Anaya maintains whisper thin lead in Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Fisher Anaya adjusted his Day 2 game plan in an effort to maximize his first-round findings, but when that strategy showed signs of fracturing, the pro from Eva, Ala., regrouped and caught what he needed to maintain his lead in the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River.
After leading the field with a Day 1 limit of 20-4, Anaya carried a lead of 1-3 into the second round. Adding 16-13 today, he held on to the top spot with a two-day total of 37-1 and heads into Semifinal Saturday with only an ounce margin over Jacob Foutz.
“I’m gonna have to find some more fish, if I’m gonna have a shot at this thing, because I’m running low,” Anaya said. “Today, I didn’t get very many bites. I could see the fish on ’Scope (forward facing sonar), but it’s just going downhill. There are not many there and a lot of them are smaller.”
With the event based on Pool 16, tournament boundaries also comprise pools 17 and 15. Avoiding the big crowds that locked downriver to Kerr Lake (Pool 15), Anaya started Day 1 in Pool 17, caught two of his weight fish and then finished his day with greater productivity in 16.
Day 2 saw Anaya commit to Pool 16. While he was targeting largemouth, which typically grow bigger, Anaya was thankful for a spotted bass rally that got his day going.
“I ran to my area where I caught my big ones yesterday and they were gone,” Anaya said. “I don’t know where they went. I caught like 13-pounds of spots out of there on a jerkbait and a frog and just kinda went looking.
“There were a lot of 2 1/2- to 2 3/4-pounders there, so I caught them while I could to calm my nerves and then went looking.”
Later in the day, Anaya shifted to his big-fish areas.
“I got lucky and swam a jig in grass patches for about an hour and a half and caught one largemouth right at 5 and one 4-pounder and that sealed the deal for me.”
Day 2 brought sunshine early, with clouds eventually overtaking the sky, as a significant weather system approached the area. The Day 3 forecast calls for daytime highs in the mid-60s, as opposed to upper 70s for the event’s first two days.
Assessing his third-round options, Anaya said he’ll likely follow an inverted version of his Day 1 game plan.
“I’m gonna have to go looking tomorrow,” he said. “I’m probably gonna lock up to Pool 17, after I fish a couple of stretches in Pool 16 and see where it gets me.”
The wildcard will be Semifinal Saturday’s weather complexion. Anaya’s aware of the likely impacts, but he’s confident that returning to Pool 17 will serve him well.
“I think the fish are bigger up there (than in Pool 16) and you can get more bites up there,” he said. “I’m gonna go see what I can do. Fingers crossed that they bite tomorrow.”
Having weighed a second-round bag comprising three spotted bass and two largemouth, Anaya said he anticipates needing another mixed bag on Day 3.
“I think, in general, you’re gonna have to win this tournament on largemouth,” he said. “I think if you have some bigger-than-average spots, you can make a run at it with spots.
“In practice, I caught two or three spots over 4, so I know there are big ones up there (Pool 17). I’m gonna need a mixed bag to win this tournament, so I’m gonna go chase the spots for a little bit and then go head hunting.”
Hailing from Philadelphia, Tenn., Foutz added 18-15 to his Day 1 bag of 18-1 and improved from seventh to second with a 37-pound total.
Having found a good area in Pool 15, Foutz said he has enjoyed the ideal scenario of solitude and abundance.
“It seems like the fish are coming to me and I was able to expand on my area today,” he said. “Hopefully, they keep coming to me and I can keep catching them for a couple more days.
“I’m catching some sight fishing and some just fishing. My biggest ones have come sight fishing. I don’t want to get too overly optimistic, but I haven’t seen another boat in two days.”
Anchoring his bag with a 6-pound bed fish, Foutz caught his fish on Texas-rigged Burtek Cranking Bug and a Megabass Magdraft swimbait.
Caleb Hudson of Lincolnton, Ga., is in third place with 36-10. After catching a second-place limit of 19-1 in the opening round, he added 17-9
Backing up the 5-4 he caught on Day 1, Hudson added a 6-8 today.
“I’m around a lot of big ones, but they’re really tough to get to bite,” he said. “I just have to luck into a couple of them and then scrounge out a limit. That’s what I’ve done the last two days.”
Hudson again stayed in Pool 16 and caught his big fish on a dropshot. He caught two more on a jighead minnow and two on a squarebill.
Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points with 356. Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada is second with 348, followed by Hudson with 322, Cole Sands of Johnson City, Tenn., with 307, and Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas with 306.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at Three Forks Harbor. The weigh-in will be held at the harbor at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will be available all four days of the event, starting on Bassmaster.com and Roku Sports Channel April 16 and 17. FS1 will host the morning session on April 18 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com from 12:30-3 p.m. On Sunday, April 19 action can be found on FS1 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Visit Muskogee is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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2026 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River 4/16-4/19
Arkansas River, Muskogee OK.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 10 37-01 101
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 16-13
2. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 10 37-00 100
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 18-15
3. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 10 36-10 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 17-09
4. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 36-06 98
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 18-02
5. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 35-11 97
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 16-12
6. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 34-00 96
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 15-10
7. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 33-15 95
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 16-02
8. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 33-01 94
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 16-14
9. Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 10 33-00 93
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 20-08
10. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 32-15 92
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 13-15
11. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 32-11 91
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 19-03
12. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 32-04 90
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-13
13. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 32-01 89 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 14-13
14. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 31-07 88
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 14-09
15. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 31-04 87
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-00
16. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 31-02 86
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 13-12
17. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 31-00 85
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 21-03
18. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 30-06 84
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 12-14
19. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 30-05 83
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 15-14
20. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 30-02 82
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 16-09
21. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 30-00 81
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 14-09
22. Beau Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 29-10 80
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 14-10
23. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 29-06 79
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 15-04
24. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 29-05 78
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 13-11
25. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 29-04 77
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 11-11
26. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 29-02 76
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 12-08
27. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 10 28-15 75
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 11-02
28. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 28-14 74
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
29. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 10 28-13 73
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 17-13
30. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 28-13 72
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-15
31. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 28-09 71
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 10-09
32. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 28-09 70
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 17-00
33. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 28-05 69
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 14-06
34. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 10 28-04 68
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 15-03
35. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 28-03 67
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 12-14
36. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 28-01 66
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 16-08
37. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 28-01 65
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 13-11
38. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 28-00 64
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 11-13
39. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 27-13 63
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 10-12
40. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 27-13 62
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 11-10
41. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 27-11 61
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 12-02
42. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 27-09 60
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
43. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 27-09 59
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-02
44. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 27-05 58
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 10-07
45. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 10 27-05 57
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 14-06
46. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 27-04 56
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 10-10
47. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 26-11 55
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 10-11
48. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 26-10 54
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-00
49. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 26-10 53
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 13-05
50. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 26-09 52
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-14
51. John Cox Debary, FL 10 26-08 51
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 11-07
52. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 26-06 50
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-14
53. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 26-06 49
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-06
54. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 26-05 48
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
55. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 26-04 47
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-04
56. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 10 26-01 46
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-05
57. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 26-01 45
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-06
58. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 25-15 44
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 12-15
59. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 25-14 43
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-10
60. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 25-14 42
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-01
61. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 25-14 41
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-08
62. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 25-13 40
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 10-13
63. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 25-13 39
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-06
64. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 10 25-09 38
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-12
65. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 25-08 37
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 10-10
66. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 10 25-02 36
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 11-05
67. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 25-01 35
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-13
68. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 25-00 34
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-04
69. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 24-14 33
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-08
70. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 24-11 32
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 15-02
71. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 24-08 31
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 14-10
72. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 24-08 30
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-08
73. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 24-06 29
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-08
74. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 24-05 28
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02
75. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 10 24-01 27
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-04
76. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 23-15 26
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-01
77. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 10 23-12 25
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-12
78. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 23-10 24
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 08-04
79. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 23-07 23
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-01
80. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 23-05 22
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14
81. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 23-04 21
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-02
82. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 23-03 20
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-01
83. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 23-01 19
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 09-02
84. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 22-14 18
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 09-00
85. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 22-12 17
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 08-02
86. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 10 22-07 16
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-06
87. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 22-05 15
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-02
88. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 10 22-02 14
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 12-09
89. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 22-01 13
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 08-01
90. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 21-07 12
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 08-15
91. Austin Cranford Oklahoma City, OK 10 21-07 11
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 10-10
92. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 21-04 10
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-07
93. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 9 20-13 9
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 4 09-08
94. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 20-05 8
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 10-04
95. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 8 19-04 7
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 5 12-14
96. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 8 19-03 6
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-01
97. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 19-02 5
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 08-05
98. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 17-13 4
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 2 05-11
99. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 17-03 3
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-15
100. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 7 16-03 2
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 10-10
101. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 05-13 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 06-08 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 98 495 1394-09
2 97 494 1285-08
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195 989 2680-01
