In less than one year’s time, Easton Fothergill went from representing the Bassmaster College Series in the 2024 Classic, to the summit of professional bass fishing. Winning the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in record-breaking fashion on Lake Ray Roberts.
Not only was it nearly unbelievable to see a 22-year-old phenom from Minnesota break the Classic weight record held by none other than the legend KVD; it can’t be overstated how important and inspiring Easton’s victory will be for the next generation of anglers who aspire to make it to the professional level.
Fothergill was one of six anglers who qualified for their first Classic through the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket competing on Ray Roberts. Six guys out of 56 Classic qualifiers came through this same arduous avenue that sends just one angler to the Classic each year. That is truly incredible and proves that this program is a fruitful training ground for young anglers who intend to become full-time professionals.
Fothergill, like every Classic Bracket champion, won his chance to drive a brand-new Toyota Tundra wrapped in his alma-mater’s colors last year and compete in the Bassmaster Open EQs. The Montevallo University standout took full advantage of the opportunity, winning not one but two Opens and clinching the Opens EQ points title.
The day after Easton won his first Open on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma, I got a phone call from the newly crowned Open champion, asking if there was any way he could go ahead and buy the truck he was currently driving.
“I knew a week into driving the 2024 Tundra that I loved it and wanted to buy it, but I was fresh out of college and a new truck wasn’t exactly in my budget.” Fothergill said with a laugh. “I had owned a 2011 Tundra up until that point, and it was the perfect college fishing truck. Solid, reliable and it earned me some extra cash through Bonus Bucks at the college level.
“After I won the first Open and had some money in my bank account, I knew I had to figure out a way to buy this truck. I wanted to be driving a new Tundra following 2024, and here was my chance.”
That decision was a no-brainer for Toyota as well, too, who opted to sell Fothergill the truck and work with him as an Elite Series rookie to promote the Bonus Bucks program. What could be a better testament to the product than Fothergill purchasing the very tow-vehicle he won rights to through the College Bracket program?
Well, how about Fothergill winning the Bassmaster Classic the following year while driving his newly purchased Tundra. Earning himself a $10,000 payout from Toyota Bonus Bucks and putting an exclamation point on this tale of Easton’s Tundra.
“To drive a new Tundra and work with a company like Toyota the past year has been a dream come true,” Fothergill said. “I may be young, but I know that it’s important to try and align yourself with brands who support the sport. There is no better example of that than Toyota. They support tournament anglers of all levels. I’m proud to drive a Tundra.”
To learn how you can cash-in on Toyota Bonus Bucks rewards like the new Classic champion, visit this link www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/. Bonus Bucks is free to register for and supports over 620 tournaments, with opportunities to earn bonus money whether you fish team, college, walleye, kayak tournaments and more.
