Smith and Anderson win inaugural Bassmaster Back to School Invitational
DECATUR, Ala. — It was a big weekend in Decatur, Ala., as B.A.S.S. celebrated the sixth annual Skeeter Boats Bassmaster High School Combine and the first annual Alabama B.A.S.S. Fest. In addition to these events, Bassmaster youth anglers (16U) competed in the first annual 2026 Bassmaster Back to School Invitational on Wheeler Lake.
The anglers were faced with challenging conditions with high temperatures reaching the low 90s with very little wind. Despite the tough conditions, Parker Smith and Cooper Anderson of Scotts Hill Student Anglers took home the win with 14 pounds, 6 ounces.
With just two fish in the livewell at 10:30 AM, Smith and Anderson battled back in a big way to capture the win.
“At 10:30 our two fish in the box only went for about 4 pounds total, so we knew we had to change things up,” said Smith. “We kept our heads down because we knew our largemouth pattern was going to get better later in the day and thankfully it did.”
The duo from Tennessee kept it simple, fishing a variety of different depths with a one-two punch of a 5-inch Deps Sakamata Shad on a jighead and a 19 MM Urchin Style bait.
“We started out on some brushpiles in the 15- to 20-foot range, but as the day progressed, we figured out that the shallower brushpiles in the 6- to 9-foot range were holding the bigger fish,” Smith noted.
With their win, Smith and Anderson qualified to fish the 2027 Bassmaster High School Classic Exhibition in Greenville, S.C., which will be held in conjunction with the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
“It means a lot to get to qualify for this tournament,” said Anderson. “I got the opportunity to fish the event this year, and it was an awesome experience.”
For full coverage of all the events this weekend in Decatur, Ala., head to Bassmaster.com.
This event was hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism and the City of Decatur.
2026 Bassmaster Junior Series
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.
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Bassmaster Back to School Invitational 9/13-9/13
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Parker Smith – Cooper Anderson Scotts Hill High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
2. Piers Picou – Pavali Passi Central Catholic 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14
3. Wakely Keller – Layne Highes Cumberland Elite Bass Team 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
4. Aiden Phillips – Carson Randan Scotts Hill Student Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
5. Ben Saunders – Caleb Giesen 0
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
6. Cayden Smith – Tristan Thomas Skyline Vikings Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 08-10 Total: 4 08-10
7. Cole Watkins – Cooper Secrease Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham 0
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
8. Oliver Williams – Levi Compton Eagleton Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
9. Korbin Crabtree – Cason Crabtree Livingston Academy Junior Bassma 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Total: 5 06-07
10. Bentley Cheyne – Trent Cheyne Buckhorn Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
11. Dixon Heflin – Raylen Dawson Bedford County Youth Bass Club – 0
Day 1: 4 05-07 Total: 4 05-07
12. Brack Robertson – Trig Mchone Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
13. Easton Brannen – Ace Ehmke 0
Day 1: 1 04-11 Total: 1 04-11
14. Brantley Broussard – Kade Jeansonne Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham 0
Day 1: 3 04-08 Total: 3 04-08
15. Ryker Sinclair – JT Miller 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
16. DJ Johnson III – Bryson Conner Mt Pleasant Junior Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
17. Hudson Stewart – Ryder Greer Gchs Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
18. Brody Barlow – Braylen Clouse Dekalb Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Carter B Bowling – Channing Rutherford 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Gage Mcallister – Gentry Prince Skyline Vikings Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Tyson Moore – Rowdy Durm Franklin County Jr Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Charlie Moss – Dutch Sparks 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. James Rives – Lawson Utley Buckhorn Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Hayden Roberts – Landon Smith Adamsville Cardinal Jr 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Tristan Stewart – Wyatt Lancaster Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
18. Knox White – Jacob Deane Mt. Juliet Fishing – Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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BIG BASS OF TOURN
Easton Brannen Vestavia, AL 04-11 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 61 116-13
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8 61 116-13
