New York’s Zach Goutremout has taken the lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN with a total of 49 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
August 1, 2025
Goutremout takes slim Bassmaster Open lead at St. Lawrence
WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Zach Goutremout knew he needed a bigger quality bite and following that hunch yielded just what he needed to claim a whisper-thin lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN.
After placing sixth on Day 1 with 24 pounds, 10 ounces, the pro from Chaumont, N.Y., added a second-round limit of 25 pounds for a two-day total of 49-10.
Goutremout heads into Championship Saturday with a 2-ounce lead over Day 1 leader Ryan Lachniet.
“I had four of the five I weighed in by 11 o’clock and then I caught my last kicker about 12:30,” Goutremout said. “I have one area where I feel confident in that 22- to 23-pound range and then I have another area where there’s a lot less fish, but when you get bit, it’s a good one.
“The last two days, I started in that first area and then I went to that big-fish area just to get a couple of kickers.”
Goutremout made a long run to the tournament’s western boundary and started his morning on the U.S. side of Wolfe Island. When he felt it was time to transition to his big-fish strategy, he moved to the island’s Canadian (northern) side.
The latter area, Goutremout said, has benefitted from this year’s weather patterns.
“I’m targeting main spawning areas,” he said. “We had a late spawn this year, so I’m just picking off those fish that are still up there roaming around. We had a really cold spring; it really didn’t warm up until sometime about mid-June. It just stayed cold this spring and kept those fish back.
“Normally, they’re a lot farther along and there are more fish schooled up out deep. They’re kind of scattered this time around. I’d rather be fishing them out deep, but you gotta do what you gotta do to catch those big ones.”
Goutremout’s starting spot actually plays more to his preference. He’s spending the first few hours of his day in a deep spot with depths of 40 to 45 feet.
“I’m catching those deep fish mostly on a drop shot and then going to those shallow flats around 11 to 11:30,” Goutremout said. “I’ve caught a couple of those shallow fish on a drop shot, but most of them have been on a jig.”
Goutremout has been throwing a 1/2-ounce finesse football jig. Rather than using a craw or creature bait trailer, he fits his jig with a 2 3/4-inch Berkley MaxScent Lil General.
“I think it has a lot to do with how much pressure these fish get,” he said. “I’ve tried mixing it up, but I think you get a lot more bites with something simple.
“With the drop shot, I learned pretty quickly that you can’t move it. I’m dropping on these fish and if I move it at all, they run away from it. I’m pretty much just slack lining it and holding it there until I feel a tick.”
Eyeing the potential for his first Bassmaster victory, Goutremout said he’s eager for one more shot at the St. Lawrence.
“I’ve been looking forward to this event for a while now,” he said. “Hopefully, I can get five more bites tomorrow and pull this thing off.”
Hailing from Gum Spring, Va., Lachniet set the early mark with a limit of 26-5. Adding a second-day’s limit of 23-3, he slipped to second with 49-8.
Lachniet said he actually caught more fish on Day 2, but he was missing the two kickers that buoyed his first-round effort.
“Today, my smallest fish was a 4.40-pounder and my biggest one was a 4.58,” Lachniet said. “They were all the same size. I caught three or four other 4-pounders.
“I caught more quality fish today, but yesterday I had a 7-5 (the event’s biggest) and a 5 1/2. There are so many 4-pounders in this place, everyone’s catching 22 pounds, so if you can get that big bite, you’re getting an extra pound or two and that puts you above a lot of people.”
Lachniet again ran about 3/4 of the way to the tournament’s western boundary and returned to the same shallow flat he fished on Day 1. Yesterday, that spot delivered all of his weight, but today, he expanded to another spot with similar makeup within 1 to 2 miles.
“Both of these spots are big grass flats with a couple of sandy spots,” Lachniet said. “This is just a section of the river that sets up well for what I’m doing, so I’m just focusing on this area.”
John Hunter Jr. of Shelbyville, Ky., backed up a solid Day 1 limit of 23 pounds with a second-round limit of 26-0 and rose from 15th to third with a total of 49 pounds.
Hunter has committed both days to the western end of the tournament waters where he targeted a current-breaking rock shoal. He attributes his Day 2 improvement to observation and adaptation.
“Really, I learned a lot more about the place I’m fishing,” he said. “I learned where they set up when there’s less current, when there’s more current, how they move around on it.
“I know everyone loses smallmouth, but I had every bit of 28 to 28 1/2 pounds hooked today. But it was still a special day and I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow, because I feel like I have a chance at another 25-plus pounds if I can get them to bite.”
Hunter caught his fish on a drop shot, a jerkbait and a jighead minnow.
Lachniet is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-5.
Lachniet leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN Division 1 points standings with 759. Lucas Lindsay of Auburn, Ala., is in second with 757, followed by Matt Adams of Guntersville, Ala., with 747, Tyler Campbell of Martin, Ga., with 737, and Connor Jacob of Guntersville, Ala., with 716.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2 p.m.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River presented by SEVIIN 7/31-8/2
St. Lawrence River, Waddington NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 49-10 200
Day 1: 5 24-10 Day 2: 5 25-00
2. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 10 49-08 199
Day 1: 5 26-05 Day 2: 5 23-03
3. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 49-00 198
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 26-00
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 48-08 197
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 24-01
5. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 48-05 196
Day 1: 5 25-03 Day 2: 5 23-02
6. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 47-05 195
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 26-12
7. Erik Luzak Fenelon Falls CANADA 10 47-05 194
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 26-08
8. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 10 47-05 193
Day 1: 5 23-14 Day 2: 5 23-07
9. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 47-04 192
Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 5 22-04
10. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 10 46-11 191
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-14
11. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 10 46-04 190 $5,810.00
Day 1: 5 22-07 Day 2: 5 23-13
12. Alec Morrison Peru, NY 10 46-02 189 $4,519.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 5 21-05
13. Cody Pike Powhatan, VA 10 46-00 188 $3,873.00
Day 1: 5 24-01 Day 2: 5 21-15
14. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 10 45-13 187 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 24-03
15. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 10 45-02 186 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 22-13
16. Tommy Wood Peregian Springs AUSTRA 10 44-15 185 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 23-09 Day 2: 5 21-06
17. Matt Adams Guntersville, AL 10 44-11 184 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 24-04
18. Liam Blake East Syracuse, NY 10 44-04 183 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 24-03
18. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 44-04 183 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 20-01
20. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 10 43-12 181 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 25-07
21. Adam Howell Embrun CANADA 10 43-10 180 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 21-09
22. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 10 43-02 179 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 24-01
23. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 10 43-02 178 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 22-05
24. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 42-13 177 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 20-03
25. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 10 42-07 176 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 22-14
26. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 10 42-03 175 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 22-04
27. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 10 42-01 174 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 5 19-04
28. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 10 42-01 173 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 22-10
29. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 10 41-14 172 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 21-07
30. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 10 41-14 171 $3,228.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 21-05
31. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 41-10 170 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 22-12
32. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 41-09 169 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 23-02
33. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 10 41-06 168 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 19-09
34. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 41-05 167 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 23-08
35. Connor Bell Lisbon, NY 10 41-05 166 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 20-11
36. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 41-04 165 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 23-00
37. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 10 41-03 164 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 22-07
38. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 10 41-01 163 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 18-12
39. Parker Guy Appling, GA 10 41-00 162 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 17-00
40. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 41-00 161 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 19-09
41. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 10 41-00 160 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 21-05
42. James Chandler Liberty, TX 10 40-15 159 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 21-15
43. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 40-15 158 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 19-08
44. Lance Owen Greer, SC 10 40-13 157 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 20-08
45. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 40-11 156 $2,582.00
Day 1: 5 22-08 Day 2: 5 18-03
46. John Duvall Madison, GA 10 40-09 155
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 20-05
47. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 10 40-04 154
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 23-02
48. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 10 40-01 153
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 22-12
49. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 39-15 152
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 21-07
50. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 39-15 151
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 20-11
51. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 39-10 150
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 17-08
52. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 39-08 149
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 19-00
53. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 39-08 148
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 19-06
54. River Lee Diboll, TX 10 39-05 147
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 39-02 146
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 24-01
56. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 39-01 145
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 16-11
57. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 10 39-00 144
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 21-05
58. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 38-14 143
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 21-02
59. Casey Smith Victor, NY 10 38-12 142
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 17-01
60. Christian Nash Allons, TN 10 38-09 141
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 19-04
61. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 38-07 140
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 17-00
62. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 10 38-06 139
Day 1: 5 22-11 Day 2: 5 15-11
63. Jesse Hilliard Delhi CANADA 10 38-05 138
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 18-07
64. Micheal Stout Gallatin, TN 10 38-05 137
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-11
65. Brennan Berglund Zimmerman, MN 10 38-04 136
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 17-11
66. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 10 38-04 135
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 17-12
67. Eric Stecker Quakertown, PA 10 38-02 134
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 19-10
68. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 37-15 133
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 19-13
69. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 10 37-11 132
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 19-06
70. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 37-08 131
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 20-12
71. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 37-07 130
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 16-10
72. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 10 37-03 129
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 17-00
73. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 10 36-14 128
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 21-02
74. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 10 36-13 127
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 21-14
75. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 10 36-11 126
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 14-06
76. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 10 36-11 125
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 14-15
77. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 10 36-11 124
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 21-06
78. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 10 35-14 123
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 15-11
79. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 10 35-11 122
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-01
80. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 10 35-10 121
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 19-01
81. Donavan Carson Bluff City, TN 10 35-05 120
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 18-10
82. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 10 35-03 119
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 16-05
83. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 10 35-02 118
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 20-01
84. Colin Deridder Freeport, MI 10 35-00 117
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 16-04
85. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 10 34-15 116
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 15-10
86. Buddy Benson Dahlonega, GA 10 34-14 115
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-00
87. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 10 34-08 114
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 21-13
88. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 34-05 113
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
89. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 34-02 112
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
90. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 33-13 111
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 19-03
91. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 33-12 110
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 20-08
92. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 10 33-05 109
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 19-07
93. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 10 33-05 108
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 15-07
94. Kristine Fischer Spring City, TN 10 33-02 107
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
95. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 33-00 106
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 18-07
96. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 9 32-12 105
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 4 12-06
97. Josh Gauthier Petawawa CANADA 10 32-10 104
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 14-00
98. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 10 32-05 103
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 14-13
99. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 10 31-11 102
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 13-07
100. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 31-08 101
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 19-05
101. Troy Coney Owego, NY 10 31-04 100
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-09
102. Hunter Eubanks Landrum , SC 10 30-12 99
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 19-04
103. Tyler Shawger Zanesville, OH 10 30-12 98
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 12-07
104. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 9 30-06 97
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 4 08-05
105. Tyler Malone Chunchula, AL 10 30-03 96
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 14-14
106. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 10 29-15 95
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 16-10
107. Duke Nave Oxford, PA 9 29-14 94
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 4 15-06
108. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 9 29-03 93
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 4 12-09
109. Nick Mandes North Stonington, CT 10 28-14 92
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-15
110. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 10 28-12 91
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 13-00
111. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 27-03 90
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 12-09
112. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 10 26-08 89
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
113. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 10 26-06 88
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 12-13
114. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 10 26-05 87
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 11-02
115. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 10 26-03 86
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-03
116. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 9 26-00 85
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 4 11-01
117. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 9 24-03 84
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 15-03
118. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 7 24-02 83
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 2 06-00
119. Dante Piraino Baldwinsville, NY 5 23-05 82
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 23-05 81
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 10-11
121. TJ McKenzie Georgetown, SC 5 23-04 80
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 23-04
122. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 10 23-04 79
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-03
123. Cody Ross Livingston, TX 7 22-15 78
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 2 07-01
124. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 10 22-11 77
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
125. Chris Lighthizer Zanesville, OH 10 21-14 76
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-13
126. Dave Miller Stratford, CT 10 21-07 75
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
127. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 8 21-05 74
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 3 09-03
128. Bardia Kamali Toronto CANADA 5 20-14 73
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 10 20-11 72
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
130. Matt Kelly Cambridge Ontario CANAD 5 20-02 71
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 19-08 70
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 19-08
132. Cass Terrance Akwewsane, NY 5 18-09 69
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
133. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 7 17-12 68
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 2 07-02
134. Kyle Healey Almonte CANADA 5 17-08 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 17-08
135. William Kronander Brownsville, PA 5 17-03 66
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 5 16-08 65
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Phil Kroll Otego, NY 5 15-03 64
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 12-02 63
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
139. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 4 11-03 62
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Mike Penney Cameron, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Angel Rosario Kalamazoo, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Manny Sciberras Liberty Twp, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 133 673 2491-15
2 122 639 2413-01
———————————-
255 1312 4905-00