Paul Marks Wins 2025 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell

Rookie Marks tops Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell

BASS Press Release

ANDERSON, S.C. — Despite a Day 1 kicker that clearly helped his cause, rookie Paul Marks played the long game, and his patience paid off with his first blue trophy in the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell.

Hailing from Cumming, Ga., Marks started strong with a third-place Day 1 limit of 19 pounds, 7 ounces, then held the second-place spot for the next two days with weights of 17-4 and 16-5. Adding a Championship Sunday limit of 15-8, he tallied a tournament total of 68-8.

Edging fellow rookie Tucker Smith by 14 ounces, Marks collected the top prize of $100,000.

“I don’t know what to think; it’ll probably take a week to set in — maybe a month,” the 23-year-old said. “I think I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid.

“I love spotted bass; I love fishing the way I do. It’s the best thing ever in my eyes.”

Marks jump-started his event with a Day 1 bed-fishing effort that produced a 5-pound largemouth. That fish ate a white Zoom Z Craw Jr in about 2 feet of water.

After that, it was nearly all offshore fishing, as Marks committed himself to grinding through numbers of spotted bass and daily culling his way to competitive limits.

“There are fish everywhere on the bank and I knew it was going to be really hard to win with spots,” Marks said. “I got lucky on Day 1 and caught a big one on the bed. That fish made my tournament.”

Marks, who lives about 2 hours west of Hartwell, brought with him a lifetime of knowledge and experience. Whittling down his mental library to an actionable plan was the key, and Marks said he did so on the fly.

2025 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell Day 3: Drew Cooks Takes Lead with 55-08Lbs!

Canadians: Kung 29th, Chris Johnston 31st, Cory Johnston 37th, & Gallant 46th 

Georgia's Drew Cook maintains his lead on Day 3 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., with a weight of 55-8. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release 

ANDERSON, S.C. — Drew Cook struggled with a clarity issue today, but when his afternoon analysis told him he was clearly not where he needed to be, the pro from Cairo, Ga., stepped on the gas and secured the necessary upgrades to maintain the lead on Day 3 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell.

After catching 18 pounds, 12 ounces on Day 1, Cook found himself in a three-way tie for 6th place. Adding a second-round limit of 19-9, he took over the lead with a margin of 1-10 over rookie Paul Marks.

Semifinal Saturday saw Cook add 17-3, tally a three-day total of 55-8, and expand his lead to a 2 1/2-pound margin over Marks. Doing so required contending with visibility limitations.

“A lot of the area I’m fishing got dirty either because of the waves, or the pollen really moved in,” Cook said. “That’s kinda the reason I practiced there — the pollen was in there and you really couldn’t see, so I figured I’d have a lot of it to myself, because everybody wouldn’t look through it.”

Employing his uncanny sight-fishing abilities, Cook worked through the challenging conditions and even found encouraging signs that his area’s potential may be expanding.

“I did find a couple of new ones; this morning, I found a couple of new (bed fish),” Cook said. “I found like a 7-pounder, fished for it for a while and found six new ones this afternoon.

“We’re just looking for five big ones.”

Spending most of his day in one main creek, Cook sight fished with a Nories Front Flapper and a wacky-rigged prototype SPRO stick worm. The fish, he said, were scattered throughout his creek, but it seemed like small pockets off the main waters were more

2025 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell Day 1: Randy Howell Leads!

Canadians: Cory Johnston 30th, Chris Johnston 40th, Kung 55th, Gallant 70th & Gustafson 72nd

Alabama's Randy Howell takes the Day 1 lead at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., with a weight of 21-11.
(Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS) 

BASS Press Release 

ANDERSON, S.C. — Randy Howell did not know how his day would start, but he definitely knew where it would start.

Capitalizing on a key practice discovery, the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Guntersville, Ala., made the most of his early plan and laid the foundation for a five-bass limit of 21 pounds, 11 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell.

Heading into Friday’s second round of competition, the 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion leads Japanese sensation Kyoya Fujita by 1-2. Howell anchored his leading bag with a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth.

“I found that big fish on a bed in practice and shook her off on a green pumpkin purple/green Senko — I had my hook point cut off,” Howell said. “This morning, I lined up on it with my GPS and caught her on my first cast.

“A big fish on any lake in this game is huge, but man, 6-pounders are usually (considered) big here. So, to catch a (nearly) 8-pounder here — definitely, God is blessing me.”

Howell said his strong start has put a much-needed gust of wind in his sails.

“I really needed a good tournament,” Howell said. “I had two 57th places back to back (Pasquotank River and Lake Okeechobee) and I started with a bomb in the first Elite event (St. Johns River), so I have to climb my way out of a hole.

“Today was the first day that I just had that smooth momentum; everything went right.”

Howell said that surge of confidence fueled what would turn out to be a stellar day.

“After that big fish, the rest of the day got better because I already had that fish as a kicker,” Howell said. “This was one of the days you dream about.”

After boating his big bed fish, Howell caught the 1 1/4-pound male. From there, he moved to the main lake and filled his limit by throwing a Livingston Walking Boss for bass that were schooling on the blueback herring spawn.

Greg Hackney Wins 2025 NPFL on Lake Norman!

 

Hackney's last day heroics best KJ Queen by 10 ounces.
(Photo: by Tanner & Travis Lyons/ NPFL)

By Justin Brouillard, NPFL Press Release

After weigh-in on Day Two, Gonzales, Louisiana pro Greg Hackney predicted that the consistent weather would improve the bite across the board, and his forecast proved true. Catching his biggest bag of the week—17 pounds—on the final day, Hackney secured his first NPFL victory with a total weight of 47 pounds, 11 ounces.

Finishing in second, North Carolina angler KJ Queen began Day One with 15 pounds, 8 ounces, added 14 pounds on Day Two despite a big lost fish that hurt his chances at victory, and then delivered the second-largest bag of the event on Finale Friday with 17 pounds, 9 ounces. His total weight of 47 pounds, 1 ounce kept him just shy of Hackney’s lead.

Kyle Welcher overcame a slow Day One and came back strong with 19 pounds, 13 ounces on Day Two. However, a tougher Day Three weight of 12 pounds, 8 ounces, and a total weight of 45 pounds, 1 ounce, moved him to third. After his Bassmaster Elite win in North Carolina the week before, Welcher continues to build on his momentum.

Patrick Walters, who started and finished in fourth, earned 44 pounds, 13 ounces, securing another NPFL top-5 finish and a solid payday. Seth Ellis rounded out the top five with a total of 42 pounds, 14 ounces.

Kyle Welcher’s 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth on Day Two was the big bass of the event.

Largemouth Seal The Deal

Leading after Day One with 16 pounds, 6 ounces, Greg Hackney struggled to find largemouth on Day Two, finishing with a limit of spotted bass weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces. But the largemouth returned in full force on the final day, and Hackney found his rhythm when it mattered most.

“I went to my spotted bass holes this morning to try and get a solid start, and the largemouth showed up again,” Hackney said. “I looked in the same area yesterday, which was a great day for sight fishing, and only saw one fish. Today was slow and steady—one good one here, one good one there—and I never got shaken up.”

2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 3 Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lewis Smith Final Day Cancelled Due to Fatal Boat Accident

 Major League Fishing cancels final day of Invitational Stop 3 at Lewis Smith Lake

MLF Press Release

CULLMAN, Ala. – Following this morning’s tragic boating accident, Major League Fishing (MLF) announced the cancellation of the final day of competition at Invitational Stop 3 scheduled for Thursday on Lewis Smith Lake.

“This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.”

Major League Fishing (MLF) confirms that a serious boating accident occurred this morning on Lewis Smith Lake during Day 2 of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational. The incident involved one of the event’s competing anglers, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia.

Emergency personnel and local authorities responded immediately and remain on scene managing the situation.

Out of respect for those involved, and to ensure the accuracy of all information, no further details will be released at this time. MLF is working closely with law enforcement and emergency officials. Additional updates will be provided as they are confirmed by the appropriate authorities.

Our thoughts, prayers and deepest concern are with everyone affected by this tragic incident.

2025 Strike King's New Tumbleweed Dice Bait

Ideal for several different rigging applications, the Strike King Tumbleweed leverages a unique 'fuzzy dice' creature bait profile to deliver a highly effective offering that produces on even the most pressured fisheries. Crafted with ten long skirt-strand appendages that move and quiver even on a dead-sticking presentation, the foundation of the Strike King Tumbleweed consists of a ten-sided ball that’s loaded with salt for added density, weight, and taste to keep fussy bass holding on longer.

Designed to sink and heavier than the floating version, the Strike King Tumbleweed has the versatility to be rigged on a drop-shot, jig head, Neko rig, or even fished weightless on its own. Sporting an unusual appearance and unique movement, the Strike King Tumbleweed blows the doors open to a whole new realm of finesse fishing.

Kyle Welcher Wins 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albemarle Sound!

Welcher puts finishing touches on dominating victory at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound

Alabama's Kyle Welcher goes wire-to-wire to win the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in Elizabeth City, N.C., with a weight of 118-12. (Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. —   Kyle Welcher loves fishing rivers. After the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, it is easy to see why.

With a stunning four-day total of 118 pounds, 12 ounces, Welcher claimed the first title of his Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series career, earning a coveted blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize. The 2023 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year opened the tournament with a bang, landing 30-11 to take the Day 1 lead, which he never relinquished. 

 

He backed it up with 30-3 on Day 2 and 34-0 on Day 3, the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament, and capped off the week with a 23-14 limit, anchored by a 7-3 largemouth. 

 

“I didn’t think I would get a Century Belt, for sure,” Welcher said. “When I heard we were coming here, I was excited. I feel comfortable in rivers and was really excited to go to one without a lot of history. But when I saw the forecast about 10 days away from practice, that kind of took the wind out of my sails. (I didn’t think) it was going to set up for the way I like to fish. 

 

“It ended up falling right into my wheelhouse in a way I’m super comfortable fishing.”

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albemarle Sound Day 3: Kyle Welcher Sacks 34lbs and Leads with Another 30lbs!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 21st, Cory Johnston 34th

 Kyle Welcher is utterly dominating the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. (Photo: Seigo Saito/BASS)

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. —  Kyle Welcher is utterly dominating the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.

The Opelika, Ala., pro caught the biggest bag of the tournament on Semifinal Saturday, a 34-pound limit anchored by a whopping 10-8 largemouth. With bags of 30-11 and 30-3 the first two days of the event, Welcher carries a total of 94-14 into the final day of competition. 

 

“I’ve never had one day of fishing like this,” Welcher said. “I hope there are a few more spawning because that’s the fun way to catch them.”

 

The 2023 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year is on pace to achieve several milestones on Championship Sunday. Not only will he likely claim his first Century Belt, Welcher also could break the record for largest margin of victory in Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series history set by Patrick Walters at Lake Fork in the fall of 2020, a 29-10 difference.

 

He currently leads second-place Brandon Lester by 33-14.

 

Welcher achieved several personal bests on Saturday as well, including catching his biggest tournament bag ever in his Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series career. The 10-8 that now leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors is now his personal best, unseating the 10-1 he landed at the St. Johns River in 2020.

 

All this success comes after experiencing one of the worst practices of his career.

 

“A week like this is only possible when you have a bad (practice),” he said. “When they are in a migration pattern like they are right now, you need them to be coming to you. The area I have, I fished down it Day 3 of practice and had one bite down that stretch.

2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/ Albemarle Sound Day 2: Kyle Welcher Drops Another 30lbs!

Canadians: Chris Johnston 14th, Cory Johnston 31st, Gustafson 74th, Gallant 77th, & Kung 98th

Alabama's Kyle Welcher leads Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound in Elizabeth City, N.C., with a weight of 60-14. (Seigo Saito/ BASS)

BASS Press Release

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. —  Kyle Welcher feels like the chosen one at the St. Croix Bassmaster Elite at the Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound. Not because he was expecting to do well after practice, but since the warm-up period ended everything has been almost perfect.

Welcher took a commanding lead over the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series field on Day 2 by adding 30 pounds, 3 ounces to his 30-11 limit from Day 1. His 60-14 two-day total is 22 pounds better than second place Trey McKinney. 

 

“I don’t feel like I have any kind of a secret figured out or a special area figured out,” the Opelika, Ala., native said. “For whatever reason, I have caught big ones for the past two days. I feel like I’m getting lucky.”

 

Day 2 brought waves of rain and storms across the Albemarle Sound, but it was an overall calmer day for anglers making longer runs across the system. The bite seemingly improved as well, with 84 limits and 1,285 pounds of bass caught. 

 

Growing up on the Chattahoochee River in Alabama, Welcher is a river fisherman at heart, and he has been able to show off his roots this week in eastern North Carolina.