Alabama’s Fisher Anaya has taken the lead on Day 3 of the Lippert Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin with a total of 38 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
Feb. 14, 2026
Anaya nabs the Day 3 lead at Lake Martin
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. — Each time Fisher Anaya has fished a tournament at Lake Martin, he has left with a top finish. Now, Anaya is five bass away from claiming his first Elite Series trophy in just his second attempt.
The Eva, Ala., rookie leads the Lippert Bassmaster Elite at Lake Martin with a three-day total of 38 pounds, 10 ounces after landing 14-7 of spotted bass on Semifinal Saturday, the day’s biggest bag. His lead over second-place Brock Mosley is only 2 ounces.
“I knew I needed to get my momentum back (after Guntersville), and the first day was a struggle,” he said. “I ended up scrapping up a decent bag and after that, every move I have made has been right.”
The style of fishing at Lake Martin suits Anaya, who claimed a win and two second place finishes during his high school career on the Tallapoosa River impoundment.
“I like fishing shallow and these bass live shallow and on cover,” the 20-year-old explained. “They are pretty easy to pick out; you just have to troll around and find them.”
Anaya has been lurking in the shadows up until this point. He landed 11-6 on Day 1 to land in 15th before catching 12-13 on Day 2 to jump into sixth. The 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops Angler of the Year has been targeting prespawn staging areas, mostly in 10 feet of water or less. One finesse-style presentation has produced most of his bites.
“Most of my bass are coming off of shallow rockpiles,” Anaya explained. “You can’t see them until you cast the bait over and pull them up.”
Forward-facing sonar has revealed most of the bass he has landed this week, but on Day 3 when the sun peaked out from behind the clouds, he caught three of his spotted bass sight fishing.
“They are trying to get up and spawn,” he said. “As the week has gone on, more and more are getting up there. I haven’t sight-fished at all this week, but today I saw three of my big ones. They are slowly moving shallower, I just need them to keep coming.
On Day 3, Anaya caught 10 pounds pretty quickly, but broke off a big fish under a dock that would have given him an even bigger bag. After a long lull, Anaya moved to a stretch where he caught several good fish on Day 2 and upgraded with a 3 1/2-pounder and a 2 1/2-pounder.
“It was unreal,” he said. “I saw a big one that came up from under a dock that didn’t bite. I saw another one, caught it and it was a 2 1/2 and then saw another one and it was 3 1/2. I knew that one was the one I needed at the time. She came up and bit with ease.”
Then with 10 minutes to go before check-in, Anaya landed another 3-pound spotted bass that ultimately gave him the lead.
“I’ve been running back up to Wind Creek with 20 minutes to go every afternoon to give myself a couple casts,” Anaya said. “I’ve been stopping on a different spot each time. I put the trolling motor down and she was 20 feet in front of me just swimming around.”
After three days of sunshine, a big front is forecasted to move through the area on Championship Sunday, bringing rain, wind and a chance of storms to the lake for the first time this week.
“I think it will make it tougher,” Anaya said. “If it doesn’t lightning, I’ll be all good. If there’s lightning, all my bass are going to leave. Pray to God for no lightning and no thunder. Just let it rain.”
After leading the first two days of the tournament, Mosley dropped to second with a three-day total of 38-8. The Mississippi pro opened the tournament with 15-7, still the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament, before landing 10-15 and 12-2 the next two days.
Mosley has been switching between an offshore brushpile pattern and a shallow power fishing pattern. The offshore pattern produced a solid limit weighing over 7 pounds before he moved back to dirtier water to hunt for a kicker largemouth.
Just before 1 p.m., Mosley hooked up with that kicker, a 4-pound largemouth that ate his ChatterBait.
“It was on a textbook spot. The wind was blowing in on the secondary point before a shallow flat. She was sitting there staging,” Mosley said.
Mosley’s biggest bites all week have come in less than 5 feet of water around similar secondary staging areas. A rotation of baits has come into play, but a ChatterBait paired with a Yamamoto Zako was his best bait on Day 3.
With bags of 11-1, 14-10 and 11-12, Georgia’s Emil Wagner is third with 37-7. The Lake Lanier guide has been targeting prespawn staging areas in 5 to 15 feet of water using several different finesse tactics. He has also fished several super shallow docks that have produced key bites.
“It was a grind today,” he said. “I’m going to fish all new water tomorrow. I kept telling myself I was going to do that today and I didn’t, and that’s why I didn’t catch anything early on.”
Despite a tough day, Wagner made an important move at the end of the day that produced a nearly 3-pound spotted bass.
“It was the highlight of my day,” he said. “I pulled into a pocket I marked on Google Earth. I had never fished in there, but there was one dock in the back, and I panned out into the pocket and there was a big ole fish glowing. I thought it was too good to be true. I threw it over there, and she shot up and ate it.”
North Carolina pro Shane LeHew caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 4-7 largemouth, earning him a $1,000 bonus. Mike Iaconelli still leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, a 5-3 largemouth he landed on Day 3.
Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year with 180 points followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 175 points. Mosley is third with 174 points, Kyle Welcher is fourth with 173 points and Caleb Hudson is fifth with 171 points. Stetson Blaylock, John Garrett, Drew Cook, Cody Meyer and Matt Robertson round out the Top 10.
Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 171 points followed by Anaya in second with 138 points and Pake South in third with 133 points.
The Top 10 anglers will launch from Wind Creek State Park beginning at 7 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner will earn the $100,000 first-place prize and a coveted blue trophy.
FS1 will carry Bassmaster LIVE starting at 8 a.m. ET until 11 a.m. while Live Cast will run on Bassmaster.com during those hours. Bassmaster.com takes full live coverage at 11 a.m. ET and will continue until 3 p.m.
The tournament is being hosted by Explore Lake Martin and Tallapoosa County Tourism.
2026 Lippert Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Martin 2/12-2/15
Lake Martin, Alexander City AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 15 38-10 101
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 5 14-07
2. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 38-08 100
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 12-02
3. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 15 37-07 99
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 11-12
4. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 15 37-04 98
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 11-14
5. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 35-15 97
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 10-00
6. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 35-15 96
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-02
7. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 15 35-04 95
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 10-10
8. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 35-02 94
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 5 11-10
9. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 15 35-02 93
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 12-01
10. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 15 34-14 92
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 13-00
11. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 34-09 91 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 11-09
12. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 34-09 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
13. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 34-04 89 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 13-05
14. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 34-03 88 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 13-04
15. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 34-03 87 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 10-13
16. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 33-11 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 12-06
17. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 15 33-11 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 12-01
18. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 33-09 84 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 11-07
19. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 33-04 83 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 5 09-02
20. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 33-04 82 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 09-06
21. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 33-04 81 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 11-15
22. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 33-01 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 10-13
23. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 33-00 79 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 10-13
24. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 15 32-14 78 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 10-00
25. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 32-13 77 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 10-15
26. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 32-11 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 10-12
27. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 32-09 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 09-11
28. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 32-08 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 09-10
29. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 32-06 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 10-13
30. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 32-05 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 5 11-07
31. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 15 32-00 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 11-11
32. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 32-00 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 10-00
33. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 31-15 69 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 09-02
34. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 31-14 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-12
35. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 15 31-14 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 10-05
36. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 31-14 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 10-08
37. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 31-11 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 11-02
38. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 15 31-10 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 09-10
39. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 31-07 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 09-01
40. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 31-03 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 5 08-07
41. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 15 31-03 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 10-10
42. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 31-01 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 09-13
43. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 30-13 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 09-12
44. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 15 30-12 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-15 Day 3: 5 10-02
45. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 30-12 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 5 10-01
46. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 30-08 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-02
47. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 30-03 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 10-00
48. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 30-01 54 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 09-01 Day 3: 5 10-00
49. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15 29-07 53 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 5 09-00
50. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 27-15 52 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-15 Day 3: 5 07-13
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 04-06 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 05-03 $1,000.00
3 Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 04-07 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 101 505 1022-00
2 101 505 1030-04
3 50 250 540-11
———————————-
252 1260 2592-15