PARIS, Tenn. — Kentucky Lake is different from anything Brooks Beaty and Caleb Coburn have ever fished before, but the new scenery seems to fit their strengths so far.
The rising freshman from the Northwest Louisiana Bassmasters caught a three-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the 2026 Bassmaster Junior Championship tournament on Kentucky Lake. They hold a 1-8 advantage over Adam Nieman and Charlie McMahon from the Front Range Bass Club heading into the final day.
This is the duo’s first time competing in the Junior National Championship.
“This is awesome. I just hope we can catch some good ones tomorrow,” Beaty said.
Beaty and Coburn have been fishing together since the fifth grade and now attend Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport. Both consider Caddo Lake on the Texas/Louisiana border as their home fisheries; a lake that features thousands of shallow cypress trees and a much different landscape than western Kentucky and Tennessee.
Beaty and Coburn have adapted well to the offshore style of fishing that dominates the Tennessee River system. After a stormy start to the week across the eastern half of the country, Kentucky Lake is above full pool, and the dam has at least four generators running. That was key to finding an active bite during the practice period.
“With the current constantly pulling, I thought we could have a good day,” Coburn said. “We saw a bunch of fish and were able to get them to follow our baits. We thought conditions would be pretty similar (on Day 1) to what they were in practice.”
The duo opened the morning with company around their primary area, and after not getting bit right away, they decided to leave and come back later. When they did, Beaty said they filled out a good limit in less than 10 minutes.
“We caught three good ones really quick. We went back to another stretch and caught a 5-pounder. It happened pretty fast,” Beaty said. “We got to where we do have to make that long of a run.”
Another quick move produced a 5-pounder around 11 a.m., which allowed them to practice the rest of the day.
Most of their bass, all of which were largemouth, are located offshore in 6 to 10 feet of water. Beaty and Coburn used three different baits to land their limit.
“I think we can do it again tomorrow,” Coburn said. “We just have to stay in the same mindset and get three of those good ones.”
Nieman and McMahon from the Front Range Bass Club are second with 13-11 followed by Cannon Spilka and Lucas Vance from the Sumner County Junior Bass Team in third with 12-5. Parker Smith and Cooper Anderson from Scotts Hill High School Junior Club are fourth with 12-1 and Kase Cribbet and Easton Stahley from the Cincinnati Youth Bass Club are fifth with 11-9.
Griffin Wilson and Aiden Alexander from the Denver Junior Bassmasters caught the Big Bass of the Day, a 6-7 largemouth that anchored their 9-2 19th place bag.
Day 2 of the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Championship will begin at 6 a.m. CT at Paris Landing State Park. Weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. CT..
2026 Bassmaster Junior Championship 7/24-7/25
Kentucky Lake, Paris TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Brooks Beaty - Caleb Coburn Nwla Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 15-03 Total: 3 15-03
2. Adam Nieman - Charlie Mcmahon Front Range Bass Club Hs Distr 0
Day 1: 3 13-11 Total: 3 13-11
3. Cannon Spilka - Lucas Vance Sumner County Junior Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 12-05 Total: 3 12-05
4. Parker Smith - Cooper Anderson Scotts Hill High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 12-01 Total: 3 12-01
5. Kase Cribbet - Easton Stahley Cincinnati Youth Bass Club Jr 0
Day 1: 3 11-09 Total: 3 11-09
6. Lawson Albright - William Gaines Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 11-03 Total: 3 11-03
7. Ty Cornell - Beckett Lady Longhorn Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 11-01 Total: 3 11-01
8. Cullen Simon - Easton Stanley Little Cypress Mauriceville Jr 0
Day 1: 3 11-00 Total: 3 11-00
9. Robert Chase Taylor - Jonathan Luke Hall Baldwin County Hs Juniors Fishin 0
Day 1: 3 10-03 Total: 3 10-03
10. Brycen Moriarty - Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 09-13 Total: 3 09-13
10. Kase Nobile - Nathaniel Watts Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham 0
Day 1: 3 09-13 Total: 3 09-13
12. Colin Nicholson - Jaxon Mcdaniels Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 09-10 Total: 3 09-10
13. Owen Mcdaniel - Mitchell Mcdaniel South Beauregard Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 09-09 Total: 3 09-09
14. Kaleb Everhart - Jacob Murphy Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 09-07 Total: 3 09-07
15. Fisher Holloway - Ty Crosby Fort White Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 09-06 Total: 3 09-06
16. Jaxon Berry - Gunner Valdez Nmbn Junior 0
Day 1: 3 09-06 Total: 3 09-06
17. Lliam Crisman - Cole Puryear Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 09-04 Total: 3 09-04
18. John David Harmon - William Harmon Notre Dame Junior Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 09-02 Total: 3 09-02
19. Griffin Wilson - Aiden Alexander Denver Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 09-02 Total: 2 09-02
20. Korben Burgess - Mack Josey Cleveland County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
20. Jayden Savino - Kolbe Fletcher Tyrone Area Junior Bassers 0
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
22. Conner Sowers - Ryan Mclaughlin Batesville Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 09-00 Total: 3 09-00
23. Parker Betts - Kamarion Tullis Galatia Jr Basscats 0
Day 1: 3 08-13 Total: 3 08-13
24. Jacob Deane - Knox White Mt. Juliet Fishing - Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 08-12 Total: 3 08-12
25. Isabella Sigmon - Jaxon Schmidt Southern Wv Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
26. Trey Herrman - Reid Currie Topeka Jr Hawgs 0
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
27. Anderson Weaver - Lawton Cantrell Blue Ridge Tiger Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 08-07 Total: 3 08-07
28. Kipton Vipperman - Trenton Miller Patrick County Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 08-04 Total: 3 08-04
29. Cole Hutto - Jack Bolin Bandys Fishing Team Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 07-10 Total: 3 07-10
30. Coop Caldwell - Konnor Macoubrie Team Fishing 4 Life 0
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
31. Hunter Beach - Austin Jefferson Fighting Fishsticks Jr. Bass Clu 0
Day 1: 2 07-08 Total: 2 07-08
32. Jordyn Kirwan - Ainsley Gustad Winner Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 07-03 Total: 2 07-03
33. Trace Carstens - Payton Lawrence Jefferson Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 07-01 Total: 3 07-01
34. Liam Johnson - Drake Penrod Southern Illinois Future Jr Angl 0
Day 1: 2 07-00 Total: 2 07-00
35. Camden Baker - Asher Hart Hartley's Hawgs Piglets 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
35. Grayson Bentley - Jacob Genaro Jefferson High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
37. Henry Sullivan - Laken Pack Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
38. Luke Mcandrew - Brody Witmer Sml Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
39. Nolan Bittner - Owen Amiot St. Francis Fighting Saints 0
Day 1: 3 06-11 Total: 3 06-11
40. Tristin Liccardo - New Jersey BASS Nation Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
40. Liam Monahan - Madyx Popel Off The Hook Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
40. Preston Phillips - Ben Langley Aybn Southern High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
40. Grayson Spagnuolo - Cashius Wyman Howell BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
40. Hudson Williams - Spence Gilchrist Riley's Catch 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
45. Hunter Harris - Hudson Harris Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
46. Piers Picou - Paxton Picou Central Catholic - LA 0
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
46. Easton Trotter - Cooper Thomas Rehobeth Jr High School Team 0
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
48. Kinsley Montgomery - Liam Price Gaffney Jr High School Fishing T 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Total: 3 06-07
49. Jed Butler - Jameson Ray Woodford County Bass Jackets 0
Day 1: 2 06-07 Total: 2 06-07
50. Carson Terrell - Cameron Terrell Port City Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
51. Cade Fisher - Grady Dawson Strafford Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
52. Bennett Bullard - Kei Blaylock Trader Bills 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Total: 3 06-03
53. Kollin Brown - Cord Shook Haywood Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
54. Brady Crigger - Jarek Connell Hooked On Freedom 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
55. Nicholas Crigger - Colin Crigger Hooked On Freedom 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
55. Clayton Jewart - Cody Moran Pa Bassin Juniors 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
57. Tucker Burr - Logan Herbst St. Francis Fighting Saints 0
Day 1: 2 05-14 Total: 2 05-14
58. JT Tumoszwicz - Trevor Schwier Highlands County Anglers Club 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
59. Brooks Higginbotham - Rigg Mccrary Oxford Student Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 2 05-09 Total: 2 05-09
59. Tommy Richards - Syrus Jones Denver Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 05-09 Total: 2 05-09
61. Gideon Fleisher - Dawson Sult Cincinnati Youth Bass Club Jr 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
62. Deagan Gross - Colton Yockey Cassville 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
63. Brody Bible - Sawyer Mynatt Karns Jr High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
63. Isaac Wilson - Camden Crow Honey Creek Mafia Jr 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
65. Talin Hawkins - Carter Smith KAWARTHA BASS MASTERS 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Total: 2 04-10
65. Mason Showers - Brock Frye Junior Wildcats 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Total: 2 04-10
67. Carsen Feinberg - Grant Klein New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
68. Shawn Peer Jr. - Wally Peer Iv Bass Nation Juniors 0
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
69. John Brown - Blaine Summers Indiana Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
69. Maddox Shaffer - Myles Shaffer Junior Garrett Bass Slayers 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Total: 2 04-05
71. Noah Shuman - Grayden Kobeska Eau Galle Valley Youth Fishing J 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
72. Alden Breland - Darren Land Vancleave High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
72. Wyatt Roberts - Brooks Henderson Honey Creek Mafia Jr 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
74. Benjamin Gue - William Gue Mountaineer Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 1 04-00 Total: 1 04-00
75. Brantley Broussard - Cole Watkins Jr. Southwest Bassmasters-Denham 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
76. Colton Willging - Brody Heacock Dubuque Bass 0
Day 1: 1 03-11 Total: 1 03-11
77. Ethan Rhinehart - Blane Davenport Byrnes Rebels Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 03-09 Total: 1 03-09
78. Grant Martin - Houston Reichle Junior Keystone Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
78. Bill Young - Kaleb Meyer Eau Galle Valley Youth Fishing J 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
80. Colton Burgess - Logan Pitsios NH JUNIOR BASSMASTERS 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
81. Brayden Bontrager - Creek Bradtmiller Track And Channel Youth 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
82. Jace Gilliam - Jett Gilliam Wayne Pioneers Junior Team 0
Day 1: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
83. Kai Tankersley - Gage Green GERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
84. Rodee Owen - Case Thorn Lone Star Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
85. Garrett Haynes - Logan Arnold Franklin County Jr Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
86. Andrew Young - Landon Wiberg Eau Galle Valley Youth Fishing J 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
87. Hunter Lawrence - Bam Kendrick Jefferson Youth Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
88. John-Andrew Moss - Ethan Dover Pac Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
89. Tristan Shouse - Paxton Sparks Jessamine County Junior Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
90. Austin Bradley - Reeves Ballard Chapman Ms Bass Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
91. Bryson Dockery - Elijah Masssey Dawson Middle School 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
92. Conner Shaffer - William Sandel Severna Park Junior Division 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
93. Trig Mchone - Tripp Jackson Meigs Middle School Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
93. Aiden Phillips - Weston Mullins Scotts Hill Student Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
93. Parker Werner - Ledger Coufal Salado Jr 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
96. John Nathan Abbott - Hunter Gayheart Woodford County Bass Jackets 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
97. Coleton Bradley - Kendal Ward Nmbn Junior 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
98. Hudson Shabro - Ethan Hillis Michigan A1 Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
98. Kole Wingfield - Kline Wingfield Arkansas Youth Anglers Junior 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
100. Denton Dearman - West Harrison High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
101. Camden Bailey - Nathan Mcclintick New Hampshire Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Tristan Beckum - Colton Wilson Lee County Middle Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Mason Chamberland - Logan Ward REEDS BROOK MIDDLE SCHOOL 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Will Crisman - Reed Crisman Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Carter Edwards - Jonas Doyle Brunswick Academy Junior Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Liam Jeddry - Garret Bertuzzi Team Outcast Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Hudson Kirby - Mattex Horton Bhp Jr Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Drake Letterman - Joshua Letterman Fordland Junior Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Laith Lewis - Aybn Northern High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Xander Moore - Nmbn Junior 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Jackson Moss - Charlie Backaitis Hoover Youth Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Maddox Mustian - Lipan Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Gunner Robbins - Drew Smith Livingston Academy Junior Bassma 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Sean Turkowski - Nash Utes Rogers High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
101. Bowden White - Bryson Gunter Cannon County Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 52 227 619-10
----------------------------------
52 227 619-10