Oklahoma pro secures his second NPFL victory of the 2026 season after adapting to changing conditions, while John Cox and Wesley Gore complete the podium in one of the year's most competitive tournaments.
Zack Birge once again proved why he has been one of the most consistent anglers on the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) circuit in 2026, claiming a wire-to-wire victory at MillerTech NPFL Stop Five on the St. Lawrence River, hosted by the Town of Massena, New York. Battling changing fish behavior, heavy barge traffic, long lock runs, and one of the strongest fields in professional bass fishing, the Oklahoma native showcased patience, adaptability, and confidence to earn his second NPFL title of the season and the third national-level victory of his career.
Birge finished the three-day tournament with an impressive total weight of 70 pounds, 4 ounces, maintaining the tournament lead from the opening day through Championship Saturday. His performance was built on consistent daily catches of 24-12, 22-1, and a decisive final-day effort that secured the victory despite significant changes in fish positioning.
The tournament began with Birge relying heavily on a shallow-water bladed jig pattern that produced quality smallmouth bass during the opening rounds. That strategy helped him establish an early lead and carried him into the final day with a comfortable 3-pound, 7-ounce advantage over the field. However, by Saturday morning, it became clear that the fish occupying his primary areas had begun to move, forcing him to make a critical adjustment.
Rather than continue forcing a pattern that was fading, Birge trusted a crankbait approach he had developed during practice. Although it had not produced the same average size as his bladed jig earlier in the week, he believed it would provide enough opportunities to build a competitive limit while the shallow bite declined.
The decision immediately paid off. Early in the day, Birge assembled a limit weighing approximately 21 pounds, highlighted by a 5½-pound smallmouth. He targeted offshore shoals by positioning his boat upstream and making long casts with a Yo-Zuri deep-diving crankbait that consistently contacted the bottom in 14 to 16 feet of water. Retrieving the lure at high speed triggered reaction strikes from aggressive smallmouth bass.
Even after building a strong limit, Birge remained confident enough to revisit his best shallow stretches before returning through the lock system. The gamble rewarded him with two additional quality fish weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces and 5 pounds, 2 ounces, further strengthening his winning total and confirming his decision to remain flexible throughout the day.
Throughout the first two days and during his late Championship Saturday flurry, Birge's primary weapon remained a Hags Baits prototype bladed jig. During practice, he identified key stretches featuring a precise combination of shallow water, grass, and rock conditions that consistently held larger smallmouth along the inside grass edge. That pattern produced tournament-quality fish before changing conditions required his successful adjustment.
Florida's John Cox delivered one of the tournament's strongest comeback performances to finish second with a three-day total of 65 pounds, 12 ounces. Renowned for his shallow-water expertise, Cox steadily climbed the leaderboard after opening in ninth place on Day One before moving into fourth entering the final round. He capped his week with an outstanding 23-pound, 6-ounce bag, targeting visible smallmouth on roadbeds, flats, and hard-bottom areas using finesse presentations. The runner-up finish marked his best result of the 2026 season and provided valuable momentum heading into the final stretch of the year.
Wesley Gore completed the podium in third place with 64 pounds, 15 ounces, finishing strong with a final-round limit weighing 21 pounds, 9 ounces to secure his highest finish of the season. Kristopher Queen placed fourth at 64 pounds, 7 ounces, while defending St. Lawrence River champion Drew Cook rounded out the top five with 61 pounds, 14 ounces after another steady three-day performance.
Additional tournament honors included Mike Quinlin, who captured the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award with a 6-pound smallmouth caught on Day One, the largest fish weighed during the event. Darrel Robertson claimed the final tournament paycheck by climbing to 38th place with a Championship Saturday limit weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces, finishing with 51 pounds, 10 ounces overall.
The tournament also featured a memorable milestone for legendary angler Rick Clunn, who celebrated his 80th birthday by recording another solid professional finish. The Hall of Famer placed 22nd with a three-day total of 56 pounds, 10 ounces, further demonstrating the longevity that has defined his legendary career.
Birge's victory adds another remarkable chapter to an already historic 2026 campaign. He became only the fifth angler in NPFL history to win multiple events during a single season and the 11th competitor to lead an event from start to finish. The victory also elevated him to third on the NPFL's all-time money list with career earnings surpassing $366,000 while establishing a new single-season earnings record exceeding $265,000.
Perhaps even more impressive is Birge's remarkable consistency. With seven consecutive Top 20 finishes this season, he has reduced the Work Sharp Angler of the Year race to just an eight-point deficit heading into the season finale at Lake Dardanelle. Carrying exceptional momentum and unwavering confidence, Birge now enters the final event with a legitimate opportunity to capture both another tournament victory and the coveted Angler of the Year title.
