Magical day lifts Lowen to St. Johns lead
Feb. 21, 2025
PALATKA, Fla. — When the necessary became the nemesis, Bill Lowen’s patient persistence delivered a clutch catch that typified his amazing day.
Bolstering a Day 1 limit of 21 pounds, 5 ounces with a second-round bag that went 24-4, the seasoned pro from Brookville, Ind., leads the 2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with a two-day total of 45-9. Lowen heads into Semifinal Saturday with a 7-14 margin over Day 1 leader Jay Przekurat.
“It was an amazing day; you just can’t explain it when it happens,” Lowen said. “You look for those days all the time, and I had one of those days today.”
Lowen has been targeting shallow wood with a flipping jig and swim jig. When he hooked a solid bass around noon, the fish became entangled in a pile of limbs. After a couple of minutes of Lowen tugging and carefully poking his rod tip toward the snare, the fish suddenly found its way free.
“I saw the fish run a bream up against the bank, so I threw my jig over there, and as soon as the jig hit the water, she ate it,” Lowen said. “I was going to the back of the boat to land her and she just got stuck in a (submerged tree). I could feel her pulling, so I knew she was still there, but I couldn’t gain on her.
“After what felt like an eternity, I just put a lot of pressure on her. I was thinking the line was gonna break, but actually, the branch broke, and she just floated to the top. Usually, when that happens, it doesn’t end well. I got really lucky.”
Not long after that miracle catch, Lowen culled his smallest fish — a 1 1/2-pounder — with a 5 1/2. Another late-day cull gave him the confidence to pack up and head to weigh-in.
Lowen has been fishing a creek north of Palatka where deep, protected water has suffered less impact from the cold front that arrived on Day 1. While high, bright skies and significantly lower air and water temperatures challenged other competitors, Lowen found his fish generally cooperative.
“It’s all about the tide on the St. Johns, and when it finally got right around 11, I went to my main area and my first bite was a 6-pounder,” Lowen said. “From there on out, every decision I made was the right decision.
“I’m very comfortable doing what I’m doing. Obviously, I was worried about the cold front, but I don’t think it’s bothering them at all.”
Lowen knows he still has a lot of ground to cover, but the potential for adding a blue trophy to the one he claimed at Pickwick Lake in 2021 is well within his sights.
“Typically, on the St. Johns, I catch them good the first day and then I stub my toe,” Lowen said. “I didn’t want to do that this time. Obviously, I didn’t, but I was blessed.
“Everything just went right, and I’m looking forward to getting the XPress boat and Yamaha back out there, throwing my little cricket around and making a run at this thing. After last year, coming off my worst season ever, it feels good to start out like this. I definitely needed this to get my confidence back up.”
Hailing from Plover, Wis., Przekurat set the Day 1 high mark with 24-15, the event’s heaviest bag. Day 2’s shivering, windy weather halved his productivity with a limit of 12-12 and dropped him to second with 37-11.
“It was a tough day for me; I kinda knew that going into the day,” Przekurat said. “I had to scramble around a little bit and caught what I caught. Hopefully, tomorrow, I can step it up a little bit and stay in the Top 10.”
Calling his day a junk-fishing exhibition, Przekurat said the day’s weather complexion made consistency nonexistent.
“I caught a couple off the bed on a dropshot, I caught a couple just (blind casting) a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho, and I caught one on a jerkbait on a little channel-swing place,” Przekurat said. “I didn’t catch many fish at all.”
Seth Feider of New Market, Minn., is in third place with 37-7. Turning in a consistent performance, he backed up his Day 1 score of 18-15 with 18-8 and gained seven spots from 10th.
“It was the same bait as yesterday; I caught every one on a Texas-rigged black/blue Z-Man Bang StickZ with a 3/16-ounce weight,” Feider said. “I fished some different areas today and moved around a little more. It seems like I can’t keep beating on the same areas over and over again.
“I’m trying to pick one or two areas each day and try to catch everything I can out of it and then move on down the road. I caught some of my fish on docks and seawalls, but mostly on pads.”
Despite the conventional wisdom of expecting sunny afternoons to excel in post-frontal conditions, Feider said the morning hours produced his best bites — including an estimated 6-pounder.
John Cox of Debary, Fla., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-13.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Palatka City Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon and Sunday from 8-11 a.m. Stay up-to-date on all tournament coverage at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch/.
Florida’s Putnam County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
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2025 FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite Series St. Johns River 2/20-2/23
St. Johns River, Palakta FL.
Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 45-09 104
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 24-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 37-11 103
Day 1: 5 24-15 Day 2: 5 12-12
3. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 37-07 102
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 18-08
4. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 35-07 101
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 17-03
5. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 35-06 100
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 35-04 99
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-02
7. John Cox Debary, FL 10 35-02 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 16-13
8. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 34-07 97
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 21-15
9. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 34-03 96
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-08
10. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 33-09 95
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
11. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 33-05 94
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 12-11
12. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 33-01 93
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 19-10
13. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 32-07 92
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-04
14. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 32-02 91
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-11
15. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 31-14 90
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
16. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 31-14 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 17-05
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 31-14 88
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 15-05
18. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 31-05 87
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 17-05
19. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 31-04 86
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-08
20. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 30-10 85
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
21. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 30-09 84
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
22. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 30-09 83
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-00
23. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 30-04 82
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 11-13
24. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 30-03 81
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 30-00 80
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-15
26. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 29-09 79 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-12
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 29-05 78
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 08-03
28. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 29-04 77
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 18-14
29. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 28-11 76
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
30. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 28-08 75
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
31. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 8 28-07 74
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 12-02
32. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 7 28-06 73
Day 1: 5 22-13 Day 2: 2 05-09
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 9 28-06 72
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-13
34. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 28-03 71
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 28-01 70
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 09-00
36. Wes Logan Springville, AL 8 27-15 69
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 3 08-03
37. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-02 68
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04
38. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 27-00 67
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-04
39. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-00 66
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07
40. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 26-15 65
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 17-08
41. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-15 64
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
42. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 26-13 63
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 19-01
43. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 26-13 62
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 26-09 61
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-11
45. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 26-09 60
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
46. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-06 59
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 17-08
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 26-06 58
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
48. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 26-01 57
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-05
49. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-15 56
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 16-03
50. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 25-02 55
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-14
51. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 24-15 54
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 08-08
52. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 24-13 53
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-09
53. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 24-09 52
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 2 10-02
54. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 24-07 51
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 16-04
55. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 7 24-06 50
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 2 06-14
56. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-05 49
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
57. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 24-02 48
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 08-13
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-02 47
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
59. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 8 24-01 46
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-08
60. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 24-01 45
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 14-06
61. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 10 23-12 44
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
62. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-03 43
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
63. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 23-01 42
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-13
64. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 9 22-15 41
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 4 08-04
65. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 22-13 40
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
66. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 22-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
67. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 22-09 38
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
68. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 8 21-09 37
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 15-06
69. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 10 21-08 36
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-01
70. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 21-05 35
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-15
71. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 21-03 34
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 08-15
72. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 21-00 33
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
73. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 20-15 32
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
74. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 20-09 31
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
75. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 20-08 30
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 07-09
76. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 19-13 29
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
77. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 19-06 28
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
78. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 19-05 27
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 15-13
79. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 18-13 26
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-00
80. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 18-11 25
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
81. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 6 18-04 24
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 1 02-10
82. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 17-04 23
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 06-10
83. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 17-02 22
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
84. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 17-00 21
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-09
85. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 16-15 20
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
86. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 16-10 19
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-08
87. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 10 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-06
88. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 8 16-03 17
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 07-01
89. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 7 16-02 16
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 02-08
90. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 8 15-05 15
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
91. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 9 14-07 14
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 04-14
92. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 8 14-04 13
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-07
93. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 13-13 12
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 2 03-12
94. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 9 13-09 11
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 07-15
95. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 6 13-07 10
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
96. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 4 13-06 9
Day 1: 4 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-00 8
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 12-05 7
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 3 06-11
99. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 6 12-00 6
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 03-02
100. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 11-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-10
101. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 7 11-07 4
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 4 08-00
102. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 8 10-12 3
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-14
103. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 07-09 2
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
104. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 02-11 1
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 John Cox Debary, FL 08-13 $1,000.00
2 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA08-12 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 494 1317-03
2 81 456 1205-06
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174 950 2522-09
