Goins and Goins Cash In On Watts Bar
April 25, 2026-Rockwood, TN: The Morristown Marine Team Trail returned to Roane County and Tom Fuller Park on Watts Bar Lake for stop 4 of the 2026 season. 193 teams registered for the tournament and 175 boats were in the water for blast-off looking to claim a share of the $47,280.00 pay out across 32 places, and contingencies. Some early morning showers passed through and allowed us to blast off without rain, but heavy clouds hanging low were predicting more rain. Other than a slight breeze, the wind was minimal and temperatures were hovering around 60. While some intermittent sun peeked out throughout the day, it was mostly cloudy with some occasional showers and temps warming to the upper 70’s. With a shad spawn taking place, the clouds were just what the doctor ordered.
Keeper fish were not hard to find, but the bigger ones weren’t as easy to catch. 104 teams weighed bags between 10 and 17 lbs. Average weight per fish for this tournament was 2.86 lbs. Average bag weight was 14.19 lbs. Of the 193 registered teams, 155 teams weighed at least 1 fish for a total of 769 fish weighed with 760 of them being released alive and well for someone else to catch on Watts Bar Lake. A total of 143 teams weighed a 5 fish limit, with a grand total of 2,199.65 lbs of fish brought to the scales. Boat 1 started blast-off at 6:55 am and concluded with boat 250 being called at 7:31, a total of 36 minutes and an average of 4.86 boats per minute. The scales officially opened at 2:55pm and officially closed at 4:33pm, taking an hour and 38 minutes, averaging 1.58 bags per minute weighed. We appreciate all you guys for making that run so smoothly. By far the best group of fishermen in the sport!
The team of Derrick Goins and Trevor Goins crushed Watts Bar with a total bag weighing 20.23lbs. They said they spent most of their day up in the river using forward facing sonar to find small schools of post spawn feeding bass. The Goins boys said they fished clean and had found a reliable bite earlier in the week practicing. See the post-tournament interview HERE. Derrick and Trevor took home a check for $10,000.00 for 1st place overall. Congrats on a big payday and a great weekend of fishing!
Following in second place is the team of Gary Light and Nick Hodges bringing in a bag weighing 19.32lbs. This cashed them a check for $2,500.00 for 2nd place. Great job guys!
3rd place went to the team of Dylan Adams and Ryan Phillips with a total weight of 19.09 lbs. Dylan and Ryan earned a check for 3rd Place Overall — $2,000.00. Additionally, Dylan and Ryan earned $5,000 for 1st Highest Finishing Skeeter Boat, and 1st Humminbird/Minn Kota for $250. Dylan and Ryan brought a whopper Largemouth to the scale for 6.24lbs cashing them a check for $915.00 for the Citizens Bank Big Largemouth . A total payday of $8,165.00. Way to go, guys! Congrats on a great finish!
4th place goes to Cody Seeber and Taylor Watkins with a total of 18.79 lbs. Cody and Taylor will cash a check for $1,5000 for 4th place overall, $2,000 for 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter Boat, $150.00 for 2nd Humminbird/MinnKota and $250 1st Gray Fox Insurance . Total Payday on the day for Seeber and Watkins coming in at $3,900. Congratulations on a great day of fishing, guys!
Rounding out the top 5 was the team of Jason Martin and Chris Buswell with a total weight of 18.68 lbs. Jason and Chris had a great day on Watts Bar and will cash a check for $1,000.00 for 5th place. Great job, guys!
Check out the full results here: Stop 4_Watts Bar Lake Results 4.25.2026
The Citizens Bank Big Largemouth went to the team of Dylan Adams and Ryan Phillips with a stud green fish weighing 6.24 lbs. They will receive a check for $915.00 for catching this toad! Congrats!
The Citizens Bank Big Smallmouth payout went to the team of Jeff Moore and Chase Henley with a tank 4.20 lb brownie. These guys will get a check for $915.00 for their big fish. Way to go, guys!
Highest Finishing Minn Kota and Humminbird Bonus paid out this weekend as follows:
1st: Dylan Adams and Ryan Phillips, 19.09 lbs. $250 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
2nd: Cody Seeber and Taylor Watkins, 18.79 lbs. $150 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
Humminbird: Simply. Clearly. Better. Check out how to get in on the One Boat Network at https://www.minnkotamotors.com/ and get paid for running the best equipment on the water.
Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout goes to Cody Seeber and Taylor Watkins with 18.79 lbs for $250.00. 2nd Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout goes to Brian Harvey and Mark Mauldin with 18.51 lbs. Their choice to insure with Gray Fox Insurance paid them back $250.00 Saturday. Get in touch with Randy Heatherly and the gang at Gray Fox Insurance in LaFollette, TN and get in on the payback!
The Morristown Marine Bucks program paid out as follows:
Morristown Marine New Bucks:
1st: Philip Gordon and Jeremy Gordon, 17.58lbs. $1,000.00 Bonus.
2nd: Kenneth Owens and Adam Spivey, 16.62 lbs. $750 Bonus.
The Morristown Marine New Bucks pays back those who purchased a brand-new boat from us in 2024, 2025 or 2026. This is just our way of saying “Thank You” for choosing your new boat from us.
Morristown Marine Pre-Owned Bucks:
1st: Christopher Jobe and Dalton Kitts –13.23 lbs. $500 Bonus.
2nd: Jonathon Kennedy and Joe Zajac – 12.20 lbs. $250 Bonus.
Want to get in on the winnings? We have several pre-owned boats that are tournament ready! Don’t leave money on the table!
Thank you both for choosing to spend your hard-earned dollars at Morristown Marine. All you have to do is purchase a certified pre-owned boat from Morristown Marine to qualify for this payout.
Highest Finishing Skeeter Bonus:
- Adams/Phillips: 19.09 lbs, $5,000.00
- Seeber/Watkins: 18.79 lbs, $2,000.00
- Bishop/Matherly: 18.57 lbs, $1,500.00
- Roark/Price: 18.51 lbs, $800.00
- Warren: 17.76 lbs, $700.00
- Gordon/Gordon: 17.58 lbs, $500.00
- Buchanan/Hammonds: 17.06 lbs, $250.00
- Dewees/Napier: 16.63 lbs, $200.00
- Owens/Spivey: 16.62 lbs, $150.00
- Johnson/Hairrell: 16.39 lbs, $100.00
Morristown Marine would like to give a special thanks to Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Humminbird, MinnKota, Gray Fox Insurance, The City of Rockwood (Becky Ruppe), The Roane Alliance (Stacey Wilson), Jerry’s Bait Shop, Rockwood Parks and Recreation for helping with parking, Rockwood VFD for filling up the weigh tanks, Old Stage Printing, Volunteer Trenching, Lake View Dock, Citizens Bank, Cumberland Gap Spring Water, Jerry’s Bait Shop, AZ Rags, Pulse Fish Lures and Smoky Mountain Fiberglass for sponsoring the 2026 Morristown Marine Team Trail. If not for the help of these sponsors, this tournament trail could not function at the level it does. Thank you all so much for your support of our anglers.
We want to thank our staff and crew for another great event. The time, effort, long hours, early mornings, and late nights aren’t often recognized, but we want you guys to know how much we appreciate all the sacrifices you make to help us with this trail. Thank you so much!
We also want to thank all of the anglers for coming out to fish our trail. If not for your participation, this trail would not exist. We love putting these tournaments on and want each of you to know that we appreciate you spending your hard-earned money and time to fish our trail. Thank you so very much.
Please take a moment to complete the Economic Impact Report for the Classic: Watts Bar Lake Economic Impact Report