Wade Wilkens Holds Lead At 2026 BAM Northwest Pro-Am On Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE, Wash. – The 2026 BAM Northwest Pro-Am season-opener on Moses Lake closed the Day Two scales with Wade Wilkens of Selah, Wash. preserving his lead with a two-day total of 43.31. Wilkins added 18.53 to his first day’s 24.78, maintaining his gap of just over a pound at the BAM Trail Mercury / Vexus Boats Pro-Am event presented by Tackle Warehouse and conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.

Wilkens Maintains Narrow Lead Heading Into Championship Sunday

“It got a little stingy here today.” Wilkins said noting his weight difference. “I couldn’t get those couple dock bites that I had on Day One.”

With nearly two-pounds separating his closest three competitors, Wilkens knows Championship Sunday is setting up for a tight race to the finish.

“Realistically 20 and change will be a good bag tomorrow” he predicted. “There are 6.5 pounders in here – or some smallmouth to piece a good bag together.”

The final day’s strategy for Wilkins starts with largies.

“I am keying in on some that are still on beds or fry guarding,” he revealed as he recalled his Day One catches.

“It was crazy – it was the biggest bag I’ve ever weighed in a tournament – the biggest bag I’ve ever caught,” he said. “It was a day to remember, for sure.”

Winning Pattern: Strike King Rage Craw and Yamamoto Pro Senko

Wilkins continues to flip a Strike King Rage Craw on a 4/0 flippin’ hook from 6th Sense Fishing.

“Moon Juice color – I think,” he added. “I caught everything on that, and I did get a bedding smallmouth on a dropshot with a Yamamoto Pro Senko in green pumpkin/black flake.”

His Senko was rigged on an Owner Cover Shot hook and 10-pound PowerPro to 10-pound Sunline.

Sweitzer Takes Over Co-Angler Lead

Fishing behind Washington pro Shawn Minderman, California co Chad Sweitzer of Kelseyville, jumped five places, coming from 6th to the top spot on the co-angler side by adding a Day Two bag of 19.56 combined with his first limit of 15.73. His 35.29 puts him nearly four-pounds above Day One leader Jeff Stewart of Stevenson, who also made the trek from the Golden State.

“I kind of got lucky,” said Sweitzer on his come up. “Today Shawn broke off a big one and 30 yards down the bank, I hook a big one. Its literally his fish, with his worm in its mouth, so sometimes it’s just your day and that’s why I had 19 versus a regular 15-pound bag.”

Chad Sweitzer’s Co-Angler Strategy Pays Off

Describing two days of his “low and slow” technique, Sweitzer put a Yamamoto Senko to work for all his fish.

“I’m dragging it super far away from the boat,” he said. “I think, I’ve kind of dialed in the color over the past two days – to where I have the right color but I’m also getting lucky.”

Sweitzer wouldn’t elaborate on that color but noted it was crucial that he threw it on his Western Angler Melones Neko rod that he had been using the past few tournaments. He pairs it with a Revo Rocket spinning reel spooled with 12-pound Trilene fluorocarbon.

He expects more of the same for his final day of competition.

“With a three-pound lead, I just need a decent limit,” he said. “If I get 13- or 14-pounds, I will be tough to beat.”

Bicandi Claims High School Champion Honor

With a final event weight of 27.23, the Scholastic champ title goes to Colton Bicandi of Middleton, Ida.

As his first-ever BAM tournament, Bicandi went into the event blind, although he was armed with coveted Hideup Coikes in hand.

“I just asked the pro and went off that,” he said. “I got some casts in that the pro missed, and I got some good fish.”

Hideup Coike Helps Secure Scholastic Victory

The junior at Middleton High School described presenting his Coike almost Neko-rigged on a Daiwa Zillion with 20-pound line.

“I was throwin’ it on long docks like a jerkbait,” he said. “I was fishing slow. They weren’t biting it on the bottom really well.”

Bicandi’s final ended the high school standings nearly a pound over the runner-up.

Final Scholastic Results

1 Colton Bicandi Middleton, ID 12.24 14.99 27.23

2 Carson Stahl Oregon City, OR 17.91 08.39 26.30

3 Carter Williams Nampa, ID 09.82 16.31 26.13

4 Royce Robinson Mesa, AZ 10.42 14.63 25.05

5 Ryder Staley Burbank, WA 08.96 15.69 24.65

6 Colten Newman New Plymouth, ID 05.24 12.30 18.06

7 Quinn Wilson Portland, OR 05.48 12.49 17.97

8 Braden Green Hillsboro, OR 02.51 09.53 12.04

9 Carson Munden Pasco, WA 02.91 11.20 11.20

Championship Sunday Set For Moses Lake Finale

The remainder of the three-day draw-tournament that kicks off the PNW Pro-Am season returns comes to a close on Championship Sunday. Following Day Three weigh-in, BAM will award the winning pro a brand new Mercury-powered Vexus 1880 prize boat.

Tune in to BAM social channels or the BamTrail.com website to follow the action.

Rest Of The Best

Day Two Pro

1 Wade Wilkens Selah, WA 06.58 24.78 18.53 43.31

2 Darryl Burkhardt Boring, OR 21.05 05.52 21.11 42.16

3 Karl Okerman Auburn, CA 20.81 20.87 41.68

4 Chris Parks Eugene, OR 06.04 21.70 19.59 41.29

5 Clark Korper Kent, WA 22.28 17.48 39.76

6 Conrad Demecs Surprise, AZ 21.58 05.29 17.61 39.19

7 Justin Campbell Pasco, WA 05.05 17.33 21.66 38.99

8 Marco Valdez Kennewick, WA 04.54 21.20 17.19 38.39

9 Sean Minderman Greenacres, WA 05.15 21.97 15.54 37.51

10 Aiden Grad Pasco, WA 23.21 13.88 37.09

Day Two Co-Angler Standings

1 Chad Sweitzer Kelseyville, CA 15.73 19.56 35.29

2 Jeff Stewart Stevenson, CA 04.63 18.86 12.58 31.44

3 Abrian Jones Everett, WA 14.31 04.53 16.63 30.94

4 Sheri Caldwell Ontario, OR 15.98 06.46 13.91 29.89

5 Craig Main Chico, CA 15.18 14.55 29.73

6 Blake Yates Moxee, WA 04.28 15.81 13.84 29.65

7 Matt Gargalione Gig Harbor, WA 13.58 15.50 29.08

8 Brian Nichols East Wenatchee, WA 13.68 15.34 29.02

9 Chuck Kavros Grass Valley, CA 04.54 16.37 12.46 28.83

10 Darin Wilkens Selah, WA 18.09 10.44 28.53

Event Overview

The BAM Trail Vexus Boats Pro-Am heads to Moses Lake for the first time, expanding BAM’s Northwest reach. Launching out of Cascade Park, this three-day professional bass fishing event featuring top western anglers competing for a new Mercury powered Vexus 1880 boat, cash payouts, contingencies, and chance to earn a BAM Trail victory.

Daily weigh-ins will take place at Cascade Marina Park at 3:00 PM each day and are open to the public.

BAM Trail Mercury / Vexus Boats Pro-Am presented by Tackle Warehouse

Moses Lake – Cascade Park May 29-31, 2026

Special thanks to Nixon’s Marine for taking delivery and bringing the Vexus prize boat to Cascade Park.

About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) is the West Coast’s premier pro-level bass fishing circuit — built to showcase top anglers and connect brands directly with the fishing community.

Powered by Bass Angler Magazine’s nationwide print and digital reach, BAM offers unmatched marketing opportunities through its tournament trail, magazine, email campaigns, podcasts, social media, YouTube, and TV series — creating year-round exposure for anglers and sponsors alike.

BAM Super 60 title sponsor – Bass Boat Technologies presented by – Tackle Warehouse.

BAM Pro-Am title sponsor –  Vexus Boats presented by Tackle Warehouse.

BAM Trail is honored to be associated with its host of amazing partners, Bass Boat Technologies, and presenting sponsor, Tackle Warehouse. The trail is also supported by StorQuest, Chicken Ranch Resort, Vexus Boats, Ford Fairfield, Power Pole, Mercury Outboards, Boardman Community Development, Black Bear Diner, Bridgford Foods, Bob’s Machine, Okuma Fishing USA and our conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.

BAM TT tourism partners: Lake Don Pedro, City of Oakley, Grant County WA, City of Huntington OR, Anderson Auto Group and the City of Kennewick.

Tournament events include BAM Super 60 Pro Tour, Pro-Am, Scholastic and a Kayak Tours with an end of the year Championship. See the TV show and live weigh ins on YouTube.

Learn more here: BAM TRAIL, YouTube Facebook, Twitter, X and TikToc.

Media / Advertising Contact Mark Lassagne 

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