Trey McKinney locks up the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title on the St. Lawrence River, becoming the youngest AOY champion in B.A.S.S. history at 21 years old. The Carbondale, Illinois pro seals the deal with a second-place finish at the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River, capping a nine-event season with 735 points to edge Canadian standout Cory Johnston in the yearlong race.
McKinney’s AOY win extends a rapid rise through the Bassmaster ranks. He already holds marks as the youngest angler to qualify for the Elite Series and the youngest to win an Elite event, including record-setting performances at Lake Fork in 2024 and Lake St. Clair in 2025. His St. Lawrence performance includes a historic smallmouth bag over 30 pounds and multiple days leading both the tournament and AOY standings, underscoring his dominance in northern smallmouth fisheries.
The victory also rewrites a long-standing benchmark in professional bass fishing. McKinney’s age breaks Kevin VanDam’s record as the youngest Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year, a mark that stood since 1992. For B.A.S.S., the new champion represents a generational shift in the Elite Series, with a 21-year-old angler now setting the standard for consistency and high finishes over a full season on venues ranging from southern reservoirs to Great Lakes-connected smallmouth rivers.