Kyle Cortiana Captures Victory at Toyota Series Lake Seminole
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (April 27, 2025) – The final event of the 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division at Lake Seminole delivered non-stop excitement, with huge catches, dramatic leaderboard changes, and a tight Angler of the Year race. Leading from Day 1 with a massive 27-pound bag, Oklahoma pro Kyle Cortiana set the pace early. Despite slipping to second after Day 2 with a two-day total of 47 pounds, 14 ounces, Cortiana surged back on Championship Saturday with a 24-pound, 8-ounce bag to clinch the title with a three-day total of 72 pounds, 6 ounces.
This victory marks Cortiana’s second Toyota Series win in less than a year, having previously taken top honors at Lake Champlain. Along with the trophy, Cortiana earned $34,145 and secured a second-place finish in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings.
Final Top Finishers at Toyota Series Lake Seminole
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1st: Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla. – 15 bass, 72-6 – $34,145
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2nd: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala. – 15 bass, 67-15 – $14,634
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3rd: Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La. – 15 bass, 66-8 – $10,168
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4th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio – 15 bass, 65-9 – $8,474
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5th: Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C. – 15 bass, 63-0 – $7,626
Complete results are available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Dramatic Performances and Big Bass Highlights
Kyle Austin made headlines after catching a 10-pound bass on the final day, helping him land a 27-pound, 8-ounce limit despite battling a broken elbow. Austin’s grit earned him a fifth-place finish.
In the race for Angler of the Year, Parker Knudsen completed an impressive season, making three consecutive Top 10 finishes to clinch the Fishing Clash Southern Division AOY title. Cortiana finished second in AOY standings, and Bobby Bakewell rounded out the Top 3.
The Top 25 pros and co-anglers from the Southern Division have now qualified for the Toyota Series Championship, where the pro side will compete for up to $235,000.
How Kyle Cortiana Sealed the Win at Lake Seminole
Since his first AOY title in 2016 in the Southwestern Division, Cortiana has evolved into a versatile threat on any fishery — from clear northern smallmouth lakes to Florida’s grassy waters.
At Lake Seminole, Cortiana practiced alongside Knudsen, quickly honing in on the key pattern: targeting deep timber edges adjacent to grass lines in Spring Creek.
“I was looking for the deepest timber along the grass edge,” said Cortiana. “Those were the areas I had confidence in — places without heavy fishing pressure.”
After a slow start on Day 1, Cortiana shifted away from heavily pressured spots, focusing instead on untouched areas with deeper grass and scattered timber. His ability to make adjustments and find fresh fish was critical to his success.
Another edge for Cortiana was his ability to capitalize on the afternoon bite, boating key fish later in the day while others struggled under the bright sun.
His primary setup included:
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Jig: 1/4-ounce Eagle Claw Lazer Sharp Pro-V Eagle Eye Jig
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Rod/Reel: 7-foot medium-light Kistler Magnesium spinning combo and a 7-foot medium-light Kistler Helium with a Kistler Kyrios reel
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Line: 10-pound braid with a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader
Co-Angler Division Highlights
On the co-angler side, Preston Williams of Tallahassee, Florida, took top honors with 14 bass weighing 31 pounds, 6 ounces. Williams won a Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard, valued at $33,500.
Top Co-Angler Finishers:
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1st: Preston Williams, Tallahassee, Fla. – 14 bass, 31-6 – Phoenix 518 Pro Boat
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2nd: James Cobbs, Vinemont, Ala. – 15 bass, 30-11 – $4,413
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3rd: Hunter Prough, Chipley, Fla. – 11 bass, 30-9 – $3,450
Other notable highlights included big bass awards:
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Thursday: Baylor Ronemus and Dylon Smith tied with 7-pound, 8-ounce basses.
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Friday: Hayden O’Barr landed a 7-pound, 13-ounce giant.
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Co-anglers: Doug Wooldridge (5-8 on Thursday) and Leo Morris (7-5 on Friday) each won $150 for their Big Bass catches.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Toyota Series Championship
With all three regular-season events now completed in the Southern Division, the focus shifts to the Toyota Series Championship, scheduled for November 6–8, 2025, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma.
The 2025 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats includes five regional divisions — Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, and Southwestern — plus the International and Wild Card Divisions. Anglers who qualify have the chance to fish for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship title, cash prizes, and a ticket to REDCREST 2026.
For the full schedule and event details, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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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