Virginia-based kayak angler Casey Reed claimed his first-ever Bassmaster Kayak Series victory at the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau. Reed posted a two-day combined total of 196.50 inches, winning by a quarter of an inch.
“I’ve been fishing Bassmaster since they started their kayak series, and I’ve been wanting a blue trophy so bad,” said Casey Reed, who’s a member of the Old Town Pro Team. “It just went perfectly, I couldn’t have asked for it to go any better”.
Reed competed aboard his Old Town Auto Pilot 136 kayak, relying on the watercraft’s stability and fishability to navigate the complex waters of Caddo and Bistineau across two grueling days of competition. Reed’s ability to put fish in the boat proved to be the difference as he battled post-front conditions and a finicky postspawn bite.
Reed staked out a flat where post-spawn bass were moving through to feed on baitfish. A combination of shaky head rigs, crankbaits, and lipless crankbaits like the Yo-Zuri Rattlin’ Vibe helped him catch his limit both days, including a 22.75- and a 21-incher.
“I have friends who use other brands of boats,” said Reed. “When the wind blows, they’re out there trying to fish a brush pile or isolated targets, struggling to stay in position. They see me sitting there in the wind, not having to constantly adjust my boat, wishing they too had Spot-Lock.”
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The Caddo/Bistineau event was a strong showing for Old Town’s National Pro Team. Fellow Old Town Pro angler Dontrell Sullivan of North Carolina led the field after Day 1 with a five-bass limit totaling 100.25 inches, anchored by a 22-inch largemouth. He went on to finish second overall, continuing to prove why he’s become one of the most consistent anglers on the Bassmaster Kayak circuit.
Wyatt Hammond, the 2025 Kayak Series National Champion, also put together a solid week. He sat in third after the opening day with 97 inches before finishing the event in eighth place, representing another steady finish for one of the top names in the sport.