Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Will Davis Jr., 30, could have a long and successful career, and he might not ever top the thrill he experienced Sunday. Davis won the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake – his home lake – in front of family and hundreds of friends. It’s only fitting that Davis is now the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year leader after six tournaments.
“It means the world to do it in front of my home crowd,” Davis said. “I did it for my wife, my dad, my little girl and everyone who came and watched me. I did it for these guys I fish against around here too. They are good enough to be on the Elite Series.”
Davis is the son of legendary tackle manufacturer Williams Davis Sr., owner of Davis Bait Company in Sylacauga, Ala. The Davis father-and-son team has fished tournaments on Lay Lake since Will was 7 years old. Will estimated that between them, they’ve won about 60 tournaments and $300,000 on Lay Lake over the years.
However, this was another level all together. Davis had been in contention the previous three days on Lay Lake – seventh on Day 1, second on Day 2 and third going into the final, less than 3 pounds behind Brandon Palaniuk, who led the first three days, and a 1/2 pound behind Jason Christie.
When Davis’ five-bass limit of 14 pounds, 2 ounces, registered on the scale Sunday he was leading with “only” Christie and Palaniuk left to weigh in – two of the most accomplished current pros in professional bass fishing. Despite a brief but heavy thundershower, the hometown crowd stuck around and erupted when Palaniuk’s total fell 2 ounces short.
It marked the closest Elite Series win since 2011 at Toledo Bend when Gerald Swindle lost by an ounce to Dean Rojas.
There seems to be a trend in rookies winning Elite Series events. It’s a testament to the skills acquired along the way to qualifying for competition on this circuit. Bryan New of Saluda, S.C., won the first event of his rookie season in 2021 on Florida’s St. Johns River. Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., won at the St. Lawrence River during his rookie season in 2022. In the process, he became the first B.A.S.S. angler to total more than 100 pounds of smallmouth bass in a four-day, five-bass daily limit tournament. Already this season, rookie Joey Cifuentes III of Clinton, Ark., won the Elite Series event at Georgia’s Lake Seminole – the second tournament of the year.
The ROY title is a long way from being decided. While Davis is leading with 383 points, which is also sixth in Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points, close behind him are David Gaston, who is also from Sylacauga, Ala., and Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif. They’re tied with 369 points. Cifuentes is fourth with 334 points, and Cooper Gallant of Bowmanville, Canada, is fifth with 311.
Editor’s note: See full ROY standings.
