Deep in the heart of "Bass Country," the lakes of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia serve as the ultimate proving grounds for professional anglers. In the 2025-2026 season, these waters hosted some of the most prestigious championships in the sport, from the legendary Recap of some of the Winning Baits and Rigs for Major Tournaments

Bassmaster Classic to the high-stakes MLF Redcrest.

If you’re looking to replicate the success of the pros, here is the breakdown of the major championships, the winners, and the exact "juice" (baits and colors) they used to secure their titles.

1. 2025 Bassmaster Classic (Lake Ray Roberts/Forth Worth)

Note: While the Classic is held in different regions, the 2025 season saw major qualifying events across the Southeast leading into the March championship.

  • Winner: Easton Fothergill
  • The Bait: Strike King Finesse Worm (Neko Rigged)
  • The Color: Red Bug
  • The Strategy: Fothergill relied on a finesse approach, varying his nail weight (from 1/32 oz to 3/32 oz) depending on the wind to skip around trees and rock piles. This setup accounted for 80% of his winning weight.

2. 2025 MLF Redcrest Championship (Lake Guntersville, AL)

Lake Guntersville is arguably the most famous bass factory in the world, and the 2025 Redcrest was a masterclass in modern forward-facing sonar (FFS) tactics.

  • Winner: Dustin Connell
  • The Baits: Rapala Crush City Mooch Minnow and Freeloader
  • The Color: Gizzard Shad
  • The Strategy: Connell dominated by running 70 miles upriver to find current. He utilized a "scrounger" style head and a VMC Tungsten Swimbait Ball Jig Head to "hover" these minnow-style baits in front of bass he located on his electronics.

3. 2025 MLF Bass Pro Tour (Lake Chickamauga, TN)

"The Chick" is famous for its massive Florida-strain largemouths. This event required a mix of old-school power and new-school finesse.

  • Winner: Jake Lawrence
  • The Baits: Big Bite Baits Nekorama (Neko Rig) and Yamamoto Scope Shad
  • The Colors: Green Pumpkin (Nekorama) and Natural Shad (Scope Shad)
  • The Strategy: Lawrence used a 1/4 oz jig head for the Scope Shad to target roaming fish, while the Nekorama was his go-to for fish guarding fry in the late spring transition.

4. 2026 NPFL Championship (Lake Logan Martin, AL)

The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) recently wrapped its championship on this Coosa River impoundment, where spotted bass and largemouth both play a role.

  • Winner: Patrick Walters
  • The Bait: Rapala PXR Mavrik 110 Jerkbait
  • The Color: Pro Blue
  • The Strategy: Walters is a wizard with a jerkbait. He used the Mavrik 110 to trigger reaction strikes from fish suspended over deep points and near bridge pilings.

Championship Bait Reference Table

Recap of some of the Winning Baits and Rigs for Major Tournaments

Key Takeaways for Your Next Trip

  • The "Minnow" Revolution: If you're fishing in Tennessee or Alabama right now, you need a fluke-style minnow (like the Freeloader or Scope Shad) in a Gizzard Shad or Electric Shad color.
  • Red is for Spring: As seen in the Classic and early season events on Lake Eufaula, Red Bug or Craw patterns remain the king of the pre-spawn.
  • Bluegrass & Pro Blue: For clear water reservoirs like Lanier (GA) or Douglas (TN), Pro Blue jerkbaits are the undisputed gold standard.

References:

  • Bassmaster.com (2025 Tournament Archives)
  • MajorLeagueFishing.com (Redcrest 2025 Results)
  • Wired2Fish (2025/2026 Gear Recap)
  • TheNPFL.com (2025/2026 Championship Standings)


Tournament Location Winner Winning Bait-- Key Color

Bassmaster Classic, Fort Worth, TX, Easton Fothergill, Strike King Finesse Worm-- Red Bug

MLF Redcrest, Guntersville, AL, Dustin Connell, CrushCity Mooch Minnow-- Gizzard Shad

BPT Stage Four, Chickamauga, TN, Jake Lawrence, Yamamoto Scope Shad-- Natural Shad

NPFL Championship, Logan Martin, AL, Patrick Walters, Rapala PXR Mavrik 110-- Pro Blue

NPFL Eufaula, Eufaula, GA/AL, Chad Marler, Hilandero Spinnerbait-- Chartreuse/White