold Kyle
Welter so 3915 and then good payday and
on to Murray next yeah absolutely and
like you said was just a second ago a
lot of great memories here this is my
first ever Elite Series tournament
somehow I ended up catching a 10-1 but
you know today I was really trying to
catch a big bag and I forced it at uh
1:30 I had one bass so I went back to my
roots and I pulled my Troll Motor up
like 40 more times to end the day and
seemed like every 10 spots I’d actually
catch one so it was a lot worse than
that like an hour and a half ago and I
actually caught my last fish at 309 5
miles away and I was due back at 3:15 so
that makes it fun even though we only
had 12 pounds hey a good finish a good
payday we’ll see you at Lake Murray next
up we have a six-time Bassmaster winner
from Gonzalez Louisiana Get Loud for the
hack at attack Craig
Hackney 36 lb and 2 oz to start the day
needs 10 lb 12 O to get inside the cut
currently five fish here today on
semi-final Saturday look of her 1012 15
lb and 9 o he moves into third place
with 51 lb and 11
oz the hack attack of former former
Progressive Bassmaster anger of the Year
an 18 time Bassmaster Classic qualifier
let’s hear it for him ladies and
gentlemen 51 lb and 11 o so not bad
looks like you’re going to go fishing
tomorrow yeah I really want to go back
out there it’s been fun it’s uh it seems
like it might be going a little away a
little bit this morning was pretty fast
and furious I the mornings are good the
rest of the day for me is fairly slow
but it’s a fun place to fish this place
has been good to me I I look back I I
don’t know how many top 10 I’ve had here
but several it’s I don’t know why but
the place just kind of suits me and I’m
fishing a different area pretty much
every tournament I’ve ever been here
I’ve always end up somewhere different
and uh so I’m in a different Lake this
time and I’m enjoying it matter where
you go works out for you and we’re
looking forward to watching you on bass
live tomorrow next up we have a former
Strike King College bass champion from
Tennessee Get Loud for Jacob
foutz had 36 lb and 7 oz just start the
day needs 117 to get inside the
cut looking for 11 lb 7 oz not a problem
18 lb 4 oz all the way up into second
place with 54 lb 11 oz and Jacob FZ is
going to be fishing on Championship
Sunday 54 lb and 11 oz and uh you don’t
got to stress it out you know you’re
going fishing tomorrow and uh it was a
lot of fun watching you today on live
doing something totally different than
anyone else and um magic can happen on
Championship Sunday yeah it sure can you
know we’re going to have our work cut
out for us that’s for sure but like
Kevin Garnett said anything’s possible
uh you know having a lot of fun for sure
catching them on top catching them on a
minnow too but my hands are raw they
they hurt so bad from I’ve caught so
many fish the last three days today was
today was tough it’s it’s good for thing
in the morning then it gets tough and
picks up again about 1:00 in the
afternoon but wish I had more time to
fish in Rodman you know just to deal
with the locks but it’s been a good week
man we’re going to see what we can do
tomorrow feel so bad for your sore hands
from Catching so many fish everybody as
he leaves say
a next up we have the very first
Canadian to ever win a Bassmaster Elite
Series event from Peterboro Ontario
Canada Chris
Johnston 38 PBS even in finished second
here in his very first Elite Series
event Rick Clen chased him down and took
that title from needs 10 lb 5 oz to get
inside the cut 2114 to take the lead
1814 he moves into second place with 56
lb and 14
oz just three lbs short of the overall
lead let me hear it for Chris
Johnston 56 lb and 14 oz you’re sitting
in second place and uh this has been a
pretty good pretty good place for you uh
you know your first event almost one
here every time we come here you and
your brother make a lot of money it’s
never a bad thing when you’re making
money but I’m uh I’m getting sick of the
whole close things I I want to seal one
and um this is a great town to come it’s
a great fishery and this crowd always
shows out so um I’m hoping to have a
crack at it tomorrow but I think my
brother’s got a bit of a lead so I’m a
little bit behind the eightball but you
never know like Watley weighed 31 lbs uh
when I got beat here Rick Clen weighed
35 he cut two P two1 Pounders so any
cast you can get 10 pounder on this
fishery so I’m looking forward to going
back out there tomorrow having some fun
probably going to fish a lot of new
water um I beat up my stuff pretty good
I caught some flipping pads this morning
and and then I went sight fishing so
we’re probably going to fish new water
and see what happens you and your
brother famously kind of work as a team
out there so does does this mean
tomorrow you lay off everything and and
and let Corey win this tournament my mom
would be proud if I did um that’s for
sure she uh she wants everyone to be
fair and he has has won yet so um I’m
going to I’m probably going to do my own
thing but to be honest where uh where we
caught them the last couple days is
pretty beat up there’s not many fish
left so um I’m not going to be able to
weigh 25 lbs out of there so I’m going
to have to do something different if I’m
going to get a big weight I may go in
there for an hour and two try and get a
big one but ideally I got to get some in
the morning and then uh maybe go sight
fish and try and get one big one so I
don’t know what’s going to happen
tomorrow but uh like I said it’s going
to be fun so you didn’t really answer
you just said your mom would be proud if
you did I’m not laying off anything all
right I’m I’m going fishing I want a
rick Clen Rick Clen bag 35 lbs it lives
out here and uh I’ve lost a few in these
pads they’re some of the most stubborn
fish to get out they get hung up um your
hook gets stuck in the pad stem and they
come off and I think I lost four today
and the first day I went three for 10 so
I’m getting a little better so tomorrow
if I uh if I fish clean I should have a
good chance at a good weight and that
right there is why Cory calls the first
four years of his life the good old days
ladies and
gentlemen let’s bring out our tournament
leader a five-time classic qualifier a
Bassmaster Open winner from Peterboro
Ontario Canada Cory
Johnston 50 lb and 11 o to start the day
he needs 9 lb 3 oz to take the lead he’s
got five fish here today looking for
93 23 lb 2 oz with
232 Cory Johnson has 73 lb and 13 Oz and
is leading the maxim Tire Bassmaster
Elite went to work today in the power
pole wrapped Ranger Mercury and you were
five fish away from a lifelong dream and
that pesky brother of yours is is I
don’t know if he’s going to make your
mother proud
tomorrow he uh he did help me out today
on one fish so uh I do owe him that but
man it it’s been an unbelievable week
you know it’s one of those things like
you know when it’s going to happen it’s
going to happen and uh I don’t know last
two days I caught a big one on my last
cast so um you know I hope it works out
but uh we’re just going to go out
tomorrow go fishing and see what
happens that area has I mean I know you
like to party but you probably wish the
party would stop a little bit do you
have another plan or you are you living
and dying in that area no I do have a
backup plan I haven’t had do it yet this
week so uh I feel like tomorrow’s
probably going to be the day um I really
don’t know what I’m going to do yet to
be honest I don’t know if I’m going to
go in there at all um I don’t know if
I’ll you know go in there and not leave
it all day I really don’t know we’ll see
what happens in the morning you and your
brother have done incredible here every
single time we come to P Florida in
general but but definitely the St John’s
river why what why is this fishery set
up so well for two kids from Canada I I
think it’s I I mean where we grew up it
was a lot of largemouth fish and the
small mouth weren’t prevalent and um
that’s how we grew up punching mats
flipping reads and uh fishing pads that
kind of stuff and um and they’re shallow
this week I’m looking at them all that’s
what I love to do so uh it sets up good
congrats great tournament so far five
fish away from a lifelong dream ladies
and gentlemen that concludes our way and
only one thing left to do and that’s to
bring out our top 10 are you guys ready
to meet
him no no no no no PAC Florida this is
the Maxum Tire bass master elite on the
St John’s river in patka Florida one
more time are you
[Applause]
[Music]
ready he is a five time Bassmaster
Classic qualifier a two-time FLW tour
winner a second place finish in the
Bassmaster Classic just a few years ago
from Shelby North Carolina team Toyotas
Matt
Ary he is an eight-time Bassmaster
Classic qualifier a former Dakota
lithium rookie of the year he is a two
time Bassmaster Elite Series champion
from Panama City Beach Florida Drew
Benton oh here we go again last week he
was part of our top 10 and once again he
is here he is a 10 time FLW tour winner
an eight time Bassmaster winner a 10
time classic qualifier the
2022 Bassmaster Classic Champion one of
the most feared names in professional
bass fishing from Dry Creek Oklahoma
Jason Christie
this next dangler once full sweeped an
entire series and the championship won
every single event including the
championship he is a two-time Bassmaster
Classic qualifier from Del Rio Texas Ray
Hitman
[Music]
Jr you can only make it good I just say
what you do he is one of the best to
ever play this game he is a former
Forest Wood Cup champion he is an 18
time Bassmaster Classic qualifier a six
time Bassmaster winner the
2014 progressive Bassmaster angler of
the Year from Gonzalez Louisiana the
hack attack Greg
Hackney his second season on the bassm
Elite Series and Florida’s been very
very good to him he made his very first
top 10 in his very first Elite Series
event which just happened to be in
Florida well we’re back in Florida and
he’s back in the top 10 from Gonzalez
Louisiana Logan
Luso just a few years ago he was a
Strike King College bass Champion he
showed up here a pimple-faced teenager
and we called him the paper boy he is a
bassm classic qualifier and he’s focused
on a whole different kind of paper not
delivering it collecting it now get loud
for Tennessee’s Jacob
Fels he is the very first Canadian ever
to win an FLW Tour event he is the very
first Canadian ever to win a Bassmaster
Elite Series event he is a four time
Canadian open Champion a five time
Bassmaster Classic qualifier from
Peterboro Ontario Canada go make your
Mama Proud Chris
Johnson oh boy what a couple of weeks it
has been for this angler making backto
back top 10 moments ago he weighed in
the crush City monster bag of the
tournament he is a two-time Bassmaster
Classic qualifier from Texas look out
for Brad
Watley and last but definitely not least
he is five fish away from a lifelong
goal nine Anglers including his brother
stand in his way he is a five-time
Bassmaster Classic qualifier a four time
Canadian open Champion he is a
Bassmaster Open winner from Peterboro
Ontario Canada Corey
Johnston 103 Anglers started this event
50 went out today and only 10 remain of
those 10 one of them will be your next
Elite Series champion the maxim Tire
Bassmaster Elite on the St John’s river
is down to 10 the question is this time
tomorrow who will be that one the one
that wins our four stop of the 2024
Bassmaster Elite Series right here in
beautiful patka
[Music]
Florida I think I miss