RACINE, W.I. (Sept. 25, 2025) – In record-setting fashion, Minn Kota and Humminbird pro Emil Wagner captured first place at the Bassmaster Elite Qualifier on Lake Champlain, September 18–20, totaling 15 bass for a three-day weight of 69 pounds, 2 ounces—the heaviest three-day winning total in B.A.S.S. history at Champlain. Wagner earned a $58,049 prize and proudly raised the inaugural Bassmaster Elite Qualifier trophy on the Plattsburgh Boat Basin.
Already qualified for the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series, Wagner came to Champlain with two goals: to fish for the win and to clock valuable time on one of his favorite bodies of water ahead of the 2026 Elite Series event at the same location. After a 20-plus hour drive from Georgia, he methodically worked the lake over three days. He started with a 22-2 limit on Day One, followed by a 23-9 limit on Day Two that put him into a narrow lead heading into Championship Saturday. That’s when things got interesting, and Wagner had to fish his instincts and rely heavily on his equipment on the final day.
“I caught so many fish on the first two days, and coupled with the wind on the final day, the fish just vanished on me,” he said. “The bait was gone and the bass had moved out. I knew I needed to make a move around noon, so I went to another area I had found in practice—luckily, I was able to fish it and the smallmouth were set up where I could catch them.”
He sealed the win with a final day limit of 23-7, finishing just 13 ounces ahead of second place.The tournament allowed Wagner to further hone his strategy in the storied smallmouth bass fishery, but ultimately his success came down to flawless decision-making and leveraging his equipment.
“Coming into this event, I thought I could catch fish shallow in the Inland Sea, where these derbies usually go down,” he said. “But with much of the field there, and the fish not how I wanted, I looked over the Humminbird LakeMaster map on the Humminbird APEX and headed to a less pressured portion of the lake, quickly finding productive water.”
Wagner dialed in his plan, fishing a deepwater hole on the edges of a sandy flat, targeting fish either along the dropoff or suspended close-by over deeper water—key areas visible on his LakeMaster chip. Once in position, the Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST kept him on the spot despite heavy north winds.
“With LakeMaster, you can pick out spots before you even check anything with the boat,” he said. “I swapped to the 52” shaft on the Ultrex QUEST before I came up; on the second day, I was taking waves over the bow constantly, and the motor kept me in place. I was able to cast to as many bass as I could see, and once hooked, I’d hit Spot-Lock and know I wasn’t going anywhere. The precise foot-pedal movements let me find a smallmouth and cast right to it. It was a great week and Champlain is my favorite lake – I love catching smallmouth, and this is hands-down one of the best places.”
“Emil is an outstanding ambassador for both Humminbird and Minn Kota,” said Tim Price, Field Promotions Manager. “He’s a very seasoned young angler, and we’re proud of his hard work and focus throughout the season. His performance at Champlain is a perfect example of his commitment to the sport, and Emil truly represents the next generation of anglers.”
To learn more, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com.
