Trey McKinney Dominates the Yokohama Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair

The prestigious Yokohama Bassmaster Elite Tournament at Lake St. Clair witnessed an outstanding triumph by Trey McKinney on Championship Sunday, solidifying his authority in the fishing competition scene. McKinney, only in his second year as a professional angler, had a solid lead with a total catch weight of 96 pounds, 1 ounce, marking the heaviest winning weight in Bassmaster's storied history at this iconic venue.

At just 20 years old, the angler from Carbondale, Illinois, showcased a remarkable consistency throughout the four-day event. Starting the tournament with a strong performance on Day 1 by landing 24-11, he followed up by adding impressive weights of 23-10, 23-15, and 23-13 in the subsequent days. McKinney's ability to remain focused and adapt his fishing tactics amidst the competitive pressure earned him a comfortable lead of over 5.5 pounds ahead of the second-place finisher, Logan Parks.

McKinney's winning strategy involved positioning himself primarily on the outer edges of Anchor Bay, where he strategically targeted patches of sand grass intermixed with denser vegetation at depths of 15 to 18 feet. This combination proved fruitful, allowing him to consistently land big smallmouth bass, primarily weighing between 4.5 and 5 pounds. He revealed a clever understanding of the lake’s current, derived from a river that feeds into Lake St. Clair, cleverly exploiting the areas where cold water circulation lured in fish.

“The conditions were unpredictable, and I initially didn’t know how many big fish were still in my key areas,