Evan Kung Breaks Smallmouth Record for First Bassmaster Elite Win
CLAYTON, N.Y. -- September 01, 2026 -- Evan Kung, a Canadian pro fighting to keep his roster spot on the Bassmaster Elite Series, won the 2026 Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River on Aug. 30 with a four-day total of 109 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch set a new Bassmaster record for the heaviest winning weight made up entirely of smallmouth bass. The win also locked in Kung's berth at the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, set for next March.
Kung's total overtook the previous mark of 105 pounds, set by Patrick Walters at the same river in 2023, and made him a first-time member of the Bassmaster Century Club. "This is by far my biggest win," Kung said. "It was a tough year for me, so it was great to end it like this. I couldn't think of a better ending."