Historic Finish at Bassmaster Elite Series on St. Lawrence River

The 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series regular season concluded with a thrilling finale at the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, New York. Nine anglers achieved the 100-pound milestone this week, marking the highest number of Century Belts awarded at any single smallmouth event in Bassmaster history.

Evan Kung emerged as the champion, surpassing leader Trey McKinney with an impressive last-day performance. Entering the tournament with his career on the line, Kung managed to secure the lead through consistent efforts over four days, culminating in a significant catch on Championship Sunday.

It was a crazy week. I knew every day going in what I needed to catch just to stay in the Elites. Once I had that locked up, I went out today wanting the Century Belt. Once I had that, I just went looking for big ones.

Kung made a strategic move on the final day, opting to fish in the lake without success for three hours before returning to the river. There, he caught a decisive bass in the final 20 minutes. His approach leaned heavily on a drop shot technique and a prototype bait from Great Lakes Finesse.

Kung entered the final day trailing McKinney by one and a half pounds. Weighing in at 27-12, he ultimately took the lead with a total of 109-9 — a score McKinney could not surpass.

McKinney, while finishing second, left with the prestigious Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Fellow participants including Tucker Smith, Cory Johnston, and Cole Sands also delivered strong performances, each joining the Century Club with their respective four-day totals.

Sands, in particular, spent considerable time preparing for the tournament, employing trout fishing techniques like reading currents while sticking to a straightforward drop shot method.

I wanted one of those Century Belts so bad for so long, and I finally got one. And to get it with smallmouth at the St. Lawrence — this might be my favorite bass fishery on earth.

The achievements of anglers like Brandon Cobb, JT Thompkins, Bryant Smith, and Fisher Anaya, who secured their own Century Belts, underscore the exceptional conditions offered by the St. Lawrence River.

The presence of a robust goby-fed smallmouth population combined with the competitive nature of the field resulted in a record-setting event that stands as one of the most intense and weighty smallmouth tournaments hosted by Bassmaster.