Classic Champ Fothergill Boats $20,000 Yamaha Power Pay Bonus

With less than 30 minutes of fishing time left on the final day of the 2025 Bassmaster Classic, Easton Fothergill had four keeper bass in his Skeeter livewell and could feel the pressure starting to build.

The 22-year-old Elite Series rookie started the day with 8 ½-pound lead after weighing in the biggest bag of the tournament on the second day with 29 pounds, 6 ounces, but keepers proved tough to come by as time became an issue at Lake Ray Roberts, just north of Dallas, Texas. Fothergill maintained his focus and poise and finished his limit with 8-pound bass to cap off a record-setting performance and become the first Minnesotan to win the Classic.

“I’ve always been a believer that more tournaments are won in the last five minutes than the first five minutes, which is why having confidence in your motor is so important at this level,” Fothergill said. “Five minutes after catching my final keeper, I pulled the trolling motor and ran back to check in with only minutes to spare. I have the added confidence to push it to the last minute with a (Yamaha) V6 V MAX SHO 250 behind me. That made all the difference this week.”

Meant To Be

Fothergill’s Classic victory, and really every aspect of his professional career to this point, have carried a meant-to-be vibe. Whether it was overcoming emergency brain surgery just seven weeks before winning Bassmaster’s College Classic Bracket to qualify for the 2024 Classic, his incredible campaign in the Bassmaster Opens last year, or starting the 2025 season with two of the worst finishes of his young life before becoming a Classic champion; Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t script a better story.

What’s even better than his incredible bass fishing talent is the fact that Fothergill is a rock-solid human being off the water. He’s respectful, humble, grounded in gratitude, and surrounded by a supportive family.

Along with the most coveted trophy in bass fishing and a $300,000 cash prize, Fothergill also claimed the $20,000 bonus from Yamaha Power Pay as the highest finisher running a Yamaha motor in the Classic field.  

“When you consider the Power Pay contingency on top of Yamaha’s reliability, it really is a win-win for tournament anglers,” Fothergill added. “Power Pay rewards anglers of all levels, not just pros, so you are really missing out if you haven’t looked into it. I’m super happy to win the Power Pay bonus, and it’s been an honor working with whole team at Yamaha.”

To learn more about Yamaha’s popular contingency program, including a full list of supported events and payouts, visit yamahapowerpay.com. 

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