Rookie Jake Lawrence Stuns Wheeler with Epic Final-Second Win at Bass Pro Tour Nickajack

A last-minute largemouth on a buzzbait seals the deal in one of the most dramatic finishes in pro bass fishing history.

Rookie Jake Lawrence lands a 5-pounder with 21 seconds left to beat Jacob Wheeler and win Bass Pro Tour Stage 4 on Nickajack Lake. | MajorLeagueFishing

For four days of the Bass Pro Tour’s Stage 4 on Nickajack Lake in Tennessee, Jake Lawrence and Jacob Wheeler traded shots—the rookie on a roll vs. the most winning BPT angler ever, who always seems to be on a roll. But in the final 60 seconds of competition, Lawrence fired the final shot.

Jake Lawrence vs. Jacob Wheeler: A Final-Day Showdown on Nickajack

The entire final day had been a two-man shootout. Wheeler probed the Chickamauga Dam for smallmouth in the current. Lawrence was miles downlake chasing largemouth in the shallows. With 10 minutes to go, Wheeler grabbed a 6 ounce lead. But, would it hold?

Jake Lawrence casually swinging in another Nickajack bass. | MajorLeagueFishing

How a Buzzbait and a Last-Second Decision Sealed the Victory

This is the Buckeye Lures Buzzerk Single Bladed Buzzbait. | tacklewarehouse.com

With 45 seconds left on the clock, Lawrence got set for one last cast with his Buckeye Buzzerk buzz bait. He could throw it through an area that had been proven to hold fish, but that he had already worked or he could gamble on fresh water. “You can throw somewhere totally new,” he told himself. He did.

At the 21 second mark he was hooked up and 9 seconds later he boated a 5pound, 9 ounce largemouth that put him back in the lead. Amazingly, at that exact same moment up by the dam, Wheeler hooked up— but he was unable to land it before the timer ran out. Game over.

Below is a split screen Lawrence/Wheeler video replay of the last seven minutes of competition.

The Final Score of the Most Dramatic Finish in BPT History

Lawrence’s 27 scorable bass weighed a total of 83 pounds, 9 ounces and earned him $150,000. his first Bass Pro Tour trophy, and put him in the history books as the winner of one of the most dramatic endings in tournament bass fishing.

Final Championship Round Standings

1. Jake Lawrence – 83-2 (27)
2. Jacob Wheeler – 77-15 (27)
3. Cole Floyd – 48-14 (17)
4. Ron Nelson – 42-7 (15)
5. Wesley Strader – 37-14 (15)
6. Michael Neal – 37-4 (12)
7. Matt Becker – 29-9 (12)
8. Drew Gill – 25-9 (11)
9. Justin Cooper – 21-12 (7)
10. Justin Lucas – 15-8 (6)