Zack Birge Wins Bass Pro Tour
Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma dominated the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Stage 3 at Lake Whitney and Lake Waco, catching 27 scorable bass for 75 pounds, 1 ounce. Birge took home $125,000 and his second career BPT victory, winning by over 30 pounds in a dominant performance at the Texas lakes.
This victory propels Birge into the lead for the prestigious 2026 Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title. He currently sits just four points ahead of four-time Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler and Spencer Shuffield, who are tied for second place. The win marks Birge's second victory on the Bass Pro Tour. His first career win came in 2024 at Stage Four on his home-state water of Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma. Birge's performance was a masterclass in adaptation, as he had never competed on Lake Waco previously. He spent all three official practice days on Lake Whitney, relying solely on Google Earth to identify a promising backwater pond on Waco that ultimately produced the win. The Oklahoman's final day was the most dominant of the entire tournament, with his 75-pound, 1-ounce total weighing more than 20 pounds heavier than any other angler's single-day catch. Runner-up Edwin Evers finished the day with 15 bass for 44 pounds, 12 ounces. A professional angler for over a decade, Birge first made a splash in 2015 when he won Rookie of the Year honors on the FLW Tour. This latest $125,000 prize pushes his career Major League Fishing winnings to over $1.3 million.
