Laker Howell Wins 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Howell's double Classic qualification secures Classic spot for  Kyle Norsetter

David A. Brown, BASS PRESS Release

DECATUR, Ala. — For a guy who finished first, the number two came up a lot in Laker Howell’s victory story.

After three days of competition, the pro from Guntersville, Ala., tallied 65 pounds, 11 ounces and won the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Wheeler Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my back, because this morning when I got up, I was so nervous, I literally woke up (nauseous),” Howell said. “The whole day, I was just a cat trying to catch a bass. But right now, I can’t even describe how incredible this is.”

By the numbers, Howell caught 21-6 on Day 1 and placed second to Matt Adams. In the second round, Howell caught 25-4 — the event’s heaviest bag — and moved ahead of Adams by 4 ounces. Championship Saturday saw the 6-foot-5 pro stood tall with a final limit of 19-1.

His winning margin — 2 ounces.

Continuing the numerical theme, Howell has won two of the last three tournaments he’s fished. In mid-August, he won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN.

Finally, Howell’s family has claimed two wins at this Tennessee River impoundment. In 1998, Laker Howell’s father, Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series angler Randy Howell won his first major event at Wheeler Lake.

And if the story wasn’t already good enough, Randy Howell was 24 when he won his Wheeler Lake trophy. His son’s age — 24.

“That’s why this tournament is so special to me,” the younger Howell said. “I literally watched that video during practice with my roommate. I said, ‘Wouldn’t it be crazy if I won this tournament.’”

All week, Howell committed to a section of the Decatur Flats about 2 miles from takeoff. He focused on a saddle with shell bottom between two bars near the river channel.

Kyle Hall Wins 2018 Costa FLW Series Northern Division 1000 Islands with 68-11lbs!

Bad weather forces anglers to river only. 

by Kyle Wood

FLW PRESS RELEASE

With the top 10 confined to the St. Lawrence River for the final day of the Costa FLW Series Northern Division event at the 1000 Islands, the fishing was much tougher than days one and two. That didn’t matter much to Kyle Hall, who weighed another 18 pounds, 10 ounces to finish off a wire-to-wire win with a total of 68-11. Presented by Navionics, the last event of the Northern Division season paid the young Rio Vista, Texas, pro $45,700 for his efforts.

Hall’s summer vacation up north couldn’t have worked out any better. After fishing in the Bassmaster Open a month ago at Champlain, his friend Dakota Ebare convinced him to stay north and hop in the FLW Series event. Now, the 1000 Islands is his new favorite place.

“I can’t believe that happened,” Hall says of the win. “I put a lot of work in for this tournament and it feels awesome to win.”

While Hall’s extended time in the north country no doubt helped him find the juice, it was also pivotal for learning how the fish set up in the river.

“I put most of my time in on the river,” says Hall. “I knew there would likely be a day like today where the lake would be off-limits and I really thought the river was more consistent. I could get bit on the lake and it would be a 5-pounder, but the rest of the school would leave. On the river, I could catch a 5-pounder and there’d be more with it.

“Learning how the fish would set up in the current was huge,” continues Hall. “I found a school of fish in practice and I would go back to them every day to see how they set up in different wind directions and different weather. It showed me they wouldn’t leave the spot, but they may slide deeper or shallower.”

Current breaks along the main river channel in anywhere from 20 to 40 feet were the deal for Hall. He fished about 20 different breaks, sometimes hitting certain ones multiple times throughout the day. Additionally, he says he hit at least 15 spots in the lake on day two – which can be chalked up to nerves getting the best of him.