LeBrun weighs 28-2 in the rain and comes from 10th place to win $500,000. “This is like winning five tournaments in one day.”

SCOTTSBORO, AL (Oct. 3, 2026) — Nick LeBrun weighed 28 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday and won the 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship, presented by Unified Pros, on Lake Guntersville. His three-day total was 69 pounds, 2 ounces. First place pays $500,000.

“I used to tell people that if you can win about every five years, you’ll stay relevant,” LeBrun said. “Well, this is like winning five tournaments in one day. I can’t even describe it. It means everything to my family. It means everything to my sponsors, and I’ll never forget it.”

LeBrun started the final day in 10th place with 41-0, 6 pounds, 13 ounces behind leader Bryan Schmitt. He won by 1 pound, 10 ounces. The Louisiana pro has won on this lake before, at a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event in May 2022.

He almost didn’t get the chance. On Friday he threw a blade off his prop about 10 miles up the river. His marshal trolled the boat about three miles to a ramp while LeBrun caught a ride back to his truck for the spare.

“Always have a spare prop in the boat, not your truck,” LeBrun said. “We lost about an hour and 20 minutes of fishing time. I was kind of bummed. But we got out there, we had a longer day, fortunately, and caught 22 and got us in position in 10th, and I was close enough to the lead where I knew I had a chance.”

Saturday’s rain did the rest. LeBrun was throwing a Frog Factory Ribbit Top Toad, a hollow body frog, around pads and grass mats.

“When the rain started, the big ones in my area got really stupid,” LeBrun said. “They started busting through pads, grass mats, everything to get that frog. I caught a couple 6-pounders almost back to back, and that got the momentum train rolling.”

On stage, LeBrun credited his faith. “In 2018, everything changed for me,” he said. “Jesus Christ made me new, and he gave me a future and joy and purpose and hope. All glory to him for sure.”

Schmitt led after Day 2 and finished second with 67-8. He weighed 19-11 Saturday. Buddy Benson was third after Day 2 and stayed there, finishing with 64-8. Ron Nelson came from outside the top 12 to take fourth with 62-12. Cory Johnston started the day in second and finished fifth with 62-4.

Kyle Welcher was sixth with 61-3, Cal Lane was seventh with 60-11, Kevin Atkinson was eighth with 60-8, Tyler Rivet was ninth with 60-7 and Bobby Lane Sr. was 10th with 59-7. One pound, 12 ounces separated sixth from 10th. Day 1 leader Buddy Gross finished 16th with 57-1.

Each day’s Big Bass paid $10,000. Ron Nelson won it Saturday with a 7-pound, 3-ounce largemouth. Anthony Goggins had the next biggest at 6-13. Chris Lane won Day 1 with an 8-15. Chad Mrazek won Day 2 with a 9-pounder, the biggest bass of the tournament, and finished 19th with 56-3.

The championship started Thursday with 200 anglers, and the top 50 fished Saturday. The total payout was more than $1 million.

Full results are at Fishing Chaos.

The week closed Saturday night at Goose Pond Colony with the Bass Tracker Classic XL boat giveaway, the championship awards and a free concert headlined by Hannah Dasher.

For more information, visit theultimateangler.org.

About The Ultimate Angler

The Ultimate Angler is the world championship bass fishing tournament, held on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala. Top professional, collegiate, regional, and amateur anglers qualify through sanctioned events to compete for more than $1 million in prizes. The week also includes the Outdoor Expo, live entertainment, conservation programs, and family activities.