Shaw pulls off epic comeback to claim first Bass Pro Tour win at Grand Lake

Banks Shaw surged up from behind to win his first Bass Pro Tour trophy with 82 pounds, 15 ounces on 28 scorable bass. Photo by Phoenix Moore. 

By Mitchel Forde, Bass Pro Tour

Press Release

GROVE, Okla. — Virtually the entire Championship Round at Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Toyota looked like a duel between Zack Birge and Dustin Connell, with Banks Shaw among the also-rans. Birge and Connell distanced themselves from the rest of the pack early and built an advantage of more than 20 pounds over the rest of their competition entering the third period. The two multi-time Bass Pro Tour winners swapped the top spot on SCORETRACKER® as they traded blows, with one of the two leading from the second minute after lines in until 16 minutes before lines out.

Then Shaw swooped in and stole the show, the Stage 6 trophy and the $125,000 paycheck that comes with it.

Putting together perhaps the best final period in Bass Pro Tour history, the 22-year-old phenom roared back from a nearly 30-pound deficit to claim his first BPT win going away. Shaw totaled 82 pounds, 15 ounces on 28 scorable bass to top Connell by 8-13. That earned the Tennessee pro his fourth MLF win of 2026 and the biggest triumph of his young career.

Here’s how the Top 10 pros finished the Championship Round:

1. Banks Shaw – 82-15 (28)

2. Dustin Connell – 74-2 (28)

3. Zack Birge – 64-5 (21)

4. Alton Jones Jr. – 55-5 (20)

5. Bobby Lane – 46-2 (18)

6. Jake Lawrence – 31-4 (11)

7. Spencer Shuffield – 28-1 (10)

8. Ron Nelson – 27-8 (10)

9. Keith Carson – 24-7 (8)

10. Brent Ehrler – 20-11 (8)

Full results

All-in approach pays off

Change was the theme throughout this rare summertime visit to Grand. Anglers

Michael Harlin wins the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Upper Mississippi River presented by Battery Tender

By David A. Brown, BASS Press Release

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Redemption came in a most unexpected manner for Michael Harlin, who overtook a local legend to win the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Upper Mississippi River presented by Battery Tender.

After placing 68th on Day 1 with 12-3, the pro from Osage Beach, Mo., added a second-round limit of 17-11 and rose to sixth. In the final round, Harlin added the day’s heaviest bag, 17-3, tallied a three-day total of 47-1 and edged La Crosse’s own Tom Monsoor, who had led for two days, by a pound and 3 ounces.

Rising 67 places from the opening round certainly qualified as redemption for Harlin, but winning the final Division II event had an even deeper meaning. Four months prior, a self-reported culling violation in the division opener at Sam Rayburn Reservoir disqualified his Day 1 weight and ultimately resulted in a 196th-place finish.

“After Rayburn, I couldn’t have felt much lower, it was a tough drive home,” said Harlin, who placed fifth in the second Division II event at Grand Lake. “I felt like, after that Rayburn, there was a chance something like this might happen, but I would have never guessed that it would be here.”

Happy Father's Day!

 

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B.A.S.S., Pro Football Hall of Fame announce landmark partnership, Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament on St. Lawrence River

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced today a landmark partnership that will bring together two of America's most passionate sports communities for a unique celebration of competition, camaraderie and outdoor recreation.

The organizations will host the inaugural Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, on the world-renowned St. Lawrence River in Clayton, N.Y. The event will pair Pro Football Hall of Fame members with Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series anglers for a one-day tournament showcasing the skills, personalities and competitive spirit of some of the greatest athletes in sports.

The celebrity Pro-Am will be accompanied by a free fan expo and afternoon weigh-in celebration, giving fans unprecedented access to Hall of Fame football legends and the world's best bass anglers.

The partnership will extend beyond the Pro-Am tournament itself. B.A.S.S. will have a major presence during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival in Canton, Ohio, Aug. 5-9, 2026, where Bassmaster will host fan engagement activities and introduce football fans to the sport of bass fishing during the annual Hall of Fame celebration.

The partnership represents a natural connection between two organizations built on tradition, excellence and a passionate fan base. While one honors the legends of professional football and the other serves as the worldwide authority on bass fishing, both organizations share a commitment to preserving their heritage while introducing new generations to their respective sports.

Jason Christie Wins 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound

BASS Press Release  

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — At no point did Jason Christie think he was going to win the Maxam Bassmaster Elite Series at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. That is until he held the trophy over his head. 

The Dry Creek, Okla., pro caught a four-day total weighing 92 pounds, 7 ounces, outlasting Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Fisher Anaya and Ohio native Hunter Shryock for his second victory of the 2026 season. That total weight was done with only 19 bass after he fell short of a limit on Day 2.

“Even today, I thought my luck was going to run out,” Christie said. “I could go up there tomorrow and not catch one. It was so random where I was catching them.”

This marks Christie’s 10th B.A.S.S., joining Kevin VanDam, Rick Clunn, Denny Brauer, Larry Nixon and Roland Martin as the only anglers to win double-digit Bassmaster events. Seven of those victories are Elite Series wins, two are Opens victories and last but not least a Bassmaster Classic. 

All of that was done in 139 events. 

“They’ve all been surprising,” Christie said. “Whenever I have a good practice, I usually don’t catch them. Practice here was not good. I just really had to keep my bait wet. I didn’t even catch a limit one day.”

Christie made the trek up to the Chowan River every day of the tournament, staying in the front half of the river so he only had to get gas once. Most of the bass were located 2 feet under the surface in 6 or 7 feet of water. As hard as he tried, he could never find a consistent pattern to run. He caught bass off cypress trees, laydowns and stumps, but nothing stayed consistent. 

One dock, however, saved his tournament. Fellow competitor David Mullins told Christie about that dock after Day 2, and Christie caught over 28 pounds off that one dock between Semifinal Saturday and Championship Sunday. 

“It is the best dock I have ever fished. It took care of me yesterday and today. Without that, I wouldn’t be standing here.” Christie said. “It was something about the current. When I would pull up there would be baitfish jumping out of the water.” 

After Day 3, Christie remarked he had a new arrow in his arsenal. That bait was an unnamed urchin-style bait in watermelon he purchased at a Scheel’s event several weeks ago. He doesn’t know the name, but it carried him all week on the Chowan.

“I’m 100 percent serious when I say I don’t know the name of them,” he said. “I bought one, tried it at home and caught two bass on it. I had to work an event at Scheels, and I bought three or four there. I won (using) that one.”

2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound Day 3: Christie Jumps into Lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 47th

Oklahoma pro Jason Christie has taken the lead on Day 3 of the Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 7 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Jason Christie can’t believe he is leading the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. 

The nine-time B.A.S.S. champion entered this tournament just trying to get plenty of points to stay inside the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour cutline. Instead, Christie is out in front with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 7 ounces with the opportunity to claim his second blue trophy of the 2026 season.

“(I'm) Absolutely shocked. This tournament was all about getting points for the Classic,” the 2022 Classic champion said. “Missing it two years in a row, and the next one being at Hartwell, it wouldn’t be a cool Hartwell Classic if I wasn’t there.” 

Remarkably, he leads this tournament after falling one bass short of a limit on Day 2. After opening the tournament with 24-1, Christie only brought four bass weighing 15-8 to the scales Day 2. Then, the Oklahoma pro cracked 26-14 on Semifinal Saturday, the second biggest bag of the day. 

He anchored that limit with a 9-7 largemouth that took over Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. 

2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albmarle Sound Day 2: Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock has taken the lead!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 48th, Chris Johnston 57th, Gustafson 79th, Kung 83rd & Gallant 94th

Arkansas pro Stetson Blaylock has taken the lead on Day 2 of the Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces. Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Stetson Blaylock has never liked vast tidal fisheries like the Albemarle Sound. Success seems to find him anyway. 

The Arkansas pro leads the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound with a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces. Blaylock added 18-12 to his 23-8 Day 1 limit to take a 4-ounce advantage over Alabama’s Wesley Gore heading into Semifinal Saturday.

“Anytime you are in contention, it is a good thing. But you want to be in contention with bass you know are getting better, and I’m not sure if they are getting better. I have a lot of decisions to make before takeoff, but I’m in a good spot.” 

Fishing was noticeably better across the system on Friday. Multiple bags over 24 pounds hit the scales, including one limit over 26 and another over 27 pounds. 

Blaylock’s first Elite Series victory came at Winyah Bay in 2019, another coastal system along the Carolina coast. In that tournament, he was able to focus on one tactic most of the tournament. So far this week, the six-time Classic qualifier has been able to lock in on a pattern once again.

“I keep saying I don’t like these types of fisheries because there are so many things you can do,” Blaylock said. “There’s going to be someone tomorrow who scraps their plan, does something different and catches a big stringer. That is something I struggle with. At Winyah Bay, I was able to stay in one area all four days. That’s what has been best for me, not running around.”

One area far from takeoff in Elizabeth City has produced the bulk of Blaylock’s limit. With higher salinity across the system, Blaylock has tried to find the freshest water possible. Along with a good population of bass, there’s a plethora of baitfish in the area as well. 

“It is a well-kept area,” he explained. “The trick here right now is finding fresh water. I’m going way way back in this river, and I feel the further back you get, the better opportunity you have to catch a big fish.”