Carter Nutt Claims First Pro-Level Tournament Win in Nutt Brothers 1-2 Finish at Douglas Lake
Abu Garcia and Berkley pro Carter Nutt put on an offshore clinic en route to winning the MLF Pro Circuit event at Douglas Lake and claiming the $100,000 grand prize
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 12, 2026) – Just weeks after his brother Dylan captured the 2026 Bassmaster Classic title in Knoxville, Abu Garcia and Berkley pro Carter Nutt added another major title to the family resume, claiming his first career pro-level victory at the MLF Pro Circuit event on Douglas Lake. In fitting fashion, the Nutt brothers finished first and second against one of the strongest fields in professional bass fishing, once again showcasing why the brothers from Tennessee are quickly becoming two of the sport's brightest young anglers.
After sitting in fourth place after Day Two and remaining within striking distance of the lead, Carter stayed committed to the offshore pattern that had produced for him throughout the first part of the event. His decision paid off in a big way on Championship Sunday, when he brought in the tournament's largest limit at 18 pounds, 8 ounces to edge out his twin brother Dylan by just 6 ounces. Relying on his Tennessee River experience and ability to locate active offshore fish, Carter separated himself from the field to secure the $100,000 top prize and the biggest victory of his young career. The win continues a breakout 2026 season for Carter, who has climbed to the top of the Pro Circuit Angler of the Year standings.
Coming into the event, Carter focused his time offshore, knowing the fish would be transitioning into their early summer patterns. During practice, he spent the majority of his time scanning the lake in search of active schools positioned and ready to feed. As practice unfolded, Carter found the better-quality fish relating to areas in the upper end of the lake, leading him to focus much of his time there throughout the event.
"Every day of the tournament was a bit different and I never knew what was going to happen or where I was going to catch them," said Carter. "I love fishing these offshore tournaments and the strategy that goes into them. I focused hard on finding active schools that weren't as pressured as some of the community spots. I truly just fished in the moment and figured it out each day as the day went on and I could not have drawn it up any better."
Confidence in His Offshore Program
Photo by MLF/Rob Matsuura
Throughout the week, Carter relied on a mix of forward-facing sonar techniques and old-school offshore fishing to target active fish on hard spots, points and structure where bass stage as they recover from the spawn. Staying efficient and making quick adjustments allowed him to capitalize when active fish positioned correctly throughout the day. His ability to manage timing and rotate through productive areas proved critical during the final day, especially as fishing pressure increased and conditions changed.
Carter leaned on a variety of set-ups to get the job done at Douglas Lake. His primary set-up was an Abu Garcia Veritas Winch 7'11" medium-heavy power, moderate-fast action rod paired with a 6.8:1 Abu Garcia Zenon X casting reel, 12 pound Berkley GinClear and a Berkley Dredger 25.5. He also rotated through other styles of crankbaits to determine what the fish preferred each day.
He picked up a few key fish throughout the event on a football jig with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Crud Craw primarily fished as a follow-up bait after burning through a school with a crankbait. During his forward-facing sonar periods, he utilized a minnow-style bait on a Fenwick World Class 7'1" medium power, extra fast action rod with an Abu Garcia Zenon X 3000 spinning reel.
"The Veritas Winch rods were a huge player for me this week on Douglas. I weighed most of my fish on a crankbait throughout the week, and that rod was perfect for what I was doing," said Carter. "The action on that rod was exactly what I needed to burn those crankbaits and get a reaction bite. I rotated through a variety of crankbaits, but the Dredger 25.5 put a few key fish in the boat, along with a few on a football jig, a minnow, and one on a flutter spoon."
Brotherly Love
Photo by MLF/Rob Matsuura
The Nutt brothers' impressive 1-2 performance proved once again how dangerous the duo has become on the national stage, and Carter's breakthrough win made the moment even more special.
"What Carter and Dylan are accomplishing at such a young age is remarkable to watch," said Marc Kempter, Vice President of Marketing for Pure Fishing. "To see them finish first and second in a Pro Circuit event against this field says a lot about their talent, work ethic and time dedicated to getting to the level they are at. Carter earned this win, and we're excited to see what both of them continue to accomplish this season and in the years to come."
The Douglas Lake win marks another milestone moment for the Nutt family during an already unforgettable season. With Dylan winning the Bassmaster Classic just two months earlier and Carter now earning his first national-level professional victory, the brothers have quickly cemented themselves among the most exciting young names in competitive bass fishing.
With the victory, Carter qualified for the 2027 Major League Fishing REDCREST Championship and moved to the top of the MLF Pro Circuit Angler of the Year standings. A top-five finish in the standings would also secure him a coveted berth into the 2027 Bass Pro Tour.
"To do this alongside my brother and finish 1-2 is something I'll never forget," said Carter. "We both grew up dreaming about moments like this, and to be able to share the top of the leaderboard at a national event is a surreal moment. Dylan winning the Classic earlier this season set the tone, and to follow it up with my first Pro Circuit win just makes it even more special. I am looking forward to the rest of the season and trying to stay in the top 5 for AOY and qualify for the BPT. That was my ultimate goal at the beginning of the season, and this win gives me even more confidence as I keep working toward it."
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