The 2026-2027 Northeast Region season officially got underway Saturday, September 26 at Lake Fork.
A total of 26 teams competed in the first Northeast Region qualifier of the season, with Lake Fork Marina serving as tournament headquarters.
Conditions required a little flexibility from the start. With the lake sitting approximately 3 feet low, Stop #1 was run as a trailering event, allowing teams to launch from locations around the lake before returning for weigh-in.
Mostly clear skies, a few passing clouds, and light winds greeted anglers throughout the day. When weigh-in wrapped up, 73 fish had been caught, $6,120 in cash prizes had been awarded, and the first Northeast Region AOY points of the season were officially on the board.
Both divisions also gave us the same storyline at the top: the tournament winner also claimed Big Bass.
Tournament By the Numbers
Lake: Lake Fork
Launch: Lake Fork Marina
Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Participating Teams: 26
Total Fish Caught: 73
Tournament Cash Payout: $6,120.00 Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth 2026-27 Season-to-Date Payout: $34,775.00
With all four Youth Regions completing their season openers in September, Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth has already awarded $34,775 in cash prizes during the opening month of the 2026-2027 season.
High School Division Results
1st Place
Hartman / Reynolds
Total Weight: 12.47 lbs
Cash Award: $3,000.00
Hartman and Reynolds brought a full five-fish limit weighing 12.47 pounds to the scales to claim the first Northeast Region High School victory of the season.
Their winning bag also included the largest High School bass of the tournament.
2nd Place
Adams / Smart
Total Weight: 10.02 lbs
Cash Award: $480.00
Adams and Smart also brought a five-fish limit to the scales, finishing the day with 10.02 pounds.
3rd Place
Ezell / Jouret
Total Weight: 6.55 lbs
Cash Award: $320.00
High School Big Bass
Hartman / Reynolds
Big Bass Weight: 6.29 lbs
Cash Award: $320.00
Hartman and Reynolds completed the High School sweep with a 6.29-pound Big Bass, bringing their total winnings for the day to $3,160.
Junior Division Results
🥇 1st Place
Owen / Thorn
Total Weight: 6.89 lbs
Cash Award: $1,500.00
Owen and Thorn brought a five-fish limit weighing 6.89 pounds to the scales to take the first Junior Division win of the Northeast season.
Like the High School winners, they also claimed their division’s Big Bass award.
🥈 2nd Place
Castloo / Castloo
Total Weight: 4.15 lbs
Cash Award: $330.00
🥉 3rd Place
Pettiette / Wilibanks
Total Weight: 3.29 lbs
Cash Award: $220.00
🎣 Junior Big Bass
Owen / Thorn
Big Bass Weight: 2.28 lbs
Cash Award: $110.00
The Junior champions added another $110 to their first-place winnings, bringing their total cash payout for the day to $1,610.
Full Tournament Results
Want to see how the entire Northeast Region field finished?
🎣 View All Lake Fork Leaderboards:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/peTTU9T1JgsAYYtgldSP/leaderboards
High School Overall:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/peTTU9T1JgsAYYtgldSP/leaderboard/NXBVA0AVx3g7QnMNAumK
High School Big Bass:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/peTTU9T1JgsAYYtgldSP/leaderboard/7iD6XXTvv1u2NrCpINv7
Junior Overall:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/peTTU9T1JgsAYYtgldSP/leaderboard/GiaMY577iPNjKKbijmq3
Junior Big Bass:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/peTTU9T1JgsAYYtgldSP/leaderboard/6noqCSR5lexukpyceyvi
The Northeast AOY Race Is Underway
With Stop #1 complete, the first 2026-2027 Northeast Region Angler of the Year points are officially on the board.
This is only the beginning, but every qualifier matters as teams work toward the Regional Championship later this season.
High School AOY
Hartman and Reynolds leave Lake Fork with the first win of the season, but there is plenty of fishing still ahead before the High School AOY race takes shape.
👉 View Current High School AOY Standings:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/club/w1Ycu9AwzOJUnnxrBv27/manage/series/I34HLPaEz64TMWStTBqS
Junior AOY
Owen and Thorn start the Junior season with a win and Big Bass, putting the first points on the board in what will develop over the remaining qualifiers.
👉 View Current Junior AOY Standings:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/club/w1Ycu9AwzOJUnnxrBv27/manage/series/3uFjfmNuBOEOFsy7XlyU
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Every tournament requires a team of people working before the first boat launches and long after the final fish crosses the scales.
Thank you to every volunteer who helped make Northeast Region Stop #1 possible. From tournament setup and check-in to weigh-in, fish care, awards, and cleanup, we appreciate everyone who continues giving their time to support these young anglers.
A special thank you also goes to Lake Fork Marina for serving as the host location for our Northeast Region season opener.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We are incredibly grateful to every business and organization investing in the Northeast Region and Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth.
Your support allows us to operate tournaments, provide opportunities for High School and Junior anglers, and continue putting meaningful cash awards back into youth tournament fishing.
Please support the businesses that support our anglers.
Next Up: Lake Lavon
One qualifier is complete, and the Northeast Region now turns its attention to Stop #2.
🎣 Northeast Region Stop #2
📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
📍 Lake Lavon
🛥️ Collin Park Marina
Registration is open:
https://app.fishingchaos.com/tournament/6BomQ11YbWT6JvPlyrVR
Lake Fork gave us two tournament winners, two Big Bass sweeps, and the first AOY points of the year.
Now it’s on to Lake Lavon. We’ll see y’all at Stop #2! 🎣
