2026 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River Day 1: Anaya Scores Lead with 20-04lbs!

Canadians Gustafson 29th, Cory Johnston 29th, Chris Johnston  60th, Gallant 69th & Kung 71st

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Fisher Anaya ran away from most of the field, but meeting back in the middle salvaged his day and positioned him atop the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River with a 20-pound, 4-ounce limit.

With the event based on Pool 16, tournament boundaries also comprise pools 17 and 15. The largest percentage of the field locked downriver to Pool 15, for what is generally considered the greatest concentration of quality fish in this region of the river.

Anaya, a Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie from Eva, Ala., calculated the considerable time required for locking into Pool 15, versus the shorter time he’d need to reach Pool 17. Factoring in his practice results, plus his experience at the previous Elite event, he chose the upriver option.

“I locked down at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway with like 50 other guys and I was like, heck with traffic,” Anaya said. “I locked up today and there was eight or nine of us in the lock. It wasn’t bad.

“I had a better practice up there (Pool 17). I caught 20 pounds the first day of practice and when I went down to Pool 15, I had four fish one day and 15 pounds the next. I just canned that area because I didn’t feel like making a long run.”

As Anaya explained, time management ultimately determined his game plan.

“I didn’t think I could catch them fast enough in the short time I’d have to fish,” he said. “I just gave myself more time to fish.”

Anaya, the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Angler of the Year, reached Pool 17 and found that lower water conditions had altered the scenario. He was able to catch two big fish that he had marked in practice, but around midday, Anaya realized he needed to make a change.

After that, he returned to Pool 16 where he found greater productivity with fish relating to grass patches and a few fry guarders (male bass protecting hatchlings).

“I found one patch of grass and caught three big ones on three casts,” Anaya said. “I got a little bit lucky, but I think luck plays a big factor on this place.

“I caught the two fish from Pool 17 on a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait, but in Pool 16, it was a little bit of everything. I caught one on a ChatterBait, one on a swim jig, one on a wacky rig, one on a jerkbait. I weighed two from Pool 17 and three from Pool 16.”

Finding the fish in a less-cooperative mood, Anaya realized that success hinged on persistence.

“Making a lot of casts in the same general area was the key,” he said. “I threw like 10 times in this one patch of grass and finally on my 11th cast, I caught a 4-pounder.

“I think it was about fishing stuff really thoroughly and not leaving any open gaps. You’ll eventually run it across one’s nose and eventually, he snaps at it.”

In both pools, Anaya said he was looking for grass and clean water. He’s confident that Pool 17 holds enough opportunity for another shot on Day 2, but he’ll likely change his starting order.

“I’m probably gonna stay in Pool 16 to start,” he said. “If I struggle, I might go up to Pool 17.

“I only have a handful of areas that have what I’m looking for and I think everyone else has found them,” Anaya said. “There’s gonna be some boats in there and it’s gonna be crowded, so I just have to out-fish them.

Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., is in second place with 19-1. The first angler to weigh in, Hudson spent his day in Pool 16.

“I didn’t have a good practice, so I decided to stay in one backwater area all day,” Hudson said. “The area I fished was about 3 acres. I got up on plane one time today while I was fishing.

“I got lucky and caught my big one — 5-4 — early and that kinda set the mood. That was my third fish and after I caught that one, I knew I just had to catch five fish. I just put my head down and went after it.”

Noting that his area had the cleanest water he has seen anywhere on the river, Hudson said he caught most of his fish over rock — a point that countered his expectations.

“In practice, I planned to stay on the bank, but first thing this morning, I pulled up on my first spot and there was a boat where wanted to get, so I just move around some,” Hudson said. “I saw a stump, cast at it and something came off of it.