Minor Clinches His Second Bassmaster Kayak Series Victory 🏆

At the 2025 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Dale Hollow Reservoir, Ewing Minor delivered an unforgettable performance, earning his second career victory on the trail. This guy is on a roll! With a two-day total of 192.75 inches, Minor edged out Florida’s Seth Taylor by just half an inch in an exciting finish. 

Competing under the banner of Carson-Newman University, Minor also led his college team to a Bassmaster College Kayak Series team victory held alongside the main tournament.  This was Minor's final tournament as a Carson Newman collegiate angler, and it couldn't have been a more picture perfect victory lap. 

Dale Hollow Mastery — Strategy, Skill, and Smallmouth 📈

Minor’s mastery of Dale Hollow’s clear, highland reservoir waters was no accident. Having returned to fish the lake for each of the last several years, he used his knowledge of pre-spawn and post-spawn smallmouth behavior to locate a highly productive offshore point. Fishing 25 feet deep, he relied on a 1/4 oz jig n minnow to do most of his damage on suspended fish.

While many anglers focused on shallow spawning fish, Minor harnessed confidence in his offshore strategy - and it paid off big! After a strong Day 1, where he caught an explosive 96 inches of smallmouth in what we're referring to as a "power hour", he positioned himself in second place heading into the final day.  He went right back to his money hole for day two to solidify the win. 

NK300 Motor: A Hidden Advantage 🛡️

Beyond his tactical brilliance and out of the box approach, Minor’s equipment gave him the ultimate edge. His Newport NK300 Electric Kayak Motor allowed him to maximize his time on the water, precisely target offshore fish, and adjust dynamically.

In fact, when a mechanical issue locked up his kayak drive, Minor’s ability to adapt — using his stealthy NK300 to reset and drift over the fish — truly turned a setback into a breakthrough. He described how drifting with the wind allowed him to time his bait presentation perfectly, triggering aggressive strikes from curious smallmouth holding near the bottom. Once he'd drift out of the zone, he simply pulled back up, drifted and scoped up targets on the same school of fish this loaded point was holding. 

Without the consistent, stealthy power of his Newport motor, staying on that precise offshore school could have been far more challenging, especially without a pedal drive.  This proves, once again, that top tier equipment can separate champions from the field.

A Field Full of Talent ⚡

The Dale Hollow event attracted 233 of the nation’s best kayak anglers, who together landed an impressive 2,065 bass over two days. Forty-three limits measured 90 inches or better, underscoring the tournament's combative field.

The Top 5 finishers have now secured automatic qualification for the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship — details of which will be announced soon.

Full Tournament Results 📜

View the complete results from the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Dale Hollow Reservoir here.

Congratulations to Ewing Minor on an extraordinary win — and to all the competitors who made this event the most exciting and highly attended of the season. Stay tuned for more Bassmaster Kayak Series action as Newport continues to lead the charge in powering kayak fishing to new height!