Canadian Cory Johnston settles for fourth spot in final Elite Series event of season

NEW YORK — Canadian Cory Johnston’s quest for a first-ever Elite Series win continues.

Johnston, of Cavan, Ont., settled for fourth Sunday in the last tournament of the season on the St. Lawrence River. He went into the final day of competition atop the leaderboard, 12 ounces ahead of American Justin Atkins.

Johnston’s five-fish limit weighed 19 pounds, six ounces Sunday to give him 88 pounds for the four-day event. Japan’s Taku Ito, who stood seventh after competition Saturday, brought in a five-fish limit weighing a whopping 26 pounds — an average of over five pounds per fish — to finish first with 90 pounds and capture the US$100,000 winner’s share.

Ito also had the biggest fish of the day at six pounds and finished one pound, four ounces ahead of Atkins in the overall standings.

American Clark Wendlandt placed third with a total haul of 88 pounds, 10 ounces. 

Johnston was attempting to become the third Canadian to win an Elite Series event and second this year. In February, Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Ont., claimed the circuit event on the Tennessee River.

Johnston’s brother, Chris, finished fifth with 85 pounds after a final-day weight of 19 pounds, five ounces. 

Chris Johnston, of Peterborough, Ont., made history in this event last year when he became the first Canadian to win on the Elite Series.

Gustafson, finished 18th overall with 56 pounds, 10 ounces over the first three days of the event. The top-10 competitors through Saturday’s round advanced to the last day of the competition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2021.

The Canadian Press