Much is being expected from Canadian Jeff Gustafson at next month's US$1-million Bassmaster Classic.
The angler from Kenora, Ont., is tied with American Brandon Lester as the 4-1 second pick for the prestigious event, which will be held March 24-26 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn. Brandon Palaniuk of the U.S., the Elite Series 2022 angler of the year, is the 3-1 favourite.
No Canadian has ever won the Classic.
In February 2021, Gustafson went wire-to-wire for the win at a Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Tennessee River. He finished with 63 pounds, over seven pounds more than his nearest competitor.
"It's really a nice gesture," Gustafson said. "But I'm not feeling any pressure or anything like that.
"All I know from fishing these places is it's never the same when you go back. But it's exciting and hopefully I can find the hot bait or the hot area."
Gustafson will be competing in his fourth Classic, having finished 21st in 2021. The Canadian was no lower than 26th in the final six Elite Series tournaments last year.
Gustafson will be one of four Canadians in this year's Classic. The others include Chris Johnston of Peterborough, Ont., his brother, Cory, of Cavan, Ont., and Elite Series rookie Cooper Gallant, of Bowmanville, Ont.
Chris Johnston heads into the Classic as a 5-1 pick. He has made the final day of the last two championship events, finishing eighth at Ray Roberts in 2021 and fifth (best-ever result for a Canadian) at Lake Hartwell last year.
Johnston became the first Canadian to win an Elite Series event in 2020 at Clayton, N.Y. He ended the '22 season with finishes of sixth (St. Lawrence River) and second (both Lake Oahe and Mississippi River).
Cory Johnston is listed at odds of 8-1. He's been a model of consistency in BASS — be it Opens or Elite Series events — having finished in the money in 43-of-45 tournaments.
Johnston will compete in a fourth consecutive Classic, finishing 11th in 2021.
Gallant comes in at lengthy 75-1 odds, not a surprise given this will be his first Classic appearance. But Gallant cemented that berth by winning last year's Bassmaster Southern Open on Tennessee's Cherokee Lake.
Gallant qualified for the Elite Series by finishing third in the Southern standings last year. The top-three anglers earned spots.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 15, 2023.
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
