If I Had a Do-Over Near Misses From The Elites

EVERY BASSMASTER ELITE Series pro has a painful tale of a near-win, a total bomb or something in between where a key decision shifted outcomes one way or another. Within these tales, we find a rich harvest of techniques, tactics and timing that can help all anglers sharpen their game.

CALCULATIONS DIDN’T ADD UP

Cory Johnston

Event: 2021 Farmers Insurance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River Scenario: With fish in every stage of the spawn, Johnston had intended to play a savvy game of measured aggression with a strategic dose of fish management. In the end, letting two key opportunities swim away derailed his track to success.

“I executed perfectly, except for two fish — one each on Days 2 and 3,” said Johnston, who led Day 3 but finished fourth.

The Decision: Johnston fished multiple spots throughout a 90-mile stretch from the takeoff area to Chaumont Bay outside the mouth of the St. Lawrence. From practice, he had several bed fish marked next to small boulder clumps on otherwise nondescript banks. Checking these areas yielded several opportunities, two of which he decided to forego in hopes of cashing in later.

“I had one 5-pounder on Day 2 bite, but I decided to shake her off because I already had 23 pounds in the livewell,” Johnston said. “On Day 3, another 5-pound fish came right at my bait. That fish did its