Caleb Hudson Wins Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Okeechobee
Shop Caleb's Winning Baits & Gear
Caleb Hudson opened the tournament in 25th with a limit weighing 10-9, but he knew there was plenty of potential to turn things around. Which he was able to do on Day 2 when he vaulted into the lead with a 25-7 limit, the second biggest bag of the tournament. Although the final day was anything but easy, Hudson's 16-6 limit was enough to hold off Robert Gee and claim his first B.A.S.S. trophy with a total of 52-6. The win also secure his spot in the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
A jighead minnow setup helped him catch the majority of his bass. Because the bass were so high in the water column, Hudson rotated between 1/16-ounce, 3/16-ounce and 1/8-ounce jigheads. The new Spro McDart in matte shad also generated several big bites for him.
Replay The Action
Bassmaster Qualifier Lake Okeechobee - Top 10
2nd Place - Robert Gee - 51lb - 12oz - $12,032
Gee came up just short of his first B.A.S.S. victory on Championship Saturday. This time, he only needed an additional 7 ounces to take the trophy. Gee used the new 7-inch Yamamoto Hinge Minnow to target bass he could see on his forward-facing sonar. He rigged it on a 3/16-ounce jighead. On Day 2, a Dixie Jet Talon Spoon produced several big bites and vaulted him into the Top 10.
3rd Place - Fisher Anaya - 48lb - 0oz - $9,626
Anaya rotated between three baits in the Harney Pond Canal to secure a top five and the overall EQ AOY title. This 9-inch KGB glidebait generated several key strikes. A Rapala Mavrick jerkbait also produced reaction strikes. Anaya's best bait, however, was the new 6.25-inch Rapala CrushCity Freeloader, which he rigged on a 1/16-ounce Gamakatsu Horizon Head.
4th Place - Austin Cranford - 47lb - 4oz - $9,144
Cranford fished the J&S canal and landed quality bass using two different baits. His best bait was a 6.25-inch 6th Sense Shindo rigged on a 3/16-ounce Gamakatsu Horizon Head. A 5-inch 6th Sense Flutter Spoon also generated key bites, especially on the second day of the tournament.
5th Place - Riley Nielsen - 46lb - 1oz - $8,663
Nielsen also took a simple approach, which helped him land the biggest bag on the final day and secure his best finish of the year. Nielsen generated bites around shallow reeds with a weightless Yamamoto Senko. He rigged it Texas-style on a 4/0 Gamakatsu Worm Hook.
6th Place - Ty Faber - 43lb - 2oz - $8,182
Faber kept his approach simple at Okeechobee, keeping one rod in his hand most of the time. His best producer was a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver in the tramp stamp color. He rigged it on a 3/0 Hayabusa flipping hook and a 3/4-ounce tungsten weight.
7th Place - Tristan McCormick - 41lb - 11oz - $7,700
The Tennessee native locked down his spot in the 2026 Elite Series field by utilizing one jighead minnow setup. McCormick pitched a gray glimmer Strike King Z Too at largemouth he could see on his forward-facing sonar.
8th Place - Ryan Lachniet - 41lb - 6oz - $7,219
Lachniet ended an impressive 2025 with another Top 10 finished. He used two presentations to get the job done. A 6 1/2-inch RAID Super Fish Roller was a key presentation when targeting bass with his forward-facing sonar. The Virginia native also threw a Megabass Vision 110+1 Junior in the pro blue color.
9th Place - Aaron Yavorsky - 40lb - 6oz - $6,738
Yavorsky fished history at Okeechobee to notch a Top 10 finish. Many of his bass ate a 6th Sense Shindo Shad. Aaron rigged it on an 1/8-ounce Gamakatsu Horizon Head. He also caught several key bass on a 6th Sense 97 Provoke DD.
10th Place - Pake South - 32lb - 6oz - $6,526
Two shallow water techniques carried South to the Top 10 at Lake Okeechobee. He pitched this 5/8-ounce Santone Lures M-Series Jig paired with a 6th Sense Prawn trailer. Pake also tossed a black and blue 6th Sense Prawn on a Texas rig with a 4/0 flipping hook from BKK.
