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.

Yamaha, B.A.S.S. extend partnership focused on competition and conservation

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. has announced that Yamaha Marine has extended its premier partnership with B.A.S.S. through 2028, continuing a long-standing relationship that spans decades and plays a significant role across competitive fishing, conservation and angler development. As part of the extension, Yamaha will remain the Official Engine Sponsor of B.A.S.S. and the Official Motor Sponsor of B.A.S.S. Conservation, while also serving as the title sponsor of the Redfish Cup Championship and continuing the popular Yamaha Power Pay Contingency Program.

The multi-year agreement reinforces Yamaha’s deep-rooted commitment to competitive fishing and its investment in anglers at every level — from youth and grassroots participation to the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour. Yamaha outboards are a trusted presence across Bassmaster events, powering anglers who rely on performance, reliability and efficiency in demanding tournament environments.

“B.A.S.S.’s reach, from high-school and grass-roots circuit events all the way to the Elite Series and Classic, embodies the passion and community that define bass fishing,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The quality of competition, the connection to anglers of all ages and the role B.A.S.S. plays in growing participation across the country align perfectly with Yamaha’s commitment to delivering exceptional performance and experiences on the water. Together, we’re helping strengthen the sport at every level and inspiring the next generation of anglers.”

2026 Vanquish by Shimano

Shimano North America Fishing is excited to introduce the Vanquish to the MagnumLite spinning reel family. This lightweight spinning reel is engineered for unmatched agility and control, representing the pinnacle of Shimano’s pursuit of featherweight performance without compromise.

The Vanquish MagnumLite spinning reel is designed for anglers who demand ultimate sensitivity, responsiveness, and start-stop precision. Vanquish excels across various presentations, techniques, and especially any scenario where micro-control makes the difference between a cast and a connection with your bait. 

“Vanquish gives anglers an immediate connection to their presentation,” said Kade Gewanter, Freshwater Marketing Manager at Shimano North America Fishing. “Its lightness and balance make it feel like an extension of the rod, while the INFINITY-series technologies deliver strength and line management.”

Lund Boat Owners's New Contingency Program

                         

Lund is excited to launch the 2026 Champion’s Club contingency program. Contingency payouts will be available at approximately 100 tournaments, held between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026, around the U.S. and Canada.

Annual entry fee for 2026 is $100 per participating angler. Registered anglers must fish from their own warranty-registered Lund Boat and be classified as a single participant in the Lund contingency program.

All registered anglers will receive:

- Official Champion’s Club hat 

- Champion's Club Decal

LINK HERE for full details

Elite Angler Evan Kung Joins BKK Hooks

 

Excited to join the @bkkhooks_americas @bkkhookscanada team for the coming years! They are always innovating and have some special products launching soon so be sure to keep an eye out! If you hate losing fish it’s time to switch to BKK! Ready to get the year started and jack some fish!

Drew Gills Wins 2026 Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 Presented by Mercury on Lake Guntersville!

By Mitchell Forde

Bass Pro Tour, Press Release

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — When he launched his boat onto Lake Guntersville for the Championship Round of B&W Trailer Hitches Stage 1 Presented by Mercury Sunday morning, Drew Gill never considered that he would end the day hoisting his third Bass Pro Tour trophy. 

Gill has been a mainstay in the Top 10 during his young BPT career. This marked his ninth Championship Round appearance in his first 17 events. But after leaning hard on all the productive spots he’d found to make the Knockout and Championship Round cuts, it was the first time he entered the final day thinking he didn’t have a shot to keep pace with the leaders.

“This is the first time I’ve made a Top 10 where I’ve been like, ‘I know it’s not possible tomorrow,’” Gill said. “Because I had burned my ‘Scope stuff. I mean, I caught 150 pounds off one place for the last three days, and they got progressively harder to catch every day. And I couldn’t get a no-‘Scope bite going yesterday to save my life. So, I was like, ‘I’m cooked.’”

Turns out, Gill was still able to use his mastery of forward-facing sonar to stack up weight in a hurry. The 23-year-old boated 20 scorable bass for 53 pounds, 5 ounces in the first period, building a lead of more than 24 pounds over his nearest pursuer. Then, he did just enough to hold off hard charges from Jacob Walker, Jacob Wheeler and others. Walker landed a 6-9 brute right before lines out, but it wasn’t quite enough. Gill’s 82-4 total edged him by 1-5.

The win marks Gill’s third Bass Pro Tour victory and fourth total MLF win and earned him the first $125,000 paycheck of the season. He’s also the early leader in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race, a title he’s coveted since arriving on tour.

Even more important for the hyper-competitive Gill, it broke him out of a streak of near-misses. Since the end of the 2025 regular season, he’s finished second in two Fishing Clash Team Series events as well as the Toyota Series Championship in November, where he missed out a $200,000 win by tiebreaker.

“Man, I just hate coming close and losing,” Gill said. “Money and points aside, how you feel after the tournament is over, I would way rather finish between like third and sixth than I would second. Second is a hard pill. And I knew, with how tight it was getting in the last 20 minutes, I was like, ‘If I don’t win, I’m finishing second.’ I had to not psych myself up that I was going to win mentally, because I knew if I had worked myself up to it and got excited for it and it didn’t happen, I would have been really, really crushed. So it means the world to me.”

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

1. Drew Gill – 82-4 (28)
2. Jacob Walker – 80-15 (20)
3. Jacob Wheeler – 75-4 (22)
4. Zack Birge – 65-12 (19)
5. Banks Shaw – 63-14 (21)
6. Justin Cooper – 49-12 (18)
7. Wesley Strader – 48-8 (17)
8. Mark Daniels Jr. – 44-1 (17)
9. Chris Lane – 37-10 (12)
10. Keith Carson – 36-14 (11)

Complete results

Full Story 

Great Lakes Finesse Welcomes Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Cooper Gallant to Its Team

Great Lakes Finesse is proud to announce the addition of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Cooper Gallant to its team. Recognized as one of the most talented anglers in professional bass fishing — and widely regarded as one of the best smallmouth anglers on the planet — Gallant brings proven success, relentless work ethic, and unmatched finesse expertise to the brand.

Since qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series, Gallant has not missed a Bassmaster Classic, consistently competing at the sport’s highest level, is also a Bassmaster Opens Champion and an FLW Canada Champion. Gallant has shown the ability to compete with anyone on nearly any body of water for any species of bass.

“Cooper is an amazing fit for Great Lakes Finesse,” said Dan Miguel, Global Brand Manager at Great Lakes Finesse. “Our philosophy is simple — do things the best we can, treat people the right way, and stay committed to innovation. Cooper lives those values on and off the water. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome him publicly after all these years of supporting each other.”