Clayton, New York: The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series regular season finale at the St. Lawrence River was marked by remarkable performances from anglers. A record-breaking nine participants surpassed the 100-pound mark, achieving the most Century Belts ever awarded at a single smallmouth event in Bassmaster history.

Evan Kung emerged victorious with a thrilling, final-day surge, overtaking leader Trey McKinney to claim the tournament win. Entering the week with his career in the Elite Series at risk, Kung’s consistent fishing over four days culminated in winning the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for a 6-pound, 13-ounce catch.

Kung described his week as “crazy,” knowing each day the target weight required to retain his position. Once securing his spot, his focus shifted to achieving a Century Belt and pursuing large fish. His bold final-day strategy involved an unproductive three-hour lake trip, followed by a successful return to the river where he landed the significant catch in the last 20 minutes.

Kung primarily relied on a simple, repeatable technique featuring a drop shot, alongside a prototype bait from Great Lakes Finesse set to be released soon. He started the final day trailing McKinney’s lead of 83-5 by a pound and a half, weighing in first with a final-day bag of 27-12, propelling him to the lead with a total of 109-9. McKinney needed 26-8 in his final weigh-in to reclaim the title but fell short by two pounds.

Kung’s triumph concluded a difficult year, expressing gratitude to his support system including sponsors, friends, family, and his girlfriend’s family, who accompanied him throughout the week.

Other Standout Performances:

The Top 10 anglers performed exceptionally at the St. Lawrence River. Trey McKinney, despite finishing second with 107-9, celebrated his Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. Tucker Smith and Cory Johnston claimed third and fourth place with respective totals of 107-1 and 106-7, securing spots in the Century Club.

Cole Sands, ranking fifth, shared his personal achievement after an extensive period of preparation, likening his approach to trout fishing. Sands, sticking to river fishing without venturing to the lake, utilized a drop shot and minnow bait strategy, achieving a rewarding finish.

The remaining Century Club members included Brandon Cobb (6th, 103-14), JT Thompkins (7th, 103-0), Bryant Smith (8th, 101-3), and Fisher Anaya (9th, 100-5), making significant catches across the final casting moments. Only Easton Fothergill (10th, 99-8) missed joining the Century Club by a narrow margin.

St. Lawrence River’s Fishing Excellence:

With nine Century Belts awarded in a single weigh-in, this event substantiated the reputation of the St. Lawrence River as a premier bass fishing location in the country. The goby-fed smallmouth population and the competitive field created one of the heaviest and most challenging tournaments hosted by Bassmaster. The river delivered exceptional results meeting anticipations set before the tournament week.