Watching Hank Cherry win the early-February FXR Bassmaster Elite at Lake Guntersville with a few packs of old-school chartreuse grubs on a jighead was simply spectacular.
Not to take away from the crop of prodigal young anglers and the innovative technology dominating a large percentage of bass tournaments lately, but seeing a veteran like Cherry catch the biggest bag of the week with a lure that likely sat in your grandpa’s tacklebox enroute to winning the first non-forward-facing-sonar Elite Series tournament ever was ironically fitting.
The Consistency of a Classic
In the hallowed halls of bass fishing history, tournament lore will fondly remember Cherry’s throwback win on iconic Lake Guntersville.
“The pack of grubs I was using on Sunday is forever old … I’m talking like 20 years old,” Cherry said with a smile. “I ran out of the grubs I had been using earlier in the week and was down to a package I think I got out of a big sale-bin at a tackle store back home with my dad years ago. We use those things (grubs) to catch more than bass, too. Flounder, redfish, and sea trout will smash that thing.”
One of the best parts about fishing is it can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be. High end bass boats, state of the art electronics, and fine-tuned equipment will help you catch more bass. But it’s nice to know you can wind a grub around shallow grass the same way Cherry did when he was a kid, and still win at the highest level.
A Victory That Makes History
In addition to his $100,000 first-place payout, Toyota Bonus Bucks awarded $4,000 to Cherry for being the highest finishing angler towing their boat with a 2022 or newer Toyota. Cherry is no stranger to Toyota’s renowned contingency program. The 2024 Tundra currently towing his BassCat boat is the seventh Toyota tow vehicle he’s purchased.
While he’s won a boatload of extra money through Bonus Bucks over his 15 years as a full-time pro angler, this one is unique. He is the first elite angler to win under Bonus Bucks’ expanded angler payouts for the 2026 season.
“Toyota vehicles have always been reliable for me and my family,” Cherry said. “We just visited the folks at Scott Clark Toyota to get a Tacoma for my son. My wife drives a Land Cruiser; I drive a Tundra. Across the board, Toyota makes a reliable vehicle, which gives me peace of mind. Knowing we can pop into Scott Clark and get taken care of is huge, too.”
Loyalty Earned
Buying seven consecutive Tundras over the years speaks volumes to Cherry’s loyalty, but trusting Toyota as a daily driver for both his wife and son is a true testament to the Cherry’s confidence in the brand.
Things like reliability, rewards, and loyalty mean a lot to the five-time B.A.S.S. winner from North Carolina.
“It seems to me, if you are going to be in a sport, you should support the brands who also support the sport,” Cherry explained. “Toyota has been consistently supporting bass fishing for as long as I can remember.”
Toyota Bonus Bucks is open to tournament anglers of all levels, with the program paying out on over 620 supported tournaments every single year. Check out its website for a full list of events, more information, or to register and start stacking rewards today.
