Troy University’s Barrett Choquette Wins the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash Presented by Berkley
The first major event for the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ 2026-27 season on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Fishing Series recently wrapped up on Kentucky Lake. The event saw approximately 320 boats, with close to 670 anglers, launch onto Kentucky Lake in search of the biggest bass they could catch. On the line in Henry County and Paris, TN this past weekend, anglers competed for over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
The fish catching started fast and furious early on during Session 1 of Day 1 presented by T-H Marine. Bass were brought to the scales early and often, indicating that the early morning bite was strong out on the famed Tennessee River fishery. There was a tie atop the final leaderboard for this first session of the day at 5.68 pounds. The tie was between Zach Wolfe with top ranked Carson-Newman University and Peyton Sorrow from the University of West Alabama. 1st place for this session awarded a $200 Bass Pro Shops gift card, as well as a valuable T-H Marine prize package including a HydroWave, and bonus points towards the standings for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
As the morning progressed, the weights continued to improve. For Session Two of Day One presented by Bajio Sunglasses, the 10th place weight was approximately one pound higher than in the previous session as the college anglers came to scales. Fishing for 10th ranked Campbellsville University, Landon Pierce came out on top with a bass weighing in at 5.54 pounds. 1st place in the second session of the day paid out one pair of Bajio sunglasses, $200 Bass Pro Shops gift card, and a Turtlebox Gen 3 speaker.
Bass Pro Shops presented Session 3 of Day 1. 1st place for this session paid out a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card and Turtlebox Gen 3 speaker. Barrett Choquette with Top 25 ranked Troy University surged to the session victory with a bass weighing in at 6.97 pounds. That bass also placed him in the overall lead for the event at that time. A total of four fish over six pounds crossed the scales during Session 3 presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The final session of the first day was Session 4 presented by Garmin. Jayden Lintner, from 13th ranked Emmanuel University, claimed the session victory with a bass weighing in at 6.50 pounds. The session victory earned him a $1,500.00 Garmin credit. 2nd place also awarded a Garmin credit, that one worth $1,000, which went to Phillip Herring from the University of West Alabama who weighed in a bass for 6.22 pounds to claim that prize.
For Day 2 of this collegiate event, anglers took to Kentucky Lake armed with only Berkley baits. As they came across the stage for each of the three weigh-in sessions, anglers mentioned catching bass on a wide variety of Berkley hard baits and soft plastics. One of the most mentioned Berkley baits was the ‘Moeba. Baits from the Lab Series were also discussed consistently by anglers as they weighed in, showing the diversity of the Berkley lineup and what the bass were eating on Kentucky Lake this weekend.
The first session on Day Two was presented by Abu Garcia. Paying prizes to the Top 10, each of those ten places received an Abu Garcia Revo reel, models including the Revo 5XHSLP, Revo 3SX30, and Revo 5X LP. 1st-5th received one or two Veritas rods in addition to those reels. Christopher Fallon from the University of West Alabama took the session victory with 5.70 pounds. West Alabama placed two anglers in the Top 10 for the first session on the final day. Murray State University also had two inside the Top 10, and top ranked Carson-Newman placed three.
Spencer Shemwell, with Top 25 ranked Murray State University, won Day 2 Session 2 presented by Bob’s Machine Shop. The angler attending school in nearby Murray, KY caught a largemouth bass weighing 5.42 pounds. The top prize for winning Session 2 earned him a Bob’s Machine Shop jack plate and $200 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
To round out Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley, Session 3 presented by Berkley awarded prizes to the Top 20 overall biggest fish weighed in during the final session. The session proved to be extremely competitive, as 1st through 10th were separated by just over one pound and 11th through 20th were half a pound apart, again showing just how good Kentucky Lake is fishing right now! Coleman Henke from 14th ranked Tarleton State won the session with a bass weighing 5.41 pounds. 1st place for Session 3 awarded a $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card, Abu Garcia reel, Berkley baits, and a bulk spool of Trilene fishing line.
When the scales closed at the end of Day 2 and results were tallied, Barrett Choquette took home 1st place Overall Big Bass honors to win the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley. For winning the event, Barrett received a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, Power-Pole certificate, Turtlebox Gen 3, Abu Garcia reel, 2 Abu Garcia rods, one pair of Bajio sunglasses, and Berkley fishing line. He also received the ACA Yamaha logo contingency. All total this weekend; Barrett earned over $6,000 in prizes and contingencies.
View the complete results here.
During this upcoming week, the ACA will be releasing the first points update of the new season for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Numerous other social media posts and website articles will highlight programs including the ACA collegiate Academic All-America nominees from this tournament, the Top 10 automatic qualifiers for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, and more.
The ACA would again like to extend a special thanks to the Henry County Tourism Authority for their assistance and hospitality this week. Henry County, the town of Paris, and Paris Landing State Park were phenomenal hosts for this record-breaking event.
The ACA will host its second major event of season, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open, October 10-11 on Lake Dardanelle, in Russellville, AR.