A look at St. Johns 2022

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It’s back to the St. Johns River to start the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series. The northeast Florida fishery is becoming somewhat like NASCAR’s perennial season opener at Daytona for the Elites, who begin their season there for the fourth consecutive year.
It’s back to the St. Johns River to start the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series. The northeast Florida fishery is becoming somewhat like NASCAR’s perennial season opener at Daytona for the Elites, who begin their season there for the fourth consecutive year.
St. Johns, the longest river in Florida, will be hosting its seventh Elite derby in the past 11 years and the 24th pro level B.A.S.S. tournament. The first was there in 1973, when two of the top 10 largest bass in Bassmaster history were weighed in.
St. Johns, the longest river in Florida, will be hosting its seventh Elite derby in the past 11 years and the 24th pro level B.A.S.S. tournament. The first was there in 1973, when two of the top 10 largest bass in Bassmaster history were weighed in.
The 310-mile river starts in marshland west of Vero Beach and flows north to Jacksonville, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Elites have approximately 100 miles of the tidal fishery as their playing field, from the I-95 bridge in Jacksonville to Hwy. 44 near DeLand.
The 310-mile river starts in marshland west of Vero Beach and flows north to Jacksonville, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The Elites have approximately 100 miles of the tidal fishery as their playing field, from the I-95 bridge in Jacksonville to Hwy. 44 near DeLand.
The City of Palatka and is once again the host and site of activities. Morning takeoffs are 7:30 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Docks in Riverfront Park, and weigh-ins are there as well at 3:30 p.m. ET. All B.A.S.S. venues are free to attend.
The City of Palatka and is once again the host and site of activities. Morning takeoffs are 7:30 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Docks in Riverfront Park, and weigh-ins are there as well at 3:30 p.m. ET. All B.A.S.S. venues are free to attend.
Memorial Bridge serves as a backdrop to launches. This year the Elite field has been pared down to 94, with 13 additions and 20 anglers not requalifying through their average AOY standing over the past several years. The additions include former Elites Mike Iaconelli, a Classic and AOY winner, and Jacob Powroznik, the 2014 Rookie of the Year and winner of four tournaments.
Memorial Bridge serves as a backdrop to launches. This year the Elite field has been pared down to 94, with 13 additions and 20 anglers not requalifying through their average AOY standing over the past several years. The additions include former Elites Mike Iaconelli, a Classic and AOY winner, and Jacob Powroznik, the 2014 Rookie of the Year and winner of four tournaments.
Weather leading up to and during events always plays a factor, especially in Florida. In 2020, the St. Johns Elite was weather delayed two days, and last year fog shortened Day 1 significantly. Both the winning weights were down from 2019, when Rick Clunn nearly reached 100 pounds in winning.
Weather leading up to and during events always plays a factor, especially in Florida. In 2020, the St. Johns Elite was weather delayed two days, and last year fog shortened Day 1 significantly. Both the winning weights were down from 2019, when Rick Clunn nearly reached 100 pounds in winning.
The St. Johns River is rather lazy and influenced by tides, but it offers plenty of targets in the lakes and canals, like the laydowns and lilypads Clent Davis was plying last year.
The St. Johns River is rather lazy and influenced by tides, but it offers plenty of targets in the lakes and canals, like the laydowns and lilypads Clent Davis was plying last year.
Elite anglers also have numerous docks in canals where they can catch spawning and prespawn bass. There more than 3,500 lakes on the St. Johns and acres of docks.
Elite anglers also have numerous docks in canals where they can catch spawning and prespawn bass. There more than 3,500 lakes on the St. Johns and acres of docks.
Spawning flats in Lake George long served as community holes in earlier Elites, but hurricanes ripped out a lot of eelgrass and it hasn’t played the past several events. Although there are areas with enough green stuff to hold fish and foul gear.
Spawning flats in Lake George long served as community holes in earlier Elites, but hurricanes ripped out a lot of eelgrass and it hasn’t played the past several events. Although there are areas with enough green stuff to hold fish and foul gear.
The St. Johns is a trophy fishery and has been since before the first Bassmaster event there in 1973. In that early February Florida Invitational, Bob Tyndall landed a 12-pound, 13-ounce bass that remained the largest caught in B.A.S.S. competition for 24 years. Bill Bailey had a 12-3 in that event. Both stand in the top 10 all-time.
The St. Johns is a trophy fishery and has been since before the first Bassmaster event there in 1973. In that early February Florida Invitational, Bob Tyndall landed a 12-pound, 13-ounce bass that remained the largest caught in B.A.S.S. competition for 24 years. Bill Bailey had a 12-3 in that event. Both stand in the top 10 all-time.
The trick at the St. Johns is finding and landing those lunkers. Mike Huff shows the type of culls that can be made there when he caught this 7-11 last year.
The trick at the St. Johns is finding and landing those lunkers. Mike Huff shows the type of culls that can be made there when he caught this 7-11 last year.
While 10-pounders have taken big bass honors in many St. Johns Elites, the past two years have not seen a double-digit bass. Big bass were still critical for many. Derek Hudnall came close on Day 1 with a 9-8 that helped fuel his Top 10 finish.
While 10-pounders have taken big bass honors in many St. Johns Elites, the past two years have not seen a double-digit bass. Big bass were still critical for many. Derek Hudnall came close on Day 1 with a 9-8 that helped fuel his Top 10 finish.
With a 9-8 on Day 3, Brandon Palaniuk tied Hudnall for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors in the event. Palaniuk made a move up the pack with two big fish, but he just missed making the Top 10, lamenting the remainder of his bag was 2-pounders.
With a 9-8 on Day 3, Brandon Palaniuk tied Hudnall for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors in the event. Palaniuk made a move up the pack with two big fish, but he just missed making the Top 10, lamenting the remainder of his bag was 2-pounders.
Rodman Reservoir was in play for the Elites last year, and Patrick Walters saw it pay off with the biggest bag of the event. His 26-7 on Day 3 gave him the lead heading into Championship Sunday, but he fell to fourth with 10-3 as his bite in Rodman waned.
Rodman Reservoir was in play for the Elites last year, and Patrick Walters saw it pay off with the biggest bag of the event. His 26-7 on Day 3 gave him the lead heading into Championship Sunday, but he fell to fourth with 10-3 as his bite in Rodman waned.
Rain didn’t prevent Greg Hackney from exceling in his return to the Elites after two years on another circuit. Fishing cypress trees, Hackney vied for the title before suffering a slow final day to finish second.
Rain didn’t prevent Greg Hackney from exceling in his return to the Elites after two years on another circuit. Fishing cypress trees, Hackney vied for the title before suffering a slow final day to finish second.
Rookie Bryan New won last year on the St. Johns in his first Elite. He came into Championship Sunday in sixth place, 5-7 off the lead, but caught his limit quickly and kept upgrading.
Rookie Bryan New won last year on the St. Johns in his first Elite. He came into Championship Sunday in sixth place, 5-7 off the lead, but caught his limit quickly and kept upgrading.
With big bass of the day going 5-14, New weighed in 26-4, the second largest of the event, to take over the hot seat with 79-7.
With big bass of the day going 5-14, New weighed in 26-4, the second largest of the event, to take over the hot seat with 79-7.
Almost a year after winning his first B.A.S.S. entry in the Basspro.com Open on Kissimmee, New ran the gamut of previous Elite champions, holding off Hackney by almost 10 pounds.
Almost a year after winning his first B.A.S.S. entry in the Basspro.com Open on Kissimmee, New ran the gamut of previous Elite champions, holding off Hackney by almost 10 pounds.
Weather is always critical when fishing in Florida. After several cold snaps, temperatures in Palatka have stabilized with morning lows in the 40s and afternoon highs reaching into the 60s. The anglers had three days of practice, Sunday through Tuesday, before Wednesday’s day off for inspections, photos and rules meetings.
Weather is always critical when fishing in Florida. After several cold snaps, temperatures in Palatka have stabilized with morning lows in the 40s and afternoon highs reaching into the 60s. The anglers had three days of practice, Sunday through Tuesday, before Wednesday’s day off for inspections, photos and rules meetings.
The first blastoff of the year is Thursday, and there’s a palatable excitement to begin a new season. Last year, KJ Queen captured the feeling what it’s like competing for the first time on the Elites. “It’s definitely nerve-racking,” he said. “It’s the Elite Series, something I’ve dreamed about doing ever since I was little. I finally get to do it and make my dreams come true. It’s nerve-racking, but the excitement is overwhelming.”
The first blastoff of the year is Thursday, and there’s a palatable excitement to begin a new season. Last year, KJ Queen captured the feeling what it’s like competing for the first time on the Elites. “It’s definitely nerve-racking,” he said. “It’s the Elite Series, something I’ve dreamed about doing ever since I was little. I finally get to do it and make my dreams come true. It’s nerve-racking, but the excitement is overwhelming.”