Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Easton Fothergill is the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Champion

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Easton Fothergill became the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Champion on Sunday, March 23, on Lake Ray Roberts in Ft. Worth, Texas, bringing in a three-day total weight of 76 pounds, 15 ounces, and setting a new record for the biggest winning weight in the 55-year history of the prestigious fishing tournament. The 22-year-old rookie sensation from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is a two-time Bassmaster Classic Qualifier and first-year Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Angler who joined the Skeeter/Yamaha Pro Team in January. The $300,000 championship trophy is the top prize in bass fishing.

“For all the kids out there dreaming about competing in the Classic, this is proof that it can happen,” said Fothergill. “The college bracket is why I am here today. Dream big, work hard and anything is possible.”

August 2023, Fothergill underwent surgery to remove an infected brain abscess. Just weeks later, he won the Bassmaster College Bracket on Milford Lake in Kansas, where he qualified to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Oklahoma. His hot streak continued with two Bassmaster Opens wins last year, which earned him an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite series as well as a berth in this year’s Classic on Ray Roberts.

Fothergill fished with confidence on Lake Ray Roberts, catching 24 pounds, 15 ounces on day 1 to secure third place. He followed that with a tournament high of 29 pounds, 6 ounces on day 2, giving him a commanding lead of 8 1/2 pounds going into Championship Sunday. He caught 22-10 on day 3. Versatility was necessary as day 1 was extremely windy, day 2 was calm, and Championship Sunday was somewhere in between. Rising temperatures started the spawn on Ray Roberts, too, and bass were scattered across the 23,950-acre reservoir as they began moving to shallow water. His most important catch of the week came mid-afternoon Championship Sunday and with only four bass in his livewell.

“I was scared (of losing) at 1 o’clock and with only four fish, but that was the fish that got it for me,” said Fothergill. “Running a Yamaha gave me the absolute confidence I’ll make it back to weigh in. I was able push it to the very last minute to get that fishing time I needed, and it showed with that crucial eight-pound bite at 2:30.”

In addition to Fothergill’s win, Yamaha-powered pro Lee Livesay placed third with 66 pounds, 10 ounces while Yamaha Pro Patrick Walters and 2024 Bassmaster Classic Champion Justin Hamner placed ninth and tenth with 55 pounds, two ounces and 53 pounds, three ounces respectively.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Fothergill earned an additional $20,000.

Yamaha Pro Anglers kicked off 2025 with a strong winning streak. Leading up to Fothergill’s Classic victory, Bill Lowen won the first Elite event on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, and Brandon Palaniuk captured first place at the second Elite event on Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee, Florida.

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