North Carolina Angler Wins Bassmaster Elite on Guntersville

Chattanooga-area anglers struggle at Alabama tournament

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Hank Cherry, a professional bass angler from Lincolnton, North Carolina, won the Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake Guntersville, earning $102,000 on his birthday. Several anglers from the Chattanooga area, including Hunter Shryock, Jacob Foutz, Cole Sands, and Buddy Gross, competed in the tournament but did not finish as strongly, with Shryock placing 11th, Foutz 36th, Sands 41st, and Gross 94th.

Why it matters

The Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake Guntersville is a major event in the world of professional bass fishing, attracting top anglers from across the country. While a North Carolina angler took home the top prize, the performance of the local Chattanooga-area anglers is noteworthy, as it highlights the competitive nature of the sport and the challenges these athletes face in making a name for themselves on the national stage.

The details

Hank Cherry, a 4-time Bassmaster champion, caught the majority of his 88-pound, 11-ounce winning haul on a 3-inch chartreuse curly tail grub, a bait he said reminded him of his childhood. Several anglers from the Chattanooga area, including Hunter Shryock, Jacob Foutz, Cole Sands, and Buddy Gross, also competed in the tournament, but struggled to keep pace with Cherry, finishing 11th, 36th, 41st, and 94th, respectively.

  • The Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake Guntersville took place from February 5-8, 2026.
  • Hank Cherry won the tournament on his birthday, February 8th, 2026.

The players

Hank Cherry

A professional bass angler from Lincolnton, North Carolina, who has won the Bassmaster Classic twice and has career earnings of over $1.6 million.

Hunter Shryock

A professional bass angler from Ooltewah, Tennessee, who is in his fourth year as a Bassmaster pro with career earnings of around $695,000.

Jacob Foutz

A professional bass angler from Charleston, Tennessee, who has career earnings of $212,534.

Cole Sands

A 29-year-old professional bass angler from Calhoun, Tennessee, who has career earnings of $212,534.

Buddy Gross

A 53-year-old professional bass angler from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who is in his seventh year as a Bassmaster pro with career earnings of $545,600.

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What they’re saying

“I felt like I was 10-years-old again; it was incredible fishing. I was throwing a bait that's older than (much) of the field. I've been waiting my whole life to be able to fish a major tournament and do that.”

— Hank Cherry (newschannel9.com)

“What a great way to kick off the 2026 season! We barely missed the top 10 cut and finished up 11th overall! Now it's time to head down to lake Martin and keep the ball rolling.”

— Hunter Shryock (Facebook)

“Tough day, bunch of bites just no bigs.”

— Jacob Foutz (Facebook)

“Thankful for a good check and good momentum going into Lake Martin this upcoming week.”

— Cole Sands (Facebook)

What’s next

The Bassmaster Elites will head to Alabama's Lake Martin this week to practice for the second tournament of the season, which will take place from February 12-15, 2026.

The takeaway

While a North Carolina angler took home the top prize at the Bassmaster Elite tournament on Lake Guntersville, the performance of the local Chattanooga-area anglers, though not as strong, highlights the intense competition and the challenges these athletes face in making a name for themselves on the national bass fishing circuit.