Indiana was well represented at the opening event of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Presented By Native Watercraft, which kicked off in Kissimmee, Florida, and it didn’t take long for the Hoosier State to make its presence known.
With 242 anglers from across the country launching into the Sunshine State for the first stop of the season, the field was stacked with elite-level talent. As expected, the event brought out the very best kayak anglers in the nation—but it also proved just how tough Florida fishing can be when conditions don’t line up.
A Grind from Start to Finish
Over two days of competition, just over 1,000 fish were submitted by the entire field. That number alone highlights the difficulty of the event. More than 40 anglers blanked, and a large portion of the field struggled to catch a full limit on both days.
While many battled tough conditions, a handful of anglers managed to separate themselves. The top three competitors each posted 90+ inch limits on both days, showcasing just how precise and disciplined it took to succeed.
At the top of the leaderboard was Ryan Matylewicz, who claimed the victory with an impressive two-day total of 194.25 inches.
Indiana Cracks the Top 25
Indiana anglers didn’t just show up—they cashed checks.
Leading the Hoosier charge was Northern Indiana’s James Miller, who finished 18th overall with a 155.50-inch two-day total, earning an $850 payday in what was his first national-level kayak event.
Joining him in the top 25 was Merlin Hammer III, President of Indiana Kayak Bass Nation (INKBN), who secured 23rd place with 149.25 inches, also cashing a check in one of the largest Bassmaster kayak fields ever assembled.
James Miller: Consistency Over Chaos
Following the event, we caught up with James Miller to break down his tournament—and “grind” is the best word to describe it.
Practice was extremely tough, so Miller made the decision to commit entirely to Lake Toho rather than bouncing between lakes. With limited time, he located a single offshore grass area near hard bottom in 7–8 feet of water. The spot only produced a few small bites in practice, but it was enough to build confidence.
Day one started strong with four early keepers, but adversity hit when a dead electronics battery forced him off the water for nearly three hours to retrieve a spare. Despite the setback, Miller managed to salvage a limit—an outcome that proved critical given how many anglers struggled.
Knowing his area had likely taken pressure, Miller returned on day two anyway, trusting advice to stay with water he understood and grind it out. That decision paid off with another limit, totaling 10 fish over two days. Most of his fish came on a black-and-blue JackHammer, with a couple more falling to a Zoom Lizard.
For Miller, the goal was consistency and AOY points, and he left Florida satisfied with both his finish and the overall execution of the event by Bassmaster and tournament director Steve Owens.
A multi-time IKA Angler of the Year, Miller is now firmly on the radar heading into the inaugural Indiana Kayak Bass Nation season, where he plans to make a serious run at becoming the first-ever INKBN AOY.
Merlin Hammer III Battles Through Tough Conditions
Like much of the field, Merlin Hammer III faced a challenging practice period. On day one, he returned to an area where he’d had a couple bites in practice and immediately got a good bite—only to lose it.
After searching most of the morning, he finally found something he felt he could build on around midday. His first bite in the area was a pickerel, but a few casts later he connected with his first bass of the event using a Texas-rigged Zoom Magnum Lizard, dipped chartreuse and weighted with a 3/16 oz tungsten.
By methodically flipping holes in the pads, Hammer put together a limit over the next 90 minutes, ending day one with 74.5 inches and sitting in 32nd place.
Day two started back on the same water, and the lizard once again delivered. Over four hours, he caught four fish on it, losing a couple key bites—including a big one. Needing a fifth fish, Hammer moved slightly up the lake to some shallow water that “looked froggy.” Within minutes of throwing a Deps Buster K, he landed his final keeper.
Hammer finished day two with 74.75 inches, securing 23rd place out of 242 anglers from 39 states—his best finish to date in the Bassmaster Kayak Series.
“This was the second-largest field in Bassmaster Kayak Series history, and to grind out limits both days and cash a check feels incredible,” Hammer said. “I’m pumped and ready to keep the momentum going into Caddo in April.”
Another Strong Indiana Finish
Indiana native Jaxton Orr also put together a solid performance, finishing 29th with 139.50 inches. After a disappointing day one that left him without a limit, Orr rebounded on day two to climb the leaderboard and finish just outside the top 25.
Indiana Is Just Getting Started
From top-25 finishes to gritty recoveries and national-level success, Indiana anglers proved they belong on the biggest stage in kayak bass fishing. With momentum rolling and the Indiana Kayak Bass Nation season on the horizon, the Hoosier State looks primed to make serious noise in 2026—and this was just the beginning.
