Fishing News
Yamaha Pro Nick LeBrun Wins 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship on Lake Guntersville
Posted 10/7/2026
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Oct. 7, 2026 — Yamaha Pro Nick LeBrun captured the 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Lake Guntersville. The Louisiana pro finished the three-day event with a total weight of 69 pounds, 2 ounces to claim the $500,000 first-place prize.
“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 entered the final day in 10th place with 41 pounds, trailing leader Bryan Schmitt by 6 pounds, 13 ounces. He weighed the heaviest bag of the final day at 28 pounds, 2 ounces to move to the top of the leaderboard and secure the victory by 1 pound, 10 ounces.
LeBrun overcame a significant setback during the second day of competition when he lost a prop blade approximately 10 miles up the river. The incident cost him about an hour and 20 minutes of fishing time, but he returned to the water and caught 22 pounds to move into 10th place.
Rain moved into the area Saturday and helped LeBrun capitalize on his final-day opportunity.
“When the rain started, the big ones in my area really started biting,” LeBrun said. “I caught a couple 6-pounders almost back-to-back, and that got the momentum train rolling.”
The win marked LeBrun’s second major victory on Lake Guntersville. He previously won a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on the lake in May 2022.
The 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship began Thursday with 200 anglers, with the top 50 advancing to Saturday’s final round. The event awarded more than $1 million in total payouts.
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.
“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 entered the final day in 10th place with 41 pounds, trailing leader Bryan Schmitt by 6 pounds, 13 ounces. He weighed the heaviest bag of the final day at 28 pounds, 2 ounces to move to the top of the leaderboard and secure the victory by 1 pound, 10 ounces.
LeBrun overcame a significant setback during the second day of competition when he lost a prop blade approximately 10 miles up the river. The incident cost him about an hour and 20 minutes of fishing time, but he returned to the water and caught 22 pounds to move into 10th place.
Rain moved into the area Saturday and helped LeBrun capitalize on his final-day opportunity.
“When the rain started, the big ones in my area really started biting,” LeBrun said. “I caught a couple 6-pounders almost back-to-back, and that got the momentum train rolling.”
The win marked LeBrun’s second major victory on Lake Guntersville. He previously won a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on the lake in May 2022.
The 2026 Ultimate Angler World Championship began Thursday with 200 anglers, with the top 50 advancing to Saturday’s final round. The event awarded more than $1 million in total payouts.
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.