Hank Cherry Wins 2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville!

 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Hank Cherry, turned 52 today, so it’s fitting that the pro from Lincolnton, N.C., employed a straight-up old-school technique to win the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with 88 pounds, 11 ounces.

Cherry caught the majority of his fish on a 3-inch hand-poured chartreuse curly tail grub rigged on a 1/8-ounce ball-head jig. Dedicating his win to his father Harold, Sr., Cherry said he was thrilled to claim the victory with a bait from his childhood.

“I felt like I was 10-years-old again; it was incredible fishing,” Cherry said with a quaking voice. “I was throwing a bait that’s older than (much) of the field. I’ve been waiting my whole life to be able to fish a major tournament and do that.

“My dad has been feeling under the weather, but he’s the one that taught me how to fish and he started this thing.”

Cherry’s slower start amplified his win. A frigid Day 1 impeded his signature jerkbait efforts and left Cherry in 64th place with 16 pounds, 3 ounces. The following day, Cherry sacked up 22-11 and rocketed into 18th.

On Semifinal Saturday, Cherry continued his climb with a limit of 22-2, which moved him into sixth place and secured his Championship Sunday berth. In the final round, Cherry added 27-11 — the event’s heaviest bag — to claim the blue trophy.

Edging Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., by 1-13, Cherry won the $100,000 top prize.

2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville Day 3: Hartman Slides into Lead!

Canadians Cory Johnston 13th, Gustafson 18th, Gallant 29th, Evan Kung 30th & Chris Johnston 46th. 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Jamie Hartman‘s no meteorologist, but the New York pro currently leading the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with 67 pounds is predicting a manmade tempest. 

Hartman, who won the 2019 Bassmaster Elite event at Guntersville, placed 14th on Day 1 with 20-12 before rising to second with a Day 2 limit of 23-4. On Semifinal Saturday, Hartman’s 23-pound limit pushed him into the lead by a margin of 1-14 over Wes Logan.

When Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer reminded Hartman of the fierce storm that blew across Guntersville right after his trophy presentation, Hartman’s response reflected his pedal-to-the-metal game plan.

“There’s a storm forecast and I’m bringing it,” Hartman boldly stated.

Spending his time south of the tournament site at Goose Pond, Hartman has been targeting fish along grassedges and in grass pockets. He hasn’t established specific targets; rather, he’s working through his area and looking for pods of active fish.

“I’m just following them and just trying to run into batches of them,” Hartman said. “When I Spot-Lock, it’s like boom, boom, boom. They just keep coming.”

Hartman said he’s watching for the bait schools the bass are following, but he’s also just fishing through the area.

“If I see the bait, I go to it and I catch ’em,” he said. “If I don’t see it, then I just start picking away and (the bass) are just running in bunches.”

Hartman said his days have been starting slowly with only a few bites. Once the light switch flips, the action justifies the fast-and-furious cliche.

“It just takes a little bit for them to get going,” Hartman said. “These fish are shallow — 3-8 feet — so they’re feeling (the cold mornings). Once they get warmed up, they get going.”

Hartman has been trying to conserve his spot by getting what he feels he needs to be competitive. Even with that measured approach, his area’s population has kept him busy.

2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville Day 2: Kyle Welcher Jump into Lead!

Canadians Gallant 9th, Cory Johnston 10th, Gustafson 16th, Evan Kung 17th & Chris Johnston 32nd. 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Kyle Welcher doesn’t like to stay put, but switching off his core instinct and committing to one area delivered a big Day 2 improvement that put him atop the leaderboard for the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville.

After placing 18th on Day 1 with 20 pounds, 7 ounces, the pro from Valley, Ala., sacked up 24-9 and surged into the lead with a two-day total of 45 pounds.

“The moral of the story was hunkering down and staying put,” Welcher said. “I did better than I did yesterday; I didn’t run around as much and that was the way to catch ’em.”

Welcher, who won the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River by parking in one key area, knew he’d have to employ the same uncomfortable strategy on Guntersville.

“It’s the hardest thing for me to do; it goes against everything that I want to do,” Welcher said. “But when it’s tough and it’s hard to run around and get bites, sometimes that’s the best thing to do.

“That’s something I’ve had to learn by fishing on the Elites. I didn’t have the patience whenever I first started out here.”

Welcher said he fished south of the takeoff site at Goose Pond and focused on a 3-acre stretch. He tried the same area he fished on Day 1, but when the bites failed to materialize, he repositioned and relocated his fish.

“They had slid 150 yards away and I caught them there today,” Welcher said. “The majority of what I’m fishing is eelgrass, but every now and then, I’ll pull up some coontail or some hydrilla, but it’s 90% eel grass.”

Welcher stuck with the same lipless bait/bladed jig combo that much of the field has been throwing. His choice was a 1/2-ounce Rapala Snare and an unnamed bladed jig with a Crush City Freeloader trailer.

Describing his presentations, Welcher said: “It was early-slow and late-fast. That was the biggest adjustment I’d make throughout the day. I think they get up higher in the water column as the sun gets up.”

A gloomy Day 1 brought mostly overcast skies, light breezes and air temperatures that struggled to reach the low 40s. By contrast, the second round saw bright, sunny conditions, stronger afternoon wind and a high of 61.

“I think the sun is the major thing, but the wind could’ve helped a little” Welcher said. “I caught a couple big ones after it started blowing today, but I caught most of the fish I weighed in before the wind started blowing. I definitely think the sun helps you get more bites.

2026 FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville Day 1: Cory Johnston leads with 24-09lbs!

 Canadians Evan Kung 6th, Gustafson 8th, Chris Johnston 50th & Gallant 51th

Canadian pro Cory Johnston has taken the lead on Day 1 of the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a total of 24 pounds, 9 ounces. (Photo Seigo Saito/ BASS) 

BASS Press Release

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Cory Johnston’s no stranger to cold weather, so the Canadian star confronted a frosty fishery with a sensible game plan that delivered a 24-pound, 9-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville.

In a tight Top 10 where only 2-11 separates first and 10th, Johnston holds a 3-ounce lead over Bryant Smith.

Johnston said his action started early, but he never established any consistency. Ultimately, he attributes his success to mobility and persistence.

“I started off with a few fish in the morning and then rotated a bunch of areas,” Johnston said. “Late in the day, I got into one area and had a few key bites, but it was one fish here and there all day.

“There was no specific spot. It was just covering water.”

Johnston said the day’s plodding pace fit with the impression he took from practice. As he explained, the three days he spent exploring Guntersville prior to the tournament yielded moderate quality with minimal quantity.

“I wasn’t getting a lot of bites, but I was getting some big bites in practice,” Johnston said. “It was exactly what I expected.

“I had a limit around 11 o’clock and then I caught the last one at 2 o’clock. It was just random. You don’t get a lot of bites, but it’s generally the big ones.”

Spring Fishing & Boat Show February 6, 7 & 8, 2026

Save $3 on regular admission when you buy online using promo code CSFL

Ontario’s premier fishing and boating event returns with three action-packed days of education, entertainment, and exclusive show-only giveaways.

MASTER SEMINARS:

Great Lakes Trolling

Saturday, February 7 | 10:00 AM

With Captain Paul Powis, Captain Greg Ariel & Captain Rob Jones

Take a deep dive into Great Lakes trolling with some of Ontario’s most accomplished captains. Learn proven techniques, on-the-water strategies, and insider tips to elevate your trolling game this season.

Bass Academy

Saturday, February 7 | 1:00 PM

With Breaking Boundaries’ JP DeRose, Doug Brownridge, and Canadian Smallmouth Record Holders Joey Teofilo & Joey DiCienzo

Step up your bass fishing with expert-led sessions covering top products, cutting-edge techniques, and tournament-level insights designed to make this your best bass season yet.

World Bass Enterprises introduces “The Champions” Tournament Featuring a $3 million total purse

The biggest payout in Bass Fishing History…
World Bass Enterprises introduces “The Champions” Tournament
Featuring a $3 million total purse, with $1.25 million awarded to First Place
Who will be crowned the first real World Champion?
Click the link to learn more  

Pro-Guide Batteries named title sponsor of Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year, Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. today announced that Pro-Guide Batteries has been named the title sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year award and will also sponsor the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award, further expanding the company’s presence across professional bass fishing while reinforcing its commitment to innovation, performance and the next generation of anglers.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year race is one of the most closely followed storylines of the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season, recognizing first-year competitors who demonstrate consistency, adaptability and competitive excellence at the sport’s highest level. As title sponsor, Pro-Guide Batteries will be integrated across Elite Series events, media coverage and points race updates throughout the season.

In addition, Pro-Guide Batteries’ support of the Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year award highlights the brand’s investment in one of the fastest-growing segments of competitive fishing. Kayak anglers depend on lightweight, efficient and reliable power solutions to run electronics and accessories in compact, demanding environments, making Pro-Guide’s lithium battery technology a natural fit for the discipline.

Cody Stahl Wins 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Battery Tender

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Intuition plus determination plus execution equalled a dominant victory for Cody Stahl, who tallied a three-day total of 74 pounds, 6 ounces and earned the wire-to-wire victory in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kissimmee Chain presented by Battery Tender.

“That is one heckuva way to start the season,” Stahl said. “It was just an unbelievable week.”

With all due respect to Stahl’s Top 10 competitors, the Barnsville, Ga., pro could’ve slept in this morning and still won the event, as he caught a Championship Saturday limit of 17-13 and finished with a 22-1 margin over second-place Stephen Browning.

En route to that enviable position, Stahl took the Day 1 lead with the event’s heaviest bag — a limit of 28-9. He’d back up that strong performance with an even 28 pounds to hold the lead and head into the final round with a 19-pound, 7-ounce advantage.

“If you would’ve told me I’d be sitting in first place with a 19-pound lead going into the third day, I’d put every single dollar in my bank account on saying that’s not possible,” Stahl said. “Ultimately, things just worked out and God blessed me with an amazing week.”

Clearly, Stahl would’ve lost that bet, but being wrong meant adding $38,731 to his account — and receiving an invitation to fish the 2027 Bassmaster Classic.

All week, Stahl focused on a prespawn staging area at the south end of Lake Toho. A good mix of grass species provided what he believed would offer appealing habitat that would attract the right size fish.

Stahl located this area in practice and, even though he caught only small male bass prior to the event, he believed the week’s weather and the approaching full moon (Feb. 1) would invite the larger prespawn females.

Ike's Retires from Elites after 2026 Season!

 

Mike's personal message to his fans. 

After many long and thought out conversations with my wife Becky and our family, I have decided that 2026 will be my final year competing full-time on the Bassmaster Elite Series. This was not a quick or easy decision, but it was something that I always knew would happen one day when the timing was right. After decades on the road and on the water competing full time, it feels like the right time for a professional pivot, one that will open the doors to more opportunities and even bigger new creative projects while also allowing more time with my family. I want to be very clear that this is NOT a step back, it’s a step forward! It’s not retirement, it’s just a shift in priorities. Starting in 2027, I will continue with some competitive fishing trails, but with fewer weeks spent traveling and competing full time. I’ll be able to invest more time, more energy, and more focus into content creation, storytelling, live programing and meaningful brand partnerships than ever before. Between our existing platforms like Ike Live, Going Ike and Ike In The Shop; the work we’re doing through Professional Edge Fishing, Inc., and the return of City Limits Fishing, we already have a ton of exciting new initiatives underway.