Bassmaster Classic 2026: Dylan Nutt Wins in Knoxville at Just 22 Years Old
The "Super Bowl of Bass Fishing" has a new champion. Dylan Nutt from Nashville has won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nutt, just 22 years old, caught five fish on the final day weighing 20 pounds and 13 ounces, bringing his three-day total to 66 pounds and 13 ounces.
How Dylan Nutt Won the 2026 Bassmaster Classic
Nutt entered Sunday's final day as the leader after an explosive Day 2 performance in which he weighed in 26 pounds and 11 ounces — rocketing from outside the top 10 all the way to the No. 1 position with a two-day total of 46 pounds even. He became only the second B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier ever to win the Bassmaster Classic.
Day 2 also saw Drew Cook climb from No. 4 to No. 2, finishing with five fish totaling 26 pounds and 11 ounces on Saturday, including the single largest catch of the day at 7 pounds and 5 ounces.
Final Leaderboard: Top 5
The final standings placed Trey McKinney of Illinois in second, Yui Aoki of Japan in third, defending champion Easton Fothergill of Minnesota in fourth, and JT Thompkins of South Carolina rounding out the top five.
| Place | Angler | State/Country |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | Dylan Nutt | Tennessee |
| 2nd | Trey McKinney | Illinois |
| 3rd | Yui Aoki | Japan |
| 4th | Easton Fothergill | Minnesota |
| 5th | JT Thompkins | South Carolina |
Defending Champion Fothergill Fell Short of Back-to-Back Titles
Reigning champion Easton Fothergill led the entire tournament on Day 1, bringing in five fish weighing 21 pounds and 8 ounces. He was attempting to become the first angler to win back-to-back Bassmaster Classic titles since Hank Cherry in 2021, but ultimately finished fourth as Nutt's Day 2 surge proved too powerful to overcome.
The Prize and the History
The winner took home a $300,000 first-place prize. The 2026 Bassmaster Classic was previously held in Knoxville in 2023 and 2019. The competition operates on a simple format — each day anglers weigh in their five heaviest catches, with the heaviest three-day total taking the championship.
2027 Bassmaster Classic Location Announced
The 2027 Bassmaster Classic is already set — it will be held in Greenville, South Carolina on Lake Hartwell.
