Photo captured and supplied by Jake Peck on behalf of Dynamic Sponsorships
If you didn’t know Dylan Nutt’s name before this month’s 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, that changed by the event’s end. As the newest tournament winner, the 22-year-old hoisted up that iconic Ray Scott trophy and took the famed boat ride around the Thompson-Boling Arena behind his Toyota Tundra.
Nutt’s performance, poise, and bravado caught the attention of the bass fishing world. The young angler from Nashville, Tennessee, qualified for the 2026 Classic through the B.A.S.S. Nation and kept the trophy in The Volunteer State.
Brand Loyalty Runs in the Family
Nutt’s 2025 Tundra, which he purchased from Singing River Toyota in Alabama, earned the Classic champion an additional $10,000 payout from Toyota Bonus Bucks. Both Dylan and his twin brother Carter tow their boats with Tundras. They’ve also struck up a partnership with the Singing River Toyota dealership near Pickwick Lake and the University of North Alabama, their home pond and alma mater.
“We had an older V8 Tundra in the past and absolutely loved that truck,” Nutt said. “Carter and I took that thing all over the country for college tournaments and it was bullet proof. We knew we needed new tow vehicles this season, so we hooked up with Singing River Toyota to buy our new Tundras. You really can’t beat Toyota’s reliability or Bonus Bucks. Plus, it drives smooth and tows my boat great … these trucks are bitchin’.”
The Nutt brothers relied on a 2020 Tundra as their college fishing rig. The twins and their parents ultimately purchased that first Tundra due to Toyota’s support of bass fishing, reliability, and the opportunity to earn extra money through Bonus Bucks – College Series.
The twins earned plenty of Bonus Bucks as college anglers. But they also gained the freedom of knowing their truck would get them and their boat to their destination, whether that was a tournament or fishing trip, regardless of the number of miles between them and the water.
A Star on the Rise
While excelling at the college level, Nutt competed in as many regional tournaments as possible on the Tennessee River, including the B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier on Pickwick Lake in March 2025. He was already well-known as a local to watch, so it surprised few when the 21-year-old dominated the event. That win qualified Dylan to compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The fishing in La Crosse was much different than the Tennessee River haunts Nutt was used to, but he scraped and clawed his way to a third-place finish. That secured the final Classic qualification spot awarded to B.A.S.S. Nation competitors. Nutt’s victory on Loudoun-Tellico marked the first time a Nation qualifier won the Bassmaster Classic since the late Bryan Kerchal in 1994.
“It means so much to me to have qualified through the Nation enroute to winning this Classic,” said Nutt. “I made it here on a $200 entry fee, I showed up to Pickwick last March just to jump in a big tournament, I paid my $200 and won the event. That sent me up to Wisconsin where I qualified for the freaking Classic. It’s the hardest way to qualify but, man, it is achievable. If I can do it, anyone can.”
The B.A.S.S. Nation, and certainly his Bassmaster Classic win, have changed Dylan Nutt’s life forever. He has been honing his craft and tournament fishing most of his young life. While it wouldn’t be fair to say this career-defining win was a surprise, it did come ahead of schedule.
Nutt’s Classic victory will help pave the way for the next generation of aspiring tournament anglers. And it’s a testament to what can be accomplished with hard work, an entry fee, and confidence.
About Toyota Bonus Bucks
Whether you dream of competing or you fish locally on the weekends, you can reap Toyota Bonus Bucks’ rewards. If you drive a 2022 or newer Toyota tow vehicle, you are eligible for payouts in over 620 events annually. And you don’t need to win the tournament like Dylan Nutt to win bonus money. You simply must be the highest placing Bonus Bucks participant.
Bonus Bucks is free to join. You can register today or learn more about the popular program at toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/overview or send an email to bonusbucks@dynamicsponsorships.com.
