Bass Pro Wins Record $1.25 Million Prize, Vows to Stay in Trailer

Matt Robertson has become $1.25 million richer after winning the inaugural The Champions tournament, a professional bass fishing event held on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee. Robertson, a pro angler from Kentucky, declared his intention to remain living in his trailer despite the significant prize money.

"We ain't moving out the trailer, baby. Trailer trash for life!" Robertson stated at a post-tournament news conference. He secured the record-breaking prize by weighing in 20 pounds, 2 ounces of bass on the final day of competition. The tournament, hosted by World Bass Enterprises, featured a record $3.25 million purse.

Pake South finished in second place, earning $500,000, and Wesley Strader took third, winning $300,000.

Robertson, who dominated the first two days of the tournament before weights reset for the final day, expressed disbelief at his victory. "Dude, it's freaking insane. I don't think it's really hit me yet," he said.

Despite his newfound wealth, Robertson plans to use some of the winnings for practical purchases, including a new vehicle for his wife and two additional trailers for his property. He had previously identified two trailers near his home, priced around $60,000 and $80,000, as potential purchases.

Robertson attributed his success under pressure to his upbringing, recalling past struggles and living paycheck to paycheck. "I didn't grow up with much," he explained. "I worked so much paycheck to paycheck ... I went through real struggles in life."

The tournament strategy involved fishing below the dam in the tailwater, accessible via a navigation lock. Robertson discovered this productive area during practice and maintained his lead through the competition. "If I hadn't found that spot, I wouldn't have won this thing," he remarked.

During the competition, Robertson shared the fishing area below the dam with fellow competitor Ron Nelson. Despite the high stakes, Nelson reportedly avoided directly fishing in Robertson's prime spots out of respect. "Never knew Ron before this week. Got to know him real well, and dude, there is not another person in the world with as much integrity as him," Robertson said of Nelson. "Anybody else fishing for this kind of money, he saw where I was catching a lot of fish, and he never came in on me."

Robertson later learned that Nelson had struggled to catch enough fish and expressed regret, stating, "If I'd knew Ron only had two ... I wouldn't even have pulled up down there. I feel awful about it."

Nelson, who finished sixth and won $75,000, shared his respect for Robertson, calling him "a heck of a dude" and acknowledging a new friendship formed during the event.

Robertson also credited his faith and the assistance of the navigation lock operators. He recalled praying for the lock to reopen after learning it was under maintenance and was later informed that the lockmaster had been trying to contact him to ensure he could access his chosen fishing spot. "From that moment, I was stressing before that," Robertson recalled. "And after that, I just ... gave it all to Him and let it go."

He caught his winning fish using a small swimbait on a jighead. The event also featured a team championship, with Bassmaster's Team Stars defeating MLF's Team Stripes.

Robertson described the tournament as "the Super Bowl of bass fishing" and praised the organizers for their attention to detail. Despite winning the sport's most lucrative prize, he reiterated his commitment to his current lifestyle. "A new vehicle for his wife? Absolutely. A couple more trailers? Already on the shopping list. But moving out of his own? Not a chance."