August 15, 2026 by Montana Cats Staff
The 16th Annual Missouri River Catfish Clash brought the 2026 Montana Cats Circuit to a fitting conclusion on Saturday, August 15, in Williston, North Dakota. With 42 boats registered for the season-ending event and 38 teams ultimately taking to the water, anglers from across the region came together for one final battle on the Missouri River. While weather can often play a major role in a late-summer catfish tournament, Mother Nature cooperated throughout the day, providing steady conditions that allowed the anglers to focus on the task at hand. The one thing that did prove difficult was finding the biggest cats. Big fish seemed to be at a premium throughout the event, and overall weights were noticeably down compared to previous years of the Missouri River Catfish Clash.
Despite the apparent case of lock-jaw among the Missouri River’s biggest cats, the competition remained fierce from start to finish. It still took more than 30 pounds to claim the championship, and an impressive 13 teams managed to break the 20-pound barrier while bringing a five-fish limit to the scales. Of the 38 teams that showed up to compete, 37 were able to put fish on the leaderboard during the live weigh-in at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. As always, the final hour brought plenty of anticipation as teams waited to see whether their catches would be enough to move them up the standings and finish the season on a high note.
When the final fish had been weighed, it was the husband-and-wife combination of Shawn and Whitney Becker of Sidney, Montana, who emerged as the 2026 Missouri River Catfish Clash champions. The Beckers put together an impressive five-fish limit weighing 30.71 pounds, securing the title and the event’s top payday. A huge part of their winning performance came from Whitney, who landed a true Missouri River pig—a 10.75-pound channel catfish. The big channel was good enough to earn Whitney and the team Big Fish honors and an additional $200. The championship marked a special milestone for the Beckers, as it was Shawn and Whitney’s first career hardware on the Montana Cats Circuit.
The rest of the top five featured a strong mix of experienced Montana Cats competitors and local Williston anglers. Brenner Flaten of Glasgow, Montana, and Cole Plouffe of Glendive, Montana, finished runner-up with 25.62 pounds. Robert Bauer and Rylan Bauer of Williston, North Dakota, continued an outstanding day for the local anglers by finishing third with 25.36 pounds. Todd Dooley and Sam Syth, both of Sidney, Montana, captured fourth place with 23.95 pounds, while Robert Petersen and Jonah Petersen of Billings, Montana, rounded out the top five with 23.32 pounds. The narrow margins throughout the top five demonstrated just how competitive the final event of the season was, with every fish carrying significant weight in the championship chase.
The third-place finish by Robert and Rylan Bauer was particularly noteworthy because it also earned the Williston father-and-son team the Adult-Child Championship, sponsored by Mountain Supply. Their 25.36-pound effort earned the pair a $250 cash prize and added another memorable accomplishment to an already successful day on their home waters. The Adult-Child competition continues to be a special part of the Montana Cats Circuit, giving families an opportunity to compete together while building memories on the water. Having the Adult-Child champions come from the local community made the accomplishment even more special as the Missouri River Catfish Clash wrapped up another season.
As it seemingly does every year, the Montana Cats Angler of the Year race came down to the final weekend. The annual award, sponsored by BnM Poles, once again provided plenty of drama heading into the final event. Jason Flaten of Elko, Nevada, entered the Missouri River Catfish Clash with a firm grasp on the top spot, while only Brenner Flaten of Glasgow, Montana, remained mathematically alive in the chase. The scenarios were clear: Brenner needed a third-place finish to tie Jason or a top-two finish to overtake his brother and claim the Angler of the Year title outright. Brenner and partner Cole Plouffe answered the challenge by putting together a runner-up performance. Their second-place finish gave Brenner the necessary one-point advantage, allowing him to move ahead of Jason and secure the 2026 Montana Cats Angler of the Year championship. The dramatic finish was another example of just how competitive the annual AOY race has become.
The excitement surrounding the Missouri River Catfish Clash began well before the boats hit the water. Friday night’s calcutta, captain’s meeting and social was once again a tremendous success, thanks in large part to the hospitality of the host site, the 4-Mile Bar. The gathering gave anglers an opportunity to catch up with old friends, meet new competitors and get ready for one final day of tournament fishing. Those friendships and relationships have become one of the defining characteristics of the Montana Cats Circuit. While competition on the water remains intense, the camaraderie among anglers continues to make the circuit something special.
With the final fish weighed and the final points calculated, the 2026 Montana Cats season officially came to a close. For the sixth consecutive year, more than 350 anglers competed in Montana Cats Circuit events throughout the season. Even more impressive, 49 different anglers competed in multiple events, demonstrating the continued commitment and support from the anglers who make the circuit possible. The participation numbers, combined with another highly competitive race for the Top 20 in the final Angler of the Year standings, made 2026 another tremendously successful campaign for Montana Cats.
The Montana Cats Association would like to extend a sincere thank-you to every angler, family member, volunteer, host location and supporter who helped make the 2026 season such a success. The organization would also like to recognize and thank its outstanding circuit sponsors: MPLX, BnM Fishing, Shelly George with Thrivent Financial, Mountain Supply, Nemont Beverage Corporation, Midway Auto and RV, and RS Jet Boat Anchors. Their continued support plays an important role in allowing Montana Cats to provide quality tournament opportunities and memorable experiences for anglers throughout the region.
And while the 2026 season may be in the books, the countdown to next summer has already begun. The 17th Annual Missouri River Catfish Clash will return to Williston, North Dakota, on Saturday, August 21, 2027. Until then, Montana Cats anglers can look back on another season filled with big fish, close competition, new champions, family memories and plenty of time spent with good friends on the water. The 16th Annual Missouri River Catfish Clash may have closed the 2026 chapter, but it also served as another reminder of why Montana Cats continues to grow—because at the end of the day, it is about much more than catching catfish. It is about competition, friendship, family and the shared love of being on the water.
CLICK HERE for 16th Annual Missouri River Catfish Clash Final Results
Posted in: Missouri River Catfish Clash
