Man Catches A $100,000 Bass On Lake Of The Ozarks, The Day Before His Birthday

Nate Boelter figured it was over. Someone else had already pulled in a record 8-pounder at the Spring Big Bass Bash, but then came a fish — and a win — that changed everything.

The Nebraska native grew up fishing shallow, muddy waters, when he bought a $1,500 boat back in 2022 with one goal in mind: chase big bass at Lake of the Ozarks.

“I plan my fishing trips around the Bash," Boelter said. "I mean, where else can you spend 200 bucks and maybe win a hundred grand? It’s better than a casino.”

For years, he came up short. He’d haul in a few fish here and there, but never one worthy of earning a tournament check.

But the bet paid off last weekend when he landed a mega largemouth bass to win the entire tournament and $100k... the weekend before his birthday.

Boelter's Big Fish Story

During past trips, he'd stay in AirBnBs, hotels, or even a campground. But this time, Boelter and his buddy Justin Bignell just rested in the truck at the ramp parking lot. Maybe the humble lodging translated to being at just the right spot...

“We were fishing a bluff wall around the four-mile marker of the Niangua,” Boelter said, describing the steep drop-off where he made the winning cast. “I was using this bladed underspin lure I’ve caught a few big ones on before. It’s kind of a one-off lure — I bought them all when I realized they were going out stock and how good they worked.”

But he didn't even bother to use a new one after another angler caught an 8-pounder earlier on that first day.

"I'm not going to waste a good lure on a snag," Boelter recalled, never thinking he could beat that other weigh-in. "Even though I thought this thing was already won, I was still fishing where I thought it was going to be good."

When he reeled it in, he knew the bass was a decent fish, but the shock didn’t fully hit until he approached the weigh-in at Red Oak. As he pulled the bass from the live well, heads turned. “It was like walking into the ER and watching the whole medical team scramble,” Boelter said with a laugh.

The bass tipped the scales at a whopping 8.28 pounds, earning him $100,000 as the biggest one ever caught in the history of the tournament.

“There’s a video of it — my buddy and I just start dancing. It’s kind of blowing up online,” Boelter said. “At first it was just excitement over the biggest bass I’d ever caught. Then the realization hit.”

Even splitting the money with Bignell, there's a bright future for Boelter.

The prize will pay off some debt, then likely go toward a new and bigger boat, something a little safer for outings at Lake of the Ozarks with his six-year-old son. Boelter says he’s also eyeing an upgraded truck for his road trips and plans to stash some cash for future vacations and bashes.

Beolter plans to keep on fishin' after joining the elite list of Big Bass Bash champions.

"It's a great thing," Beolter said of the tournament. "It gives people like me the opportunity to win money that I would otherwise never win by catching fish. If you're coming, just have fun. Don't try to take it too seriously. Remember, it's one fish out of all that get caught that wins."