WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Justin Hamner’s dream of winning the Bassmaster Classic and the Progressive Angler of the Year title in the same year ended Saturday on the St. Lawrence River. Jacob Foutz’s dream of coming from third place to win the AOY title got closer to reality. He’s in the driver’s seat going into Day 3. Chris Johnson admittedly made a bad call yesterday, but still has AOY hopes alive.
The 2024 AOY title will probably be decided today in the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite on the St. Johns River.
Johnston starts the day in 31st place after his worst day ever here of 20 pounds, 11 ounces. However, he starts the day only three pounds out of 10th place. The wind is predicted to blow, which will prevent any long runs into Lake Ontario.
“I might have one trick up my sleeve still,” Johnston said. “I haven’t practiced it. I’m just going to wing it. I have nothing to lose now. I can fish with no pressure. I know there’s big ones that live there. I hope the wind makes them bite a little better.”
Remember, AOY points are calculated only on the final standings. Johnston came into this tournament six points ahead of Foutz. So he doesn’t have to pass Foutz in the final standings, just get within six places of him.
“It’s going to be interesting,” said Foutz, who is in 9th place with 47-5. “I never had any great big ones (Friday) and still had almost 23 pounds, which is a good day. We’ve got some wind coming in. I’m probably going to have to call an audible. I’m probably not going to be able to get out to where I’ve been fishing.
“I’m going to try. If not, I’m just going to get in the mouth of the river and hope and pray. There’s plenty of smallmouth in the mouth of that river to be caught.
Interestingly, Foutz led at the St. Lawrence on Day 1 during his rookie season in 2022.
“I caught them down in the mouth of the river that day,” he said. “But those were shallow fish. I don’t believe there are many shallow ones now.
“I’ve given myself a real shot at AOY. If I catch them again (Saturday) as good as I caught them today, I’ll have as good a shot at AOY as I’ll ever have. I’m excited about the opportunity. It’s what you work for each year. To have that opportunity is surreal.”
Hamner was emotional on stage at Friday’s weigh-in. The weight of his phenomenal year coming to an end was weighing on him. He came into this final tournament leading the AOY standings by 13 points over Johnston and 19 points over Foutz. His points are final now with 714, which will still leave him in the top 10 at the end of the season.
“I was just sitting back there (backstage) thinking about the whole season,” Hamner said. “It’s really been incredible, just to be in this situation. Yeah, I’m frustrated. I wanted to give this one more day for a run at it. It didn’t go my way. But I had two bad days this entire season. To do that is just phenomenal.”
The Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year race could be decided today as well. Trey McKinney has an 18-point lead over second-place Wesley Gore, based on his 5th-place finish after Day 2. Gore is 11th in the Day 2 standings and needs a big day, plus an off-day from McKinney to have a shot at the title.
