MAGS Custom Rods congratulates Isaac Lakich on winning the 2026 Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s National Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Sakakawea.
Isaac came to win, and that’s exactly what he did.
After three days of competition on North Dakota’s Lake Sakakawea, Lakich finished at the top of one of the most competitive fields in walleye fishing with an impressive 75 pounds, 14 ounces, earning the title of 2026 National Walleye Tour Champion.
For MAGS Custom Rods, the victory is especially meaningful. Isaac has trusted MAGS rods in high-level walleye competition, putting our custom-built rods in his hands when precision, sensitivity, and confidence matter most.
From NWT Contender to Champion
Lakich has established himself as one of the top young anglers in professional walleye fishing.
In 2025, he earned his first National Walleye Tour Pro Division victory on Lake Huron in Alpena, Michigan, bringing in 60 pounds, 11 ounces over two days. That win came after several close finishes on the NWT circuit and marked a major breakthrough in his tournament career.
He continued that momentum into 2026.
Lakich finished third in the 2026 NWT regular-season Angler of the Year standings with 761 points and qualified for the championship alongside the top 40 Pro and Co-Anglers.
Then, on Lake Sakakawea, he put together the performance that mattered most.
Three days. More than 75 pounds of walleye. One championship trophy.
Precision Matters
Winning at the highest level of walleye fishing requires more than finding fish. Tournament anglers need to be able to detect subtle bites, control presentations, make accurate casts, and stay connected to a fish from the first bite all the way to the net.
That’s where a custom fishing rod can make a difference.
MAGS Custom Rods builds rods around the way individual anglers actually fish. Length, power, action, components, balance, and sensitivity can all be tailored to the presentation and technique.
And Isaac knows exactly what he wants from his equipment.
Earlier this year, Lakich and Tristan Beckwith won the 2026 AIM Warrior Boats National Championship Shootout for the second consecutive year. During that championship-winning performance, Lakich specifically credited MAGS Custom Rods 7'6" and 7'8" medium-light rods as part of his setup.
That kind of feedback means a lot to us.
Our goal has always been to build fishing rods that disappear in the angler’s hands. Light, balanced, sensitive, and built around the way they fish.
Built for Serious Walleye Anglers
Walleye fishing continues to evolve, and so does the equipment anglers use to pursue them.
Whether you’re pitching jigs, casting plastics, working live bait, or using modern forward-facing sonar to target individual fish, having the right rod can give you a critical advantage.
Isaac Lakich’s success is a great example.
His tournament career has been built on preparation, experience, adaptability, and confidence in his equipment. His 2026 National Walleye Tour Championship is another accomplishment on an already impressive resume, and we’re proud that MAGS Custom Rods has been part of the journey.
Congratulations, Isaac
From everyone at MAGS Custom Rods, congratulations to Isaac Lakich on becoming the 2026 National Walleye Tour Champion.
We’re proud to see MAGS Custom Rods on the deck with anglers competing, and winning, at the highest levels of walleye fishing.
75 pounds, 14 ounces.
2026 National Walleye Tour Champion.
