Johnston Repeats as Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of The Year
Featured Stories . News & Press ReleasesDominance in professional fishing isn’t built on luck — it’s built on consistency, skill, and relentless drive. Chris Johnston has all three. Few anglers can match the consistency and talent Johnston has displayed across the last five Bassmaster Elite Series seasons. And now, after an incredible run at the season finale on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Johnston has etched his name into the history books once again — locking up his second consecutive Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year (AOY) title.
A Five-Year Streak of Greatness
The numbers speak for themselves:
- 2021 – Finished 2nd in AOY standings
- 2022 – Finished 3rd in AOY standings
- 2023 – Just missed the Top 10 overall
- 2024 – Angler of the Year Champion
- 2025 – Angler of the Year Champion
That’s four Top 3 finishes in five years, including back-to-back AOY titles. In a sport where the competition is fierce, the conditions are unpredictable, and the margin for error is razor-thin, Johnston’s ability to stay at the very top year after year is nothing short of incredible.
Simply put, we’re speechless.
The Rivalry Within the Power-Pole Family
What makes Johnston’s latest AOY even more impressive is how tight the race was. In 2024, he edged out fellow Power-Pole angler and rookie sensation Trey McKinney with a 758–734 point finish.
Fast forward to 2025, and it was déjà vu all over again. Chris once again held off Trey — this time by the slimmest of margins, 776 points to 768 points. An eight-point difference over the course of an entire Elite Series season is almost unheard of.
The consistency it takes to go head-to-head with anglers of this caliber and still come out on top is the stuff of legends.
The 2025 Season: Sealed on the Mississippi
Coming into the final stop of the season, Johnston knew the AOY race was within his grasp. But on waters as tricky and unpredictable as the Mississippi River, nothing is guaranteed until the last fish hits the livewell.
With trademark composure and focus, Johnston did what he’s done all season long: put together enough consistency to close the deal. By the end of the weekend, the points were locked, and so was his legacy as the back-to-back AOY champion in 2024 & 2025.
Hear It From Chris
Nobody can put it better than the man himself. After securing the 2025 AOY title, Johnston shared his thoughts on what it means to achieve this incredible milestone:
What’s Next: The 2026 Showdown?
If the past two years are any sign, we could be in for something truly special in 2026. Will Chris keep the streak alive and go for the three-peat? Will Trey finally capture his first AOY title after coming so close two years in a row? Or could it be Chris’s brother, Cory Johnston — another Team Power-Pole hammer — who takes the crown?
No matter how it shakes out, one thing’s for sure: the AOY race is only getting more exciting, and Team Power-Pole will be right in the thick of it.
A Champion’s Standard
For Johnston, it’s never just about one tournament or one season. It’s about proving, year after year, that he belongs among the most elite anglers in the sport. His resume over the past five years shows a rare combination of talent, determination, and consistency that sets him apart.
At Power-Pole, we couldn’t be prouder to see Chris represent what it means to compete at the highest level. His achievements inspire us and everyone in the fishing community to chase greatness, on and off the water.
Congratulations, Chris!
From everyone here at Power-Pole: congratulations, Chris, on an incredible season and your second consecutive Angler of the Year title. The consistency, focus, and relentless drive you’ve shown over the past five years is nothing short of legendary.
We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.
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