Easton Fothergill pulled out an amazing win at the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic on Lake Ray Roberts in Texas over the weekend; he is the second-youngest angler to ever take home the Ray Scott Trophy and the $300,000 in prize money that came with it. And he did it with a record three-day total of 15 bass for 76 pounds, 15 ounces, which now stands as the record for the biggest winning bag in the Bassmaster Classic’s 55-year history. Fothergill’s total didn’t just edge out the next best Classic total (Trey McKinney 68-7); the margin was a solid 8.5 pounds.
His achievement is made all the more momentous in the context of his personal life. He had a brush with death about two years ago when a serious medical condition required him to undergo brain surgery.
“It’s indescribable, the trajectory of my life since that first bad moment,” Fothergill told Bassmaster.com. “Everything has come true that I’ve ever wanted. It’s pretty crazy.”
Fothergill confidently switched spots and techniques every day of the tournament, as Day 1 was extremely windy, Day 2 was calm, and the big Championship Sunday was a mix. Plus, rising temperatures kick-started the spawn on Ray Roberts. Bass moved toward shallower water far and wide across the 23,950-acre lake.
It made getting bites tough, but Fothergill was able to get it done every day.
“Eighty percent of my catches this week came on a 3/32-ounce Neko rig (red bug),” Fothergill said. “I caught a couple on an off-white jerkbait, too, but I had confidence in the Neko in the (slightly stained) water.”
On Sunday, he only had four fish in his livewell when he spotted a big bass suspended near a tree in the back of a slough. He switched back to the Neko rig and tossed a delicate cast. He lost four baits to that tree in about 10 minutes, because he broke them off rather than risk spooking the big fish.
“The funny thing was she swam out and wasn’t even interested in the bait. But then she turned back and just ignited on it,” he said. “I was scared (of losing) at 1 o’clock and with only four fish,” he said. “But that was the fish that got it for me.”
That 8-pounder was the Mercury Big Bass of the Day and locked in his 22-10 total for Day 3 to add to his 29-6 Day 2 total and his 24-15 Day 1 total.
Lee Livesay, a local from Longview, Texas, was tied with Fothergill early on Sunday with both logging 58-5 totals. His bites waned through the day and Trey McKinney, 20, started to pressure Fothergill. The 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year shot to third place, but stopped at second place when Fothergill’s 8-pounder sealed the deal.
McKinney’s final total was 68-7 with Livesay coming in third with 66-10, and Hunter Shryock with 64-14.
Next up on the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series tour is Stop 4 on the Pasquotank River and Albermarie Sound in Elizabeth City, North Carolina from April 10 to 13.
Keep up with all the tournament series, and results, with our 2025 Pro bass fishing tournament schedule and results.
