The Dunns Get It Done on Cherokee — One BIG Bite, One BIG Win
October 25-26th, 2025– Jefferson County, TN: The Morristown Marine Team Trail made the last stop of the 2025 Season in Jefferson City, TN on Cherokee Lake for Championship Weekend . 166 teams qualified for the tournament and 133 were in the water for blast-off on Day 1 looking to claim a share of the $64,850.00 pay out across 22 places, contingencies and AOY bonuses. Although chilly to start, Saturday warmed up nicely with a steady 10 mph wind keeping things interesting. Clouds moved in and overnight lows stayed in the 50’s for Sunday’s blast off. The clouds and wind stuck around all day Sunday, but it was still a fantastic weekend to be out on the water!
The fishing was tougher for most anglers than it should have been for the weather and time of year. Of the 133 registered teams, 91 teams weighed at least 1 fish for a total of 523 fish weighed with all of them being released alive and well for someone else to catch on Cherokee Lake. A total of 20 teams weighed a 5 fish limit on both days, with a grand total of 1,197.75 lbs of fish brought to the scales. We appreciate all you guys for making that run so smoothly. By far the best group of fishermen in the sport!
The father and son team of Rob Dunn and Austin Dunn took home the title of 2025 Classic Champs with a 2-day total weight of 34.17 lbs. Rob and Austin told us they fished a variety of baits, depths and structure to put together back-to-back bags of 20.77 lbs and 13.40 lbs, and led both days, wire to wire. They said they fished very clean and were very thankful to take home a big win! Rob and Austin will take home a check for $30,000.00 for 1st place overall and a check for $750.00 for Big Largemouth, carrying the two-day lead of 6.70lbs. Congrats on a big payday and a great weekend of fishing! Click here for the post-tournament video
Following in second place was the team of Riley Faulkner and Jim Edmonds with a 2-day total weight of 30.57lbs. Riley and Jim brought a mixed bag to the scales both days and they’ll cash a check for 2nd place overall– $5,000.00. Great job putting together 2 solid days on a tough weekend!
3rd place was the team of Curtis Hall II and Gary Michael Hall with a 2-day total weight of 30.27 lbs . Curtis and Gary will cash a check for 3rd Place — $3,000.00 . Way to go, guys! Congrats on a great finish during some really tough fishing!
4th place went to Hunter Hamilton and Ty Ball with a 2-day total of 28.42 lbs. Hunter and Ty will cash a check for $2,000.00 for 4th place overall, and $250 for Highest Finishing Humminbird and MinnKota. Congratulations on a great weekend of fishing, guys!
Rounding out the top 5 was the team of Tim Wacker and Dustin Dyer with a 2-day total weight of 27.60 lbs. Tim and Dustin had a great finish to the weekend by cashing checks for $1,000.00 for 5th place, $3,000.00 for 1st Highest Finishing Skeeter, and $250.00 for 2nd Highest Finishing Humminbird/MinnKota. Great job, guys!
Check out the full results here: https://bit.ly/day2_2025Classic
The Citizens Bank Big Largemouth went to the winners, Rob Dunn and Austin Dunn with a stud green fish weighing 6.70 lbs. They will receive a check for $750.00 for catching this toad! Congrats!
The Citizens Bank Big Smallmouth payout went to the team of Jesse Hurst and Ryan Epps with a monster 3.72 lb brownie. These guys will get a check for $750.00 for their big fish. Way to go, guys!
Highest Finishing Minn Kota and Humminbird Bonus paid out this weekend as follows:
1st: Hamilton/Ball, 28.42 lbs. $250 Humminbird/MinnKota Bonus
2nd: Wacker/Dyer, 27.60 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 went to Roark/Price with 26.65 lbs for $250.00. 2nd Highest Finishing Gray Fox Insurance payout went to Harvey/Mauldin with 19.82 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: Hurst/Epps, 19.36 lbs. $1,000.00 Bonus.
2nd: Owens/Spivey, 14.25 lbs. $750 Bonus.
The Morristown Marine New Bucks pays back those who purchased a brand-new boat from us in 2023, 2024 or 2025. This is just our way of saying “Thank You” for choosing your new boat from us.
Morristown Marine Pre-Owned Bucks:
1st: Meade/Meade, 20.91 lbs. $500 Bonus.
2nd: Davis/Foshie. 8.93 lbs. $250.00 Bonus.
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:
- Wacker/Dyer: 27.60 lbs, $3,000.00
- Napier/Keaton: 27.34 lbs, $1,500.00
- Roark/Price: 26.65 lbs, $1,000.00
- Majni/Majni: 25.41 lbs, $800.00
- Woods/Rankin: 23.66 lbs, $700.00
- Osborne/Brown: 21.97 lbs, $500.00
- Baker/Baker: 21.76 lbs, $250.00
- Meade/Meade: 20.91 lbs, $200.00
- Crum/Redmond: 20.23 lbs, $150.00
- Hurst/Epps: 19.36 lbs, $100.00
2025 MMTT Angler Of The Year Points
3rd: John Napier/Jason Keaton: $500.00
2nd: Josh Osborne/Austin Brown : $750.00
AOY Champs: Hunter Hamilton/Ty Ball: $1,000.00
Morristown Marine would like to give a special thanks to Skeeter Boats, Yamaha, Humminbird, MinnKota, Gray Fox Insurance, Visit Jefferson County, Carson-Newman Anglers, Old Stage Printing, Volunteer Trenching, Lake View Dock, Citizens Bank, Cumberland Gap Spring Water, Jerry’s Bait Shop, Anne Ross- Visit Morristown, Jefferson County, Campbell County, AZ Rags, and Smoky Mountain Fiberglass for sponsoring the 2025 Morristown Marine Team Trail. If not for the help of these sponsors, this tournament trail could not exist. Thank you all so much for your support of our anglers.
We want to thank our staff and crew for another great event and season. The time, effort, long hours, early mornings and late nights don’t get noticed by very many people, 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 all season to fish with us and finishing strong in some really tough fishing. There are a number of tournament trails these days and we sincerely appreciate you choosing to fish with us. Enjoy the upcoming winter fishing season and be sure to keep an eye on FaceBook and Instagram for details on our 2025/2026 Winter Series. These are a great, low-key, rodeo-style tournament series that has grown quite a bit over the past few years. It’s a good time and can be some phenomenal fishing!
Please take a moment to complete the Economic Impact Report for the Classic: https://bit.ly/classiceconimpact