There’s a certain magic that lingers in the air after a great fishing event. It’s a blend of satisfaction, fellowship and a bit of wistfulness that it’s over. As I rolled out of Guntersville this year, that feeling sat heavy on my mind.
The 2025 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament was one of those special weekends where everything just seemed to click. The fishing, the people, the purpose. And if you ask Team Toyota pro Terry “Big Show” Scroggins, he’ll tell you this one might have been the best yet.
“I’ve been to a bunch of these Toyota tournaments over the years,” Scroggins said, leaning back onto his Tundra at launch with a grin that only comes from a man who’s been around the sport for decades. “But this one right here. Man, it was something special. From the food to the folks, I don’t think I’ve ever had a better time at one of these things.”
A tournament built on fellowship
For those who haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing one firsthand, the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament isn’t your average weekend derby. Sure, there’s a competitive element with $5,000 on the line for first place and an impressive pile of prizes and free gear. But that’s not what most folks remember when they trailer their boats and head home.
What sticks with them are the laughs shared under the tent after weigh-in, the smell of barbecue rolling across the parking lot and the easy conversations with anglers who’ve driven from all corners of the country.
“Toyota does this thing right,” Scroggins said. “They feed you well, they treat you right and they make you feel like part of the family. I’ve been coming to these things for years and I can tell you it never gets old. Everybody’s smiling, cutting up, swapping fish stories. It just makes you feel good.”
That feeling was on full display this year at Lake Guntersville. The lake showed off its generous side, giving up plenty of solid fish and a handful of big bass that made for an exciting weigh-in. The anglers were grinning, the crowd was loud, and the camaraderie was as thick as the morning fog that rolled off the Tennessee River.
A brand that stands behind the sport
Scroggins, who’s been a proud Toyota pro for years, doesn’t mince words when it comes to what makes these tournaments and Toyota’s role in the fishing world so meaningful.
“Toyota is the only vehicle manufacturer that supports the entire fishing industry,” he said plainly. “And that’s not just talk. You see it in events like this, in their Bonus Bucks program and in the way they back the anglers whether it’s the pros all the way to the weekend guys. Nobody else does it like Toyota.”
It’s a statement that carries weight coming from a veteran like Scroggins. The Toyota Owners Tournament is completely free to enter for eligible Toyota owners, and the prizes and giveaways could rival many high-entry events. From tackle and gear to the generous cash payout, it’s clear that Toyota isn’t just dipping a toe in the fishing world.
They’re all in.
Anglers have responded in kind. Each year, the turnout grows, with hundreds of teams traveling from across the map to share a weekend on the water. They come for the competition, sure, but they also come for something deeper: community.
“You look around and see guys from all over the country,” Scroggins said. “Different accents, different boats and different styles. But everyone’s got one thing in common. We all love fishing. That’s what makes this event so special. It’s a great representation of our sport.”
More than just a tournament
By Sunday afternoon, it was hard not to feel proud of what this event represents. The Toyota team, as always, went above and beyond to make sure every detail was nailed down from the hospitality to the prizes, to the seamless flow of the event.
But beyond the logistics and the weigh-in numbers, there was something else that made this one memorable. It was the laughter. The shared respect. The sense that for a weekend, the fishing community had come together not just to compete, but to celebrate what binds them.
The simple joy of chasing bass and the fellowship that comes with it.
Looking ahead
As the sun dipped low over Lake Guntersville and the last few boats idled back to the ramp, you could feel that sense of gratitude and belonging that Toyota has managed to cultivate year after year. For Scroggins, a man who’s seen just about everything in this sport, that feeling never gets old.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again,” he said. “Toyota gets it. They understand what this sport means to people. That’s why I’ll never miss one of these events.”
And that’s the truth of it. The 2025 Toyota Owners Tournament wasn’t just another stop on the calendar. It was a reminder of what makes this sport so special. The people, the passion and the companies that care enough to keep it all going.
When anglers packed up and pointed their trucks toward home, they didn’t just leave with new gear and prize money. They left with full hearts, new friendships and another memory that’ll last long after the fish stories fade.
Lake Guntersville was good to them this year but it’s much, much more that made this bass derby one for the books.
