Fishing News
Yamaha/Skeeter Angler John Garrett Takes Home Bassmaster® Elite Win at Harris Chain
Posted 4/16/2024
LEESBURG, Fla., April 16, 2024 — Yamaha/Skeeter pro angler John Garrett caught a four-day total of 84 pounds, 5 ounces to claim his first Bassmaster Elite win with a wire-to-wire victory at Harris Chain of Lakes. The rookie from Union City, Tenn., led all four days and endured a final-round emotional roller coaster to finally take home the $103,000 grand prize.
“I used to watch the Bassmaster Elites on the weekends with my grandad (former St. Croix Bassmaster Opens co-angler Johnnie Garrett),” said a clearly emotional Garrett. “It was a hard choice whether to watch the Elite weigh-in or go fishing all weekend. I never thought that I would be on this stage, let alone win one of these trophies. The Lord had His hand above me all this week.”
After taking the lead with a Day 1 limit of 24-2 — the event’s heaviest bag — Garrett added limits of 19-13, 19-3 and 21-3. Garrett edged rookie and Yamaha/Skeeter pro JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., by 10-9. This is only the 14th time in Elite Series history a competitor has recorded a double-digit winning margin.
The only angler to break 20 pounds twice, Garrett is the second rookie to win an Elite event this season. Fellow rookie, sixth-place finisher Yamaha Pro Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., won the year’s second event at Lake Fork. Yamaha pros took six of the top 10 spots of the tournament: JT Thompkins placed second with 73 pounds, 12 ounces; Tyler Williams finished fourth with 66 pounds, 3 ounces; Jordan Lee finished fifth with 66 pounds; Trey McKinney finished sixth with 65 pounds, 7 ounces; and Jason Christie finished ninth with 60 pounds, 10 ounces.
“This is my ninth Skeeter/Yamaha package and it feels good to have a boat and motor combo that I have all the faith in the world in,” said Garrett. “It performs and it’s reliable and it’s a peace of mind when I’m on the water. If I’m pushing my time with a livewell full of fish, I can get in the driver’s seat and it’s turnkey and go.”
Yamaha Pros also round out the top five spots in the Angler of the Year race. Trey McKinney is in first with 293 points, Tyler Williams is in second with 285 points, Jordan Lee is in third with 283 points, reigning Bassmaster Classic Champion Justin Hamner is in fourth with 269 points, and Thompkins is in fifth with 267 points. McKinney and Williams also lead the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.
Garrett won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for Day 4 with his 7-4. He also won the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag Award.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Garrett also earned an additional $4,000 while Thompkins claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
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.
© 2024 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
“I used to watch the Bassmaster Elites on the weekends with my grandad (former St. Croix Bassmaster Opens co-angler Johnnie Garrett),” said a clearly emotional Garrett. “It was a hard choice whether to watch the Elite weigh-in or go fishing all weekend. I never thought that I would be on this stage, let alone win one of these trophies. The Lord had His hand above me all this week.”
After taking the lead with a Day 1 limit of 24-2 — the event’s heaviest bag — Garrett added limits of 19-13, 19-3 and 21-3. Garrett edged rookie and Yamaha/Skeeter pro JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., by 10-9. This is only the 14th time in Elite Series history a competitor has recorded a double-digit winning margin.
The only angler to break 20 pounds twice, Garrett is the second rookie to win an Elite event this season. Fellow rookie, sixth-place finisher Yamaha Pro Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., won the year’s second event at Lake Fork. Yamaha pros took six of the top 10 spots of the tournament: JT Thompkins placed second with 73 pounds, 12 ounces; Tyler Williams finished fourth with 66 pounds, 3 ounces; Jordan Lee finished fifth with 66 pounds; Trey McKinney finished sixth with 65 pounds, 7 ounces; and Jason Christie finished ninth with 60 pounds, 10 ounces.
“This is my ninth Skeeter/Yamaha package and it feels good to have a boat and motor combo that I have all the faith in the world in,” said Garrett. “It performs and it’s reliable and it’s a peace of mind when I’m on the water. If I’m pushing my time with a livewell full of fish, I can get in the driver’s seat and it’s turnkey and go.”
Yamaha Pros also round out the top five spots in the Angler of the Year race. Trey McKinney is in first with 293 points, Tyler Williams is in second with 285 points, Jordan Lee is in third with 283 points, reigning Bassmaster Classic Champion Justin Hamner is in fourth with 269 points, and Thompkins is in fifth with 267 points. McKinney and Williams also lead the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.
Garrett won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for Day 4 with his 7-4. He also won the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag Award.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Garrett also earned an additional $4,000 while Thompkins claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
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.
© 2024 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.