Body of Missing Kentucky College Student Found in Lake

A Kentucky college student who went missing while preparing for a fishing tournament in Texas was found dead Friday morning.

Peyton Hughes, 21, a member of the Campbellsville University Kayak Bass Fishing Team, was at Toledo Bend Reservoir on the Texas-Louisiana border for a Bassmaster Kayak Series tournament scheduled for September 27-28. He failed to return to a designated meeting spot, Bassmaster said.

Hughes’ traveling partner reported him missing, prompting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to begin a search. Authorities later found his kayak, and Hughes’ mother, Sara Hughes, confirmed that her son’s body was recovered Friday morning. Campbellsville University and game wardens also confirmed his death.

Game wardens said Hughes’ body was pulled from the water around 7:15 a.m. local time. “Our thoughts continue to be with Peyton’s family, friends, teammates and fellow students at Campbellsville University during this difficult time,” they said in a Facebook post.

Bluegrass Kayak Anglers, a Kentucky organization for kayak fishermen, said it was crushed by the news. “Peyton was such a wonderful person, an ELITE angler, a great friend to everyone and such a strong part of our kayak fishing community and this loss cuts right to the core,” the group said.

Hughes’ friend Jay Wallen, who had fished with him many times since 2022, described him as kind and humble with exceptional fishing skills. Wallen recalled that even when Hughes didn’t win tournaments, he would congratulate and compliment other anglers. “I beat him at a tournament in Cumberland, and he came up and congratulated me and told me he looked up to me. That just took me aback,” Wallen said.

Wallen added, “He was such a kind person and outgoing. He would seek you out just to come talk to you, so I’ll definitely miss that about him.”

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