Texas Favorite Lee Livesay Leans on Humminbird and Minn Kota for Bassmaster Classic Success at Lake Ray Roberts

RACINE, W.I. (March 20, 2025) – In the realm of Texas bass fishing, few names carry the same weight as Lee Livesay. A native of the Lone Star State and one of the sport’s most respected anglers, Livesay is a heavy favorite heading into the 2025 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Ray Roberts. With countless hours spent searching its waters with his Humminbird units and Lakemaster Mapping, he has an intimate understanding of the Classic playing field, and is primed to make a serious run at the coveted championship title.

Now in his seventh year on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Longview, Texas native Lee Livesay built his reputation as a Lake Fork guide before qualifying for the Elites in 2018 and kicking off his rookie season in 2019. A longtime supporter of Humminbird and Minn Kota, Livesay has spent much of his career mastering electronics and fine-tuning his approach to targeting offshore bass.

Livesay is expecting a prespawn bonanza with the recent warming trend that has hit the southern United States. “On paper, it looks like Lake Fork, but it’s a whole different animal,' he said. 'It usually runs about a month behind other East Texas lakes, which can make it tricky to figure out. But this week, the guy who wins is going to dial in on prespawn fish staging up to spawn.”
“The lake is fishing pretty good from what I have seen,” explained Livesay. “The strong winds last week have the lake fishing small, but it is full of big fish. Anything can happen when it comes to the Bassmaster Classic, so as long as I stay focused and adapt each day, that’s all I can ask for.”

With his history on Lake Ray Roberts throughout his career, he understands the unique challenges this fishery presents in early spring. With fish spread from shallow flats to deep structure, his game plan is simple—use Humminbird MEGA Live 2 and MEGA 360 to break down key areas to find bass. When working the shallows, his Minn Kota Raptors will keep him locked in, allowing him to make precise, repeated casts at his targets.

“Having MEGA Live 2 and MEGA 360 on the front of my boat lets me see everything happening in real time,” said Livesay. “The shallow bite is heating up, so I’ll be relying on both heavily this week. There’s a lot of shallow cover—stumps, grass edges, and trees—that I’ll be focusing on. As fish push shallow, I’m looking to intercept them on their way up. Finding the sweet spot and locking in with the Raptors will help me stay quiet, and sometimes it takes multiple casts to get one to commit, so patience and stealth will be key.”

With Lake Ray Roberts known for both giant largemouth and unpredictable conditions, adaptability will be key. Livesay plans to rely on his local knowledge, instinctive fishing style, and cutting-edge Humminbird and Minn Kota electronics to dial in a winning strategy. 
“It’s about making the right decisions at the right time,” said Livesay. “The Classic is the biggest stage in bass fishing, and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got to put five big ones in the boat each day.”

As the 2025 Bassmaster Classic kicks off, anticipation is at an all-time high. With home-field advantage on Ray Roberts and the most advanced electronics at his fingertips, Lee Livesay has everything he needs to make a serious run at his first Bassmaster Classic title.