KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Although teammates at the University of North Alabama, Bryce Dimauro and Carter Nutt hadn’t fished in the same boat together until the 2026 Strike King College Classic Exhibition at Watts Bar presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Turns out they make a great pair, even while distracted.
With a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces, Dimauro and Nutt claimed the trophy at Watts Bar, outlasting the Carson-Newman duo of Zach Helton and Blake Wheat for the title. Their bag included one smallmouth, one largemouth, and a spotted bass.
“We got it done, and I couldn’t be happier for Carter and I,” Dimauro said. “I had never fished a tournament with Carter, so being able to share that time with him was super cool.”
Watts Bar was good to the UNA duo during practice, and after seeing the weights from the High School Exhibition, they figured it would take at least 20 pounds to win their tournament. Bright, calm conditions made the fishing much tougher, however, and the duo struggled to get bites at times. Losing a 5-pounder late in the day did not help matters either.
“I didn’t think we had enough weight at all. It was a really good practice. I thought we were going to smash them big time. And we did not,” Nutt said. “I’ve fished two high school tournaments on Watts Bar, but the TVA is all very similar. You can take things from different lakes and apply it.”
Dimauro qualified for this event by winning the College Team of the Year race in 2025 with teammate Tripp Berlinsky. Berlinsky, of course, is fishing the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, so Nutt stepped in to be his partner.
“I had big shoes to fill being here for Tripp,” Nutt added. “I’m blessed and grateful we were able to get it done.”
Nutt’s brother Dylan is leading the Classic, so while the duo was on Watts Bar, they watched Bassmaster LIVE.
Dimauro and Nutt fished secondary prespawn staging areas with a variety of Berkley baits, including a Cull Shad, Frittside, and several unreleased baits.
“We were fishing some little staging areas,” Dimauro said. “When the current started pushing a little more, the baitfish would start getting pushed back into the pocket,s and we were able to put together a little something.”
Helton and Wheat finished the day with only four bass, with those four weighing 15-5. Stephen F. Austin’s Grant Pursifull and Ben Burns finished third with 14-12.
