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.