Luke Johns Becomes First-Ever Bass Boat Technologies BAM Pro Tour Champion
Zack Thompson Flips for Runner-Up Ranking
OAKLEY, Calif. – After a leaderboard reset for Championship Sunday, Luke Johns from Folsom, Calif., claimed victory with a five-fish limit weighing 16.42 pounds, becoming the first-ever champion of the inaugural Bass Boat Technologies BAM Pro Tour TOC at the California Delta, presented by the City of Oakley, Oakley ACE and Tackle Warehouse.
With the potential for any cast to yield a double-digit catch on the Delta, Johns didn’t believe his 16-pound total would be enough to secure first place. “I kind of wrote it off and figured I’d end up 3rd or 4th—maybe make a little extra money, and that would be cool. But I didn’t think I’d have a shot at winning this,” he shared. Little did he know, the rest of the field was also struggling to find sizable fish in the tough, tidal waters.
“At my first spot, I quickly caught a limit, but it was only around nine pounds,” Johns recalled. “Then I caught a 4 ½-pounder (on camera), putting me at 12 or 13 pounds, but I knew I needed more.” That four-pound bass, caught near a retaining wall in a slough, ended up being Johns’ biggest fish of the day. “I’d seen bait being pushed up against that wall over the past two days,” he explained. A change in location and lure proved pivotal. When the wind picked up, Johns switched to a ChatterBait, quickly landing a 4 ¼-pounder. “That was the fish that put me over the top—my final kicker fish,” he said.
Ultimately, Garmin LiveScope technology played a crucial role as Johns spotted the 4-pounder under a bait ball, leading him to pitch a five-inch wacky Senko. “I’d never LiveScoped a fish on the Delta before,” he said. “It was just on so I could find grass lines and other structure. Catching a fish like that on LiveScope in the Delta—it’s one of those moments that doesn’t happen unless you’re having a special day.”
Two Baits That Won the Tournament
Johns credited his success to two key baits: a ChatterBait and a Yamamoto Senko. “For the Senko, I used a Daiwa Tatula Elite Cody Meyer Wacky Rig Rod paired with a Tatula Elite Spinning Reel, Size 3000,” he said. “It’s an ideal rod for wacky rigs and heavier shaky heads.” He used Sunline AMZ braided line paired with a 10-pound Shooter leader and an Owner Wacky Hook. His vibrating jig of choice was a Picasso Shock Blade with a Yamamoto Zako trailer. “I love this setup,” he said. “I used a Dobyns glass rod, Daiwa reel, and 14- to 16-pound Sunline Crank FC line for added abrasion resistance.”
This TOC win capped a season that started off rocky for Johns. “I had some rough finishes in the first half of the season,” he admitted. “But in the second half, I made three top-10s. For someone like me, being able to fish a tournament of this caliber on the West Coast without traveling 20 hours to the East Coast is phenomenal. I’m looking forward to the Super 60 next year.” In addition to $500 in Bass Boat Technologies contingency dollars, along with $300 for running exclusive Garmin graphs. Johns earned the top prize of a fully-rigged $65k Bass Cat Boat with Mercury, Garmin, and Eternal Lithium equipment.
Thompson’s Strategy in Franks Tract
Zack Thompson of Alameda, Calif., approached the season finale with a strategy to secure a spot on Championship Sunday by focusing on keeper count for the first two days, saving his larger fish for the final day. Thompson double-qualified for Day Three with both the most scorable bass (19) and the heaviest weight (36.50). He weighed in 14.74 pounds for his final five on Championship Sunday, earning $8,000 as runner-up. Both top finishers will compete in the BAM Super 60 for 2025.
Note: BAM Pro Tour anglers are ranked in Pro Tour events by both the heaviest five-fish limit (Weight) and the number of scorable bass caught (Keepers). First place goes to the angler with the five heaviest bass, while second is awarded to the highest keeper count. Standings then alternate by weight/keepers. On Day One, anglers are ranked by both weight and keeper count. These rankings are combined over Day Two for a cumulative total, after which the field is cut to the top 10. For the final day, all weights are reset, and the remaining anglers compete based on the heaviest five-fish limit to determine the champion.
About BAM Tournament Trail
The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT) provides an exceptional platform for both anglers and sponsors. It combines extensive exposure opportunities, celebrating the skills of western bass anglers. The circuit receives broad media coverage across print and online magazines, emails, podcast, websites, videos, television, and multiple social media channels.
Proud Sponsors of the BAM Tournament Trail: Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle Warehouse, Boardman Chamber, Garmin, Storquest, and, Bass Cat Boats, Ford Fairfield, Dish – Accel Marketing, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Bob’s Machine, Wood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real Estate, Valley Outdoors, Eternal Lithium and, Alpha Angler Rods, and Fisherman’s Warehouse.
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