ORANGE, Texas — Pat Schlapper from Eleva, Wisconsin, etched his name into Bassmaster history on Sunday in Orange.
Schlapper secured his first Elite Series title with a narrow victory at the 2025 MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at the Sabine River .
Once all fish had all been tallied, the four-day total of 38 pounds, 12 ounces Schlapper brought in edged out South Carolina's Patrick Walters by 2 pounds, 4 ounces, earning him the coveted blue trophy and a $101,000 payday.
Schlapper set the tone early with a Day 1 limit of 12 pounds, 2 ounces, the heaviest single-day bag of the tournament.
He maintained his lead with consistent daily weights of 8-7, 8-9, and 9-10 over the next three days to put himself in a position to win.
Upon winning the tournament, emotions overflowed the Wisconsin nati