The Outdoor Wire

Fishing Tournaments

Bassmaster Elite angler Dakota Ebare previews the Bass Pro Shops Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, highlighting how lower lake levels and multiple fish patterns create wide-open competition. Ebare emphasizes the importance of technology like Garmin LiveScope and the Spy Pole, paired with his Nitro boat and Mercury power, for success in this unpredictable event.

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Simms Fishing Products congratulates Dylan Nutt, 23, who won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River, becoming only the second angler to qualify through Bass Nation and win the championship. Nutt's historic victory came in his first Classic appearance with a three-day total of 66.13 lbs, the largest ever recorded on this fishery.

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Yamaha pro Patrick Walters won the 2026 National Professional Fishing League Championship on Smith Lake in Alabama with a three-day total of 44 pounds, 11 ounces, defeating Kyle Welcher by two pounds and earning the $100,000 prize. Walters became the first angler in NPFL history to claim the triple crown of Regular Season, Angler of the Year, and Championship shields.

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Pro-Angler registration for the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's National Walleye Tour presented by Progressive is now open. Full season Priority entry costs $8,000 through March 27th, while single event Pro entry is $2,000 per tournament. The NWT Fishing Chaos Platform will serve as the primary hub for registrations, payments, and tournament communications.

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Yamaha Marine announced six new anglers joining its Pro Fishing Team for 2026: Austin Felix, Andrew Loberg, Beau Browning, Aaron Jagdfeld, Tristan McCormick, and Banks Shaw. These professional anglers will compete across tournament trails nationwide, representing Yamaha's premium brand and serving as ambassadors for competitive fishing.

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