3rd Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament Raises the Bar
Eugene L. 04.22.25
At the end of last month, the Third Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament took place at Lake Point State Park on Lake Eufaula, Alabama. From March 28-30, 2025, over 700 anglers from 27 states and Canada were awarded more than $230,000 in cash and prizes. This was all done at the renowned Humminbird facility, where their marine electronics are designed, engineered, and manufactured. A fitting backdrop for an owner’s tournament on the same body of water where countless Humminbird units have been developed and tested. Once again, Minn Kota and Humminbird partnered with Big Bass Tour to operate the third annual tournament, kicking off with registration on March 27th. The first 250 anglers to register received an Abu Garcia Revo SX Reel ($169.95 value) as a prize for early entry. Additionally, the first 55 anglers who opted in were qualified for an exclusive VIP plant tour of the Humminbird facility in Eufaula.
Over the next three days, competitors vied for the hourly prizes through seven daily weigh-ins, with cash prizes for the top ten biggest catches of each hour. The prize of a fully decked out 2025 Nitro Z20 XL was won by Georgia angler Ben Cleary, with a 7.4-pound largemouth weighed in at the second hour of Day one. The top finishing anglers also took home Minn Kota and Humminbird gear, including the all-new Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motors and XPLORE 12 fish finders.
Despite getting on the water later than planned Friday morning, Georgia angler Ben Cleary and his crew, his dad and family friend Bruce, launched in hopes of finding some early bites.
“I was only fishing for one big fish, so I figured I might as well keep a frog in my hand,” Cleary said. “I had one bite not long after we started, probably a five or six pounder, but she didn’t eat it good and I missed her. It gave me confidence to keep a frog in my hand all day.”
Twenty minutes after missing that fish, a second chance for a big fish came with a giant, 7.4-pound post-spawn bass that inhaled his frog in a foot and a half of water. The fish had been feeding on a shad spawn along a grassy bank, but could not pass up a big bait while it was all fired up. While he was thrilled to take the hourly win, given it was so early in the tournament, Cleary did not expect the fish to hold first for long.
“When we got her in the boat, I knew she was pretty big, but I didn’t think there was a chance it would hold up throughout the entire event,” he said. “The first hour someone had already weighed a 6.2 (-pound bass), and I was sure someone would catch a fish bigger than mine. It wasn’t until Sunday that I really started to believe I had a shot.”
Fishing out of Bruce’s boat, which had been trailered down from Minnesota. Cleary and crew took full advantage of all the Minn Kota and Humminbird electronics on board, a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor, all-new Humminbird XPLORE fish finders, Humminbird MEGA 360, and Humminbird MEGA Live 2.
“It was really special to have my dad and Bruce in the boat when I caught that fish,” Cleary said. “We took advantage of all the electronics that Bruce had on his boat throughout the tournament. I think I’m going to keep the new Nitro Z20 XL I won and get back into bass fishing more.”
This tournament awarded over $230,000 in prizes in payouts throughout the tournament, with more than 210 hourly payouts for amateur anglers of all skill levels.
Overall Winning Weights – 2025 Minn Kota Humminbird Owners Tournament
1st Place – Ben Cleary (Monticello, GA) 7.40 lbs
Prize: 2025 Nitro Z20 XL fully rigged with Minn Kota and Humminbird products, plus hourly cash2nd Place – Jay Albritton (Albany, GA) 7.28 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly cash3rd Place – Drake Barlow (Franklin, GA) 6.97 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly cash4th Place – Greg Green (Phenix City, AL) 6.93 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly cash5th Place – Brookey Meeks (Opp, AL) 6.84 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly cash“We sincerely thank all the anglers who took part in this year’s annual Owners Tournament,” said Sarah Wells, Associate Brand Manager – Minn Kota. “Your enthusiasm, commitment, and heartfelt support for both the sport and our Humminbird and Minn Kota brands made this our most successful event to date. We’re grateful to be part of such a passionate and dedicated fishing community.”
For more information about the tournament results, visit minnkotaowners.com.
