Phenomenal performance keeps Fujita atop the lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork
Phenomenal performance keeps Fujita atop the lead in Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork
YANTIS, Texas — Kyoya Fujita is a man on a mission and he made a clear statement to that effect by catching a Day 3 limit of 35 pounds, 10 ounces and maintain his lead at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.
Placing fourth on Day 1 with 31-0, Fujita added a second-round limit of 34-0 and took over the lead by a 2 1/4-pound margin. Semifinal Saturday saw him catch the event’s largest bag and boost his cumulative total to 100-10.
“I am very happy,” Fujita said. “I’m having a good week.”
The Bassmaster Century Club recognizes anglers who reach the 100-pound mark in a four-day Elite event. Those who achieve that feat receive the coveted Century Club belt.
Fujita’s amazing accomplishment is only the fourth time an Elite angler has reached 100 pounds in three days of competition. The 2008 Elite tournament at Falcon Lake saw three competitors, the late Aaron Martens (109-8), Mark Davis (102-1) and Byron Velvick (101-12) reach that mark.
“One hundred in three days — very good,” Fujita said.
Since Day 1, Fujita has committed to a section of Caney Creek not far from takeoff. He’s using forward facing sonar to aggressively hunt down large bass amid submerged timber. Selectively casting to quality fish, Fujita’s not catching a lot, but he’s more concerned with quality than quantity.
Consistent with his week’s pattern, Fujita started off catching 3-pound class fish, with his better weights coming mid-morning through early afternoon.
After a late-morning round of trading the (unofficial) lead with Paul Marks, Fujita took over the top spot with a 6-pounder around noon. An hour and a half later, he set the hook on a 9-pound Lake Fork giant that had him noticeably animated.
That big fish — the day’s largest — did not make life easy on Fujita, who was fishing a finesse bait on a spinning rod.
“That fish got stuck on a tree twice,” Fujita said. “I was nervous. I thought the fish came off, or the line broke. My heart was racing but I caught the fish.”
Fujita credits his tackle set up for his day-topping catch. He used a 6-8 Daiwa Steez spinning rod and a Daiwa Exist reel loaded with 50-pound braid and a 28-pound fluorocarbon leader.
“I used very strong tackle, so I could get those big fish out of (the timber),” Fujita said. “That was the fish I needed.”
Notably, Fujita’s late-day kicker was a short, stumpy fish that did not reach the 24-inch minimum for possession. This tournament format comprises a catch, weigh and release rule, with anglers allowed to bring one fish over 24 inches to the weigh-ins.
Fujita’s biggest fish flirted with the 24-inch mark, but he correctly released it after logging the official weight.
Heading into Championship Sunday with a lead of 4-15 over Marks, Fujita is 31-14 away from breaking the all-time winning record for a 4-day, 5-bass limit tournament. Paul Elias won the 2008 event at Falcon Lake with 132-8.
When Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer stated the pending high mark, Fujita boldly replied: “I need 31-14 to break the record? I will try to break the record!”
Hailing from Cumming, Ga., Marks is in second place with 95-11. Marks placed fifth on Day 1 with 30-13 and rose to third with a second-round limit of 31-10. Day 3 yielded 33-4.
“This was my best day ever in a tournament, so I said, ‘I gotta order a pizza (for dockside deliver, without leaving his boat),’” Marks said. “I ordered one and it was very good.
“No pizzas for me tomorrow. I’ll have to catch close to 40 to win, so I’m going to go catch 5 (over 24 inches). That’s the plan. It’s doable out there.”
Marks, who claimed a blue trophy two weeks ago at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lake Hartwell, has enjoyed three days of morning action that delivered the majority of his weight before noon.
Day 3 saw Marks tally 32-8 by 9:30 a.m. After spending several hours scouting for Championship Sunday, he culled up with a 6-10 just before 2 p.m.
Spending his time offshore, Marks had been catching his fish on a jighead minnow rig with a 5-inch Zoom Winged Fluke. Today, he upsized to the 7 1/2-inch Winged Fluke.
Tucker Smith of Birmingham, Ala. is in third place with 92-10. His daily weights were 25-4, 34-5 and 33-1.
“What an awesome day,” Smith said. “I really didn’t have anything for the first two hours this morning. I ran to a place and couldn’t catch ’em. I came back about an hour later and caught 31 pounds.
“I caught one that was 8-12. It was an unbelievable day.”
Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., and Kyle Norsetter of Cottage Grove, Wis., share the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors, each with a 9-14.
Przekurat leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 466 points. Will Davis Jr., of Sylacauga, Ala. is in second with 419, followed by Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada with 410, Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill. with 409 and Smith with 396.
Smith leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 396 points.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of Championship Sunday at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork will be broadcast on FS1 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and FOX from noon to 3 p.m. Live Cast will be available all day on Bassmaster.com.
Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Caney Point Recreation Area. The weigh-in will be held at the same area at 2:30 p.m.
The Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork is being hosted by Wood County.
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About Tackle Warehouse
Tackle Warehouse was launched online in 2003 with the goal of meeting the fishing tackle needs of the casual and professional bass angler alike. As a tackle shop run by anglers for anglers, the requirements were evident, and the mission remains the same: provide bass anglers with the widest selection of great products, fast and reliable shipping and excellent customer service, while offering support and education for anglers of all levels and abilities. Tackle Warehouse relies upon its tackle shop roots and a passion for fishing to best serve our customers, as well as the bass fishing community as a whole
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.
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2025 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork 5/8-5/11
Lake Fork, Yantis TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 100-10 104 $500.00
Day 1: 5 31-00 Day 2: 5 34-00 Day 3: 5 35-10
2. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 95-11 103
Day 1: 5 30-13 Day 2: 5 31-10 Day 3: 5 33-04
3. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 92-10 102
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 34-05 Day 3: 5 33-01
4. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 87-08 101
Day 1: 5 28-04 Day 2: 5 30-09 Day 3: 5 28-11
5. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 84-01 100
Day 1: 5 32-05 Day 2: 5 30-07 Day 3: 5 21-05
6. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 82-09 99
Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 26-08 Day 3: 5 32-13
7. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 81-11 98 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 31-02 Day 2: 5 27-07 Day 3: 5 23-02
8. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 81-09 97
Day 1: 5 29-03 Day 2: 5 19-04 Day 3: 5 33-02
9. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 15 79-11 96
Day 1: 5 27-10 Day 2: 5 28-04 Day 3: 5 23-13
10. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 15 77-09 95
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 23-06 Day 3: 5 34-01
11. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 77-05 94 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 25-06 Day 3: 5 30-09
12. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 75-07 93 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 27-09 Day 2: 5 26-04 Day 3: 5 21-10
13. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 74-14 92 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-05 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 23-00
14. Bryan New Leesville, SC 15 73-14 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 31-03
15. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 69-14 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 30-01 Day 3: 5 21-13
16. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 15 69-08 89 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 27-10
17. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 69-03 88 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 28-00
18. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 15 69-00 87 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 23-13 Day 3: 5 22-03
19. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 67-12 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-06 Day 2: 5 21-02 Day 3: 5 21-04
20. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 67-11 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 26-02 Day 3: 5 22-02
21. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 15 67-09 84 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 24-06 Day 3: 5 21-05
22. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 67-04 83 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 24-04 Day 3: 5 23-05
23. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 12 66-12 82 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 4 20-06 Day 3: 3 17-00
24. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 66-05 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-10 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 21-04
25. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 65-15 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 22-11
26. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 65-12 79 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 24-13
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 65-08 78 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 20-13 Day 3: 5 23-04
28. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 65-05 77 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 25-02 Day 3: 5 20-00
29. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 64-07 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 23-09
30. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 64-02 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 21-12
31. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 63-00 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 22-13 Day 3: 5 17-05
32. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 62-11 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 26-13 Day 3: 5 20-05
33. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 62-05 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 21-12
34. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 61-13 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 20-09
35. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 60-15 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 19-10
36. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 60-06 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 18-11
37. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 59-12 68 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 25-05 Day 3: 5 19-03
38. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 15 59-08 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 17-03
39. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 59-01 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 25-08 Day 3: 5 19-12
40. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 58-14 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 21-07 Day 3: 5 18-13
41. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 11 58-10 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 33-09 Day 2: 4 20-03 Day 3: 2 04-14
42. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 13 57-10 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 28-10 Day 3: 3 09-01
43. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 15 56-14 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 18-15 Day 3: 5 17-10
44. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 15 56-05 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 31-11 Day 3: 5 09-13
45. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 15 55-06 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 5 13-14
46. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 13 54-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-05 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 3 11-00
47. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 53-06 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 5 11-13
48. John Garrett Union City, TN 13 52-09 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 28-12 Day 2: 3 09-14 Day 3: 5 13-15
49. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 15 50-15 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-11 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 09-09
50. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 14 49-15 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 22-00 Day 3: 4 08-11
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 09-14 $1,000.00
2 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $1,000.00
3 Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 09-00 $500.00
3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 09-00 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 90 485 1961-10
2 80 469 1897-02
3 45 240 1070-10
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215 1194 4929-06
