Skeeter Announces New FXE Model Line at 32nd Annual Skeeter Owners' Tournament, Draws 1,650 Anglers
KILGORE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Skeeter Boats hosted the 32nd annual Skeeter Owners Bass Tournament on Lake Fork, Texas, at Lake Fork Marina and Hotel in Alba, Texas, June 5 through 7, where this year’s participants got a first-hand introduction to the all-new FXE™ bass boat model line. Approximately 1,650 anglers in 874 Skeeter® boats competed for more than $275,000 in cash and prizes, including a 2026 Skeeter FXR20 Apex Edition bass boat powered by a Yamaha V MAX SHO® 250 Outboard, as well as a 2026 Yamaha Viking® EPS Side-by-Side and the chance to win a 2026 Yamaha Kodiak® 700 EPS ATV.
Engineered to deliver improved precision, control and overall performance on the water, the FXE represents a new generation of bass boat design excellence. Powered by Yamaha V MAX SHO® 250-horsepower outboards and built using advanced CAD-CAM engineering and CNC manufacturing technology, the FXE models are designed to offer enhanced balance and consistency across a wide range of operating conditions.
“The introduction of the new FXE line at the Skeeter Owners Tournament made this year’s event especially exciting. There’s no better place to launch a new product than in front of our most loyal customers,” said Chris Brown, Brand Marketing Manager, Skeeter Boats. “At the same time, the tournament continues to bring the Skeeter community together for great fishing, family fun and charitable giving.”
Anglers competed an individual Big Bass tournament format, allowing each angler to weigh in one fish per hour, with prizes awarded to the top 10 fish each hour, as well as the overall biggest bass and the biggest bass “under the slot.” Daniel Helsley of McKinney, Texas, reeled in a bass weighing 11.53 pounds to win this year’s grand prize, the 2026 Skeeter FXR20 Apex Edition and Yamaha V MAX SHO 250 outboard. Monty Sewell of Taylor, Arkansas, took home the 2026 Yamaha Viking EPS Side-by-Side for weighing in the heaviest bass under the slot with a 2.98-pound largemouth bass. Aaron Holmes of Lumberton, Texas won the Yamaha Kodiak 700 EPS ATV from the 2026 Boat Load of Toys Sweepstakes. Crystal McWhirter of Burleson, Texas, won the Ladies Division with a 2.54-pound bass, and Junior Thomas of Alba, Texas, claimed the Seniors Division title with a 9.35-pound bass.
The Junior Division required a tiebreaker after Henry Wilson of Marshall, Texas, and Henry Beecherl of Dallas, Texas, each weighed in a 2.36-pound bass. Wilson secured the division title by weighing a second fish, earning the tiebreaker and the victory.
Anglers and volunteers also collected more than 1,000 toys, over $1,000 cash and 789 canned goods for charities during the event. The Bass Champs Tournament Organization ran the tournament.
