Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / Photo:

If you didn’t know Dylan Nutt’s name before the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour began, that changed by the end of the weekend when the 22-year-old hoisted the iconic Ray Scott trophy and took the famed boat ride around the Thompson-Boling Arena behind his Toyota Tundra.

Nutt’s performance, poise, and bravado caught the attention of the bass fishing world while he was busy capturing the title of Classic Champion. The young angler from Nashville, Tennessee qualified for the 2026 Classic through the B.A.S.S. Nation and ensured the trophy stayed in the Volunteer State.

Nutt’s 2025 Tundra, which he purchased from Singing River Toyota in Alabama, earned the Classic champion an additional $10,000 payout from Toyota Bonus Bucks. Both Dylan and his twin brother Carter tow their boats with Tundras and have struck up a partnership with the Singing River Toyota dealership near Pickwick Lake and the University of North Alabama, their home pond + alma mater.

“We had an older V8 Tundra in the past and absolutely loved that truck,” Nutt said. “Carter and I took that thing all over the country for college tournaments and it was bullet proof. We knew we needed new tow vehicles this season, so we hooked up with Singing River Toyota to buy our new Tundras. You really can’t beat Toyota’s reliability or Bonus Bucks. Plus; it drives smooth and tows my boat great… these trucks are bitchin’.”

The Nutt brothers relied on a 2020 Tundra as their college fishing rig. The twins and their parents ultimately purchased that first Tundra due to Toyota’s support of bass fishing, reliability, and the opportunity to earn extra money through Bonus Bucks – College Series.

The duo earned plenty of Bonus Bucks as college anglers, but they also gained the freedom of knowing their truck would get them and their boat to their destination, whether that was a tournament or fishing trip, regardless of the number of miles between them and the water.

While excelling at the college level, Dylan competed in as many regional tournaments as possible on the Tennessee River, including the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier on Pickwick Lake in March of 2025. Nutt was well-known as a local to watch, so it surprised few when the 21-year-old won the event in dominating fashion. That win qualified Dylan to compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wisconsin.

The fishing in La Crosse was much different than the Tennessee River haunts Nutt was used to, but he scraped and clawed his way to a third-place finish. Securing the final Classic qualification spot awarded to B.A.S.S. Nation competitors. Nutt’s victory on Loudoun-Tellico marked the first time a Nation qualifier has won the Bassmaster Classic since the late Bryan Kerchal conquered the feat in 1994.

“It means so much to me to have qualified through the Nation enroute to winning this Classic,” Nutt offered. “I made it here on a $200 entry fee. I showed up to Pickwick last March just to jump in a big tournament. I paid my $200 and won the event. That sent me up to Wisconsin where I qualified for the freaking Classic. It’s the hardest way to qualify but, man, it is achievable. If I can do it, anyone can.”

The B.A.S.S. Nation, and certainly his Bassmaster Classic win, have changed Dylan Nutt’s life forever. Nutt has been honing his craft and tournament fishing most of his young life. While it wouldn’t be fair to say this career-defining win was a surprise, it came ahead of schedule.

Nutt’s Classic victory will help pave the way for the next generation of aspiring tournament anglers and is a testament to what can be accomplished with hard work, a few dollars for an entry fee and confidence.

Whether you have dreams of competing in the Classic or you fish locally around your house on the weekends, you can reap the rewards of Toyota Bonus Bucks. If you drive a 2022 or newer Toyota tow vehicle you are eligible for payouts in over 620+ events each year, and you don’t need to win the tournament like Dylan Nutt to win bonus money, you simply must be the highest placing Bonus Bucks participant.

Bonus Bucks is free to join, register today or learn more about the popular program here: https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/overview or send an email to [email protected].