2026 Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Day 2: Wesley Gore Claims Lead with 34-07lbs!

Canadians Cory Johnston 31th, Chris Johnston 41st, Gustafson 42th, Gallant 86th & Kung 101st

Bass Press Release

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Wesley Gore knew he had options, but his commitment to local waters delivered a limit of 17 pounds, 15 ounces that moved him atop the leaderboard at the Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

After placing fifth on Day 1 with 16-8, the Clanton, Ala., pro went on to tally 34-7. Gore heads into Semifinal Saturday with a lead of 2-7 over Dakota Ebare.

“I had another great day on the water,” Gore said. “It was a grind. I had seven keeper bites again, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing to win.”

While many of his competitors locked up and down from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway’s Columbus Pool, where the tournament is based, Gore again took locking off the table and afforded himself maximum fishing time.

“I really wasn’t on anything,” Gore said of his practice results. “I felt like I could run down to Aliceville and catch 8-10 pounds, but I felt like if I stayed in Columbus, I might not catch a limit, but I would catch one or two big ones.

“I took that gamble the first day and slowly but surely, we have put it together every day. Hopefully, we can put it back together tomorrow and see where it goes.”

Gore said his day was a mix of yesterday’s water and a few new spots.

“I made a slight adjustment today and I moved areas,” Gore said. “The place I caught them yesterday, I only left there with two fish, but they were both 5-pounders.

2026 Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Day 1: Lowen Grabs Early Lead with 17-14lbs

Canadians Gustafson 42th, Chris Johnston 51st, Cory Johnston 61st, Gallant 100th & Kung 101st

Indiana's Bill Lowen has taken the lead on Day 1 of the Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway with a total of 17 pounds, 14 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

Bass Press Release

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Bill Lowen may not have the full picture in sight, but the Brookville, Ind., pro found enough clarity to sack up a 5-bass limit of 17 pounds, 14 ounces and lead Day 1 of the Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.

Holding a 2-ounce lead over Randy Howell, Lowen said this week’s fishery, aka the “Tenn-Tom,” fits squarely in his wheelhouse.

“I don’t know if I figured it out; I’ve never been here before,” Lowen said. “The first day of practice, I just (randomly selected an area) and just fished where I know the fish are going to.

“My first three spots I fished in practice, I had a lot of bites. I went to two of those today and caught what I caught. I didn’t feel like I needed to go to the other stuff because I didn’t want to burn any just keeper bass.”

Lowen locked up from the local pool and stuck with two main areas where he was able to fish in solitude. He didn’t catch a significant number of fish, but he managed to find glimmers of quality.

“It was a fun day; I love fishing rivers, I love fishing shallow and I’m fishing the way I love to fish,” Lowen said. “I was fortunate to get three of the right bites. It’s not easy to get those big bites.

“The biggest fish I caught in practice was probably not even 3 pounds. So to get three of those bites today, I was pretty surprised.”

Essential to that goal was Lowen’s comfort level. Knowing he’d have to break down a new and sprawling fishery, Lowen put himself in familiar territory.

Classic Winning Bait Revealed! Berkley's New Lab Series!

 Small batch-poured baits combine MaxScent and PowerBait with a new MaxScent Rapid Release Slime, for a proprietary blend designed and crafted to trigger bites from pressured fish

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Mar. 24, 2026) – Berkley, the only science-based developer of fishing products in the world, is announcing its first line of products under the banner of Lab Series - a clear homage to the place where the world’s most advanced fishing products are conceived and brought to life - Berkley Labs in Spirit Lake, Iowa. The first products revealed under this new series are soft baits borne out of a decades-long project to combine the best of the company’s scientifically-proven technologies into one soft bait, the first to capitalize fully on a fish’s senses by delivering uncompromising color, action, scent and taste.

 

Built to meet the demands of modern fishing pressure, Lab Series baits are engineered to trigger bites from fish that have seen it all. Through a small-batch layered pouring process, Berkley combines a MaxScent layer, a proven PowerBait taste layer, and a MaxScent Rapid-Release Slime that provides an explosion of fish-attracting scent the moment it hits the water. This bait platform represents a breakthrough from the leader in scent and taste, as it is the first time MaxScent and PowerBait have been combined into a single bait, allowing for a myriad of translucent color options. The small batch pouring process allows for the delivery of technique-specific finesse actions. The result of this combination is a series of baits that is built to get more fish to commit, bite and hold onto the bait.

 

“Lab Series is the result of a number of projects converging into one singular mission to deliver a bait to anglers that eliminates compromise,” said Nathan Ragsdale, Senior Product Manager – Freshwater Bait at Berkley. “For the first time, we’re able to combine the scent dispersion of MaxScent, the proven taste of PowerBait, and new scent activation technology in the same bait while maintaining the exact profile, action, and colors anglers demand. It allows us to approach bait designs and techniques that simply weren’t possible before.”

 

The Berkley Lab Series Platform

 

At the core of the Lab Series soft bait platform  is a multi-stage scent delivery approach that works both immediately and throughout the life of the bait. A rapid-release powder is applied to the bait at the end of the manufacturing process. This powder is derived from the same fish-attracting formula as the proven MaxScent material. The powder activates instantly when the bait hits the water, creating a scent-producing slime that begins dispersing scent immediately. As that slime wears off throughout use, the poured MaxScent layer takes over, providing sustained scent dispersion over time. The PowerBait layers deliver the taste that convinces fish to hold on longer.

Bank Shaws Wins 2026 third Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech with 62 Lbs!

Shaw comes from behind for another Tennessee River win

Banks Shaw proved unstoppable once again this week at Wheeler Lake.
(Photo by Jody White)

By Jody White, Tackle Warehouse Press Release 

DECATUR, Ala. – Banks Shaw looked mortal at the last Bass Pro Tour event, where he finished 48th at Lake Whitney in Texas. A couple weeks later, fishing on the familiar Tennessee River, Shaw has righted the ship, knocking down the win Saturday in Stop 3 Presented by Suzuki Marine on Wheeler Lake.

With 21 pounds, 1 ounce on the final day of the third Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech regular-season event, Shaw totaled up an even 62 pounds to cash in for $100,000. It’s his second MLF win of the year, and his ninth Top 10 on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals or Pro Circuit since the start of 2025. Behind Shaw, Broderick Luckey surged from 11th place to second with 61-5, Drew Boggs finished third with 60-12, and Matt Becker slipped down the leaderboard to fourth. The leader going into Day 3, Cal Lane only managed one keeper and dropped down to 18th – luckily, still good for a $10,000 payday.

This event also produced some serious shake-ups in the points standings, as the three leaders heading into the week all turned in rough finishes. With the win, Shaw moved into the lead for 7 Brew Angler of the Year, and Ryan Lachniet and Carter Nutt both have 556 points in second and third respectively.

 Shaw takes advantage of the opening

Going into the final day of the event, Lane and Becker were both ahead of the field by a decent margin, and with a good day, either could have walked to victory. However, both struggled to various degrees – Lane couldn’t generate bites, and Becker never connected with a kicker.

“I didn’t think I had a shot with what I had, I thought possibly, if I had 22 pounds, I could have a shot if these guys stumbled,” said Shaw, who started the day in fourth. “I had a feeling throughout the day, it seemed like it was a little tougher. I was like, ‘Man, I know this place.’ It can easily happen where you only catch 15 pounds. I knew that’s what I needed those guys to catch – if Matt just caught one more, or Cal put a limit in the box, they could have easily won.”

TOP 10 Below

Zack Birge Wins 2026 NPFL on Lake Harris Chain of Lakes!

Oklahoma pro stayed consistent all three days to claim his first NPFL victory at Stop One.

Birge continues hot streak with his first win on the NPFL at Stop One. 
(Photo: NPFL/ Tanner & Travis Lyons)

By Justin Brouillard, NPFL Press Release

It came down to the wire on the Harris Chain, where consistency proved to be the difference-maker. Changing weather, long runs to Lake Apopka, and a last-minute adjustment after losing access to his starting area all played a role — but in the end, Oklahoma angler Zack Birge made the right moves at the right time to earn his first NPFL victory.

Birge started strong on Day One, boating 22-6 to kick things off in third place. He moved into the lead on Day Two with 21-14 and was the only angler to eclipse 20 pounds on both of the first two days. On the final day, fending off a charging Todd Auten, Birge added 17-14 to secure the win, besting the veteran by a mere 5 ounces.

Making a charge on the final day, Todd Auten was not going down without a fight. His best bags of the week came on Day One and Showdown Saturday. He started the event in second place with 25-3, dropped slightly on Day Two with 12-3, and then surged with the biggest bag of the tournament on the final day — 24-7 — ultimately finishing in second place, just short of the NPFL victory in his first event.

In third place, Derek Lehtonen was perhaps the most consistent angler all week, but lacked a true giant bass across his three days. Still, his 51-0 total moved him up on the final day, earning a solid payday and valuable points toward the 2027 Work Sharp NPFL Championship.

While many predicted a double-digit bass in this event, it was a 9-0 kicker caught by Greg Vinson on Day One that earned Big Bass honors. A slower Day Three dropped him to 25th overall, but Vinson still walked away with a solid check for his efforts.

Birge Adjusts for the Win

Wrapping up his second tour-level victory of the season, Zack Birge is on a tear in 2026. Birge took the win at the MLF BPT event earlier this month and is now a first time NPFL Champion. Fishing both leagues the last couple of seasons has been tough, and missing practice and tournament days caused him to miss the 2026 Epic Baits Championship by just a few points. Now, he’s a lock for the 2027 Championship by way of his win, and he kicks off the NPFL season leading the Work Sharp Angler of the Year race.

“It sure feels great,” Birge said. “I’m sure tomorrow, making the drive home, it’ll set in more, but I’m tired. This was a long week, and today was super stressful. Right off this morning things got tough, having to change my day around, and I felt like I was stuck in Apopka for a little while.”

Luckily, Birge had a Plan B. When his flipping bite only produced one small keeper, it was time to make a big decision — abandon ship early and head back toward Harris, or figure something out in Apopka to get the day back on track and kill some time.

TOP 10 Below

Rebel Lures Ultra-Finesse Jigs Snack Packs

 Ultra-Finesse Jig Snack Packs, new from Rebel Lures, offer an ideal solution for fooling the finickiest of fish, with cast-and-catch convenience right out of the package.

 

Rebel Ultra-Finesse Jigs utilize Rebel’s KEG Jig Head design, which was introduced with LIVEflex soft plastic lures. The head shape rolls off rocks and other cover effectively but is also well suited for swimming presentations. A finesse-style skirt adds subtle motion, and a pre-rigged LIVEflex bait completes the natural appearance.

Great Lakes Finesse Solves Problems with Stay-Pinned Spybait

 Great Lakes Finesse doesn’t accept problems. GLF solves problems

The No. 1 problem with most spybaits is that fish (especially big, wildly jumping bass) too frequently free themselves during the fight. The Stay-Pinned Spybait uses a patent-pending top “breakaway hook,” in addition to two bottom-hanging trebles, so bass stay pinned, just as the name says.

 

The GLF Team refined the Stay-Pinned Spybait for more than three years, experimenting with body shaping, weighting, hook placement and every other aspect to create the perfect spybait – one that runs true at very slow speeds with a subtle shimmy and blades that turn freely. The bait sinks slowly with a shimmy and horizontal posture, when not being reeled, and tracks completely horizontal on the move.

 

The Stay-Pinned Spybait also features a Water-Through-Gill design that enhances the shimmy and adds resistance to maximize an angler’s ability to feel the bait.

 

The Stay-Pinned Spybait comes in 11 colors that range from Matte Black to ultra-subtle Pro Mist to fit every situation. It comes armed with BKK Super Slide hooks.

 

MSRP: 17.99

Nutt puts the Nation back on top, wins 56th Bassmaster Classic

Nutt puts the Nation back on top, wins 56th Bassmaster Classic

Nashville, Tenn., Nation angler Dylan Nutt has won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour with a three-day total of 66 pounds, 13 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — For the first time in 32 years and only the second time ever, a B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier wears the crown of the biggest title in bass fishing. Dylan Nutt, the 22-year-old phenom from Nashville, Tenn., won the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in front of a giant home-state crowd at Food City Arena in Knoxville.

He follows in the footsteps of Bassmaster legend Bryan Kerchal, who won the 1994 Classic after qualifying through the Nation. Nutt earned his invite to this year’s Super Bowl of Bass Fishing by finishing third at the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at the Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance.

After the crowning moment, Nutt was still processing what it means to follow in Kerchal’s footsteps.

“I haven’t had the chance to think about it. I’ve got so many things in my head right now. I don’t know what I’m thinking,” he said.

“It [the Classic] has always been the pinnacle of bass fishing to us, and I mean, heck, the last Classic that I went to was the one here, back in 2023, and I never would’ve thought next time I went to a Classic I’d be in it and holding the trophy at the end of it.”

After catching 19-5 on Day 1 and a tournament-best 26-11 on Day 2, Nutt led the Top 25 anglers out onto the Tennessee River from Volunteer Landing this morning firmly ahead of second-place pro Drew Cook by nearly 4 pounds. The University of North Alabama (UNA) senior wasted little time extending his margin. Fishing in Fort Loudoun Reservoir, he caught a keeper on his second cast, boxed up a limit by about 9 a.m. and had culled to roughly 19 pounds by a few minutes after 10.

YUM Introduces Sniper Shad

Marrying the head shape, intricate details and softness of a YUM Scottsboro Swimbait with the subtle movement and sleek profile of a pintail minnow bait, the YUM Sniper Shad offers major bass appeal for a variety of important applications.

 

The slight roll and slender profile of the Sniper Shad, which comes in three sizes, makes it ideal for various jig/minnow presentations, with or without forward facing sonar, to coax strikes from pressured bass. The same sleekness and tight tail action make the Sniper Shad an excellent bladed jig trailer and well suited for fishing on an underspin or specialized swimming head.

 

Molded details that bring realism to the Sniper Shad include eyes, fins, gills and a natural scale pattern. Subtle and precise widening of the belly creates the perfect roll to prompt strikes.

 

The Sniper Shad is available in 3-, 4- and 5-inch sizes and in 12 colors, which include classics like Green Pumpkin and Black/Blue and realistic, multi-tone baitfish imitating colors.

 

MSRP: 3.99