FORT WORTH, Texas — Comedian and actor Lavell Crawford and Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Emil Wagner teamed up to win the 2nd annual Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am to kick off the extravaganza of activities that surround the 2025 Bassmaster Classic in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I called (the win) … I called it,” Crawford said. “You got to think things into existence if you want it. I had a great time. It was so fun. Emil’s a great kid and we had a good time out there on the water.
“They said I didn’t catch anything, but hey, man, I put in work. I would have caught them if they had bit my line, that’s all I can say,” Crawford laughed.
The team won a set of Yokohama tires and a $2,500 Bass Pro Shops gift card.
The Pro-Am boasted a wide variety of celebrity guests, ranging from NFL, NASCAR, WWE and Olympic athletes to musicians, actors, comedians and other celebrities. The star-studded field teamed with a host of pro anglers, including pros from the Bassmaster Elite Series and the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, in kicking off Classic week events.
The Pro-Am celebrates the meteoric rise of competitive fishing in pop culture and featured teams of celebrities matched with some of the world’s best anglers.
The celebrity guests featured included:
- Social media influencer and reigning Bassmaster Classic Pro-Am champion Hood Fishing Entertainment
- Barstool Sports talent/host Sydnie Wells
- Tennessee Titans defensive linebacker Jeffery Simmons
- Baltimore Ravens guard Ben Cleveland
- Three-time Olympic gold medalist for shot put and discus Ryan Crouser
- NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain
- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen
- Social media personality Justin Chiasson (Stalekracker)
- Comedian and actor Lavell Crawford
- U.S Marine Veteran & Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer
- BlacktipH content creator/designer Jake Jorgensen
- Bluegrass music artist Billy Strings
- Southern Methodist University Head Football Coach Rhett Lashlee
- Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Kevin Dotson
- 8-year NFL veteran Barkevious Mingo
- WWE Superstar Bron Breakker
- WWE Superstar Tony D’Angelo
- TV personality Heavy D (Diesel Brothers)
- TV personality Diesel Dave (Diesel Brothers)
- Canadian TV personality Pat Roach (Trailer Park Boys)
- Dallas Cowboys linebacker Damone Clark
- 12-year NFL veteran Trent Cole
Celebrities in the Pro-Am were paired with some of the biggest names in bass fishing, including:
- 50-year Bassmaster pro and four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn
- 30-year Bassmaster pro and Bassmaster Classic champion Mike Iaconelli
- Two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 20-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Gerald Swindle
- Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Andrew Loberg
- Two-time Bassmaster Elite Series champion and Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Joey Cifuentes
- Two-time Bassmaster High School All-American Tucker Smith
- Sixteen-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell
- 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation champion Matty Wong
- Two-time Bassmaster Opens champion and Bassmaster Team Championship champion Matt Robertson
- 2021 Bassmaster Northern Opens Angler of the Year Jonathan Kelley
- Three-time Elite Series champion Steve Kennedy
- Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Emil Wagner
- Two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and six-time Bassmaster Elite Series champion Brandon Palaniuk
- Bassmaster Elite Series champion Luke Palmer
- Two-time Bassmaster Elite Series champion Bill Lowen
- Three-time Bassmaster Opens champion Stephen Browning
- Bassmaster Opens champion Cliff Crochet
- Bassmaster Elite Series rookie and Bassmaster College Series champion Beau Browning
- Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Paul Marks
- Bassmaster Elite Series newcomer and seven-year professional angler Dakota Ebare
- Bassmaster Opens champion and Bassmaster College Classic Bracket champion Tristan McCormick
- Bassmaster Opens pro and BassmastHER ambassador Anastasia Patterson
The pairings for the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am were:
- Dakota Ebare and Hood Fishing Entertainment
- Joey Cifuentes and Ben Cleveland
- Tucker Smith and Sydnie Wells
- Rick Clunn and Ross Chastain
- Gerald Swindle and Dakota Meyer
- Mike Iaconelli and Billy Strings
- Matty Wong and Diesel Dave (Diesel Brothers)
- Matt Robertson and Tony D’Angelo
- Jonathan Kelley and Jake Jorgensen
- Steve Kennedy and Rhett Lashlee
- Brandon Palaniuk and Heavy D (Diesel Brothers)
- Luke Palmer and Pat Roach (Trailer Park Boys)
- Bill Lowen and Bron Breakker
- Cliff Crochet and Justin Chiasson (Stalekracker)
- Beau Browning and Ryan Crouser
- Emil Wagner and Lavell Crawford
- Paul Marks and Kevin Dotson
- Andrew Loberg and Barkevious Mingo
- Randy Howell and Jeffery Simmons
- Stephen Browning and Trent Cole
- Tristan McCormick and Patrick Queen
- Anastasia Patterson and Damone Clark
Coverage of the 2025 Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am will be presented on The Roku Channel on April 5.
2025 Bassmaster Classic Celebrity Pro-Am 3/19-3/19
Eagle Mountain Lake , Fort Worth TX.
Team
1. Emil Wagner - Lavell Crawford
Day 1: 2 12-09 Total: 2 12-09
2. Brandon Palaniuk - Heavy D
Day 1: 1 10-12 Total: 1 10-12
3. Beau Browning - Ryan Crouser
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
4. Steve Kennedy - Rhett Lashlee
Day 1: 2 09-15 Total: 2 09-15
5. Joey Cifuentes III - Ben Cleveland
Day 1: 3 08-10 Total: 3 08-10
6. Rick Clunn - Ross Chastain
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
7. Jonathan Kelley - Jake Jorgensen
Day 1: 2 06-00 Total: 2 06-00
8. Randy Howell - Jeffrey Simmons
Day 1: 2 05-01 Total: 2 05-01
9. Dakota Ebare - Hood Fishing Entertainment
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
10. Cliff Crochet - Stalekracker
Day 1: 1 04-08 Total: 1 04-08
11. Matty Wong - Diesel Dave
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
12. Paul Marks - Kevin Dotson
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
13. Tucker Smith - Sydnie Wells
Day 1: 1 03-09 Total: 1 03-09
14. Stephen Browning - Trent Cole
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
14. Michael Iaconelli - Billy Strings
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
16. Andrew Loberg - Barkevious Mingo
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Bill Lowen - Bronson Steiner
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Tristan McCormick - Patrick Queen
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Luke Palmer - Pat Roach
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Anastasia Patterson - Damone Clark
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Matt Robertson - Tony D'Angelo
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
16. Gerald Swindle - Dakota Meyer
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 30 96-05
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0 30 96-05