NATCHITOCHES – Two freshmen on Northwestern State University’s Bass Fishing Team took the win this week at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Fishing Oklahoma’s Kerr Reservoir, Josiah Shockley of Hammond and Landon Watts of Independence hauled in a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces to earn the trophy and a berth in the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Leech Lake.
“This is absolutely one of the best feelings ever,” Watts said. “This is something we have worked for and put in so much time on the water for. To be able to do it today in such a special way and with a style that is so normal for us, it was awesome.”
Shockley and Watts have been fishing partners since high school, competing for the Livingston Parish Bassmasters. Shockley and Watts stayed in Kerr Reservoir the entire tournament, focusing on two stretches of rock bank in less than 4 feet of water. While other competitors were throwing reaction style baits around the same rocks, they threw a 3/8-ounce black and blue Strike King jig paired with a Zoom Speed Craw.
They finished Day 1 in sixth place with 18-0, but on Day 2 caught a 4-pounder.From there, they filled out a limit by 10:30, but only made one cull on their way to 17-12.
“The fifth bass today was icing on the cake, but our first fish, we weren’t expecting to catch anything where we were,” Watts said. “The rock bite hadn’t started yet and we were just piddling around. We caught that 4-pounder in some brush, and I thought then that this might pan out.”
The 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championships presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place at Minnesota’s Lake Leech Aug. 20-22.