Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
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Grand Valley State Duo Wins Bassmaster College Series Event On Alabama’s Smith Lake
Lucas Murphy and Mitchell Gunn of Grand Valley State University win the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series at Smith Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops out of Cullman, Ala., with a three-day total of 52 pounds, 7 ounces. Photo by Chris Mitchell/B.A.S.S.
CULLMAN, Ala. — When the Smith Lake bass began transitioning into spawning stage earlier this week, many of the teams competing in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series tournament presented by Bass Pro Shops switched their fishing tactics hoping to keep pace.
Lucas Murphy and Mitchell Gunn of Michigan’s Grand Valley State University, however, stuck to their original plan, which was to throw swimbaits underneath docks hoping to land prespawn spotted bass.
It was a risky move, especially as the weather steadily grew warmer and bass headed for the shorelines to spawn. But Murphy and Gunn were consistent through all three days of the tournament, and that was enough to win on this 21,000-acre fishery here in north central Alabama.
The duo caught 15 bass in three days for a total weight of 52 pounds, 7 ounces. They were in second place heading into Saturday’s final day of fishing, but an 18-2 limit vaulted them past Day 2 leaders JT Russell and Porter James of the University of Montevallo, which is located about 90 minutes south of Smith Lake.
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DeFoe Claims Classic Championship
Photo courtesy B.A.S.S. James Overstreet
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For decades, it seemed almost impossible for an angler to win the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in his home state.
Now it’s happened four times in six years.
Tennessee pro Ott DeFoe, who makes his home in Knoxville, caught five bass Sunday from the Tennessee River that weighed 18 pounds, 14 ounces to win the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing and the $300,000 prize that goes with the iconic trophy.
His three-day total weight of 49-3 helped him slip past second-place angler Jacob Wheeler before a raucous home crowd at the University of Tennessee’s Thompson-Boling Arena.
The world-championship bass tournament drew a record-total attendance of 153,809 to tournament venues, including daily weigh-ins in Thompson-Boling Arena, the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo consumer show presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in the Knoxville Convention Center and World's Fair Exhibition Hall, and morning takeoffs at Volunteer Landing. Attendance counts, including as many as 6,500 at Saturday’s early-morning takeoff, were provided by officials at each of the venues.
“This is a dream come true — a dream I’ve had since I was a 9-year-old kid,” said DeFoe, who now has six career victories with B.A.S.S. “When we came over here and did the walk-through the day before the tournament, I actually imagined hearing my name after the words ‘Bassmaster Classic champion.’
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Wheeler Takes Over Lead At Bassmaster Classic On Tennessee River
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., took the lead on Day 2 of the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK'S Sporting Goods with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 6 ounces. Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — During the early portions of practice for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Jacob Wheeler discovered a pattern that he knew would put bass in his livewell.
But since it seemed a little too obvious, he spent the latter portions of practice looking for something he thought no one else would find.
He ultimately went back to the obvious — and it has him in position to win the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.
fter landing 14 pounds, 11 ounces during Friday’s opening round, Wheeler caught five bass Saturday that weighed 17-11 and sprang into first place with a two-day total of 32-6. His five-bass limit Saturday was one of the few weighed in this week that featured all smallmouth.
“I know this crew,” Wheeler said. “I knew they would figure out the same thing I had figured out. Even though there are miles and miles and miles of water, they were going to figure it out.
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DeFoe Dominates Classic Day 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Ott DeFoe came into Friday’s opening round of the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods with two patterns in mind that he thought would work on the Tennessee River.
Only one of them did — and even then, just barely.
But it worked well enough to give him the lead at the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing.
DeFoe caught only eight keeper bass on the day, but his best five weighed 20 pounds and gave him an early cushion over Arizona pros Roy Hawk, who was second with 17-11, and Clifford Pirch, who was third with 16-11.
“I got five good bites all day, and I landed them,” said DeFoe, a Knoxville resident who was considered by many to be the odds-on favorite coming into the event. “Honestly, it felt like a very tough day.”
DeFoe’s two-pattern strategy included one tactic he believed would produce heavier bass and another he thought would be a good “limit filler.” The limit-filling pattern didn’t work at all.
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Skeeter Boat owners who plan to fish Michigan’s Payback Bass Circuit can now qualify for the Skeeter Reel Money Program that will get you bonus cash for winning the tournaments.
Jeff Uetrecht at Lake Drive Marine in Coldwater announced the Skeeter involvement last week.
For example, if you own a 2019 Skeeter powered with a 225 Yamaha or bigger and win a Payback Bass event, you can win an additional $3,000 from Skeeter. If you have a 2019 Skeeter with a 200, you win $1,000. Or if you have an older Skeeter powered by Yamaha you can win $500.
To be eligible, Skeeter owners must pre-register with the Reel Money Program. You can do that at the Skeeter dealer or online at Skeeterboats.com.
The Payback Bass Circuit consists of three events: June 2 at Burt/Mullet; June 23 at Lake St. Clair; and July 21 at Manistee Lake. A $10,000 championship will be held later this year.
Entry fee for the two-man team event is $400 and the field is capped at 60 boats. First place is a guaranteed $5,000 and each event pays back 95 percent of the entry fees. There are no membership fees. For more information, visit www.paybackbass.com.