The odds donB次元官网网址檛 favour Canadian Jeff Gustafson successfully defending his US$1-million Bassmaster Classic title.

The Kenora, Ont., fisher is listed as the fifth pick (7-1) to win the B次元官网网址�24 Classic, which begins Thursday on OklahomaB次元官网网址檚 Grand Lake OB次元官网网址� the Cherokees. Predictably, Oklahoma native Jason Christie B次元官网网址� the 2022 champion B次元官网网址� is the 3-2 favourite.

Nine anglers are ranked ahead of Gustafson, who went wire-to-wire last year on the Tennessee River to become the first Canadian to capture pro bass fishingB次元官网网址檚 top prize. He was a 4-1 second choice, having won his first Elite Series title there two years earlier.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have much experience (at Grand Lake) B次元官网网址� but I have an idea of what I want to do and hopefully can find something special,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淟ast year was a life-changing experience, itB次元官网网址檚 the tournament you want to win and when you do it just makes you want to win it again even more.

B次元官网网址淚f I donB次元官网网址檛, IB次元官网网址檒l be the first to congratulate the new winner.B次元官网网址�

For a second straight year, four Canadians qualified for the Classic. Also in the 56-angler field are Cory Johnston, of Cavan, Ont., his younger brother, Chris, of Peterborough, Ont., and Cooper Gallant, of Bowmanville, Ont.

The Johnstons are in a group at 10-1. Chris Johnson has two top-10 Classic finishes while Cory Johnston has been 11th twice.

Gallant, 52nd last year, is listed at 25-1. But he has consecutive top-10 finishes to start 2024.

GustafsonB次元官网网址檚 season has been a mixed bag. He was 24th at Toledo Bend in Many, La., then 59th at TexasB次元官网网址檚 Lake Fork.

B次元官网网址淣ot horrible but not awesome either,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have a great practice at Toledo Bend so itB次元官网网址檚 always good to do better in the actual tournament than practice.

B次元官网网址淎t Fork, I missed the boat a little bit. I learned I probably have to get better at this forward-facing sonar stuff. ItB次元官网网址檚 unbelievable how guys are using it and kicking butt.B次元官网网址�

Forward-facing sonar (FFS) has been a huge story this season. Many competitors have significantly beefed-up the electronics on their boats, running between three and six units to better find bass as there are currently no rules against it.

Anglers can mount multiple transducers at one or both ends of their boats, with FFS providing complete coverage of whatB次元官网网址檚 around them in real time. By watching a screen, competitors can pinpoint fish location, the depths baits run at, a fishB次元官网网址檚 reaction to them and when it strikes.

Gustafson won the Classic with just one unit. He intended to stand pat this season but added a second setup before Toledo Bend to remain competitive.

And with good reason. The first two B次元官网网址�24 winners claimed the US$100,000 top prize with over 100 pounds each.

In fact, the top-10 finishers at Lake Ford on March 3 all cracked the 100-pound mark led by winner Trey McKinney, 19, (130 pounds 15 ounces). Gallant was 10th with 100 pounds seven ounces, his first century mark.

FFS isnB次元官网网址檛 new to tournament fishing. But the technologyB次元官网网址檚 recent explosion has prompted debate about whether anglers require experience or good electronics to compete.

Finding fish, though, is only part of the equation. Anglers must still determine baits and presentation to entice bites.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got to figure out how to use it to put more fish into my boat,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not going anywhere and we saw the first two tournaments that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a factor in every event this year.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to catch five good ones every day if you want to be part of the party.B次元官网网址�

Following Lake Fork, Gustafson remained in the U.S., spending time on the water refining his FFS game.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of it is just fully committing to it,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淎nd itB次元官网网址檚 hard for me, and I think many guys whoB次元官网网址檝e fished for a long time, to give up on all the things you know and have learned to where many of these guys are putting their head down, going with it, hunting fish down and plucking them.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not crying about it, but itB次元官网网址檚 definitely easier said than done, especially on lakes here because thereB次元官网网址檚 so many other species. Where I struggle a bit is just knowing what is and isnB次元官网网址檛 a bass.B次元官网网址�

Gustafson said his FFS acclimation remains a work in progress.

B次元官网网址淭he plan is just to spend as much time in the boat and try to utilize all of the technology as much as possible,B次元官网网址� Gustafson said. B次元官网网址淚 think at some point this season IB次元官网网址檒l get my opportunities to have some strong events and hopefully I can take advantage.B次元官网网址�

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