11/01/2026
🏆 CONGRATULATIONS, PAKE SOUTH! 🎣
What an incredible performance on one of the biggest stages in professional bass fishing!
The inaugural The Champions 2026, presented by World Bass Enterprises, brought together 60 of the sport’s top anglers from two premier circuits — Bassmaster and Major League Fishing (MLF).
For years, fans have debated which circuit features the strongest competition and who would come out on top if the best anglers from both leagues went head-to-head. This historic event gave us the opportunity to find out!
Thirty anglers from each circuit. The same water. The same rules. Five-fish limits. And an unprecedented $3.25 MILLION purse, including $1.25 million for first place and $500,000 for second!
With this level of talent competing on Old Hickory Lake, simply qualifying for the championship was an accomplishment. Finishing SECOND against this field is absolutely phenomenal!
Congratulations to Pake South on an outstanding performance and an incredible $500,000 payday! What a tremendous achievement!
And congratulations to World Bass Enterprises for bringing a new level of excitement to professional bass fishing. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of something truly special for the sport!
🎣🏆👏
