LA CROSSE — Chris Johnston has joined a very elite group.
Johnston, of Peterborough, Ont., cemented a second straight Elite Series overall title Saturday. The Canadian reeled in a five-fish limit weighing 13 pounds, seven ounces to finish the season-ending tournament on the Mississippi River in 19th spot (15 fish, 43 pounds).
A top-10 standing Saturday would've qualified Johnston for Sunday's tournament final. But the 19th-place effort gave Johnston 776 points on the season, eight more than American Trey McKinney, who finished 27th (41 pounds, nine ounces) after sitting in 50th spot following second-round action Friday.
"I don't even know what to say, to be honest," Johnston said. "This river has stressed me out to no end this week.
"I did not have a good practice and I was a mess out there today just trying to catch five fish."
Johnson not only becomes the first Canadian to record consecutive titles but joins Hall of Famers Kevin VanDam, Roland Martin and Guido Hibdon as the only ones to win back-to-back championships.
Two Canadians qualified for Sunday's final. Johnston's brother, Cory, of Cavan, Ont., stands fifth overall (46 pounds, 10 ounces) while Cooper Gallant of Bowmanville, Ont., is ninth (45 pounds, 14 ounces). American Caleb Kuphall is the leader (50 pounds, 12 ounces).
Consistency was the key this season for Johnston, the first Canadian to win an Elite Series tournament in 2020. While he didn't record any top-10 finishes — he had four in claiming last year's crown — Johnston was in the top-20 in five of the Elite Series' nine tournaments this year while placing 21st and 22nd also.
"It's really just been a steady year," Johnston said. "There've been so many key moments this year that have played into me winning this title again.
"I really did get lucky this year. Some of those fish I caught I could never do again. It's just when it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
McKinney, 20, had posted five top-10 efforts, including two third-place finishes and a win Aug. 10 on Lake St. Clair. However, he opened the season finishing 89th on Florida's St. Johns River, while Johnston was 15th there.
"It's almost like he had a handicap," Johnston said of McKinney. "He started the season with (89th place) finish otherwise we wouldn't have had a chance … I'll take it when I can.
"He's an unbelievable fisherman and he's going to push all of us to get better. I know he will have his moment on this stage, I guarantee it."
Johnston and McKinney entered this event tied atop the standings with 690 points. But Johnston fell to second, three points behind American Jay Przekurat after Friday's opening round.
Johnston stood tied for 55th (13 pounds, one ounce) while Przekurat was 10th (17 pounds, one ounce). McKinney was 58th (12 pounds, 15 ounces) and fell to third in the overall standings.
Johnston moved up 33 spots to 22nd overall after Friday's round. He entered Saturday's action first overall with 773 points, just ahead of Przekurat (749), McKinney (745) and Japan's Kyoya Fujita (738).
Evan Kung of Pickering, Ont., finished 82nd (22 pounds, four ounces), while Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Ont., was 86th (21 pounds, seven ounces).
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2025.
The Canadian Press
