2025 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship Recap: Wyatt Hammond Claims the Crown at Lake Fork

Today we’re diving into the thrilling recap of the 2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, scored by tourneyX. This epic event unfolded on March 20th at Lake Fork in Yantis, Texas, transforming into a wild one-day shootout due to weather challenges. The stakes were sky-high: the top five anglers earned a coveted spot on the Bassmaster Classic stage at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on March 21st. We’ve got the top five results, an incredible big bass highlight, and a new champion to celebrate. Let’s paddle right into it!

Event Overview: A One-Day Battle on Lake Fork

The 2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship brought the nation’s top kayak anglers to Lake Fork, a legendary bass fishery renowned for its monster largemouth. Originally planned as a two-day event, Day 1 on March 19th was canceled due to high winds, turning this championship into a one-day, 11-hour shootout on Thursday, March 20th. Anglers had just one day to submit their best five bass through the tourneyX app in a catch-photo-release format. The prize? Not only the championship title but also recognition for the top ten at the Bassmaster Classic stage in Fort Worth on March 21st. Despite lingering winds and chilly morning temps warming up to the 70s, these pros faced the elements head-on, chasing Lake Fork’s giants with everything on the line.

Big Bass Spotlight: Ewing Minor’s 24.25-Inch Monster

Before we dive into the leaderboard, let’s talk about the big bass of the tournament—a true Lake Fork giant! Virginia’s Ewing Minor claimed the honor with an astonishing 24.25-inch largemouth. This beast, with its massive girth and classic Lake Fork green hue, was a sight to behold. Ewing said he caught the giant “fishing a jerkbait through timber, off of a secondary point, just after noon.” The adrenaline must have been pumping as he measured it on the board and submitted it through tourneyX. That 24.25-incher not only earned him the big bass award but also helped secure his spot in the top five. Lake Fork’s reputation for producing giants was proven once again—huge shoutout to Ewing Minor for this incredible catch!

Top 5 Results: A Tight Race to the Top

Now, let’s count down the top five anglers from this intense 11-hour day on the water:

5th Place: Gene Jensen (Georgia) – 105.75 inches

Known as the Flukemaster, Gene Jensen delivered a solid bag with two 22.25-inch bass and nothing under 20.75 inches. Fresh off a 7th-place finish at the Bassmaster Kayak Series Kissimmee Chain event in early February, Gene’s early-season tear continues.

4th Place: Ewing Minor (Virginia) – 106.25 inches

Ewing’s 24.25-inch monster—the biggest of the tournament—anchored his limit, but a 19.5-inch fish held him back just a bit. Still, a phenomenal showing to secure a top-five spot.

3rd Place: Bennett Nall (South Carolina) – 106.75 inches

Bennett Nall’s super-consistent bag featured a 23.5-inch bass as his biggest and a 20.5-inch fish as his smallest, with four fish over 21 inches.

When asked how the day went, Bennett said, “I had to make major changes because I never found anything in practice. I caught 1 keeper in 3 days of practice.

“I knew to win I needed a giant bag, so I went searching for a school staging to move up or feeding knowing that was the only way I could win with 2.5hrs left in the tournament. I was lucky enough to stumble upon a really magical school in the last 2 hrs. I knew was going to be close from the 6:00pm update Steve did, but I was confident that I had a top 5 finish when it was over.”

“I have to add that my Newport Vessels NK300 was key to performing so well in such a long tournament. Without it I would have been to wore out to have the mental edge to make good decisions in the last hours of the tournament.”

He added, “The magical deal I found was a large wind blown point near the main channel. I was just casting a Rapala lipless in 4-8 feet of water and they just kept biting. I made the same cast for almost 30 minutes.”

“I caught 5 fish off the spot and every single one was over 20”.

“It was one of those deals you can only dream of and I still can’t believe it happened after such a tough practice.” A 2nd-place finisher in the 2024 South Carolina B.A.S.S. State Championship, Bennett’s late-game heroics were unreal.”

2nd Place: Joshua Diehl (Georgia) – 106.75 inches

Tied with Bennett at 106.75 inches, Joshua Diehl’s five-fish limit was anchored by a 23.5-inch beast, with his smallest at 17.5 inches, showing how tight this competition was. In a tiebreaker with Bennett, he just missed the top spot. A two-time Georgia Bass Nation series champion (2022 and 2023),

Joshua answered a few questions:

Q: Did you make any adjustments due to the weather conditions?

A: “Yes, fish were fickle, moving baits were a struggle, they wanted it slow, air temps were 38-40 morning of the tourney.”

Q: You and Bennet Nall were tied at the end of the day and Ewing Minor was only .5″ behind, were you aware during the tournament how tight the finish was going to be?

A: “Yes I was aware, not on the water, but shortly after, there was chatter and the 6pm leaderboard release.”

Q: Did you find a pattern early and stick with it or did you have to adapt throughout the day?

A: “I did not find my fish in my final bag til early afternoon. I found bucks on the edge of the drain and made adjustments to find the females queuing. I stuck with that all afternoon, they were basically in a small area the size of a football field, and pretty contained, staying close to the drain itself, those fish will probably push up today or tomorrow.”

He also noted, “Practice and the events with my trailer put me in a difficult place. I had to go into an area that i fished and had some history with and fish the moment and figure it out on the fly. I knew what fish should be doing and where they should be, just had to get the bites to dial it in.”

1st Place: Wyatt Hammond (North Carolina) – 111.25 inches

Your 2025 Bassmaster Kayak Series Champion, Wyatt Hammond, put together an incredible one-day total of 111.25 inches. His biggest bass was a 22.75-inch tank, and he stayed consistent with fish over 22 inches across the board. Fresh off a win in the YakAttack team kayak series just weeks ago, Wyatt’s 2025 season is off to a blazing start. Congrats, Wyatt, on claiming the title and a spot on the Classic stage!

What a leaderboard! These top five anglers brought their A-game, and Lake Fork delivered some serious fish.

Analysis and Highlights: Consistency Wins the Day

Wyatt Hammond’s win came down to consistency—his smallest fish was 21.75 inches, making all the difference in this one-day shootout. Joshua and Bennett tied at 106.75 inches, with Ewing just half an inch behind at 106.25 inches, showing how razor-thin the margins were. Ewing’s 24.25-inch largemouth remains the event’s highlight, a testament to Lake Fork’s big-bass legacy. A 100-inch total—impressive by any standard—only earned 16th place, underscoring the exceptional quality of fish and anglers alike.

This championship also showcased the sport’s diversity, with top-five finishers from North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Kayak fishing’s growth was on full display as these pros landed five-fish limits in just 11 hours under pressure-packed conditions.

Closing Thoughts: A Champion Crowned

The 2025 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship wrapped up with Wyatt Hammond as the new titleholder, joined by the top five anglers on the Bassmaster Classic stage at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth on March 21st. From Ewing Minor’s monster bass to Bennett Nall’s magical school and Wyatt’s steady hand, this event had it all. What did you think of the championship? Who’s your favorite kayak angler? Let me know in the comments below! For more fishing action, stay tuned to [Your Website Name], and until next time, tight lines!

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Original Photos from: https://www.bassmaster.com/kayak/