CLICK HERE for the Folsom Lake Dodge - Winners Circle video!
AND NEW....FPT Top-75 Western Tour Champions...Joe and Joey Skym!
Ron Diacon and son Lucas (aka "Cool Hand Luke") caught this 11.18 pound MONSTER - the big fish of the event, under a dock using a "Trash Fish" bait!
To the "Victors" belong the spoils of war...a custom trophy and custom watch!
Joe and Joey Skym Capture FPT Top75 Western Tour Crown
LAKEPORT, Calif. - Hot was the word of the weekend as 25 qualifying teams converged on Clear Lake for the FPT Top75 Western Tour Classic Championship, presented by Gone Fishin’ Marine of Dixon.
The two-day event marked the 23rd edition of the West’s most coveted amateur-level bass fishing championship.
After qualifying through a five-event tour that stretched from Shasta Lake to Don Pedro, the championship field arrived in Lakeport with two goals in mind: capturing the guaranteed $10,000 first-place prize and earning the coveted Top75 Western Tour crown—and the bragging rights that come with it.
Following two days of hot, windless conditions, the father-and-son team of Joe Skym and Joey Skym Jr. rose to the top and brought in a two-day, 10-fish limit to the scales weighing an impressive 43.33 pounds, securing the prestigious FPT Top75 Western Tour Championship title.
“It don’t get no better than this,” said Joey Jr., who was nearly at a loss for words as he reflected on the opportunity to win alongside his father. “Not only do we fish well together, but we have a ton of fun in the process.”
For the complete Winner’s Circle championship wrap-up video, visit anglerspress.com.
Clear Lake, widely recognized as the nation’s #1 bass fishery, also delivered one of the most memorable catches of the championship.
Ron Diacon, fishing alongside his 12-year-old son Luke—better known as “Cool Hand Luke”—discovered a motherlode of quality bass beneath a dock. Using a “Trash Fish” bait, Ron connected with the Big Fish of the event, an absolute giant that tipped the scales at 11.18 pounds.
Luke Contino Captures River2Sea Youth Angler League title
Thanks to the support of River2Sea USA, the Future Pro Tour has been able to create an exclusive program dedicated to developing the next generation of anglers—the Youth Angler's League.
Youth anglers compete free of charge, have opportunities to win guaranteed cash and prizes at each event, and can qualify for their own year-end championship.
This year’s championship delivered an exciting showdown as 15-year-old Luke Contino squared off against 11-year-old Charlotte Hartmann in a cast-for-cast battle that ultimately decided by just under two pounds.
Luke brought his five-fish limit to the scales weighing 14.31 pounds, while Charlotte finished with 12.16 pounds, earning Luke the Youth Angler League Championship title.
Luke capped off his championship performance by claiming the B&G Glass Big Fish Award with a 3.86-pound bass, taking home $400 in cash and a beautiful championship trophy.
Congratulations to Joe and Joey Skym, Luke Contino, Charlotte Hartmann, Ron and Luke Diacon, and all of the anglers who earned the opportunity to compete in this year’s Classic Championship. The Future Pro Tour looks forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027, when the new season gets underway Feburary 27th at Shasta Lake!
From all of us at the Future Pro Tour and Angler’s Press Outdoors, have a safe and happy holiday season.....and we’ll see you on the water in 2027!
Angler’s Press Outdoors
FPT TOP75 Western Tour - FINAL Results!
| |
Angler1 |
Angler2 |
1# |
2# |
BF1 |
BF2 |
Day1 |
Day2 |
Total |
Award |
| 1 |
Joey Skym |
Joe Skym |
5 |
5 |
7.41 |
6.96 |
23.73 |
21.6 |
45.33 |
$10,000 |
| 2 |
Mike Van Guilder |
Justin Steelman |
5 |
5 |
4.93 |
|
20.24 |
23.4 |
43.64 |
$1,000 |
| 3 |
Jake Hopper |
Hunter Cook |
5 |
5 |
5.99 |
7.71 |
18.22 |
24.95 |
43.17 |
$500 |
| 4 |
Brian Cox |
Dave Homen |
5 |
5 |
4.59 |
9.4 |
17.22 |
22.29 |
39.51 |
$300 |
| 5 |
Luke Diacon |
Ron Diacon |
5 |
5 |
4.1 |
11.18 |
16.46 |
22.49 |
38.95 |
$700 |
| 6 |
Terry Devincenci |
Nick Barse |
5 |
5 |
7.9 |
6.52 |
17.25 |
21.15 |
38.4 |
|
| 7 |
Steve Thurman |
Jim Hallieb |
5 |
5 |
|
7.33 |
15.27 |
22.07 |
37.34 |
|
| 8 |
Steven Riggs |
Steven Chappell |
5 |
5 |
5.4 |
|
20.26 |
15.49 |
35.75 |
|
| 9 |
Stephan Magill |
Chris Lienau |
5 |
5 |
|
|
16.89 |
18.44 |
35.33 |
|
| 10 |
Matt Frazier |
Anthony Souza |
5 |
5 |
|
|
17.24 |
16.14 |
33.38 |
|
| 11 |
Bob Dettling |
Brian Ershman |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.69 |
19.11 |
32.8 |
|
| 12 |
James Miller |
Brian Koelling |
5 |
5 |
4.41 |
|
16.55 |
15.8 |
32.35 |
|
| 13 |
Wendell Brown |
James Ellington |
5 |
5 |
5.04 |
|
15.54 |
16.63 |
32.17 |
|
| 14 |
Mike Henry |
Matt Vella |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.21 |
17.9 |
31.11 |
|
| 15 |
Jason Hopper |
Bill Vernon |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.94 |
16.98 |
30.92 |
|
| 16 |
Corky Williams |
Jonathan Green |
5 |
5 |
5.45 |
|
15.42 |
14.8 |
30.22 |
|
| 17 |
Ryan Brewer |
Adam Belmont |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.25 |
15.74 |
28.99 |
|
| 18 |
Hung Ho |
Mui Loung |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.87 |
15.12 |
28.99 |
|
| 19 |
Dave Hodson |
Jeff Allison |
5 |
5 |
|
5.61 |
11.89 |
16.86 |
28.75 |
|
| 20 |
James Wardell |
Spiro Stamos |
5 |
5 |
|
|
11.67 |
13.81 |
25.48 |
|
| 21 |
Paul Parks |
Jim Markham |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.47 |
10.62 |
24.09 |
|
| 22 |
Jason Horn |
Dusty Mart |
5 |
0 |
|
|
11.69 |
0 |
11.69 |
|
| 23 |
Matt Silveria |
Rod Cree |
5 |
0 |
|
|
11.27 |
0 |
11.27 |
|
| 24 |
Brandon Slivey |
Jake Diede |
5 |
0 |
|
|
10.95 |
0 |
10.95 |
|
| 25 |
Mike Caddick |
Zoltan Papp |
5 |
0 |
|
|
7.71 |
0 |
7.71 |
|
| |
R2sea Youth League |
|
# |
|
BFish |
BFish |
Day 1 |
|
Total |
Award |
| 1 |
Luke Contino |
|
5 |
|
3.82 |
3.82 |
|
|
14.31 |
$400 |
| 2 |
Charlotte Hartman |
|
5 |
|
3.46 |
3.46 |
|
|
12.16 |
$100 |
Steve Thurman and Jim Halieb had a big bag on day one!
Charlotte Hartmann was the River2Sea Youth Angler League's AOY in the Kid's Division
Luke Contino was the River2Sea Youth Angler League's AOY in the Jr's Division
FPT Top75 Western Tour Bioenno AOY's received a new lithium battery
Bob Dettling and Brian Ershman were the 2026 Bioenno Angler's of the Year!
Raffle time!
