Indiana kayak angler John Gittner added another major accomplishment to his fishing résumé this past weekend, capturing the 2025 Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Championship on Lake Guntersville and securing his place in the 2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, held alongside the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Chickamauga and Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tennessee — joining an already strong cast of qualified Indiana anglers set to represent the Hoosier State on the national stage.
The open-format championship, held Saturday, December 13, drew 34 of the region’s top kayak anglers, all chasing a coveted National Championship berth. Despite the mid-December date, the bite was anything but slow. Eleven anglers eclipsed the 80-inch mark, with the top of the leaderboard pushing into rare air — second place finishing with 92.50 inches and third close behind at 88.75 inches.
When the dust settled, it was Clarksville, Indiana’s John Gittner standing at the top with a five-fish limit totaling 94.25 inches, anchored by a 19.75-inch kicker. Over the course of the day, Gittner culled four times, steadily upgrading his limit in what became a tightly contested shootout.
Guntersville has long been a special place for Gittner — a lake he knows well and one he openly calls a home away from home. While a demanding work schedule limits how often he can compete, he’s made the most of his time by targeting Nation-level events, many of them on Guntersville, where consistency has become his calling card.
Heading into the tournament, confidence was there — but nothing was guaranteed. Unstable weather forced Gittner to scrap prefishing plans and adjust on the fly. A starting area he’d previously only used as an upgrade spot became his opening move, and it paid off, producing when it mattered most.
Relying on classic Guntersville patterns, Gittner targeted humps and ditches with familiar tools — an A-rig, bladed jig, and lipless crankbait — while mixing in a few less-common presentations that helped him separate from the field. Experience, preparation, and execution came together at exactly the right time.
The win carried extra weight. Beyond the Nation title, it confirmed Gittner’s ability to compete at the highest level on one of the most pressured fisheries in the country and earned him a spot alongside fellow Indiana qualifiers at one of bass fishing’s biggest stages.
Looking ahead to 2026, Gittner plans to remain selective with his schedule, balancing work commitments with regional travel and limited tournament opportunities. One thing is certain — when he launches at Chickamauga next spring, he’ll be flying the Indiana flag with confidence.
Follow John at @always.bass.to.mouth on instagram. Check out his TourneyX Profile: https://tourneyx.com/app/profile/wildonion721 or connect with him on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/john.gittner
