Matt Robertson wins record $1.25 million fishing prize, declares ‘trailer trash for life’
Matt Robertson won $1.25 million at The Champions bass fishing tournament on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee, setting a record for the largest first-place prize in professional bass fishing. His victory followed days of confident remarks, but Robertson said the win had not yet fully sunk in and stressed that he wanted the trophy as much as the money.
Robertson weighed in 20 pounds, 2 ounces on the final day, after the weights reset for the championship round. Pake South placed second with 13 pounds, 7 ounces and won $500,000; Wesley Strader took third and $300,000. Robertson said he plans to stay in his trailer, buy two more trailers and get his wife a new vehicle; he credited growing up with financial hardship for helping him handle the pressure. His winning strategy involved fishing for smallmouth below Old Hickory Dam, where fellow competitor Ron Nelson had also found productive water.
In short
- Matt Robertson won a record $1.25 million bass fishing prize.
- His final-day catch weighed 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
- He plans to stay in his trailer and buy two more.
Explained simply
Professional bass fishing tournaments award prizes based on the weight of fish competitors catch and bring to the weigh-in. The Champions is a major event held on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee, with anglers competing over several days before a final round decides the winner.
Matt Robertson is a professional angler who grew up with financial hardship and has said that experience shaped how he handles pressure. Other competitors in the event included Pake South and Wesley Strader; anglers may also learn from one another’s success in particular stretches of water.
The prize matters because it sets a new high for first place in professional bass fishing. Large awards can bring greater attention to the sport, while a win can also change the financial options available to an angler and their family.