CLAYTON, N.Y. — Rickey Jackson is used to catching big bass in his home state of Florida, but on Monday he found himself in smallmouth country doubled-up with twin 5-pounders with Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Garrett.

Those two bass would carry the NFL Hall of Famer and the Tennessee pro to victory in the inaugural 2026 Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am at St Lawrence River presented by Lippert.

Garrett and Jackson caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces in the one-day derby that teamed up NFL legends with Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pros. Jackson made a Hall of Fame career as a linebacker with the New Orleans Saints where he made seven Pro Bowl appearances and was named to the second-team All-Pro team five times.

“I enjoyed myself. I was hoping to catch some bigger,” Garrett said. “We knew it was going to be close and we were both hoping to add bigger ones at the end.”

To win, Garrett and Jackson edged out legendary offensive lineman Joe Thomas and Elite Series champion Jay Przekurat by 5 ounces.

For Jackson, the fishing part was easy. He grew up on Lake Okeechobee and fished until this football career became his livelihood. But the ride to and from the mouth of Lake Ontario was an adventure.

“We stayed off the water,” Jackson said. “We were flying out there and flying back.”

Throwing drop shots and minnows, Garrett and Jackson targeted deeper smallmouth around the Cape Vincent area of the St. Lawrence River. While they caught plenty of quality bass, doubling up on 5-pound smallmouth was the highlight of the day.

“It was a real thrill,” Jackson said. “Both were big.”

When they bit, both anglers knew instantly they had amazing bass.

“He said, ‘John mine is big.’ I said, ‘Rickey mine is big too,’” Garrett said.

Fishing with an NFL Hall of Famer was a great experience for the pro from Union City, Tennessee too.

“I’ve been watching all of his highlights and sack videos before today,” he said. “There were so many cool highlights. The only was he didn’t tackle me if I was playing back then is if I was on the sideline.”

Thomas and Przekurat, both Wisconsin natives, finished second with 21-5 followed by Robert Gee and Kevin Mawae in third with 20-6. Lions standout wide receiver Calvin Johnson and multi-time Elite Series champion Brandon Palaniuk brought in the Big Bass of the Day, a 7-pounder that would be a Top 5 catch in B.A.S.S. history.

Randy Moss, who spearheaded the event with the NFL Hall of Fame and B.A.S.S., teamed up with 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour champion Easton Fothergill. Being outdoors was important for Moss when the Hall of Fame came to him asking for partnership ideas.

“We all come from different walks of life and different eras, and we meet once a year for the enshrinement, but we try to find things like this throughout the year to get around each other. Getting the feedback from my brothers, they enjoyed it. A lot of us grew up fishing, but not a lot of us had the bass fishing experience. Being able to team up with Bassmaster and the Hall of Fame was another way to get around each other.

“If you think you know how to fish, just wait until you get on the boat with one of these guys.”

Visit Bassmaster.com for more information about the Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro-Football Hall of Fame presented by Lippert.

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.