Bassmaster Elite Tournament Final Day Review: McKinney Makes History at Lake St. Clair

The final day of the 2025 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite tournament at Lake St. Clair delivered everything bass fishing fans could hope for – picture-perfect weather, monster smallmouth catches, and the crowning of a young champion who continues to rewrite the record books.

McKinney’s Historic Victory

Twenty-year-old Trey McKinney from Carbondale, Illinois, who had led the tournament from day one, sealed his victory with an impressive final-day catch of five smallmouth bass weighing 23 pounds, 13 ounces. This brought his four-day total to a staggering 96 pounds, 1 ounce – setting a new record for the largest tournament weight ever recorded on Lake St. Clair and the fifth-largest all-time for a Bassmaster event.

“It’s been an unbelievable week,” McKinney said during the awards ceremony at Brandenburg Park in Chesterfield Township. “There’s a lot of stress every day for four days. It wears and tears on you.”

The young angler, who won’t be able to legally drink alcohol until he turns 21, has already claimed his second Elite Series victory after winning at Lake Fork, Texas, as a rookie in 2024. This victory cements his status as the youngest two-time winner in Elite Series history.

Top Finishers and Notable Performances

Logan Parks mounted a significant charge over the final three days of competition to claim the runner-up position, though he still fell short of McKinney’s dominant performance. Parks had weighed in the tournament’s heaviest single-day catch earlier in the event.

The final day also saw Brandon Palaniuk make the biggest move among the top ten anglers, climbing from 10th place to finish 5th overall. Palaniuk, from Idaho, tied with McKinney for the largest single fish of the tournament, each landing a smallmouth weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Several other anglers struggled on the final day, with five of the top ten competitors – Kyoya Fujita, Evan Kung, Tucker Smith, Paul Mueller, and Alex Redwine – recording their worst weights of the tournament. Smith notably dropped from 4th to 8th place, the largest fall within the top ten.

Fishing Patterns and Challenges

Throughout the tournament, the elite anglers had to contend with what many described as “educated” smallmouth bass. Lake St. Clair’s exceptional water clarity – with visibility reaching seven to eight feet in some areas – meant the smallmouth were scrutinizing every presentation.

McKinney’s success came from unlocking the right cadence and presentation technique for these challenging conditions. As he noted earlier in the tournament, “The main thing will be staying consistent on finding new areas as the days go on.”

Despite reports of a tougher than usual bite this year, Lake St. Clair proved why it remains one of the premier smallmouth fisheries in North America. The lake produced forty-four limits exceeding 20 pounds on the first day alone, a testament to its world-class status.

Tournament Atmosphere and Fan Experience

The final weigh-in at Brandenburg Park drew an enthusiastic crowd of bass fishing enthusiasts eager to witness history. McKinney’s family – including his parents Kim and Rick, friends, and even his dog – were on hand to celebrate his achievement, adding a personal touch to the professional triumph.

Fans at the venue enjoyed the tension and excitement as each angler brought their final-day catches to the scales, with the tournament’s conclusion broadcast live on Bassmaster.com. The Detroit Sports Commission, which hosted the event, created a festival-like atmosphere that celebrated both the sport of bass fishing and the natural resources of Lake St. Clair and the surrounding region.

Looking Forward

McKinney’s victory not only earned him the $102,500 first-place prize but also significantly improved his position in the Angler of the Year race, where he had been sitting in third place before this tournament.

As the Elite Series season approaches its conclusion, all eyes will be on whether this young phenom can maintain his momentum and possibly claim the season-long title – adding yet another accomplishment to his rapidly growing resume of achievements in professional bass fishing.

This Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake St. Clair will be remembered not only for McKinney’s record-setting performance but also for showcasing the incredible smallmouth fishery that continues to draw anglers from around the world to Michigan’s waters.

Photos: Tim Jarrold – In Play! magazine