The draw of bass fishing’s biggest event moved Dakota Ebare to put his career on the line, but his gamble is paying off.
“It’s kind of surreal,” the 33-year-old from Brookeland, Texas, said. “In 2024, I definitely took a huge leap of faith to kind of walk away from everything that I worked so hard for, to basically just start with a clean slate.
“I had a very solid foundation. To risk trying to qualify for the Elites, it took a lot of prayer and thought. The Classic was the big motivation. It’s just the pinnacle. I always wanted the opportunity to fish it.”
Ebare left MFL, where he had earned more than $1 million, to fish the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers. Against a field of 152 hopefuls, he finished seventh in points to advance to the 2025 Elites. After a slow start, he rallied to narrowly qualify for this week’s Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Knoxville, Tenn.
Although uncertain, Ebare said he went for it in part because he didn’t have the responsibilities of a family. He does now, and that family could grow during the Classic.
“Shelby and I have a little boy that’s going to be born any day now,” Ebare said. “It’s amazing how God’s timing seems to be perfect and everything kind of falls together. I couldn’t be more thankful to be where I’m at, to be qualified for the Classic, and expecting our first child.
“The baby’s due three days after the Classic. So, who knows what’s going to happen in the next couple weeks. We’ve got a lot going on, but it’s all good things and it’ll all work out.”
A first child is always a big life-changing event, as is winning a Classic. Ebare, who grew up in south Louisiana, said Kevin VanDam’s 2011 Classic win in New Orleans planted the first seeds of desire for him.
“I always followed B.A.S.S. I watched it on Saturday morning since I was a little kid,” he said. “That moment where he won on Lake Cataouatche, that was awesome.
“The first Classic that I actually attended, ironically, was in Knoxville in 2019 when Ott Defoe won. It’s when I really realized the true depth of what the Classic is. I got to experience that feeling. In that stadium, I got emotional. I was like, I have to be here.”
Earning a berth to the third Classic on the Tennessee River didn’t look promising midway through 2025. Ebare missed the Top 50 cut in the first five Elites and stood 68th in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
His first cut at Sabine started Ebare’s climb. A 16th at Lake Tenkiller and 26th at St. Clair moved him within range, and he closed with 41st at La Crosse to finish 43rd in points, but he was still first-man out of a Classic berth. Cory Johnston’s Open win on the St. Lawrence sent Ebare into this week’s field of 58.
“In hindsight, that was good for me,” he said of his rough start. “Last year was probably my worst year in professional fishing, but it just really was a wake-up call of how fast the sport is changing and growing, and I say that for the better. The talent is getting so good, so fast.
“I was ahead of the curve for a long time, but it seemed like in the blink of an eye, I kind of maybe got a little complacent. I still believe I have the ability to be at the top of the sport. I just have to really get in gear. That was kind of the kick in the butt that I probably needed last year.”
Ebare started 2026 well with a 10th at Lake Guntersville and 41st at Lake Martin, putting him 12th in points with good momentum heading into the Classic. Every competitor goes to the three-day championship chasing victory, Ebare said, and he’s certainly there to win. He spent several days in the winter on Loudoun and Tellico lakes pre-practicing and liked what he saw.
“It seems like it’s fishing way better than in the previous events,” he said. “The weather is setting up to be a really good event. I feel like it kind of opens the door for anybody to have the opportunity to win.”
Temperatures rising around the 80s should warm the fishery and rounds of rain are in the forecast. Ebare said a cold snap will hit during competition, but he doesn’t believe there will be any postfrontal conditions that chill the bite.
“I don’t see it being anything that would just really make it a bad tournament,” he said “It might have some challenges here and there. We get a ton of rain, the water dirties up in certain areas, but that could make it even better in certain aspects. So, I anticipate it being a really good event.”
Legal smallmouth have dropped from 18 to 15 inches, which Ebare said should help fill limits and increase weights. Reports are bass are growing larger on Loudoun and Tellico. While pre-practicing, Elite pro Alex Redwine posted a 10.47-pound largemouth catch. A unicorn for certain, Ebare said, but a kicker is possible this time of year.
“It could be dominated with smallmouth, but I still think there’s a good chance that a guy who catches one or two big largemouth is going to come into play,” he said. “All of those 3 1/2-pound smallmouth, those weights could really stack up in that 17-, 18-pound range. If you get that one really big bite, a 6-, 7-pound largemouth, you can start to separate yourself.”
Always dependent upon conditions, the best tactic will not be decided until Sunday evening, which will be aired live on FOX. Ebare said he expects a tight leaderboard, and maybe some fireworks.
“Talking to some other competitors who are more familiar with the fishery, there have been 30-pound bags weighed in in spring tournaments,” he said. “Who knows? We could see something crazy, but I think that consistency will probably win over three days. So I’m very optimistic about it. I’m excited.”
Like the entire field, Ebare said there’s no fishing for second, that he’s putting it all on the line for the title and its $300,000 prize.
After all, at some point, the baby will need new shoes.
