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DAIWA goes all out new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods

July 9, 2025

DAIWA goes all out new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods

Covering Your Bass…Again

DAIWA goes all out new 23 model lineup of 2025 TATULA cork handle bass rods

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 9, 2025) – From skipping docks with the utmost accuracy, to bombing lures long-distances to cover more water, anglers can rely on DAIWA’s new 23 model 2025 TATULA Bass Rod series, each designed for specific fishing situations and techniques.

All featuring cork handles, the new TATULA rods are as much as 15% lighter than the previous TATULA series. DAIWA employs its exclusive SVF (Super High Volume Fiber) Nanoplus Technology to lighten and strength the blank. They are also reinforced with DAIWA’s X45 bias carbon technology and Braiding X construction process to resist twisting, provide needed hook-setting power, and maintain rod integrity during high-stress situations. The TATULA series includes two specialized casting models for cranking – the TATULA 701MHRB-G and 721HRB-G, where DAIWA uses its advanced GLATECH construction process with the fiberglass blanks.

Anglers will also see DAIWA’s new TATULA custom rod seats on all models, along with Fuji Concept ‘O’ guides with aluminum oxide. All the rods are backed by DAIWA’s 5-year limited warranty.“Going back now a decade with our TATULA branded rod and reels, we keep bringing advancements to show anglers that our slogan – We’ve Got Your Bass Covered – holds true to this day,” said DAIWA’s Marketing Director, Marc Mills. “These next generation TATULA bass rods continue DAIWA’s intense focus on bass fishing, as we bring new models that reflect the right rod lengths, actions, and powers to keep up with new trends in the sport.”

Within the casting models, there are TATULA rods in 6’8”, 6’10”, 7’, 7’2”, 7’3”, 7’4” lengths to cover a wide range of applications, and even a 7’9” heavy action for casting big swimbaits and A-rigs. In the spinning versions, anglers will find rods ranging from 6’8” up to 7’6”, designed for everything from finesse and forward facing sonar situations, to the right actions for Ned rigs, shakey heads, dropshots, and even smaller swimbaits.Have all your bass fishing needs covered with DAIWA’s new TATULA bass series. For more info, visit https://DAIWA.us/products/25-TATULA-cork-rods.

CASTING Models

SPINNING Models

ICAST NEW PRODUCT PRESENTATION

For DAIWA’s latest color catalog and/or information on DAIWA dealers in your area, call DAIWA’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for DAIWA’s web site is daiwa.us

2 Day CATT Event Coming to the Chowan River, NC in 2026!

Brian Carter

July 9, 2025

2 Day CATT Event Coming to the Chowan River, NC in 2026!

We are excited to announce CATT will be hosting a 2-day Championship tournament on the Chowan River, NC in 2026 launching from Pembroke Creek in Edenton! We will guarantee a minimum of $10,000 to the 1st Place team! The format will be the same as the very successful Academy CATT Championship held each year on Kerr Lake, NC! 2025 winners at Kerr Lake, NC took home $30,000!! A team will have to enter a minimum of 2 CATT tournaments to qualify! Stay tuned for dates! You will have plenty of opportunities to qualify with the 2025 Fall Trails and 2026 Spring Trails.

This event will be a Friday/Saturday tournament! We are looking for a primary sponsor now, but we will go ahead with the event whether we find a sponsor this year or not! In 2026 you will have 2 CATT Championships to pick from or fish both!

Oklahoma Anglers Hayes and Shaffer Make History at High School Fishing World Finals

Bass News

Brian Carter

July 9, 2025

Oklahoma Anglers Hayes and Shaffer Make History at High School Fishing World Finals

June 30, 2025 – GROVE, Okla. — Oklahoma high school fishing teammates Colson Hayes and Cade Shaffer of Owasso made history this weekend, securing the highest-ever finish by an Oklahoma team at the 16th Annual Student Angler Federation High School World Finals on Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees.

Facing a field of nearly 400 boats from around the world, the odds were long — even by their own estimation. “We honestly thought it was a long shot,” said Hayes. But a massive Day 2 catch of 15 pounds, 2 ounces — the biggest single-day bag of the tournament — turned their underdog story into a legitimate championship run.

After weighing in 10 pounds, 9 ounces on Day 1, Hayes and Shaffer catapulted up the leaderboard with their standout Day 2 performance. Their momentum carried into Day 3, where they remained steady under pressure, landing 10 pounds, 12 ounces — enough to finish 8th overall and qualify for the final-round 31-team World Championship shootout.

“The fish weren’t where we expected them to be on Day 3,” said Hayes. “But we scrambled and adjusted. We didn’t panic — we’ve been in that spot before.”

On the final day, the duo made a gutsy call. “I called an audible on the way to our starting spot,” Hayes said. “Something told me to try a point we hadn’t fished all week.” That instinct paid off, delivering over 8 pounds by 8:30 a.m., including a 4-pound, 8-ounce largemouth caught by Shaffer.

By day’s end, they added 12 pounds, 15 ounces to their total, finishing with over 48 pounds and capturing 2nd place in the world championship — the best finish by any Oklahoma high school fishing team in the event’s history.

Along with global recognition, Hayes and Shaffer earned two championship trophies and were awarded college scholarship offers totaling $337,000.

“This format allows for a lot of strategies, but we just decided to fish our guts out every day,” Hayes said. “Once we made Saturday, we left it all on the water. We didn’t hold back, and we’re proud of what we accomplished.”

The result cements Hayes and Shaffer among the elite ranks of high school bass fishing and marks a major milestone for Oklahoma’s presence in the sport on a national and international level.

Why Switch to a Marine Lithium Starting Battery?

Brian Carter

July 9, 2025

Why Switch to a Marine Lithium Starting Battery?

Norsk Lithium^® meets and exceeds outboard manufacturer specs, provide unparalleled power and features

New Hope, Minn. (July 8, 2025) – Norsk Lithium^® is proud to offer a line of lithium marine starting batteries that exceeds most outboard manufacturer specs and will never leave you dead in the water; featuring three sets of terminals and included hardware for flexible rigging, Bluetooth^® battery monitoring via the Norsk Guardian^® App, Emergency Start Reserve (ESR), Thermal Core Heating Technology™, and Deep Sleep™ Technologies “Serious anglers have been waiting to switch to the right lithium starting battery,” said Norsk Director of Product Development/Customer Experience, Jakob Hals. “And we’ve been working on a solution to meet their needs day and night for the past three years. But we didn’t just want to meet outboard manufacturer specs; we wanted to exceed them while providing a completely unprecedented feature set that provides everything an angler or boater could want – from installation in bass boats to walleye boats to inshore rigs, you name it – anywhere you’ve got a big motor that needs lots of clean, reliable power.” Norsk Lithium Marine Starting Batteries have been painstakingly evaluated and found to meet, and in most cases—significantly exceed—all performance requirements for lithium starting batteries outlined in the Mercury Marine Performance Bulletin 2022-19R1 released November 2022.

DEAD ON THE WATER: A THING OF THE PAST First, let’s start with the new marine starting batteries’ most important feature – and that’s something called Emergency Start Reserve (ESR), which allocates 25% of the battery’s capacity as a reserve available on demand. Say goodbye to emergency jump start packs. With Norsk Lithium you’ll always have the power you need to start your outboard motor at the end of a long day on the water. ESR can be activated with the push of the Power Management Button on the top of the battery or via the Norsk Guardian App. It’s like having a jump start pack built right into your starting battery! ESR Included on All Norsk Lithium Starting Batteries Locks 25% of the Battery’s Capacity in Reserve by Default Access ESR from the Power Management Button on top of the battery case or via the Norsk Guardian App

AVAILABLE NOW! Norsk Lithium Marine Starting Battery Models

180AH 12V Heated (Thermal Core Heating Technology) Battery Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) Cranking Amps: 1200 CA Rated Voltage: 12.8V BCI Compliant Case: Group 31 Weight: 46.3 lbs. Size: 13 X 6.81 X 9.25 inches Lifespan: 4,000+ Cycles, Est. 15-20 years Warranty: 10 Year + 2 when registered through Norsk Guardian Triple terminals for flexible rigging MSRP $1,529.99 AVAILABLE NOW!

120AH 12V Heated (Thermal Core Heating Technology) Battery Type: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) Cranking Amps: 900 CA Rated Voltage: 12.8V BCI Compliant Case: Group 31 Weight: 34.2 lbs. Size: 13 X 6.81 X 9.25 inches Lifespan: 4,000+ Cycles, Est. 15-20 years Warranty: 10 Year + 2 when registered through Norsk Guardian™ Triple terminals for flexible rigging MAP $1,149.99 AVAILABLE NOW!

UNPRECEDENTED NORSK LITHIUM FEATURES & TECHNOLOGIES “When you compare our lithium marine starting batteries to the competition you’ll find a laundry list of features the others just don’t offer,” said Hals. “Consider that the vast majority of marine lithium batteries on the market come out of a very small number of factories that offer the exact same battery to a large percentage of companies in the lithium battery space. The only difference is the label on the case. We have partnered with a major consumer electronics provider that takes us out of this manufacturing system. In doing so, we’re able to offer customers never-before-seen technologies and feature sets.

Some of Those Features?

Deep Sleep Technology One of the most maddening, frustrating and time-consuming problems any boat owner can ever be forced to deal with is having to track down a passive or phantom draw that slowly and painfully sucks the energy out of boat batteries. Sometimes these low amp draws point back to faulty wiring that needs to be painstakingly tracked down and rewired. At other times, the source of the problem is the boat owner themselves. Ever accidentally left a radio or light on in your boat? Or perhaps you’ve forgotten to turn off all the master power switches? Yeah, we’ve done that more times than we care to admit and our oversight typically resulted in a boatload of dead batteries which is why we knew we needed to come up with a fix that would address the problem and provide an “easy button” solution. “Enter our Deep Sleep concept, where we can use the BMS brain that sits on top of the battery to make it really easy for users to shut down every battery in their boat through the Norsk Guardian app with the simple touch of a button,” said Hals.  “Press the button, and all the batteries go into Deep Sleep, stopping current from hitting the battery terminals. This also makes sure that if your boat has any parasitic voltage draws that your batteries aren’t going to drain when docked, in the parking lot, or long-term storage,” offered Hals. “And instead of having to crawl through your compartments and flip switches—we typically remember the master switches immediately after the cover is safely and securely on the boat—you can stand by the side of your boat looking like the smartest guy at the launch, hit one button in the Norsk Guardian app, and all the batteries disconnect power to the terminals in an instant. Same thing for waking them back up when you’re ready to hit the water. Just open the Norsk Guardian app and tap a button. That’s just another example of how we’ve made our new batteries more efficient and user-friendly.” 

Norsk Lithium has gone yet another step further by building in a Power Management Button right into the top of each battery. All Norsk Lithium marine batteries have a built-in State of Charge (SOC) battery meter built into the top of the battery case that provides an SOC read-out with a quick push of the battery management button. This feature provides a quick visual check of the battery’s status without the need for the App on your phone. That same battery management button will also give you the opportunity to wake up the battery from Deep Sleep. A simple tap of the button and your battery wakes from Deep Sleep and you’re ready to roll.

Thermal Core Heating Technology™ “All of our new starting batteries are heated because we recognize that there are numerous situations like early- and late-season tournaments or fishing trips where starting batteries must charge off the alternator below 32 degrees,” said Hals. “While most companies just hope their batteries will never be used in these extreme situations and make sketchy promises, we use thermally-conductive potted material to ensure uniform and consistent heating for charging in sub-zero conditions,” offered Hals. Voltage Transient Suppression Consider Norsk Lithium’s Voltage Transient Suppression (VTS) technology, which is an integrated safety feature that is designed to protect the outboard’s charging system, as well as any devices connected to the starting battery such as pumps, lights, sonar units, shallow water anchors, downriggers, etc. from a voltage spike that occurs in the highly unlikely event the battery’s BMS disconnects the cells while receiving a charge from the alternator. “We like to think of VTS as the safety feature we hope you never need, kind of like an emergency brake or an airbag in a motor vehicle,” says Hals. “I’ve never had an airbag deployed in any of the vehicles I’ve owned. That said, I’m not going to buy a car without one. The same thought process should apply to your choice for starting batteries” he concluded. What Voltage Transient Suppression does is significantly suppress the voltage spike that can occur if a BMS in a lithium marine starting battery disconnects, potentially allowing excess voltage from the outboard alternator from damaging the outboard’s charging system and or anything connected to it. Testing Norsk’s VTS system has shown the ability to keep the voltage transient that occurs during BMS disconnect of cells when the alternator is delivering a hefty 30A current to the battery below 17 volts. Without VTS, the voltage measured is often well in excess of 30V which is high enough to damage connected accessories or even the outboard charging system. “We have a fantastic BMS design but things can happen. As insurance, we’ve built in the technology others don’t offer to prevent any damage from occurring in the event of a BMS failure. And the best part is this protection is built right into the battery and doesn’t require any additional wiring or external hardware,” offers Hals. The Final Word in Lithium Marine Starting Batteries With all the news above, there should be no more ambivalence about converting to a lithium marine starting battery. And, with a design that meets and exceeds most outboard manufacturer specifications – in addition to technologies and features that you will not find anywhere else—the choice is clear—Norsk Lithium.

Challenging playing field awaits College Championship contenders

Danielle Englund

July 9, 2025

Challenging playing field awaits College Championship contenders

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — College teams from across the country will face quite the challenge at the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops according to Carson-Newman University alumni Hayden Gaddis.

“It could be brutal, honestly,” Gaddis said. “The team that wins this event will have some luck on their side if they can catch a limit every day. I could see 13 to 15 bass winning it. If a team can catch 13 or 14 pounds a day, they will blow it out of the water. Junk fishing will be big for sure.”

Tournament days are scheduled for July 10-12. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Cherokee Dam Boat Ramp in Jefferson City. Around 160 teams will compete in the National Championship after qualifying via the six regular-season College Series events or the college circuit of their B.A.S.S. Nation’s state championships.

The full field will compete for the first two days of the event before the Top 12 teams advance to Championship Saturday. The winning duo will advance to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s to fish against the top teams from each of the College Divisions trails — the Legends Trail and the Lunkers Trail — as well as overall College Series Team of the Year, which will also be decided at the conclusion of the championship. Anglers will also be vying for a spot on the inaugural Bassmaster College All-American Team presented by Huk. The top two highest-finishing teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year race as well as each team that stands atop the rankings in the Legends and Lunkers division of the College Series will receive this honor.

Tucked into the hills of east Tennessee, the Holston River impoundment has been a popular destination for tournament anglers and weekend anglers alike. The College Series last visited the lake in 2023, a weather-shortened event in early April that took over 17 pounds to win.

Cherokee is known for its smallmouth fishing, but Tennessee wildlife regulations state that anglers can only keep one 18-inch smallmouth each day from June 1 until the middle of October. The smallmouth limit, along with the summer heat, will make for a challenging setup for this National Championship.

“If you can find a way to catch one big smallmouth and four largemouth to go with it, you will be in contention to win,” Gaddis said.

Gaddis believes limits will be hard to come by, but the best way to get one or two big bites will be by throwing topwater baits and buzzbaits early in the morning. Teams in the first few flights will have the best opportunity to take advantage of that feeding window.

“Night fishing is really good this time of the year, so the early morning bite will be huge,” he said. “That is when the majority of the big fish will be caught. It is the best bite window of the day, in my opinion. If they can get lucky and catch a couple fish before that bite window shuts off on an offshore hole, that will be crucial.”

Boulder and slate rock are the predominant cover on the lake, but anglers fishing the shallows can also generate bites around laydowns, bank grass and docks. Offshore points and humps will also play a role for anglers looking to utilize their forward-facing sonar. Drop shots, Neko rigs, jighead minnows and jigs will produce good bites as well during the summer months.

With the lake at full pool, Gaddis also expects several teams will make the run up to the Sevier dam tailrace, an area that has grown in popularity over the last several years.

“I’m sure it will be very crowded up there, just because of all of the publicity it has received over the last couple of years,” he said. “This time of the year it shouldn’t be an issue getting up there. There’s a good chance someone will have a good finish up there, but it will be hard to manage fish if too many boats are up there.”

Visit Jefferson County, Tennessee is hosting the tournament.

2025 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2025 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

2025 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2025 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2025 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Lowrance, Triton Boats, VMC, Yokohama

2025 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

MLF Announces 2026 Bass Pro Tour Schedule

Danielle Englund

July 9, 2025

MLF Announces 2026 Bass Pro Tour Schedule

BENTON, Ky. (July 9, 2025) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the 2026 Bass Pro Tour schedule, ushering in a new chapter for the sport’s premier professional bass fishing circuit. Featuring a roster of 51 pros, the 2026 season will spotlight some of the country’s most diverse fisheries and record-setting payouts as the field competes for Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and qualification into REDCREST 2027 and the MLF Heavy Hitters all-star event.

The new season kicks off January 15 at Lake Guntersville in Alabama and winds through fisheries in South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma and Ohio, introducing multiple new venues and back-to-back dual-lake events that will push competitors to the limit.

“Our 2026 schedule showcases everything we love about the Bass Pro Tour – challenging new waters, high-stakes competition and a roster of the most accomplished anglers in the sport,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager. “We’re especially excited about several new stops on the Tour next season, and working on some exciting developments for REDCREST 2026, which we’ll be announcing soon. There’s never been a better time to be a fan of the sport of professional bass fishing.”

A key storyline entering the 2026 season is the Bass Pro Tour’s transition to a 51-angler field – the final step in a strategically planned two-year restructuring of the league’s competitive format. The next evolution is designed to create a more streamlined, sustainable model that elevates the profile of each competitor, improves storytelling for fans and sponsors and maximizes the league’s evolving digital broadcast strategy.

As in 2025, each Bass Pro Tour event will feature the full field of anglers competing in the Qualifying Round on Days 1 and 2, followed by the Knockout Round on Day 3 and then the Championship Round on Day 4. The league’s signature catch-weigh-release format ensures immediate fish care and maximum fan excitement, with every fish scored and streamed live on MLFNOW! via the MLF app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), Rumble, and at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

With fresh lakes and a field of the world’s best anglers ready to make history, the 2026 Bass Pro Tour promises more action, more surprises and more big bass moments than ever before.

2026 MLF Bass Pro Tour Schedule:

Jan. 15-18: Stage 1 at Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Ala.
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports

Feb. 19-22: Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell
Oconee County, S.C.
Hosted by Visit Oconee SC

March 5-8: Stage 3 at Lake Whitney (Days 1-2) & Lake Waco (Days 3-4)
Waco, Texas
Hosted by the Greater Waco Sports Commission, the City of Waco and the Waco TPID

March 26-29: Stage 4 at O.H. Ivie Lake (Days 1-2) & Lake Brownwood (Days 3-4)
Early, Texas
Hosted by Visit Early

April 16-19: REDCREST 2026
TBA

April 30-May 3: Stage 5 at Beaver Lake Northwest Ark.

May 16-21: MLF Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake
Ocala, Fla.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau

June 18-21: Stage 6 at Grand Lake
Grove, Okla.
Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau

Aug. 6-9: Stage 7 at Lake Erie
Sandusky, Ohio
Hosted by Shore & Islands Ohio

Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 7Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., Bass Force, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota and Zenni.

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the 2026 Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

Bill Lewis Unveils Baby Bubbler

Bass News

Brian Carter

July 8, 2025

Irving, TX – The Bill Lewis Baby Bubbler is built for everyone. Epitomizing the term “user-friendly”, the Baby Bubbler is a 2″ plopper-style topwater lure that can be fished just about anywhere.

“The Baby Bubbler is designed to be used by anglers of all types,” says Wes Higgins, Brand Manager for GSM Fishing. “You can use it for tournament fishing. You can then turn around and pond hop with it. It even plays for the BFS folks. It’s a relevant bait in almost all scenarios, and most importantly, it gets bit.”

Equipped with Mustad Triple Grip hooks, the Baby Bubbler is available in 6 proven Bill Lewis colors. Get yours today at Baits.com or your favorite fishing retailer.

About GSM Outdoors

Few American outdoor companies enjoy a mutually respected relationship with their customers that span over five generations. GSM Outdoors is among those few! For over 70 years, the GSM family of brands has been helping passionate hunters, shooters, knife enthusiasts and anglers succeed through innovation and the manufacture of high-quality, reliable products that continue to prove themselves in the field, on the range and on the water. GSM Outdoors continues to leverage the latest technology and provide customers with the best products on the market. Tradition, heritage, and loyalty to outdoor enthusiasts of generations past and generations to come…that’s the GSM Outdoors guarantee!

New Z-Man® Fuzzy bait system leads with longevity, superior value and off-the-charts fish attraction

Bass News

Brian Carter

July 8, 2025

Hot Fuzz!

New Z-Man® Fuzzy bait system leads with longevity, superior value and off-the-charts fish attraction

Ladson, SC (July 8, 2025) – Mere days into testing the new wave of “Fuzzy” ElaZtech® baits, a single prototype had already been chowed by well over one-hundred largemouth and smallmouth bass, plus oodles of bonus walleye, trout and slab crappie. Despite sustaining countless body blows, bites and ferocious headshakes, the bait remained—and remains—nearly package-fresh, ready for another 100. Equally impressive as the buggy bait’s resilience, however, were the all-out aggressive nature of the bites—as if the bass genuinely thought they were gobbling live bait. By now, almost everyone knows the story of so-called “Fuzzy” style softbaits—a super-secret bass trick of Japanese origin; cube or creature shaped profiles imbued with hyper-active silicone or PVC tentacles; radically effective on a dropshot, Neko or Ned rig; packed with all kinds of crazy, subtle action; imitative of goodness knows what (zooplankton, insect, crayfish, freshwater jellyfish?); and until now, prohibitively expensive, with price tags routinely exceeding $5 for a single softbait. Beyond their obvious attraction and maxed out fish-per-bait ratio, the other key disparity between the new Z-Man Fuzzy system and others on the pegs distills down to dollars and common sense . . . $20 per pack and $5 to $10 per bait, or less than half as expensive AND ten times more durable at the same time.

New for the 2026 fishing season, the new Z-Man Fuzzy bait system features three essential, silicone-skirt implanted profiles, each one built upon Z-Man’s ElaZtech formula and ready to produce heavyweight bass in extreme conditions—clear water, coldfronts, excessive fishing pressure or any time you simply need to get bit.

Fuzzy BugZ™ – Injecting whole other dimensions of bait movement via quivering silicone appendages, the creepy, crawly Fuzzy BugZ empowers new levels of Ned, Neko, dropshot or weighted wacky rig action. A segmented 1.75-inch invertebrate profile body is composed of 10X Tough ElaZtech for all-day durability and lifelike buoyancy. The bait’s narrow midriff can be cut to create two finesse-sized Fuzzy baits in one, doubling its value. Fuzzy BugZ are compatible with Z-Man Finesse ShroomZ™ jigheads and Rattle-Snaker® Tungsten SpikeZ™. Pure silicone skirt strands are hand-threaded and color coordinated to create eight pro-selected bait patterns. MSRP $9.99 per 4-pack.

Fuzzy NuggetZ™ – Suggestive of pelagic prey, such as zooplankton, insect larvae and microcrustaceans, the Z-Man Fuzzy NuggetZ remains active and vivacious at all times; even when deadsticked on a dropshot rig, the Fuzzy NuggetZ continues triggering bites from the most selective bass. Featuring a 12-sided dodecahedron shape for countless hooking options, the bait’s ElaZtech body assures each Fuzzy NuggetZ will dramatically outlast any similar bait. Hand-threaded premium silicone skirt fibers stay put, fish after fish, offering continuous tantalizing tentacle action. Fuzzy NuggetZ are the best value in dice baits today, priced at $9.99 per 4-pack. Six pro-selected patterns cover all water conditions and bass preferences.

Fuzzy TRD™ – Imagine the next-level fish appeal of the classic Finesse TRD endowed with third dimensions of bait movement via fine quivering silicone appendages. Z-Man’s Fuzzy TRD has creatively raised the bass-catching bar for Ned, Neko, dropshot or weighted wacky rigging, adding hand-threaded premium silicone skirt strands for tireless pulsing action—reminiscent of zooplankton and other invertebrates. The Fuzzy TRD features a 2.75-inch body composed of 10X Tough ElaZtech for maxed out durability and the TRD’s famed ‘stand up’ buoyancy. The Fuzzy TRD’s pre-marked midriff can be cut to create two finesse-sized Fuzzy baits in one, doubling its value. Fuzzy TRDs are compatible with Z-Man® Finesse ShroomZ jigheads and Rattle-Snaker Tungsten SpikeZ. Pure silicone skirt strands are hand-threaded and color coordinated to create eight pro-selected bait patterns. MSRP $9.99 per 4-pack.

Strikingly similar to the experiences of the Z-Man field test team a month earlier, Bassmaster Elite Series angler Seth Feider expressed amazement over the power of the Fuzzy NuggetZ while facing a challenging smallmouth bite. “I had some doubts about these Fuzzy baits until a recent trip to Minnesota’s Mille Lacs,” recalls Feider, a longtime fan of Z-Man ElaZtech baits. “We couldn’t get bit by any of the standard dropshot stuff. Even struggled with hair jigs, which is unheard of. But something about the silhouette, buoyancy and tireless quivering motions of the Fuzzy NuggetZ . . . this weird little morsel produced bites immediately and in super tough postspawn conditions. With three new Fuzzy Z-Man profiles now available, anglers are going to start catching a lot of the big smallmouths that don’t seem to bite, otherwise.”More proof positive: At a springtime photoshoot, Feider’s buddy and fellow Z-Man pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson put on a Fuzzy catching clinic. During brief interludes, Gussy broke free from the film crew to fire casts and catch bass after bass, as well as walleyes and crappies in abundance. Every few minutes, the Bassmaster Classic winner’s rod was doubled over once again, hooked up on yet another big fish.

“It’s an after-dinner mint,” observed Gussy, during the epic day of fishing. “The baits’ action is next level. Add secondary breathing, pulsing, quivering, undulating motions to that proven ElaZtech glide and you’ve got something way different down there. The fish probably see these as familiar, like something they’ve eaten during their lifetimes, so it’s a totally natural reaction to bite. Smallmouths especially, who already like to bite things out of curiosity alone, just can’t seem to say ‘no’ to them.”“No doubt, Z-Man Fuzzy baits will take your dropshot, Ned and Neko rigging to new levels of success. No matter your skill level, you can catch a ton of fish with these cool little baits. And if you hook over 100, don’t say we didn’t warn you!”

Bassmaster reveals the 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes in America

Brian Carter

July 8, 2025

Bassmaster reveals the 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes in America

California’s Clear Lake has claimed the top spot in the 2025 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings.

Photo courtesy of Lake County Marketing Program/B.A.S.S.

July 8, 2025

Bassmaster reveals the 2025 100 Best Bass Lakes in America

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a year of record-setting catches and jaw-dropping tournament results, Bassmaster Magazine has unveiled its annual list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes in America for 2025 — and this year, a powerhouse lake returns to the top spot.

California’s Clear Lake takes the crown as the best bass fishery in the country, edging out some of the sport’s most celebrated waters. Topping Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list in 2020, the 43,785-acre natural lake in northern California continues to churn out double-digit largemouth like clockwork — including a staggering 102.81-pound, 15-bass total landed by John Pearl in the WON Bass Open this spring. Biologists and anglers alike agree: despite heavy pressure, Clear Lake is a big-bass factory like no other.

“This fishery has endured decades of tournament traffic and still produces monsters year-round,” said B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland. “It’s a testament to both the ecosystem’s productivity and sound fisheries management.”

Rounding out the Top 3 nationally are Texas’ O.H. Ivie Lake, long regarded as a bucket-list destination for trophy bass seekers, and the ever-reliable Lake Fork, also in the Lone Star State.

The 2025 rankings were developed through a combination of tournament data, fishery reports from state wildlife agencies and feedback from thousands of anglers across the country. More than 500 bodies of water were evaluated in the process.

California leads the pack this year with an unmatched 10 lakes in the Top 100, followed by Texas with nine and New York with seven.

The full list — segmented by region and topped with the national Top 10 — showcases a wide diversity of waters, from sprawling Southern impoundments to remote glacial lakes teeming with smallmouth. Whether you’re chasing personal bests or scenic solitude, there’s a lake on this list calling your name.

Full rankings can be found in the July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com.

Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2025

1. Clear Lake, California

2. O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas

3. Lake Fork, Texas

4. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York

5. Lake Casitas, California

6. Orange Lake, Florida

7. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina

8. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

9. Lake Erie, New York

10. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

Best Bass Lakes – Central Division

1. O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas

2. Lake Fork, Texas

3. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

4. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas

5. Bussey Brake Reservoir, Louisiana

6. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana/Texas

7. Caney Creek Reservoir, Louisiana

8. West Okoboji Lake, Iowa

9. Lake J.B. Thomas, Texas

10. Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Oklahoma

11. Lake Claiborne, Louisiana

12. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

13. Upper Mississippi River, Wisconsin

14. Lake Oahe, South Dakota/North Dakota

15. Bull Shoals, Arkansas

16. Lake O’ the Pines, Texas

17. Table Rock Lake, Missouri

18. Bois d’Arc Lake, Texas

19. Caddo Lake, Louisiana/Texas

20. Millwood Lake, Arkansas

21. Newton Lake, Illinois

22. Lake Conroe, Texas

23. Lake Hamilton, Arkansas

24. Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma

25. Black Bayou Lake/Hosston Lake, Louisiana

Best Bass Lakes – Southeastern Division

1. Orange Lake, Florida

2. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina

3. Lake Guntersville, Alabama

4. Albemarle Sound & Connected Rivers, North Carolina

5. Lake Murray, South Carolina

6. Fellsmere Reservoir/Headwaters/Lake Egan, Florida

7. Pickwick Lake, Alabama/Tennessee/Mississippi

8. Jordan Lake, North Carolina

9. Withlacoochee River/Lake Rousseau, Florida

10. Lake Lanier, Georgia

11. Falls Lake, North Carolina

12. Lake Seminole, Florida/Georgia

13. Lake Tohopekaliga, Florida

14. Kentucky Lake, Tennessee/Kentucky

15. High Rock Lake, North Carolina

16. Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee/Kentucky

17. Clarks Hill Reservoir, Georgia/South Carolina

18. Lake Eufaula, Alabama/Georgia

19. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee

20. Lake Chatuge, Georgia/North Carolina

21. Wheeler Lake, Alabama

22. South Holston Reservoir, Tennessee/Virginia

23. Lake Hartwell, South Carolina/Georgia

24. Ross Barnett Reservoir, Mississippi

25. Lake Okeechobee, Florida

Best Bass Lakes – Northeastern Division

1. St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York

2. Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York

3. Lake St. Clair, Michigan

4. Lake Erie, Ohio/Michigan

5. Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont

6. Burt/Mullett Lakes, Michigan

7. Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan

8. Cayuga Lake, New York

9. Lake Charlevoix, Michigan

10. Bays de Noc, Michigan

11. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

12. Cobbosseecontee Lake, Maine

13. China Lake, Maine

14. Great Pond, Maine

15. Candlewood Lake, Connecticut

16. Presque Isle Bay/Lake Erie Central Basin, Pennsylvania

17. Oneida Lake, New York

18. Upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland

19. Otisco Lake, New York

20. Potomac River, Maryland/West Virginia/Virginia

21. Saginaw Bay, Michigan

22. Chautauqua Lake, New York

23. Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

24. Pymatuning Reservoir, Ohio/Pennsylvania

25. Lake Cumberland, Kentucky

Best Bass Lakes – Western Division

1. Clear Lake, California

2. Lake Casitas, California

3. Lake Berryessa, California

4. Diamond Valley Lake, California

5. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

6. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California

7. Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona

8. Lake Perris, California

9. Siltcoos Lake, Oregon

10. Lake Washington, Washington

11. Lake Havasu, Arizona/California

12. Roosevelt Lake, Arizona

13. Lower Colorado River, Arizona/California

14. Moses Lake, Washington

15. Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona

16. Don Pedro Reservoir, California

17. Lake Mohave, Nevada/Arizona

18. Lake Sammamish, Washington

19. Lower Otay Reservoir, California

20. Elephant Butte Reservoir, New Mexico

21. Navajo Lake, New Mexico/Colorado

22. Alamo Lake, Arizona

23. Columbia River, Oregon/Washington

24. Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana

25. Dworshak Reservoir, Idaho

About B.A.S.S.

B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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