Officials Recover Body of College Kayak Angler Who Went Missing Ahead of Bassmaster Tourney

Officers in Texas have recovered the physique of Peyton Hughes, the faculty kayak fisherman who went lacking on Toledo Bend Reservoir on Wednesday. Texas Game Wardens stated in a Fb publish that that they had recovered Hughes’ physique from the big lake round 7:15 a.m. Friday morning. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Division had been main the search effort, which concerned businesses from each Texas and Louisiana.

Hughes’ mom additionally confirmed the information on her personal Facebook page Friday.

“They recovered his physique this morning within the lake. Please pray for us,” Sara Ashley Hughes wrote. “My candy boy is gone to be together with his Daddy who died combating for this nation! I really like you Peyton Hughes & Adam!”

Sept. 25, 6:53 p.m. EST — Search efforts are underway for a school kayak fisherman who went lacking on Toledo Bend Reservoir Wednesday. The faculty angler, recognized as Peyton Hughes in his mother’s Facebook post, is a member of the Campbellsville University Kayak Fishing Team. He was one among many anglers registered to compete in the Bassmaster Kayak Series event that’s scheduled to happen on the lake Sept. 27 and 28.

“We’re holding onto hope,” Sara Ashley Hughes wrote in her publish on Thursday. “My Mama coronary heart could be very heavy proper now … I’m asking for prayers, optimistic thought, and any help because the search continues.”

B.A.S.S confirmed in a statement that it’s conscious of the continued search on Toledo Bend, a big reservoir that straddles the Texas-Louisiana state line. The group says Hughes’ journey accomplice contacted authorities Wednesday when he didn’t return to their designated assembly spot after a day of follow fishing. B.A.S.S says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division took the lead on search-and-rescue efforts. Crews have since situated Hughes’ kayak, however he stays lacking as of Thursday afternoon.

In her publish, Hughes’ mother specified that he “was in Louisiana fishing” together with his group. It’s unclear if she meant Hughes had launched his kayak on the Louisiana aspect of the lake, or if the group was simply based mostly on that aspect. Toledo Bend is an enormous reservoir (the most important within the South) with parts in each states. It spans greater than 185,000 acres and has roughly 1,200 miles of shoreline. 

Due to its sheer measurement and its proximity to the Gulf, Toledo Bend can be vulnerable to extreme climate and heavy winds. Weather data for Natchitoches reveals overcast circumstances Wednesday, with mild to heavy thunderstorms within the afternoon and winds topping out round 14 mph.

B.A.S.S. says it’s involved with TPWD and can present updates as they develop into obtainable.

The 2-day match scheduled for Sept. 27 and 28 on Toledo Bend is the final of three stops on the 2025 Bassmaster College Kayak Series. Nonetheless in its first 12 months, the kayak sequence kicked off on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in February.