Big Largemouth Carries Bakewell to Bassmaster Open Victory at Lake Martin | Bass Angler Magazine

ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Bobby Bakewell from Orlando, Fla., secured an unexpected yet thrilling victory at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Martin presented by SEVIIN, landing a three-day total of 35 pounds, 15 ounces. His final-day catch of 13-12, including a 4-10 largemouth, earned him both the win and Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. With this victory, Bakewell punched his ticket to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Lake Ray Roberts.

Reflecting on his win, Bakewell said:

“That Classic berth is so sweet. It hasn’t really set in yet. After practice, I was ready to get done with this one. Now, I’m really happy we are done with this one.”

Bakewell’s impressive comeback on Lake Martin edged out Alabama’s Josh Butler, who finished second with a total of 34-2, and Dakota Ebare from Texas, who came third with 32-13.

The Buzzbait That Changed Everything

Despite not being a “buzzbait guy,” Bakewell relied heavily on a ½-ounce Greenfish Tackle Toad Toter buzzbait, which turned out to be a game-changer. Using various trailers like Bruiser Baits Crazy Craw and Zoom Horny Toad when he ran out of Crazy Craws, he found success with white or silver colors.

His setup included a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy baitcaster with a 40-pound-test Yo-Zuri braid. Bakewell worked the buzzbait along shallow seawalls in about 3 feet of water, targeting areas with rock rather than clean clay bottoms. As the sun rose, he focused on shade lines, which proved critical:

“I started running it and I started getting bit, so it worked out. I’m not a buzzbait guy. It was fun, though. I threw a Whopper Plopper, and I just didn’t get many bites, and the buzzbait, I got more bites with it. So, I just ran with it. Ninety-eight percent of the bass I caught bit within three cranks of the reel handle.”

He also utilized a ½-ounce Bakewell Custom Jig with a Crazy Craw trailer, as well as a Bruiser Baits Rad Shad, which contributed to his success.

A New Area and a Game-Changing Catch

Bakewell’s Day 3 success came after he decided to fish a new area he had identified the night before while reviewing maps. He landed a few keepers, but a cast near a dock resulted in catching the 4-10 largemouth, which became a highlight of the tournament’s Bassmaster LIVE coverage:

“I was going through a little bit of a dry spell and started thinking that I should have gone to water I had fished before. Then I hooked that giant. It was crazy. I was trying to decide whether to let the boat ram the dock or go for the bass, and I chose the bass. I’m so glad I did, too.”

Although Bakewell experienced a long lull afterward, he managed to catch two bass over 2 pounds in the final hour, which significantly boosted his bag.

“I kind of knew I didn’t have enough. I had almost admitted defeat. I hadn’t got bit in hours. I got to a shady pocket, and I picked up the buzzbait and a 2.80 ate it. A pound here is huge. I ran to another shady pocket across the way and caught a 2-pound spot that culled out a 1.60. It was little decisions like that that were the difference this week.”

Top Competitors: Butler and Ebare

Second-place finisher Josh Butler wrapped up his tournament with bags of 9-7, 14-5, and 10-6. He expressed his frustration at not being able to land a 3-pounder on the final day, despite catching plenty of bass:

“It is a little bittersweet. You don’t have a lot of opportunities to (win). You have to have a 4½-pounder here. I was lacking that today.”

Butler primarily used a translucent Whopper Plopper around deeper seawalls and boat docks early in the morning before switching to a jig and Senko later in the day.

Dakota Ebare, who finished third, found success using a variety of tactics, including topwater baits on the first morning and focusing on points with wood, brush, and rockpiles for the rest of the tournament. His biggest bass on Day 3 came from a rockpile, and he relied on a glidebait and a jig paired with a Strike King Scounbug.

“Points seemed to be key, no matter what you were doing. Whether you were fishing out deep or in 6 inches of water, points were key.”

Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers Points Race

The Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers points race was finalized after the Day 3 weigh-in, with Easton Fothergill claiming the top spot with 1,606 points. Cody Meyer finished second with 1,591 points, and Tucker Smith came in third with 1,516 points.

Bakewell’s unexpected win at Lake Martin, and his ability to adjust on the fly, has earned him not only a Classic berth but also a place among the top anglers. With each tactical decision making the difference, his victory is a testament to trusting instincts and seizing opportunities in the moment.

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About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster
and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

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