Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair: Day 2 Tournament Review – August 8, 2025

Tournament Leader Maintains Command

Illinois pro Trey McKinney continued his smallmouth mastery on Day 2, bringing in an impressive 23-pound, 10-ounce limit to maintain his tournament lead with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 5 ounces. McKinney’s bag was anchored by a beautiful 5-pound, 8-ounce smallmouth. The 20-year-old phenom has been playing country music on the water to calm his nerves, a strategy that seems to be working well as he’s also taken control of the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

“Country music makes me fish better, especially when I get out there and have a knot in my stomach,” McKinney explained at the weigh-in. His remarkable consistency across both tournament days has put him in prime position heading into the weekend.

Notable Catches and Performances

The day’s most impressive performance came from rookie Tucker Smith, who rocketed up the leaderboard with a tournament-best 26-pound, 2-ounce limit that included multiple 5-pound-class smallmouth. His spectacular catch pushed his two-day total to 48 pounds, 1 ounce, positioning him just 4 ounces behind McKinney.

“I didn’t expect this at all,” Smith said after weighing in. “I caught a giant yesterday, a 5 1/2, and that was the biggest one I had caught out here. I was just excited to have two 5-pounders today and then I caught three more. It was just mind-blowing today.”

Logan Parks earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors with a massive 5-pound, 13-ounce smallmouth that anchored his 25-pound, 9-ounce limit, falling just an ounce short of Matt Robertson’s 5-pound, 14-ounce Day 1 leader for the tournament’s biggest bass.

Japanese pro Kyoya Fujita maintained his consistency with a solid 23-pound, 1-ounce limit, keeping him in third place with a two-day total of 45 pounds, 14 ounces. “Good day, but very tough,” Fujita remarked. “The fish are very smart.”

Angler of the Year Race Heats Up

One of the day’s biggest storylines developed off the water as McKinney took the unofficial lead in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 690 points. Canadian pro Chris Johnston is now in second with 677 points, followed by Fujita (650), Jay Przekurat (648), and Patrick Walters (638) to round out the top five.

McKinney, who won Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, is being particularly cautious this week. “I’m coming in early and making sure I have all my T’s crossed,” he said. “One thing can make it all go away. I just want to make sure nothing happens, whether it be boat problems or losing fish.”

Local Anglers Make Their Mark

Texas pro Dakota Ebare from Brookeland advanced to the semifinal round, continuing his solid tournament after finishing Day 1 in fourth place. The shallow, clear waters of Lake St. Clair have proven to be a perfect setting for Ebare’s fishing style.

Tournament Atmosphere

The tournament atmosphere at Brandenburg Park was electric with hundreds of fishing enthusiasts lining up to watch the daily weigh-ins. The Detroit Sports Commission, which is hosting the event, organized interactive activities for fans including fishing demonstrations, vendor booths showcasing the latest equipment, and meet-and-greet opportunities with eliminated anglers.

Children particularly enjoyed the kids’ fishing pond set up near the main stage, where young anglers could practice their skills while their families waited for the official proceedings. Local food trucks offering Michigan specialties added to the festival-like environment that has become a hallmark of Bassmaster Elite events.

Looking Ahead

The tournament field has now been cut to the top 50 anglers who will launch from Brandenburg Park at 7 a.m. ET on Saturday for Semifinal Saturday. After Saturday’s weigh-in at 3:10 p.m., only the top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday to compete for the $100,000 first-place prize and a coveted blue trophy.

Lake St. Clair continues to showcase why it’s considered one of America’s premier smallmouth fisheries, with 44 anglers having caught 20+ pound limits on Day 1 and similar numbers on Day 2. The combination of perfect summer conditions and the lake’s abundant smallmouth population has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting weekend finale.

Coverage will continue on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday before switching to Bassmaster.com from noon to 3 p.m.

Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine