Anglers Inn International partner Bryson Mort, a 19 year old tournament angler from Post Falls, Idaho, finished second overall and first on the Idaho team at the Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Regional presented by Magellan at California’s Lake Shasta to progress to this October’s B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship. That tournament will be held on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, and with a similarly high finish once again, he might qualify for a spot in the next year’s Bassmaster Classic, the biggest event in bass fishing, which will also be held on Hartwell.

Over the course of the three-day event Mort weighed in three five-bass limits that totaled 35 pounds 11 ounce. His day two catch was anchored by a massive 8 pound 5 ounce spotted bass, the big fish of the tournament. He fell short of the win by only 1 pound 6 ounces. While he’s still a teenager, Mort is no stranger to top level tournament competition – last April he finished 9th overall on Missouri’s Table Rock Lake as the youngest angler to ever fish the TBF National Championship.

He credited his quick ascent to the fact that he learned to fish in northern Idaho. “We see almost every situation here,” he explained. “Our lakes are so diverse. There are probably 20 different lakes within 40 minutes of us, so you can fish any way you want.”

Anglers Inn President Billy Chapman Jr., who maintains a residence and business base in that same region, was quick to credit Mort’s maturity and angling skills as the reason that he has chosen to make him one of the faces of his business.

“I’m always looking to partner with the best of the best,” Chapman said. “Bryson’s potential is limitless. I saw that when he visited my properties in the Amazon and in Mexico. He’s going to be a major player in this game for a long time.” 

While a shakey head, a dropshot and a tube produced some of Mort’s fish, his key presentation involved a 3/8 ounce Coolbaits underspin with a Sexy Violet 4.3” Keitech Fat Swing Impact on the back. He fished it on an ALX Dragger, a 7’4”, 5-power rod that he paired with an Abu-Garcia Revo SX spooled with 20 pound Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon. He also credited his Triton TR21X and Mercury 250 Optimax Pro XS with helping him to cover water quickly and efficiently during the tournament.

“I have been blessed to be able to have this experience and I’d love to do this for as long as I can,” he concluded. “It is my dream to win the Bassmaster Classic. I’m thrilled to be working with Billy. He’s an awesome person with a big heart, and he’s introduced me to a lot of important people. Together I think we’re in position to do big things in the fishing industry.”