The second Dylan Nutt hoisted the Ray Scott Trophy in Knoxville, GL Compton’s phone lit up, and it hasn’t stopped buzzing since.
“I’ve gotten tons of texts and calls,” Compton said.
Nutt became only the second B.A.S.S. Nation angler to win the Bassmaster Classic this March, joining Bryan Kerchal in that club, putting the Nation in the brightest of spotlights. Compton, who is in his fourth year as B.A.S.S. Nation director, is hoping to ride the wave of momentum and elevate the program to new levels.
“To have the honor and privilege of getting a Nation champion early on in my career at B.A.S.S. is very exciting,” Compton said. “From my perspective, what a Classic win can do for participation and membership is tremendous. It is a super exciting deal for me, B.A.S.S. and B.A.S.S. Nation.”
The 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake presented by Lowrance might be a sign of things to come. In total, 177 boaters and 70 non-boaters launched on Day 1 in east Tennessee, the highest number of entrants to a Nation Qualifier since the Arkansas River event in 2024.
“We got a little push from the Classic. Hopefully, we can continue the momentum from this,” Compton said. “A lot of eyes are on the Nation right now and have recentered focus.”
While some of that has to do with Nutt’s victory, more and more high school, college and recently graduated anglers are joining Nation state chapters or jumping into the qualifiers on a yearly basis. Compton has made that a priority since starting as Nation director.
The youth programs themselves are under the National umbrella as well, which creates a pipeline for anglers who want to compete on a regional or national level as they age. Nutt was one of those anglers. Not only did he fish in the Bassmaster Junior, High School and College programs, but he was also a Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation member.
“(Nutt) has gone every step of the way,” Compton said. “That is the exact path we want young anglers to take.”
In 2027, the Nation will tweak its format, keeping the at-large berths in play will putting more emphasis on the state championships. The goal for every Nation angler remains the same; reaching the Nation Championship and qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic. Anglers who have been fishing for decades recognize what just qualifying for the Nation Championship means.
Now that a second Nation angler has won it, Compton hopes more anglers will want to experience that thrill and that more adult clubs will also consider moving under the Nation umbrella.
“I hope to really see the momentum carry into next year,” he said. “I think we’ll see a really big jump in tournament registrations and memberships. We want to see anglers get involved with their state and involved with clubs too.”
