Wire-to-Wire Win for Bassmaster Classic Champion

Bass fishing has its next "Super Bowl" champion after the wire-to-wire win by Alabama pro Justin Hamner in the 54th Bassmaster Classic, which concluded Sunday on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Okla.

Hamner had a three-day total of 58 pounds, 3 ounces (15 bass), including a 15-13 five-fish limit on Sunday, He is the 10th angler to lead from start to finish in the Classic, often called the "Super Bowl of Bass Fishing."

The win earned Hamner, who turned 33 the day before the tournament started, a first-place check of $300,000.

Second place went to Wisconsin’s Adam Rasmussen, who made a charge with an 18-5 bag limit on Sunday, but it still left him behind by three pounds with a three-day total of 55-4. Rasmussen won $50,000.

Hamner said a deep-diving jerkbait was the key lure in his win. His total included a first-day five-fish bag of 22-6, winning him an additional $7,000 as the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Week.

Aaron Yavorsky, who turned 18 last week, caught the tournament’s big bass, a 6-12 largemouth that won $2,500 as the Mercury Big Bass of the Tournament.

• Related: Lures That Won the Last 10 Bassmaster Classics

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54th Bassmaster Classic Top 10 (3-day totals)

1. Justin Hamner, 58 pounds, 3 ounces, $300,000
2. Adam Rasmussen, 55-4, $50,000
3. Cody Huff, 50-7, $40,000
4. Jay Przekurat, 50-1, $30,000
5. Lee Livesay, 49-11, $25,000
6. Cory Johnston, 49-6, $22,000
7. Kyle Patrick, 49-4, $21,500
8. Hank Cherry Jr., 49-4, $21,000
9. Shane LeHew, 48-15, $20,500
10. Taku Ito, 48-5, $20,000

See all results

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New Lightweight Reel from Lew's

Not quite the size of ICAST, but the Bassmaster Classic Expo is also where we see some of the best new fishing gear for the year. One notable release was Lew’s new 200 size Custom Lite SS Spinning Reel, a new option for light-line anglers.

Tailored for finesse applications, the innovative shallow-spool design strategically reduces line capacity to eliminate line waste and the need for backing, especially when using braided line. The Custom Lite SS is engineered with a feather light Tanso Tech frame and skeletal rotor, weighing only 6.7 ounces for lightweight strength and increased sensitivity. Within the reel lies a precision-machined aluminum gear and a hybrid carbon drag system for steady power and ultra-smooth operation.

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“With braided line being such a must in finesse fishing, the Custom Lite SS is so perfect! It's just unnecessary to have that much line on a spool plus it makes it lighter – combine that with the all-around smoothness! You just can't go wrong with it,” noted angler Mark Zona said in a news release.

The reel was made available for purchase on Friday, March 22. MSRP is $159.99.