Ben Cleary Tops 700-Angler Field To Win Big Bass Tour Event On Lake Eufaula

Ben Cleary, of Monticello, won a fully rigged 2025 Nitro Z20 XL, at the Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament, an event of the Big Bass Tour, where the heaviest single bass during two days earns top honors.

Monticello’s Ben Cleary topped more than 700 anglers to win a new Nitro bass boat in the 3rd annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament, which took place from March 28-30, 2025 out of Lake Point State Park on Lake Eufaula. The event featured anglers from 27 states and Canada, awarding more than $230,000 in cash and prizes.

Competitors vied for hourly prizes through seven daily weigh-ins, with cash awarded to the top-10 biggest catches of each hour. The grand prize—a fully rigged 2025 Nitro Z20 XL—was claimed by Georgia angler Ben Cleary, who landed a 7.4-lb. largemouth bass during the second weigh-in hour on Day One of the tournament. The top finishers also took home Minn Kota and Humminbird gear, including the all-new Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motors and XPLORE 12 fish finders.

Eufaula, Ala. is home to the renowned Humminbird facility, where their marine electronics are designed, engineered and built, provided a fitting backdrop, honoring the brand’s legacy in the place where countless Humminbird units have been developed and tested.

Once again, Minn Kota and Humminbird partnered with Big Bass Tour to operate the tournament, which kicked off with registration on March 27. The first 250 anglers to register received an Abu Garcia Revo SX Reel ($169.95 value) as an early entry prize. Additionally, the first 55 anglers who opted in qualified for a VIP exclusive plant tour, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the Humminbird facility in Eufaula.

Despite getting out later than planned on Friday morning, Georgia angler Ben Cleary and his crew—his dad Benjie and family friend Bruce—launched in hopes of finding some early bites. Their starting spot didn’t pan out due to wind and muddy water, but that didn’t shake the trio’s confidence. With Bruce in the driver’s seat, he noticed a protected nearby pocket on Lakemaster Mapping with his Humminbird SOLIX. While his dad and Bruce threw spinnerbaits and flipped shallow cover, Cleary stayed committed to one thing: a topwater frog.

Team Cleary On Lake Jackson Summer Bass

“I was only fishing for one big fish, so I figured I might as well keep a frog in my hand,” Cleary said. “I had one bite not long after we started, probably a 5- or 6-pounder, but she didn’t eat it good and I missed her. It gave me confidence to keep a frog in my hand all day.”

Twenty minutes later, redemption came in the form of a big 7.4-lb. postspawn bass. The fish ate his frog in a foot and a half of water, feeding on shad along a grassy bank where a shad spawn was in full swing. The big bass was weighed during the second hour of the tournament, and while they were thrilled to take the hourly win, Cleary didn’t expect it to hold for long.

“When we got her in the boat, I knew she was pretty big, but I didn’t think there was a chance it would hold up throughout the entire event,” he said. “The first hour someone had already weighed a 6.2, and I was sure someone would catch a fish bigger than mine. It wasn’t until Sunday that I really started to believe I had a shot.”

Fishing out of Bruce’s boat—trailered down from Minnesota—because Cleary had sold his previous bass boat to purchase an offshore rig a few years ago, but that may be changing soon. Bruce’s boat, equipped with a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor and powered by a full suite of electronics including the all new Humminbird XPLORE fish finders, Humminbird MEGA 360, and Humminbird MEGA Live 2, the trio utilized the technology to locate areas where the big bass of Lake Eufaula were hanging out.

“It was really special to have my dad and Bruce in the boat when I caught that fish,” Cleary said. “We took advantage of all the electronics that Bruce had on his boat throughout the tournament. I think I’m going to keep the new Nitro Z20 XL I won and get back into bass fishing more.”

With more than $230,000 in prizes and payouts awarded throughout the tournament and more than 210 hourly payouts, the tournament provided amateur anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to participate and win.

Overall Winning Weights:

1st Place – Ben Cleary (Monticello, GA) 7.40 lbs
Prize: 2025 Nitro Z20 XL fully rigged with Minn Kota and Humminbird products, plus hourly cash

2nd Place – Jay Albritton (Albany, GA) 7.28 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly cash

3rd Place – Drake Barlow (Franklin, GA) 6.97 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly cash

4th Place – Greg Green (Phenix City, AL) 6.93 lbs
Prize: Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motor, plus hourly cash

5th Place – Brookey Meeks (Opp, AL) 6.84 lbs
Prize: Humminbird XPLORE 12, plus hourly cash

“We sincerely thank all the anglers who took part in this year’s annual Owners Tournament,” said Sarah Wells, Associate Brand Manager – Minn Kota. “Your enthusiasm, commitment, and heartfelt support for both the sport and our Humminbird and Minn Kota brands made this our most successful event to date. We’re grateful to be part of such a passionate and dedicated fishing community.”

The 3rd annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament was a clear testament to the event’s continued popularity and fierce competition, setting a high standard and reinforcing the strong reputation of Minn Kota and Humminbird in the angling community.

For more information about the tournament results, visit minnkotaowners.com. To learn more about Minn Kota, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us. To learn more about Humminbird, visit humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/us.