RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesAt the 2026 Great Miami Riverway Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge, a West Milton angler won the competition for the second time in a row with the largest smallmouth.
Kyle Grosvenor, who was among the winners of the 2021 challenge, took top honors for the largest fish of this year's tournament with a 20.75-inch smallmouth bass that held the lead from opening day through the close of competition, according to a release from the Miami Conservancy District.
Grosvenor's win capped a month of chasing bronze backs across one of the Midwest's premier smallmouth fisheries, the release stated.
The fishing challenge overall brought together 59 anglers from across the region for a month-long, catch-and-release competition with 456 fish, celebrating fishing, recreation and the Great Miami River itself.
The list of winners are:
Top 3 Largest Smallmouth Bass:
1. Kyle Grosvenor – 20.75
2. Dustin Burns – 19.50"
3. Dillon Browning – 19.25"
Competitive Series — Top 5 Bag:
The most competitive category of the tournament came down to inches, with the top anglers assembling five-fish bags.
1. Derek Pyles – 91.00" (18.75", 18.50", 18.50", 18.25", 17.00")
2. Jimmy Kaulig – 90.00" (19.00", 18.25", 17.75", 17.50", 17.50")
3. Justin Bridges – 90.00" (18.75", 18.50", 17.75", 17.50", 17.50")
IGFA Bass Grand Slam:
One of the tournament's more unique challenges required anglers to log three qualifying bass species within a 24-hour period. Sponsored by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the Grand Slam category again proved that the Great Miami River offers exceptional multi-species fishing opportunities, the release stated.
1. Dustin Burns – completed June 22
2. Derek Pyles – completed June 26
3. Jimmy Kaulig – completed July 5
4. Robert Watson – completed July 11
Fly Division Winners:
Largest Smallmouth Bass: Jake Carter – 18.25"
Competitive Series – Top 5 Bag: Ken Carter – 68.25"
Random Drawing Prize Winners:
Slot 1 (12"–13.75"): Derek Pyles, Dustin Burns, Andrew Trimbach
Slot 2 (14"–15.75"): Luke Cetnar, Jesse Freeland, Clifford Stanfield
Slot 3 (16"–17.75"): Kyle Grosvenor, Aaron Bozarth, Dylan Hicks
Slot 4 (18+): Jimmy Kaulig, Dustin Burns, John Hollingshead
Fly Division Drawing Winners: Pamela Allen, Ken Carter
Anglers and community members gathered to celebrate the season at an award ceremony on July 29, at Crooked Handle Brewing Co. in Piqua, meeting fellow anglers and connecting with tournament directors.
Registration for the 2027 Great Miami Riverway Smallmouth Bass Fishing Challenge will open in spring 2027.
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