Ldogg
Leam Hamilton is a founder of Basshogg, a family man and an avid bass fisherman.
- March 28, 2023
- 4:20 pm
- 2 Comments
Kenora, Ontario’s Jeff Gustafson, also known as Gussy to his friends and fans, has made history as the first Canadian angler to win the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee. The event is often referred to as the Super Bowl of professional bass fishing, and Gustafson’s win is a source of great pride for Canadians and the angling community.
Despite leading comfortably going into the third and final day, Gustafson faced a challenging day as the smallmouth bass he had been targeting shut down. He only managed to catch two bass in the live well and thought he had blown his chances of winning. “I thought I’d blown it for sure. I thought there was no way I’d even be in the mix,” he said at the televised weigh-in.
However, viewers watching at home, thanks to in-boat cameras, could see that other leading anglers were also struggling. Gustafson was still in contention, and he hung on to win the event with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 7 ounces, despite being three fish short of his limit on the final day.
As the first Canadian to win the Bassmaster Classic, Gustafson takes home the Ray Scott Trophy and a $300,000 US first-place check. He also claimed the $7,000 US Rapala Monster Bag of the Week with the 18.8-pound limit he caught on Day 1 of the event.
Gustafson used a technique called “moping,” which involves hanging a jig under the boat with almost no action, to catch the bass. He would see the bass on his electronics and dangle the jig over them. Gustafson was also proud to reveal that the Smeltinator jig he used was made by his friend Bryan Gustafson from Fort Frances, Ontario, who was in the stands to watch the weigh-in.
Gustafson’s wife Shelby was on stage with him, and many friends and family from northwestern Ontario were in the stands to witness the historic moment. Gustafson reminded people of the important role his family played in his life, introducing him to angling when he was a little kid. He also urged everyone to take kids fishing, saying, “if no one takes kids fishing, they’re never going to go. So take your kids, your neighbor’s kids, your buddy’s kids, and dreams can come true.”
Gustafson’s win at the Bassmaster Classic is a testament to his skill and determination as an angler. It is also a source of inspiration for Canadians and anglers worldwide. “I’m proud to be Canadian, and I’m proud to represent the country,” Gustafson said after his win. “It’s just unbelievable.”
Would you be able to create a youtube video showing how one would use the “moping” technique with the Smeltinator jig?
Absolutely! This is a classic Ldogg technique, in fact if you ask him he’d probably tell you he invented it 🙂