Clayton, N.Y. – September 03, 2026 -- Trey McKinney, a 21-year-old pro from Carbondale, Ill., has become the youngest angler ever to win the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title, finishing the nine-event season with 735 points.
McKinney clinched the title with a second-place finish at the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite on the St. Lawrence River, edging Canadian pro Cory Johnston by four points, 735 to 731. The previous record for youngest AOY winner belonged to Kevin VanDam, who was 24 when he first won in 1992.
McKinney earns a $100,000 bonus and pushes career earnings past $900,000
The AOY title comes with a $100,000 check, bringing McKinney's career earnings to more than $900,000 after just three seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Johnston earned a $50,000 bonus for his runner-up finish in the standings.
McKinney had finished second to a Johnston brother in each of his first two Elite seasons
In his rookie and sophomore years, McKinney finished second in the AOY race to Chris Johnston, Cory's younger brother. This season he battled Cory directly, entering the St. Lawrence River event just two points behind.
"I choked trying to win it for the last two years and have been so close," McKinney said. "I respect Cory so much. He caught them so many times when I didn't."
A 90th-place finish at Santee Cooper nearly derailed his season
McKinney opened 2026 with finishes of 9th at Lake Guntersville, 20th at Lake Martin, 15th at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, 10th on the Arkansas River and 5th at Lake Murray, building a substantial AOY lead. Boat problems and a rough practice then dropped him to 90th at Santee Cooper, handing Johnston the points lead.
McKinney rallied with an 11th-place finish at the Pasquotank River after landing 14 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 1, reclaiming the top spot before a 21st-place finish at Lake Champlain tightened the race again heading into the season finale.
A 6-pound bass on the final day secured the trophy
On the last day at the St. Lawrence River, McKinney struggled early and broke off several fish before catching a 6-pounder that he said made the difference. He earned his second career Century Belt during the event.
Georgia's Drew Cook finished third in the final standings
Cook earned $25,000 with 674 points, followed by Tennessee's Cole Sands (657), South Carolina's Brandon Cobb (656), Tennessee's John Garrett (629), Georgia's Caleb Hudson (621), Alabama's Fisher Anaya (619), Georgia's Paul Marks (618) and Alabama's Andrew Loberg (617).