Mitchell Forde • Bass Pro Tour
Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Skeet Reese announced Tuesday that the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season will be his last.
Ten-time tour-level winner Skeet Reese will retire at the end of the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season—photo by Phoenix Moore.
Reese, who is in the midst of his 28th season as a full-time touring pro, said following the conclusion of this season he will step back from competition to spend more time with his family and grow his newly launched company, Reese Fishing.
“I think there’s lots of factors,” Reese said of his decision. “There is a part of it where it’s just family time, number one – how do I spend more time with my wife and not be on the road as many days a year? Two would be to be able to focus on Reese Fishing and the next chapter of business in my life. Three, I’m like the old man on the tour. I felt like I had run the peak of my career.
“I can still win. Obviously, I proved that last year, that I can still win. But the sport is different now; the fishing is different now than it was for the last 25 years of my career. I’m fortunate that the industry has been good to me and we have the ability to make these kind of decisions.”
A lifelong California resident, Reese got his start competing on the West Coast. His career went national in 1998, when he competed in both his first Redman All-American and Bassmaster Classic.
In the years since, Reese has put together one of the most decorated résumés in the sport. He’s won 10 national tour events, including the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River. He claimed the 2007 Angler of the Year title on the Bassmaster Elite Series, which he said is still his proudest on-the-water accomplishment. He’s amassed more than $4 million in earnings.
Reese was one of the founding members of the Bass Pro Tour in 2019. Last June, he proved that he could still win at the highest level by claiming his first BPT trophy on the James River. That was the highlight of a year that saw him finish 26th in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year standings, thus qualifying for REDCREST for the second time, and receive induction into the Hall of Fame.
Reese won his long-awaited first Bass Pro Tour trophy at the James River last June. Photo by Phoenix Moore
“Winning the Bass Pro Tour event last year was kind of like the icing on the cake for me to be able to be like, ‘alright, I did it,’” Reese said. “I know how hard it is to win a tournament at any level. We have a lot of guys on tour that have never won one. So, that was kind of like just a relief, I think. That felt good to be able to hoist a Bass Pro Tour trophy, and I feel content now.”
Perhaps even more than his tournament success, Reese gained a fan following by always showing off his dynamic personality. His vibrant black-and-yellow color scheme became his calling card, and he always looked for opportunities to show off a dance move in the boat or on stage.
Even in his retirement, that personality will still be in the spotlight. Reese plans to attend industry events and outdoor shows and remain active on social media. He has hopes to continue to grow Reese Fishing. But after nearly three decades of commuting from California to compete in 10-plus tournaments each year, he’s excited to have more control over his schedule.
“(My wife) Kim and I were talking about this last night, and she said, ‘I kind of feel like you’re going to be busier now than you have been,” Reese said with a chuckle. “But I think now it’s a matter of we get to choose our schedule. I want to make sure that part of that time is set aside for us to do whatever (we want), but to not worry about travel logistics and finding houses and all the map studying. Being a professional angler, there’s a lot that goes into it. So, it’s going to be different.”
Reese will compete in the final four events of the 2025 season, the next stop being O’Reilly Auto Parts Stage Four Presented by OPTIMA Batteries, which kicks off May 1 on Lake Chickamauga. He might have the chance to return for one last event in 2026, too, as he’s currently fourth in the standings to qualify for B&W Trailer Hitches Heavy Hitters.
Expect Reese to do everything he can to try and add one more major win before he hangs up his black-and-yellow jersey. His competitive juices continue to flow. However, he recognizes that the time has come to direct more of his energy to his pursuits off the water.
“I would have loved to have a REDCREST title and an AOY on the Bass Pro Tour, but I also know that I’m at the point that winning either one of those isn’t going to change what I’ve done in the sport,” Reese said. “It would be just for my own personal reasons. It’s not going to advance the needle in my popularity or my brand. I’ve already done that. I’ve spent the last 40 years fishing tournaments and meeting people and enjoying the process along the way.”
