On the finish of final month, the Third Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament passed off at Lake Level State Park on Lake Eufaula, Alabama. From March 28-30, 2025, over 700 anglers from 27 states and Canada have been awarded greater than $230,000 in money and prizes. This was all accomplished on the famend Humminbird facility, the place their marine electronics are designed, engineered, and manufactured. A becoming backdrop for an proprietor’s match on the identical physique of water the place numerous Humminbird items have been developed and examined. As soon as once more, Minn Kota and Humminbird partnered with Large Bass Tour to function the third annual match, kicking off with registration on March twenty seventh. The primary 250 anglers to register obtained an Abu Garcia Revo SX Reel ($169.95 worth) as a prize for early entry. Moreover, the primary 55 anglers who opted in have been certified for an unique VIP plant tour of the Humminbird facility in Eufaula.
Over the following three days, rivals vied for the hourly prizes via seven day by day weigh-ins, with money prizes for the highest ten largest catches of every hour. The prize of a completely decked out 2025 Nitro Z20 XL was gained by Georgia angler Ben Cleary, with a 7.4-pound largemouth weighed in on the second hour of Day one. The highest ending anglers additionally took house Minn Kota and Humminbird gear, together with the all-new Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motors and XPLORE 12 fish finders.
Regardless of getting on the water later than deliberate Friday morning, Georgia angler Ben Cleary and his crew, his dad and household good friend Bruce, launched in hopes of discovering some early bites.
“I used to be solely fishing for one massive fish, so I figured I’d as properly preserve a frog in my hand,” Cleary stated. “I had one chew not lengthy after we began, in all probability a 5 or 6 pounder, however she didn’t eat it good and I missed her. It gave me confidence to maintain a frog in my hand all day.”
Twenty minutes after lacking that fish, a second probability for an enormous fish got here with a large, 7.4-pound post-spawn bass that inhaled his frog in a foot and a half of water. The fish had been feeding on a shad spawn alongside a grassy financial institution, however couldn’t move up an enormous bait whereas it was all fired up. Whereas he was thrilled to take the hourly win, given it was so early within the match, Cleary didn’t count on the fish to carry first for lengthy.
“Once we acquired her within the boat, I knew she was fairly massive, however I didn’t suppose there was an opportunity it could maintain up all through the complete occasion,” he stated. “The primary hour somebody had already weighed a 6.2 (-pound bass), and I used to be certain somebody would catch a fish greater than mine. It wasn’t till Sunday that I actually began to imagine I had a shot.”
Fishing out of Bruce’s boat, which had been trailered down from Minnesota. Cleary and crew took full benefit of all of the Minn Kota and Humminbird electronics on board, a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor, all-new Humminbird XPLORE fish finders, Humminbird MEGA 360, and Humminbird MEGA Stay 2.
“It was actually particular to have my dad and Bruce within the boat once I caught that fish,” Cleary stated. “We took benefit of all of the electronics that Bruce had on his boat all through the match. I believe I’m going to maintain the brand new Nitro Z20 XL I gained and get again into bass fishing extra.”
This match awarded over $230,000 in prizes in payouts all through the match, with greater than 210 hourly payouts for newbie anglers of all talent ranges.
General Successful Weights – 2025 Minn Kota Humminbird Homeowners Match
1st Place – Ben Cleary (Monticello, GA) 7.40 lbs
Prize: 2025 Nitro Z20 XL absolutely rigged with Minn Kota and Humminbird merchandise, plus hourly money2nd Place – Jay Albritton (Albany, GA) 7.28 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly moneythird Place – Drake Barlow (Franklin, GA) 6.97 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly money4th Place – Greg Inexperienced (Phenix Metropolis, AL) 6.93 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly moneyfifth Place – Brookey Meeks (Opp, AL) 6.84 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly money“We sincerely thank all of the anglers who took half on this yr’s annual Homeowners Match,” stated Sarah Wells, Affiliate Model Supervisor – Minn Kota. “Your enthusiasm, dedication, and heartfelt help for each the game and our Humminbird and Minn Kota manufacturers made this our most profitable occasion so far. We’re grateful to be a part of such a passionate and devoted fishing group.”
For extra details about the match outcomes, go to minnkotaowners.com.
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