Fishing News
Yamaha Pro Jason Christie Wins Bassmaster® Elite at Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway
Posted 3/30/2026
COLUMBUS, Miss. — March 30, 2026 - Yamaha Pro Jason Christie pulled off a nail-biting finish to win the third 2025 Bassmaster® Elite series tournament of the season on Sunday, March 29, on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway with a four-day total weight of 58 pounds, 2 ounces. The decorated veteran angler from Dry Creek, Okla., now has nine Bassmaster wins to his credit, including the 2022 Bassmaster Classic® on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.
Christie’s win marks the second major victory for Yamaha pros during the 2026 Bassmaster® Elite Series. Dylan Nutt, powered by Yamaha, became the 2026 Bassmaster Classic® Champion on Sunday, March 15, on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
“I thought there was zero chance I’d win,” Christie said. “When I was idling in, I figured somebody had caught ’em. It’s funny, in the previous Elite tournament on Lake Martin, I finished dead last, and I win this one. Last year, I finished dead last (in another trail), and then I won. It feels good to win because I fish to win every single time I go out. Getting older makes it sweeter — especially on a spinnerbait.”
Tackling a tough, riverine fishery known as the Tenn-Tom, Christie started Day 1 by running north, locking twice and catching a limit of 12 pounds, 5 ounces that left him tied for 37th place. The second round saw Christie change strategies and fish closer waters where he caught a limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces and rose to fifth.
On Semifinal Saturday, Christie returned to his Day 2 spot and moved into the lead with another bag of 16 pounds, 10 ounces. A painfully slow Championship Sunday saw Christie holding a small limit into the early afternoon, but two key bites lifted his final limit to 12 pounds, 9 ounces, pushing him across the finish line. Edging out the second-place finisher by 2 pounds, 5 ounces, Christie took home the $100,000 top prize.
Yamaha Pros took seven of the top 10 spots during the tournament. John Garrett placed third with a total of 54 pounds, 15 ounces; Wesley Gore finished fifth with 52 pounds, 3 ounces; Jordan Lee finished sixth with 52 pounds, 1 ounce; Mike Iaconelli finished eighth with 49 pounds, 11 ounces; Cole Sands finished ninth with 46 pounds, two ounces; and Mark Menendez took tenth 42 pounds, 4 ounces.
Christie won the $4,000 Yamaha Power Pay contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Garrett won $1,500 for being the second highest-placing eligible angler.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
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This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement.
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.
© 2026 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Christie’s win marks the second major victory for Yamaha pros during the 2026 Bassmaster® Elite Series. Dylan Nutt, powered by Yamaha, became the 2026 Bassmaster Classic® Champion on Sunday, March 15, on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.
“I thought there was zero chance I’d win,” Christie said. “When I was idling in, I figured somebody had caught ’em. It’s funny, in the previous Elite tournament on Lake Martin, I finished dead last, and I win this one. Last year, I finished dead last (in another trail), and then I won. It feels good to win because I fish to win every single time I go out. Getting older makes it sweeter — especially on a spinnerbait.”
Tackling a tough, riverine fishery known as the Tenn-Tom, Christie started Day 1 by running north, locking twice and catching a limit of 12 pounds, 5 ounces that left him tied for 37th place. The second round saw Christie change strategies and fish closer waters where he caught a limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces and rose to fifth.
On Semifinal Saturday, Christie returned to his Day 2 spot and moved into the lead with another bag of 16 pounds, 10 ounces. A painfully slow Championship Sunday saw Christie holding a small limit into the early afternoon, but two key bites lifted his final limit to 12 pounds, 9 ounces, pushing him across the finish line. Edging out the second-place finisher by 2 pounds, 5 ounces, Christie took home the $100,000 top prize.
Yamaha Pros took seven of the top 10 spots during the tournament. John Garrett placed third with a total of 54 pounds, 15 ounces; Wesley Gore finished fifth with 52 pounds, 3 ounces; Jordan Lee finished sixth with 52 pounds, 1 ounce; Mike Iaconelli finished eighth with 49 pounds, 11 ounces; Cole Sands finished ninth with 46 pounds, two ounces; and Mark Menendez took tenth 42 pounds, 4 ounces.
Christie won the $4,000 Yamaha Power Pay contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Garrett won $1,500 for being the second highest-placing eligible angler.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.
###
This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement.
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.
© 2026 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.