Minnesota’s Fothergill Hauls in $300,000 Worth of Bass at Lake Ray Roberts to Claim 1st Bassmaster Classic Title 

After a dominant run in the 2024 Bassmaster Opens, Easton Fothergill battled through a tough start to his rookie Elite Series season—but he made up for it in a big way on the biggest stage in bass fishing. In only his second Bassmaster Classic appearance, Fothergill pulled off an incredible performance on Lake Ray Roberts, claiming his first Classic title and a $300,000 payday. His name now joins the star-studded list of Classic champions, cementing his place in the sport’s history. Through three days of intense competition and shifting conditions, Fothergill adapted, persevered, and delivered when it mattered most. 

“To win the Bassmaster Classic in only my second time qualifying is truly unbelievable. This season didn’t start the way I hoped, and to turn it around on the biggest stage in bass fishing makes it even more special,” said Fothergill. “I fished my strengths, stayed confident, and kept an open mind as the conditions changed. To pull this off against the best anglers in the world is a dream come true.” 

Fothergill, who is the second-youngest angler to ever claim the prestigious title, came out swinging on day one with a solid 24-pound, 15-ounce limit, setting the stage for a dominant performance. He followed it up with the biggest bag of the tournament on day two, weighing 29 pounds, 6 ounces, before sealing the victory with a final-day effort of 22 pounds, 10 ounces. His three-day total of 76 pounds, 15 ounces secured the heaviest limit in Bassmaster Classic history previously held by Kevin VanDam. 

Fothergill focused on the vast creeks and arms branching off Lake Ray Roberts, where fish were moving up to spawn. Using Humminbird LakeMaster Premium mapping on his Humminbird APEX fish finders, he identified key staging areas where bass were setting up ahead of the spawn. With a warming trend sweeping through East Texas during the event, waves of fish pushed shallow making precise location and adjustments critical. 

“I relied heavily on my LakeMaster mapping all week,” said Fothergill. “I spent a ton of time in the One-Boat Network app on my phone before the tournament started, scouring Lake Ray Roberts for places I wanted to check out during practice and the tournament. The areas I ended up targeting were super specific, and being able to scan my mapping to find similar areas was key to my success. I fished a couple of different zones throughout the tournament, and each one had the same key characteristics.” 

Fothergill has traveled across the country in recent years, competing in the Bassmaster College Series and Bassmaster Opens, sharpening his skills against top-tier competition. His breakthrough came in 2023 when he secured his first major victory, winning the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket, which earned him a spot in his first Bassmaster Classic and a berth in the 2024 Bassmaster Opens. In 2024, he dominated the Opens with two victories, ultimately clinching the Elite Qualifier Angler of the Year title to secure his place in the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series and 2025 Bassmaster Classic. 

Throughout the week, Fothergill targeted bass staging to spawn in the vast timber-filled waters of Lake Ray Roberts. He methodically picked apart his areas, analyzing daily fish positioning and adjusting his presentation to trigger bites. Using his Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST trolling motor, he covered water efficiently, locating and targeting specific bass suspended in standing timber. Once he found the right ones, he locked in with Spot-Lock, or Minn Kota Raptors in shallow water, allowing him to stay put and make repeated casts without spooking fish. 

“The first two days of competition, I had a magical couple of hours in the middle of the day when I put most of my weight together,” Fothergill said. “The mornings were slow, but if I kept moving and searching with my Ultrex, I would eventually find an area holding fish. That trolling motor is so quiet and powerful—I truly believe it made a big difference in getting those extra key bites throughout the week.” 

Day three proved to be a grind for Fothergill, as a slow morning tested his patience. By the midway point, he had only one fish in the livewell, forcing him to stay focused and adapt. But he remained persistent, steadily filling his limit throughout the day including a last second 8 pound 1 ounce fish. Knowing the caliber of fish he was targeting, he believed that simply securing a five fish limit would put him in contention. While the final day was a mental battle, the five-fish limit he brought to the scales was enough to make his dream a reality—winning the Bassmaster Classic. 

“Winning the Bassmaster Classic this early in my career is something I could have only dreamed of,” said Fothergill. “I’ve dreamed about this moment since I started fishing with my dad as a kid in Minnesota. I’ve looked up to all the guys in this field my entire life, and just being out here competing against them is surreal. To go on and win the biggest event in bass fishing is indescribable. I stayed patient, trusted my instincts, and leaned on my Humminbird and Minn Kota gear to put myself in the right position each day.” 

“This tournament was absolutely incredible, and for Easton to pull off the win is the cherry on top. He’s a rising star in the sport of bass fishing, and we couldn’t be more proud to have him on our team,” said Field Promotions Manager Tim Price. “Easton is an incredibly humble young man who worked hard for this moment, and he deserves it as much as anyone. We’re thrilled to celebrate his victory alongside his family and can’t wait to see what the future holds for his career.” 

In his home state of Texas, Lee Livesay felt right at home on Lake Ray Roberts competing in the 2025 Bassmaster Classic. Livesay, a Texas native, has spent his fair share of time on Lake Ray Robert,s and it paid off with a three-day total weight of 66 pounds, 10 ounces and a third place finish in this year’s classic. Livesay used his Humminbird and Minn Kota electronics to target prespawn bass moving up to spawn, dissecting a few small areas of the lake to catch his fish. 

“It was great to see the Bassmaster Classic come back to my home state of Texas and especially Lake Ray Roberts,” said Livesay. “I’ve spent a lot of time on this lake, and it is always a tough code to crack. I wish I could have made a real shot at winning this thing, but it was a great week either way. Congrats to Easton on the win, and thank you to everyone who supported and came out to Fort Worth this week.” 

Minn Kota Expands Its Legacy of Boat Control with the All-New Kayak Terrova, Built for Precision and Performance. 

Minn Kota, a leader in trolling motor innovation for over 90 years, is bringing its proven technology to kayak anglers with the all-new Minn Kota Kayak Terrova. Designed to make boat control effortless and reliable, this motor puts advanced GPS navigation right at anglers' fingertips—so they can focus on fishing, not fighting the conditions. 
 
Built for kayak anglers who seek an improved on-water experience, the Kayak Terrova features Minn Kota’s most trusted GPS trolling system with Spot-Lock, Autopilot, Drift Mode, and much more—making boat positioning a breeze. The One-Boat Network integration seamlessly links with Humminbird fish finders for real-time control, while the Digital Maximizer extends battery life so you can stay on the water longer. With an Extremely Durable Composite 36” Shaft and a weedless prop, this motor is built to handle whatever the day throws at you. 
 
"The Kayak Terrova brings Minn Kota’s trusted innovation to the kayak fishing world, giving anglers an intuitive, easy way to stay on fish," said Hannah O’Connor, Brand Manager, Minn Kota. "Whether you're locking onto a spot, drifting with precision, or navigating hands-free, this motor is designed to help you fish smarter—not harder."  

-Rugged 12V, 55 lb Thrust Motor with 36" Shaft – Powerful, reliable performance designed for optimal kayak control. 

-Advanced GPS Trolling System – Spot-Lock GPS Anchor, Autopilot, Drift Mode, and more for precise boat control. 

-Effortless Stow & Deploy – Smooth operation with a simple lever and Auto Park. 

-One-Boat Network Integration – Syncs with Humminbird fish finders for full system control. 

-Digital Maximizer™ – Extends battery life up to five times longer run time. 

-Weedless Wedge™ 2 Prop – Cuts through vegetation efficiently. 

-Extremely Durable Composite Shaft – Built to last, guaranteed for life 

-MSRP: $1,499.99 

With a simple stow-and-deploy lever, a rugged 12V, 55 lb thrust motor, and an array of smart features, the Kayak Terrova gives anglers complete control. Whether using the Micro Remote, the One-Boat Network App, or a connected Humminbird fish finder, anglers can adjust their position from anywhere on the kayak. Plus, with a 2-year warranty, confidence on the water comes standard. 

For kayak anglers looking to take control of their time on the water, the Kayak Terrova delivers Minn Kota’s proven performance in a compact, easy-to-use system. 

See the Minn Kota Kayak Terrova Trolling Motor in action below!