Lee Livesay Falls Short in Bassmaster Elite Competition

PALATKA, Fla. (AP) – Longview native Lee Livesay placed 17th after day three of the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, on Feb. 22, 2025. Livesay caught five fish weighing a total of 17 pounds, 9 ounces, bringing his cumulative weight for the tournament to 45 pounds, 15 ounces. Unfortunately for Livesay, only the top 10 anglers advance to the final day, leaving him just below the cutline.

Throughout the tournament, Livesay has faced stiff competition from other Elite anglers, including Jay Przekurat, who continues to dominate the leaderboard. On day one, Livesay secured the second position with five fish weighing 22 pounds, 13 ounces, just behind Przekurat’s 24 pounds, 15 ounces.

After a challenging day two, where Livesay slipped to 32nd place with a catch of seven fish for 28 pounds, 6 ounces, the pressure was on for the final day. While he managed to record additional fish on day three, it was ultimately not enough to secure a place in the top 10.

Brookeland’s Dakota Ebare and Huntington‘s Keith Combs struggled in the tournament as well, finishing 60th and 68th, respectively. Ebare caught 10 fish with a total weight of 24 pounds, 1 ounce, while Combs had eight fish weighing 21 pounds, 9 ounces. The tournament marked the opening event of the season for the Elite anglers.

As the competition progresses, fans are eager to see who will make it to the final rounds. The high stakes of the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite hinge on the performance of the top competitors, as only the elite few will continue to the coveted championship.