Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame member and professional fisherman Stephen Browning opened the 2026 season with a strong finish over the weekend, turning in a three-day total of 52 pounds, 5 ounces.
Browning, a Pine Bluff native who now lives in Hot Springs, said he found success fishing near the tournament site at Lakefront Park – Big Toho Marina.
“The Good Lord blessed me with enough bites to settle me down,” Browning said. “I used my Garmin Force trolling motor way more than my Mercury engine.”
Browning’s performance marks an encouraging start to the year in the Pro-Angler Division, according to Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame officials.
“We are very excited about Stephen’s performance to kick off the year,” said Jeff Gross, chairman of the Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame in Pine Bluff.
Browning was selected as part of the Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame’s inaugural 2025 class, which includes athletes from multiple sports, including professional football and baseball standouts, a three-time Super Bowl champion and an Olympic gold medalist.
He was inducted into the Jefferson County Sports Hall of Fame on April 26, 2025.
