Friday, July 25, 2025

Current dynamics key for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

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Photo by Craig Lamb/B.A.S.S.

It all comes down to hydrology, really, and when anglers launch for the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN, those that best manage the rules of current flow will reap the rewards.

Current dynamics key for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

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WADDINGTON, N.Y. — It all comes down to hydrology, really, and when anglers launch for the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN, those that best manage the rules of current flow will reap the rewards.

Competition days will be July 31-Aug. 2 with daily takeoffs from Whitaker Park at 6 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 2 p.m.

Stephen Browning, who has fished the St. Lawrence for over 15 years, has seen this premier smallmouth fishery take on many different looks. This time, he’s expecting business as usual.

“I think we’re going to be fishing a postspawn situation,” Browning said. “I think water clarity will be typical. Looking at the results of other recent events, water level and current looked to be normal. I expect it to be the same place we’ve been to for all these years.

“We’ll be past the full moon, so by the time we get there, the fish should all be done with their spawn. There could be smallmouth guarding fry, and if you get a bait anywhere near them, they will light it up.”

Clearly the most consequential detail of this event is the playing field. Competitors may fish U.S. or Canadian waters, with tournament boundaries extending from the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Massena, N.Y., (no locking allowed) west to Kingston, Ontario on the north side and the town of Cape Vincent, N.Y., to the south. This will exclude the river mouth and Lake Ontario, but Browning knows the river offers plenty of opportunity.

"History tells us the bigger fish live in and near the lake, so anglers that run to the end of the cutoff will find some of the best quality,” Browning said. “It is a risky run (70-plus miles from takeoff), especially if the weather gets rough. Also, fishing pressure will take its toll after anglers have been fishing it for a few days.”

Browning went on to say that he does not believe the tournament will be won in a single area. Rather, he expects the most successful anglers to dial in the right depth and then run the many rock shoals up and down the river.

Current defines the major difference between lake fishing and river fishing — a point that impacts fish and fishermen. To frame this, consider the Great Lake region’s connectivity.

Water moves from Lake Superior, through the St. Marys River and into Lake Huron. Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay (west side of Huron) send their water through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair (not officially a Great Lake) and the Detroit River to eventually reach Lake Erie.

Erie sends its water into Lake Ontario, either through the Welland Canal or the Niagara River and over the iconic falls. From there, a tremendous volume of Great Lakes water squeezes through the St. Lawrence River’s relatively narrow confines. The result — ripping current.

Wind and general water flow create lake current as well, but while anglers typically sit over or near specific targets and make repetitive presentations, stationary fishing is harder to execute throughout much of the river. Major land masses in the famous Thousand Islands region provide strategic breaks, but controlled drifts with trolling motors and, sometimes, drift socks account for most of the river efforts.

“The smallmouth love current and they like to let the water bring food to them, so they’ll leverage the contour (of rock shoals) as current breaks,” Browning said. “It’s all about food delivery and them not having to work too hard for it.”

Browning expects to see a lot of anglers using drop shots and jighead minnow presentations. For bottom dragging tactics, Carolina rigs and football jigs historically produce.

Furthermore, we can’t overlook the respectable number of sizable largemouth that roam the docks, seawalls and shallow vegetation. During the 2020 Bassmaster Elite run out of Clayton, N.Y., Brock Mosley committed to a green fish program and made a serious run at the title. He’d end up third, but in doing so, he spotlighted the fishery’s diversity.

“The largemouth guys will be frogging and flipping, but I don’t think 15 largemouth (three daily, five-fish limits) will win,” Browning said. “You better be targeting the big smallmouth.

“Usually the guys that catch them don’t have 20 rods on their deck; they have five,” Browning said. “You don’t need to overcomplicate it.”

Browning expects it will take 40 pounds to make the Day 3 cut. For a three-day winning weight, he’s looking for 64 to 68 pounds.

“I think it’s going to be a tight finish,” Browning said. “I really think 10th to first will be separated by no more than 3 pounds."

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN will be available on Bassmaster.com each day of the tournament. Roku will carry Bassmaster LIVE on Championship Saturday.

This event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce.

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsors: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by SEVIIN, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Bassmaster Junior Series, Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.