DECATUR, Ala. — The first time I wrote about Banks Shaw was in 2022, when he was named to the Bassmaster High School All-American Team. At the time, the Sale Creek High School senior was expecting to miss his graduation to fish in the All-American Tournament in Texas.
Since those days, Shaw, from Harrison, Tenn., has done nothing but climb to bass fishing fame rung-by-rung – climbing even higher Sunday by winning the Major League Fishing (MLF) Pro League event on Wheeler Lake in North Alabama. With 21 pounds, 1 ounce on the final day, Shaw totaled up an even 62 pounds to cash in for $100,000. It’s his second MLF win of the year, and his ninth Top-10 finish the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals or Pro Circuit since the start of 2025.
The MLF Pro Circuit is a step down from the elite MLF Bass Pro Tour. Think of it like Triple-A vs. the Major Leagues in baseball. But barring something crazy, Shaw is on a likely track to earn an invitation to the top tier among the MLF pros. Shaw fished his very first MLF event in January 2024. In that short time he has amassed MLF career earnings totaling more than $600,000.
Yesterday’s win might have been more impressive because Shaw was coming off the worst MLF tournament of his young life. Just two weeks ago he finished in 48th at a Texas event. Undaunted by one his worst performances ever – and bolstered by returning to a Tennessee River reservoir, Shaw came back for the win. He also moved into first place for the ongoing MLF Angler of the Year points race…