Jacob Wheeler Dominates Kentucky Lake to Win BPT Stage 5
CALVERT CITY, Ky. (June 8, 2025) – After two excruciatingly close second-place finishes in a row, Jacob Wheeler delivered a statement victory at the Lowrance Stage 5 Presented by Mercury on Kentucky Lake. The Tennessee angler outpaced the field by an impressive 32 pounds, 7 ounces, weighing in 110 pounds, 13 ounces of scorable bass during the Championship Round.
This marks Wheeler’s first win of the 2025 season and the ninth Bass Pro Tour title of his career, extending his lead as the winningest angler on tour.
More than a win, however, it was a poignant personal milestone. Kentucky Lake was a place where Wheeler often fished tournaments alongside his father, Curtis, who passed away from cancer in April. The emotional weight of the win was clear.
“I just felt like he was with me all week,” Wheeler said tearfully after his victory. “This one had a lot of meaning. I just wanted to win it for him.”
Turning Frustration Into Fuel
Wheeler began the event on a high note, catching over 95 pounds during the first half of Day 1 of qualifying. That performance earned him a direct berth into the Championship Round and allowed him to spend the rest of the round scouting new water—a move that would later prove pivotal.
“I hadn’t been out during the weekend, and I realized quickly there was a lot of local pressure,” Wheeler explained. “So I knew I had to make a move.”
That move paid off. He located less-pressured schools in the southern part of the lake and began steadily stacking weight. In just 22 minutes, he landed 18 pounds of bass, slashing Lawrence’s early lead.
The Winning Bait: Football Jig and Cleanup Craw Combo
“There’s just something about a heavier football jig with a Cleanup Craw,” he said. “The high-frequency kick and natural profile were key.”
Wheeler’s adaptability—from dragging to snapping the jig—allowed him to capitalize during non-sonar periods and outpace the field even without the technological edge of forward-facing sonar.
Methodical Execution Pays Off
“Those second-place finishes taught me to focus on one fish at a time,” Wheeler noted.
By the final period, Wheeler had built his lead to over 30 pounds. With 10 minutes remaining, he finally allowed himself to reflect on the journey, the lake, and his father.
Completing the Tennessee River Grand Slam
Growing up in Indianapolis, Kentucky Lake was the closest major fishery where national tournaments were held. It was a place of firsts—first big tournaments, first big bass, and now, his most emotional win.
“I stopped at a point where my dad caught a 6 1/2-pounder back in March during a club tournament… just to remember,” Wheeler said. “This lake will always be special to me.”
Final Championship Round Standings
- Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn. – 46 bass, 110-13, $150,000
- Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn. – 30 bass, 78-6, $45,000
- Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif. – 32 bass, 69-8, $35,000
- Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala. – 27 bass, 62-13, $30,000
- John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky. – 26 bass, 62-10, $25,000
- Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J. – 22 bass, 53-11, $23,000
- Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio – 18 bass, 51-11, $22,000
- Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark. – 16 bass, 44-11, $21,000
- Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C. – 16 bass, 35-15, $20,500
- Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. – 12 bass, 29-10, $20,000
Cole Floyd took home the Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth, earning an extra $1,000.
Wheeler Eyes Angler of the Year Title
As long as he qualifies for the Knockout Round in the final two events, Wheeler is the strong favorite to win his fourth AOY title in five years.
What’s Next for the Bass Pro Tour?
The tournament featured 66 elite anglers competing for a $650,000 purse, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau and Calloway County Tourism Commission.
Television coverage begins October 25 at 7 a.m. ET on Discovery, with the Championship Round airing November 1. Episodes will re-air on Outdoor Channel.
With two regular-season events left, all eyes are on Wheeler as he continues one of the most dominant seasons in Bass Pro Tour history.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
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