The bass fishing world witnessed a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series regular season in Clayton, New York. During the Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River, nine anglers surpassed the 100-pound mark in a single smallmouth event, setting a new record.
Evan Kung’s Stunning Victory
Evan Kung delivered an impressive performance by overcoming leader Trey McKinney to secure the tournament win. Entering the event with his Elite Series career at stake, Kung demonstrated remarkable consistency. He clinched his position with a powerful final push on Championship Sunday, capturing the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with a fish weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces.
“It was a crazy week,” Kung said. “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’s bold final-day gamble paid off. Although he spent three hours on the lake without a catch, he returned to the river and caught a significant fish in the final 20 minutes. His approach included a 95% drop shot technique, using a yet-to-be-released Great Lakes Finesse prototype bait.
Trailing by a pound and a half behind McKinney’s lead, Kung weighed in with a 27-12 bag on the final day, reaching a total of 109-9 pounds. This surpassed McKinney, who needed 26-8 pounds to win but fell short by two pounds. Kung described his victory as the perfect end to a challenging year.
Impressive Performances Across the Board
Despite not winning, Trey McKinney, who finished second with 107-9 pounds, left Clayton with the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. Tucker Smith (3rd, 107-1) and Cory Johnston (4th, 106-7) also achieved significant totals, joining the Century Club with their career-best four-day totals.
Cole Sands (5th, 105-10) provided one of the event’s most compelling personal stories. He dedicated a month and a half to scouting the river, treating it like trout fishing. Sands expressed immense satisfaction in finally earning a Century Belt at his favorite bass fishery.
“I wanted one of those Century Belts so bad for so long, and I finally got one,” Sands said. “And to get it with smallmouth at the St. Lawrence — this might be my favorite bass fishery on earth.”
Brandon Cobb (6th, 103-14), JT Thompkins (7th, 103-0), Bryant Smith (8th, 101-3), and Fisher Anaya (9th, 100-5) also claimed Century Belts. Easton Fothergill (10th, 99-8) narrowly missed joining the club.
St. Lawrence River: A Bass Fishing Hotspot
The St. Lawrence River’s goby-fed smallmouth population and competitive Elite Series field contributed to this historic event. With nine Century Belts awarded, the river demonstrated its reputation as one of the top bass fishing destinations in the U.S. Evan Kung’s name will be engraved on the trophy, but the tournament stands as a triumph for all participants and the river itself.