Chad Frie Wins Skeet Reese Big Bass Battle presented by Reese Fishing
9.15-pound largemouth wins Ranger Boats / Mercury Marine Prize
9.15-pound largemouth wins Ranger Boats / Mercury Marine Prize
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – June 29, 2026 –– 487 Anglers registered to compete in the Skeet Reese Big Bass Battle presented by Reese Fishing on California’s largemouth bass factory Clear Lake. Throughout the two-day competition, 411 bass were presented to the scales at Konocti Harbor Resort in Kelseyville, Calif., but it was a 9.15-pound largemouth bass brought by angler Chad Frie in the fifth hour on day one that would hold as the
largest bass of the event. That fish would earn Frie the grand prize for the event; a Ranger Z519 powered by a Mercury ProXS 225 outboard rigged with Lowrance electronics, Power Pole Move trolling motor, Charge and 8-foot Blade Shallow Water Anchors – a prize package valued at $90,000.
Frie who fished with longtime friend and fishing industry executive Vince Borges said that the fish struck a new crankbait from Bill Lewis Lures. “I saw the fish on Forward Facing Sonar and made a long cast with the DR24 and started the retrieve,” he said. “I was winding it down and the fish came up to strike while it was still on it’s way down, and the fight was on.” Frie’s fish narrowly eclipsed a 9.14-pound largemouth brought to the stage by Chad Sweitzer two hour earlier. “It was also exciting to win that hour, and nerve wracking to know that I had only beaten the previous leader by 1/100 th of a pound because it could have happened to me,” he said. “To have it hold on to win the Ranger Boat is something I didn’t expect, and it’s really cool.”
Skeet Reese, the founder of Reese Fishing and the event promoter reported having a lot of feelings at the conclusion of the award ceremony. “To be standing here in Konocti Harbor Resort at the conclusion of this event brings up so many emotions,” he said. “To be able to bring something like this to a community that means so much to me and my career and to reintroduce bass fishing to a place like this historic resort is so
amazing. And at the same time, to have brought the largest bass fishing tournament to Clear Lake and to be the first event outside of Major League Fishing to use the Bubba Scoretracker Live app – it’s all something I’m very proud of.”
He also revealed that he felt thankful. “To have 487 anglers sign up and fish this event, t have the sponsors and the community get behind this is almost overwhelming,” he said. “I’m so very humbled by the turnout and I’m thankful to my family and friends that showed up to help run this; it was an amazing few days, and I’m sure it
will sink in even more in the days to come. “The only thing I wish we would have seen is for a double-digit bass to have been weighed,” he said laughing.
“This is Clear Lake and there are plenty of giants out here; maybe next time.”
The Skeet Resse Big Bass Battle presented by Reese Fishing was sponsored by, Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats,Mercury, Lowrance and Power Pole, other event sponsors include: Kastking, BUBBA, Sea Guide, Wiley X,
Gone Fishin’ Marine and Konocti Harbor Resort. Other partners included the Shannon Mercantile Winery, Crooked Goat Brewery and the weigh-ins were operated by WON Bass.
Along with the $90,000 Ranger / Mercury, Power-Pole, Lowrance prize boat, more than $43,000 cash was paid
out to competitors in hourly prizes and contingency awards.
The sample hourly payout was as below.
1ST: $1000.00
2ND: $500.00
3RD: $300.00
4TH: $250.00
5TH: $225.00
6TH: $200.00
7TH: $175.00
8TH: $150.00
9TH: $125.00
10TH: $100.00
Full event results are available on the BUBBA app on The Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
Coverage of the event included video content and livetreamed final hour weigh-ins, they can be found on Skeet
About Reese Fishing
A product of more than 40 years of competitive and fishing industry excellence, Reese Fishing is the brainchild of Bass Fishing Hall
of Fame inductee Skeet Reese. The Auburn, Calif. pro, being one of the most successful anglers in the fishing industry with over 40
years of experience, knows what real anglers want and need to be successful on the water. built alongside his wife and daughters, the
goal is to instill our passion for the outdoors. The goal of Reese Fishing products is to help customers be inspired to explore what the
outdoors has to offer; Reese Fishing strives for the best overall performance on the water.
For more information about Reese Fishing, or to order products, visit them online at http://reesefishing.com .
