YORKTON - A Canadian stands at the top of podium among professional bass fishermen for 2024.
Peterborough, Ontario’s Chris Johnston has won the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title in the process.
“To me it’s kind of the most prestigious trophy in bass fishing,” Johnston told Yorkton This Week, adding it’s not about having one good day and capturing a tournament crown, but rather about a season of solid fishing success.
Johnston said it’s a huge honour to be number one among the top-100 bass anglers in the world, adding he understands he is the first non-American to win the award.
“Bringing it back to Canada means something for sure,” he added.
For Johnson the title comes in large part due to his consistency.
In five Elite Series he finished in the Top 10 every day and was in the Top 3 in 15 of the 20 days.
So what’s his secret?
“Every tournament I just put my head down and did the best I could ... I did whatever I needed to do to get the five biggest bass of the day,” he said.
The award is not Johnston’s first first.
He made angling history in 2020 when he won the SiteOne Bassmaster Elite tournament on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. It was the first time a Canadian had ever won a Bassmaster Elite event.
Johnston basically grew up with a bass fishing rod in his hand. He and his brother Cavan were following their father around to top Ontario bass circuit events at a young age, and by age 14, when his older brother had his driving license they were competing themselves.
By the time Chris was 18/19 he said he was heading south to compete in US events.
But why bass over walleye or crappie of other species fished as a youngster?
“I just love targeting them. There’s so many different ways to catch them,” he said, adding some days you might find them in four feet of water in a weed bed, another day they might be 40 feet deep, things learned as a youth.
That means every tournament is different, and that’s what challenges the best anglers, recognizing when something isn’t working and being willing to change tactics and even locations on a lake to be successful.
The diversity of fishing experienced in Ontario as a youngster has been foundationally important to Johnston as a pro.
“It’s helped us tremendously in the States,” he said.
So does he have a favoured spot in Ontario today?
“Lake Simcoe,” he said quickly. “It’s one of the best smallmouth bass factories in the world.”
So what’s next?
“I got one (fisherman of the year award). I want another one,” said Johnston.
