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Gussy becomes first Canadian to win Bassmaster Classic

By Ryan Forbes Mar 26, 2023 | 5:35 PM
Photo courtesy of G. Loomis

Kenora’s Jeff ‘Gussy’ Gustafson has won the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic – becoming the first Canadian and the second international angler to ever take the top prize.

Win the win of the world’s largest professional bass fishing tournament, Gussy is set to take home $300,000 USD – or about $415,000 CAD.

Gussy was leading the tournament after both Day 1 and Day 2, but spectators were worried about a slower start to Day 3 where he only brought in two fish.

But ultimately, they weighed in at 6 lbs and 12 oz – bringing his total to 42 lbs and 7 oz. Bryan Schmitt came in second with 40 lbs and 14 oz, for a difference of about 1.5 lbs.

Gussy won the Bassmaster Elite on the same Tennessee River in 2021. He becomes the second non-USA angler to win the top tournament after Japan’s Takahiro Omori won in 2004.