Search
Subscribe
Sunday, December 14, 2025
Home Blog Page 97

BOTE Introduces the Fischer Series of Watercraft and Accessories

Brian Carter
-
0
BOTE Introduces the Fischer Series of Watercraft and Accessories

BOTE Introduces the Fischer Series of Watercraft and Accessories

New Collection of Fishing-Ready Paddle Boards, Micro Skiff, Drinkware and Coolers Inspired by Nautical Heritage and Distinctive Markings of the Cutthroat Trout

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. – March 24, 2025 – BOTE  (https://www.boteboard.com), the longstanding leader of innovation in the paddleboard, kayak, and water lifestyle space and known for its dedicated line of watercraft and accessories for fishing, today introduces the Fischer Series, a new collection of styles across its most popular fishing paddle boards, the micro skiff, coolers, waterproof packs and drinkware.

The all-new Fischer Series consists of two collections: the Fischer Topwater and the Fischer Cutthroat. The Fischer Topwater Collection includes the versatile HD Aero (inflatable) and HD Gatorshell (solid) paddle boards, waterproof Highwater Packs, stay-put MAGNEPOD™ drinkware, and popular KULA 5 and KULA 10 Coolers, blending eye-catching styles with BOTE’s high-quality watercraft and accessories. The new range features the bold Topwater pattern and Sunrise colorway and is designed with accents from nautical flags and classic fishing gear, bringing a fresh new aesthetic. 

The Fischer Cutthroat Collection takes inspiration from the bold patterns of the Cutthroat Trout – known for its striking red slash marks beneath the jaw – and includes the ultimate fishing platforms: Rackham Gatorshell and Rackham Aero paddle boards and the Rover Gatorshell Micro Skiff, and also features the new Sunrise colorway in BOTE’s MAGNEPOD™ drinkware and KULA Coolers. 

The HD and HD Aero paddle boards are all about versatility. Featuring a wide base and BOTE Rac System compatibility, they’re built to perform whether fishing, paddling, or cruising. The super-stable Rackham Gatorshell paddle board and Rackham Aero inflatable paddle board were designed specifically for fishing. The Rackham Aero is a first-of-its-kind paddle board/kayak hybrid, offering unmatched capacity and compatibility with BOTE’s fishing accessories including the sit-down, hands-free APEX Pedal Drive system. The Rover Micro Skiff offers a unique blend of paddling and powered performance, delivering speed and agility for anglers who want to cover more ground thanks to its outboard motor-ready design. BOTE’s patent-pending MAGNEPOD™ technology uses high-strength magnets to provide a secure retention system for drinkware and accessories, keeping essentials in place even in choppy waters. The KULA Coolers offer durable, high-performance ice retention for long days on the water, and both the KULA 5 and KULA 10 strap down to BOTE boards to double as a convenient, sturdy seat and storage area for paddlers and anglers.

“BOTE was the first in the industry to develop a dedicated fishing platform, and we remain committed to this category because we love it – many of our team members are serious about fishing and all enjoy the water,” said Skye Bailey, Director of Marketing, BOTE. “The new Fischer Series evolves the full range of our premium, fishing-ready watercraft and accessories with a bold new look and feel that tells a story inspired by life on the water and the marine life that surrounds us.”

BOTE’s new Fischer Series is available today at https://www.boteboard.com and in select retailer partners. 

ABOUT BOTE

BOTE is driven by a singular yet broad-reaching mission: To Stand Apart through industry-shaping innovation, fresh ideas and simplicity to create a product that defines a lifestyle. It is this mission that keeps BOTE pushing the boundaries of both technology and style to bring customers a product that not only looks beautiful and performs flawlessly, but that stirs the soul and inspires adventure. Born from stand up paddle boards and now pioneering inflatable kayaks, floating dock systems, and more — BOTE continues to strive for advancement and embrace individuality. Learn more at: https://boteboard.com.





17-Year-Old Dylan Quilatan Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Harris Chain of Lakes

Brian Carter
-
0
17-Year-Old Dylan Quilatan Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Harris Chain of Lakes
Boater winner Dylan Quilatan of Windermere, Florida, and co-angler winner Leandro Saratt of Winter Garden, Florida.
Winter Garden’s Saratt Tops Co-Angler Division

LEESBURG, Fla. (March 24, 2025) – Boater Dylan Quilatan of Windermere, Florida, caught a five-bass limit weighing 27 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes. The tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County Florida, was the third event of the season for the BFL Gator Division. Quilatan earned $4,796 for his victory.

As a 17-year-old, Quilatan is far from a traditional BFL angler. And his age is only the beginning of what sets him apart. The young gun grew up with parents who don’t fish, in a place that is anything but a bass fishing hotbed – New York City.

Living in the Big Apple for most of his life, Quilatan had an interest in fishing but got a late start – though he did actually catch his first fish in Central Park. It wasn’t until his family relocated to Florida that Quilatan was able to pour his energy into exploring his curiosity about bass fishing.

“We moved down here five years ago, and I started fishing tournaments after we got a boat,” he said. “I’ve learned everything myself from spending time on the water and doing my own research. My dad doesn’t fish at all. I watch a lot of pro tournaments, live streams and the replays. I mean, I spend so much time behind the steering wheel idling and so much time trying to learn how to fish shallow. I just spend a lot of time out here, and it’s starting to pay off.”

Quilatan’s interest in the sport is much more than a hobby. He wants to become a pro one day and is already coordinating his educational pursuits to support his fishing pursuits.

“I’m a senior in high school,” he said. “This is my second year doing the BFLs, and, you know, I sacrifice a lot for this. I do online school so I can fish as much as possible.”

That includes competing in Abu Garcia MLF High School Fishing tournaments and other prep leagues, where he’s already won some big events. Plus, Quilatan is fishing the full Toyota Series Southern Division for the first time this season.

Last year, fishing the BFL Gator Division as a rookie, he finished fifth in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings. This season, his goal is to win AOY – and he’s well on his way. Quilatan finished second in the opener at Lake Okeechobee, seventh at Lake Toho, got the win Saturday at Harris Chain and then finished fourth on Sunday at the Harris Chain in a tournament held as a makeup for an event that was previously postponed. He’s now firmly in the AOY lead by a margin of 60 points over second place with just one event left to fish.

Now, he’s eyeing his next big step.

“I’ve committed to Carson-Newman University,” Quilatan said. “I was thinking of taking a year after I graduate to try to quality for a pro circuit, but I decided that college was the better option. The reason I don’t really want to try to jump into any kind of pro circuit right now is because the fishing in Florida doesn’t really translate to a lot of the lakes we’d go to. So just going there blind, coming from Florida, I’d be at a pretty big disadvantage. That’s why I’m going to college at Carson-Newman in Tennessee – to gain experience in all kinds of fisheries.”

That level of maturity and focus was a big part of his success at Saturday’s BFL event on the Harris Chain. Quilatan caught a bass on his very first cast of the morning. Then it slowed down dramatically. At 10 a.m., he had a tiny limit for about 4 pounds.

At 10:30, Quilatan thought he was about to turn the day around. He caught his biggest bass – a 7 1/2-pounder – and thought he’d figured out a pattern to catch a big limit. It just never materialized. He tried expanding on that bite until there were just 30 minutes left to fish. Knowing he needed to adjust, Quilatan made a move.

“I decided to run to another lake and caught most of my weight in the last 20 minutes of fishing,” he said. “I caught a 6.7 (pound bass) on my last cast, and I came in with less than two minutes left. I think the biggest key was just staying mentally focused. I live here, and the fish on the Harris Chain are always moving. So you really just have to be able to adjust to the conditions.”

With tournaments coming up on his home fishery, Quilatan declined to say too much about how he caught his fish Saturday. Regardless, for a teenager with huge aspirations, catching them last minute and validating his instincts goes a long way toward building confidence that he’s on the right path in fishing.

“Just to come away with the win means the world to me,” he added. “It’s all paying off, but you know I just want to thank my parents, my sponsors and the good Lord for guiding me in my decisions during the week.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Dylan Quilatan, Windermere, Fla., five bass, 27-1, $4,796
2nd:      Kennie Steverson, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 22-5, $2,898 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Finn Taylor, Lake Placid, Fla., five bass, 21-15, $1,595
4th:        Gary Armstrong, Sorrento, Fla., five bass, 19-7, $1,119
5th:        Joey Bloom, Winter Springs, Fla., five bass, 19-5, $959
6th:        Parker Stalvey, Green Cove Springs, Fla., five bass, 18-14, $879
7th:        Stephen Williams, Green Cove Springs, Fla., five bass, 18-10, $799
8th:        Steven Eastman, Eustis, Fla., five bass, 18-7, $719
9th:        Lance Pemble, Leesburg, Fla., five bass, 18-6, $639
10th:     Marshall Tommie, Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 17-12, $560

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Nathan Vick of Archer, Florida, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $715.



Leandro Saratt of Winter Garden, Florida, won the co-angler division and $2,398 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Leandro Saratt, Winter Garden, Fla., three bass, 15-11, $2,398
2nd:      Aymon Wilcox, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., three bass, 14-8, $1,199
3rd:       Mark Ortel, Punta Gorda, Fla., three bass, 13-1, $795
4th:        Dana Bass, Miami, Fla., three bass, 12-7, $560
5th:        Mark Fields, Oviedo, Fla., three bass, 11-9, $460
5th:        Jimmy (James) Bass, Ocala, Fla., three bass, 11-9, $460
7th:        Wayman Mobley, Miami, Fla., three bass, 10-12, $400
8th:        Ryan O’Donnell, Cocoa, Fla., three bass, 10-11, $360
9th:        Chris Nickle, Sanford, Fla., three bass, 10-9, $400
9th:        Terry Weaver, New Smyrna Beach, Fla., three bass, 10-9, $300

Marlei Hunt of Wesley Chapel, Florida, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $357, catching a bass that weighed in at 7 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

The BFL Gator Division anglers competed again on Sunday to make up an event that was previously postponed. With the third and fourth events of the season in the books, Dylan Quilatan of Windermere, Florida, now leads the Fishing Clash Gator Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 990 points, while Preston Williams of Tallahassee, Florida, leads the Fishing Clash Gator Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 935 points.

The next time the Gator Division squares off will be the Super Tournament – the division’s season finale – on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida, on September 27-28. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-18 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.





Lancaster’s Sims Gets the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Wylie

Brian Carter
-
0
Lancaster’s Sims Gets the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Wylie
Boater winner Chad Sims of Lancaster, South Carolina, and co-angler winner Mekye Barnes of Knightdale, North Carolina.
Knightdale’s Barnes Tops Co-Angler Division

YORK, S.C. (March 23, 2025) – Boater Chad Sims of Lancaster, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Wylie . The tournament, hosted by Visit York County, was the second event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Sims earned $10,641, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

According to Sims, this was a long overdue win.

“I’ve been knocking on the door of these things for so long, and it seemed like every time something bad would happen,” he said. “I’d lose a fish here or there. Man, you have no idea … I mean, this is not my first win, but this is my first win in the BFLs. Being known around where we’re from as being a pretty good fisherman and you can’t win one of them? It couldn’t come at a better time.”

In practice on Wednesday, Sims caught a big bag “doing something that most locals to Wylie know about,” though he didn’t provide any more details than that. Then on Thursday, a cold front came through and changed the conditions. By Friday, he wasn’t able to repeat his performance and got just one bite.

“But I still knew it was going to warm up, so I knew it still might work,” he said. “Fast forward to today, I started closer to the ramp. There was a big tournament there about a month ago, and there were a lot of release fish. I started there and caught a 5-pounder. I left there and went straight upriver and kind of just did the rest with a jig.”

The 5-pounder came fishing shallow. Once he went upriver, Sims figured out a key depth range – not too deep and not too shallow. And regarding that Lake Wylie “local pattern,” he was able to catch his two biggest bass using that technique.

Yet the real turning point in his victory came on a particular piece of cover where he experienced both heartbreak and elation.

“Man, I lost a 6-pounder toward about 12 o’clock or so,” he said. “I lost a 6-pounder at the boat, and it was on kind of like a pole sitting out in the middle of nowhere. I went back to that pole three or four times throughout the day, and there was a bunch of fish on it. And finally at the end of the day I was able to coax another one into biting. That was what gave me the win right there because I culled like a pound.”

Reflecting on his win, Sims offered a big thank you to Tournament Director Steve Sizemore and the rest of the crew.

“You can’t ask for a better tournament director,” he added.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 18-00, $10,641 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:      Britt Myers Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 17-13, $1,820
3rd:       Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 16-13, $1,032
3rd:       William Bond, Moncks Corner, S.C., five bass, 16-13, $1,032
5th:        Michael Webster, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 16-9, $728
6th:        Michael Stephens, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 16-7, $668
7th:        Cole Huskins, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 15-12, $607
8th:        Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 14-13, $546
9th:        Tanner Schultz, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $485
10th:     Aaron Digh, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 14-4, $425

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jason Damico of Cramerton, North Carolina caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $475.



Mekye Barnes of Knightdale, North Carolina, won the co-angler division and $1,816 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top 10 co-anglers finished:

1st:        Mekye Barnes, Knightdale, N.C., three bass, 9-7, $1,816
2nd:      Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., three bass, 9-6, $908
3rd:       Kevin Farley, Landrum, S.C., three bass, 8-11, $515
3rd:       Tommy Swicegood, Salisbury, N.C., three bass, 8-11, $747
5th:        Dale Surrett, Midland, N.C., three bass, 8-3, $448
5th:        Phillip Ragland Jr., Rustburg, Va., three bass, 8-3, $448
7th:        Jim Freeland, Youngsville, N.C., three bass, 7-14, $303
8th:        Jared Jones, Denver, N.C., three bass, 7-0, $257
8th:        Victor Cuevas, Supply, N.C., three bass, 7-0, $257
10th:     Scott McKay, New London, N.C., three bass, 6-15, $212

Tommy Swicegood of Salisbury, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $232, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Chad Sims of Lancaster, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 493 points, while Kevin Farley of Landrum, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 498 points.

The next event for BFL North Carolina Division anglers will be held April 12, at High Rock Lake in Lexington, North Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 60 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-11 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $20,000.

The 2025 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 134 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 60 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top three, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

Proud sponsors of the 2025 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Deep Dive App, E3 Sports Apparel, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Humminbird, Lew’s, Li Time Batteries, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.





Fothergill breaks records, makes history with Bassmaster Classic win

Brian Carter
-
0
Fothergill breaks records, makes history with Bassmaster Classic win

Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill wins the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Fort Worth, Texas, with a three-day weight of 76-15.

Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.

March 23, 2025

Fothergill breaks records, makes history with Bassmaster Classic win

2025_BMC_BPS-title_UAPresenting_vFinal@4x 1.png

FORT WORTH, Texas — Nineteen months ago, Easton Fothergill was lying on a gurney in an Alabama hospital, awaiting surgery to remove an infected abscess from his brain.

Sunday afternoon, in front of thousands of fans at Dickies Arena, Fothergill stood tall as champion of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

Fothergill, a 22-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Minn., finished the three-day event on Lake Ray Roberts with a total of 15 bass for 76 pounds, 15 ounces. It was the biggest winning weight in the 55-year history of the most prestigious fishing tournament in the world and was exactly 8 1/2 pounds more than the nearest competitor in the field of 56 anglers. Fothergill is also the second-youngest champion in Bassmaster Classic history (only Stanley Mitchell who won the 1981 Classic at 21 was younger.)

For most anglers, the Ray Scott Trophy and a $300,000 check are the biggest prizes to accompany a Classic victory. But for Fothergill, just being able to compete in the Classic was the ultimate prize. He said every feeling was heightened given his very real brush with mortality less than two years ago.

“It’s indescribable, the trajectory of my life since that first bad moment,” Fothergill said. “Everything has come true that I’ve ever wanted. It’s pretty crazy.”

Fothergill fished with confidence on Lake Ray Roberts, having to switch spots and techniques every day of the tournament. The versatility was necessary as Day 1 was extremely windy, Day 2 was calm, and Championship Sunday was somewhere in between. Rising temperatures started the spawn on Ray Roberts, too, and bass were scattered across the 23,950-acre reservoir as they began moving to shallow water.

As Fothergill would find out, that made getting bites difficult on Ray Roberts. The difference for him was he was able to get big bites every day, something most of his peers couldn’t do.

“Eighty percent of my catches this week came on a 3/32-ounce Neko rig (red bug),” he said. “I caught a couple on an off-white jerkbait, too, but I had confidence in the Neko in the (slightly stained) water.”

Fothergill’s most important catch of the week came mid-afternoon Championship Sunday and with only four bass in his livewell, at that. He spotted a fat bass suspended near a tree in the back of a slough. He went back to the Neko rig, casting delicately to not spook the bass. He said he “lost four baits to that tree within 10 minutes. I just broke them off rather than spook that fish … The funny thing was she swam out and wasn’t even interested in the bait. But then she turned back and just ignited on it.

“I was scared (of losing) at 1 o’clock and with only four fish,” he said. “But that was the fish that got it for me.”

It was another moment in a stretch of unexpected twists in Fothergill’s young life.

Only weeks after his brain surgery in August 2023, he won the 2023 Bassmaster College Bracket presented by Lew’s on Kansas’ Milford Lake. That earned him a spot in last year’s Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, where he finished 16th. His hot streak continued with wins in two Bassmaster Opens last year, and that performance got him an invitation to fish the 2025 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, as well as a berth in this year’s Classic on Ray Roberts.

He stumbled out the gate of the 2025 Elites, finishing 93rd and 101st in the pair of Florida derbies to start the season.

But those less-than-stellar finishes didn’t deter Fothergill. He found his groove on the Coosa River in Alabama, where he retreated and gathered himself between the Florida swing and the Classic. He’s familiar with the Coosa from his time competing for the University of Montevallo and catching fish there settled his nerves.

He started with a bang at the Classic, catching 24-15 on Day 1 (good for third place) and followed with a tournament-high 29-6 on Day 2. That gave him a commanding lead of 8 1/2 pounds, which is exactly the cushion he finished with on Championship Sunday. He caught 22-10 on Day 3, including the 8-pounder, which was the Mercury Big Bass of the Day.

Local favorite Lee Livesay, who hails from Longview, Texas, some 170 miles from Ray Roberts, closed the gap early Sunday and tied Fothergill atop the leaderboard with 58-5 each. The pair traded blows throughout the late morning until Livesay’s bite went slack. That’s when Day 1 leader Trey McKinney ratcheted up pressure on Fothergill.

McKinney, a 20-year-old from Carbondale, Ill., and the 2024 Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year, was in sixth place coming into Championship Sunday. He shot into third place mid-morning courtesy of a fat 7-11 largemouth that put him only 1 pound behind Fothergill and Livesay.  By 1 p.m., McKinney was alone in second place, though he still trailed Fothergill by 6-5. He narrowed the gap in a hurry, however, with his fifth keeper — a 6-pounder that put him 2-5 behind the leader.

But Fothergill slammed the door with his 8-pounder, only his fifth keeper of the day.

It was a fitting way to win the sport’s biggest tournament, as it changed the narrative for the young ace from the North Star State. He’s said before he felt others saw him as a hyper-talented angler who had the terrible misfortune of having to undergo brain surgery.

But now, “Classic champion” will precede any other description of him.

“I appreciate everything in life much more now,” he said. “I’m definitely a stronger person.”

McKinney wound up closest to Fothergill with 68-7 over three days. Livesay placed third with 66-10. Rounding out the Super Six are, fourth, Tennessee’s Hunter Shryock 64-14; fifth, Canada’s Cory Johnston, 58-7; and sixth, Florida’s John Cox, 56-13.

John Garrett was the first person outside the cut to 25 for the final day of 55th Bassmaster Classic, but the 8-12 he caught on Day 1 remained the Mercury Big Bass until the end, earning the Tennessee pro $2,500. Fellow Tennessean Brandon Lester hooked the heavy (8-6) on Day 2 and Fothergill’s 8-1 was biggest Day 3, earning both anglers $1,000 prizes.

Fothergill also took home an additional $10,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Cox earned $5,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Fothergill earned an additional $20,000 while Lester claimed an additional $3,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

The Fort Worth Sports Commission hosted the event.

2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour 3/21-3/23
Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth  TX.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN       15  76-15    0 $308,000.00
  Day 1: 5   24-15     Day 2: 5   29-06     Day 3: 5   22-10   
2.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          15  68-07    0  $50,000.00
  Day 1: 5   26-09     Day 2: 5   15-13     Day 3: 5   26-01   
3.  Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            15  66-10    0  $41,000.00
  Day 1: 5   23-00     Day 2: 5   21-09     Day 3: 5   22-01   
4.  Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            15  64-14    0  $30,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   23-01     Day 3: 5   20-01   
5.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         14  58-07    0  $25,000.00
  Day 1: 5   25-09     Day 2: 5   20-04     Day 3: 4   12-10   
6.  John Cox               Debary, FL              15  56-13    0  $22,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   22-08     Day 3: 5   12-05   
7.  Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        15  56-05    0  $22,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   22-12     Day 3: 5   16-07   
8.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 14  55-15    0  $21,000.00
  Day 1: 4   13-15     Day 2: 5   23-05     Day 3: 5   18-11   
9.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          15  55-12    0  $20,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   23-01     Day 3: 5   19-14   
10. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           14  53-03    0  $20,000.00
  Day 1: 4   14-14     Day 2: 5   15-02     Day 3: 5   23-03   
11. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 12  52-05    0  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 3   13-07     Day 3: 4   20-00   
12. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             13  51-08    0  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 3   11-03     Day 2: 5   22-00     Day 3: 5   18-05   
13. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              12  50-02    0  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   23-07     Day 2: 4   10-09     Day 3: 3   16-02   
14. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            15  50-01    0  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   18-13     Day 3: 5   13-11   
15. Ben Milliken           Omaha, NE               10  47-00    0  $15,000.00
  Day 1: 2   08-02     Day 2: 5   26-11     Day 3: 3   12-03   
16. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            12  46-12    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 4   11-07     Day 2: 5   25-13     Day 3: 3   09-08   
17. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      14  46-00    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 4   10-12     Day 3: 5   13-06   
18. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  45-07    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   15-14     Day 3: 5   11-03   
19. Connor Jacob           Peoria, IL              15  43-01    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   13-02     Day 3: 5   14-02   
20. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           12  42-15    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   17-03     Day 3: 2   07-14   
21. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         12  41-09    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   12-01     Day 3: 2   08-00   
22. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               11  40-15    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 4   10-08     Day 3: 2   09-02   
23. Jeremiah Kindy         Benton, AR              14  40-11    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   16-11     Day 3: 4   08-03   
24. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              12  38-12    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   14-09     Day 3: 2   05-11   
25. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            11  34-10    0  $13,000.00
  Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   15-13     Day 3: 1   01-07   
———————————————————————–

BIG BASS 
Day
 1   John Garrett             Union City, TN      08-12      $1,000.00
 2   Brandon Lester           Fayetteville, TN    08-06      $1,000.00
 3   Easton Fothergill        Grand Rapids , MN   08-01      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
MERCURY BIG BASS
     John Garrett             Union City, TN      08-12      $2,500.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

     Easton Fothergill        Grand Rapids , MN   29-06      $7,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        27       208       758-14
 2        29       211       757-09
 3        14       100       362-12
———————————-
          70       519      1879-03





Evan White Wins CATT BassKings Kerr Lake with 19.38 lbs.

Brian Carter
-
0
Evan White Wins CATT BassKings Kerr Lake with 19.38 lbs.

It was a tough day for the 20 anglers who fished stop number two of the CATT Bass Kings SML/Kerr event. The wind was not your friend today as you can tell by the weights & the winner’s interview but all in all, it was a good day for winner Evan White.

CLICK TO SEE RESULTS





Fothergill snags 29-6 bag to take commanding lead at Bassmaster Classic

Brian Carter
-
0
Fothergill snags 29-6 bag to take commanding lead at Bassmaster Classic

Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill leads Day 2 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Fort Worth, Texas, with a two-day weight of 54-5.

Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.

March 22, 2025

Fothergill snags 29-6 bag to take commanding lead at Bassmaster Classic

2025_BMC_BPS-title_UAPresenting_vFinal@4x 1.png

FORT WORTH, Texas — All it took was 53 magical minutes on Lake Ray Roberts for Easton Fothergill to take complete control of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

The 22-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Minn., entered Day 2 of the Classic in third place, less than two pounds out of the lead. He had high hopes for Saturday morning, but it didn’t start out exactly as he planned, with only one bass in his livewell at 10 a.m.

Then, what he called “the 180” started — and what a turnaround it was.

Between 10:28 a.m. and 11:31 a.m., Fothergill caught three hogs that added a whopping 19-10 to his total. He finished the day with a limit of five bass weighing 29-6, giving him a two-day total of 54-5, exactly 8 1/2 pounds more than his nearest competitor.

No lead is too big, but the Classic compass clearly points to the young ace from the North Star State. And barring a complete collapse on Championship Sunday, coupled with one of his closest competitors yanking a huge sack of bass, Fothergill is a day away from winning the Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic Trophy and the $300,000 prize that goes with it.

Fothergill used sonar electronics to pinpoint his best bass. His flurry began when a jerkbait yielded a 6-13 cruising near the water’s surface. A 5-13 followed a half-hour later and 20 minutes after that, the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie dropped the hammer on a 7-pound hog.

There was no doubt Fothergill realized the significance of the moment as he hoisted that fat bass for nearby spectator boats to see.

“We’ve got a shot to win tomorrow, boys,” he told the camera operator aboard his boat, his rapid breathing and quivering voice audible through the words of confidence.

Fothergill said a key adjustment was vital to his big swing on Saturday.

“All week long it’s been extremely windy and the fish I’ve been catching have been at the base of trees, at the bottom, on the rockpiles,” he said. “Today, they were suspended. A lot of the fish I caught were about 2 feet to 6 inches under the water. They were on the surface … I caught that first one on a jerkbait, but ultimately, I’ve been throwing a 3/32-ounce Neko (rig) all week long and today I went to a 1/32-ounce Neko. I was basically throwing it on their heads, but the key was to throw it extremely soft. That’s how high up they were. I had to make no splash, be super stealthy.”

Fothergill’s propensity to boat big bass was on display Friday, as well, when he caught fish weighing 6-4 and 6-8. He finished Day 1 in third place with 24-15, putting him only 1-15 behind Day 1 leader Trey McKinney.

Following with the heaviest bag of the tournament was huge, but Fothergill knows there’s plenty of work to be done if he’s to win the 55th edition of the world’s most prestigious fishing tournament.

“I’ve got to do my best to block (that lead) out,” he said. “We’re in Texas. All I can do is go catch the five biggest ones and see what happens.”

Canadian pro Cory Johnston entered the day in second place and remains there with 45-13. He said Ray Roberts’ bass are preparing to spawn, which compels him to fish staging areas and target feisty bass looking to get to shallow beds.

“I think I had six bites today,” he said. “Nothing was easy, but I think I figured something out today. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”

Johnston said warmer water temperatures (61.5 degrees where he was fishing mid-afternoon) could help produce big bags on Sunday.

“100 percent, they want to spawn,” he said. “They’re ready and they’re coming … I caught all my fish shallow today, 2 feet, 3 feet. I’m just reeling moving baits. If I could see them better, I’d love to fish the spawn. But the water is still a little dingy. I think prespawn is the way to win.”

Tennessee’s Hunter Shryock is third with 44-13. He only had three fish for eight pounds until a switch in strategy drew him back into the championship fray. Shryock finished Day 2 with a 23-1 bag.

“I had to slow down and start flipping, which really hadn’t shown itself all week,” he said. “(It could have been) the water clearing up. The water may have dropped a little bit. Whatever the reason … I was able to salvage the day … I caught a 7-10 and a 6 in the last hour and a half that obviously catapulted me. I feel like I could catch five of those the way things were going.”

Lee Livesay, a Longview, Texas, resident and one of the pre-tournament favorites, is in fourth place with 44-9 heading into Championship Sunday. He caught 21-9 on Friday to follow a 23-pound bag on Day 1.

His main lures on Saturday included a pink ChatterBait (with a pink trailer), as well as a 6th Sense Texas-rigged Whale he reeled through milfoil on Ray Roberts.

“I’ll do about the same thing tomorrow, but I want to find a fresh group of fish,” Livesay said. “You can’t go doing anything crazy. I’ll open up a couple new areas, try a couple new techniques. But I know the deal. I have to get lucky and have a couple of those 6-pounders eat. And a couple other guys have to stumble.”

Livesay likes his chances, despite trailing Fothergill by nearly 10 pounds.

“It’s Texas and it’s my backyard,” he said. “You never know what happens on the last day.”

Florida veteran John Cox is in fifth place with 44-8. McKinney, the 20-year-old phenom from Carbondale, Ill., who led Day 1 with 26-9, dropped to sixth overall after managing a 15-13 limit on Saturday. The cutline was 28-15.

Tennessee pro John Garrett, who leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, finished just outside the cut with 27-8 over two days. He did, however, maintain his lead on the $2,500 Mercury Big Bass prize with the 8-12 largemouth he caught Friday. Fellow Tennessean Brandon Lester won $1,000 for having the big bass (8-6) on Saturday.

The final takeoff of the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. CT from Isle du Bois at Lake Ray Roberts State Park in Pilot Point, Texas. The final weigh-in will begin at 5 p.m. at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

Takeoffs are scheduled for 7:30 a.m. CT from Isle du Bois at Lake Ray Roberts State Park in Pilot Point, Texas. Weigh-ins begin at 5 p.m. at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.

The Fort Worth Sports Commission is hosting the event.

2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour 3/21-3/23
Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth  TX.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 2

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN       10  54-05    0
  Day 1: 5   24-15     Day 2: 5   29-06   
2.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         10  45-13    0
  Day 1: 5   25-09     Day 2: 5   20-04   
3.  Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  44-13    0
  Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   23-01   
4.  Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  44-09    0
  Day 1: 5   23-00     Day 2: 5   21-09   
5.  John Cox               Debary, FL              10  44-08    0
  Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   22-08   
6.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          10  42-06    0
  Day 1: 5   26-09     Day 2: 5   15-13   
7.  Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  39-14    0   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   22-12   
8.  Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             9  37-04    0
  Day 1: 4   11-07     Day 2: 5   25-13   
9.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  9  37-04    0
  Day 1: 4   13-15     Day 2: 5   23-05   
10. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            10  36-06    0
  Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   18-13   
11. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          10  35-14    0
  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   23-01   
12. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  35-01    0
  Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   17-03   
13. Ben Milliken           Omaha, NE                7  34-13    0
  Day 1: 2   08-02     Day 2: 5   26-11   
14. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  34-04    0
  Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   15-14   
15. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               9  34-00    0
  Day 1: 5   23-07     Day 2: 4   10-09   
16. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  33-09    0
  Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   12-01   
17. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              8  33-03    0
  Day 1: 3   11-03     Day 2: 5   22-00   
18. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  33-03    0
  Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   15-13   
19. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  33-01    0
  Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   14-09   
20. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       9  32-10    0
  Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 4   10-12   
21. Jeremiah Kindy         Benton, AR              10  32-08    0
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   16-11   
22. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  8  32-05    0
  Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 3   13-07   
23. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                9  31-13    0
  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 4   10-08   
24. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            9  30-00    0
  Day 1: 4   14-14     Day 2: 5   15-02   
25. Connor Jacob           Peoria, IL              10  28-15    0
  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   13-02   
26. John Garrett           Union City, TN           6  27-08    0  $11,000.00
  Day 1: 3   16-13     Day 2: 3   10-11   
27. Jeremy Knepp           Montgomery, IN           8  27-05    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 3   10-01   
28. Chris Zaldain          Boyd, TX                 7  26-05    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 2   07-10   
29. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10  26-03    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   11-08   
30. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          6  25-10    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   20-09     Day 2: 2   05-01   
31. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              9  25-06    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 4   13-04   
32. Bobby Bakewell         Orlando, FL              5  24-08    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   07-01     Day 2: 3   17-07   
33. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              7  24-07    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   14-09     Day 2: 3   09-14   
34. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC           8  23-08    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 5   15-14   
35. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           7  23-07    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   05-06     Day 2: 5   18-01   
36. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                7  22-10    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   07-08     Day 2: 5   15-02   
37. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA           6  22-07    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   08-08     Day 2: 4   13-15   
38. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           7  22-06    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   04-07     Day 2: 5   17-15   
39. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            10  21-12    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   11-01   
40. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  7  21-04    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   12-00     Day 2: 3   09-04   
41. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  6  20-10    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 5   17-15   
42. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            6  20-05    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 1   04-03   
43. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          7  19-03    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   10-14     Day 2: 3   08-05   
44. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  17-14    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   17-14   
45. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            7  16-13    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 2   03-14   
46. Tyler Campbell         Martin, GA               6  15-12    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 2   06-12     Day 2: 4   09-00   
47. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           4  15-02    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 3   09-13     Day 2: 1   05-05   
48. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  14-15    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   13-06     Day 2: 1   01-09   
49. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  4  14-11    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 4   14-11   
50. Dylan Akins            Flowery Branch, GA       4  14-07    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   14-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   
51. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             4  14-00    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 1   03-12     Day 2: 3   10-04   
52. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          3  11-07    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 3   11-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   
53. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               4  10-15    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 4   10-15     Day 2: 0   00-00   
54. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        3  10-03    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 1   03-07     Day 2: 2   06-12   
55. Blake Capps            Muskogee, OK             3  08-10    0  $10,000.00
  Day 1: 1   02-13     Day 2: 2   05-13   
56. Josh Butler            Hayden, AL               1  04-09    0
  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   04-09   
———————————————————————–

BIG BASS 
Day
 1   John Garrett             Union City, TN      08-12      $1,000.00
 2   Brandon Lester           Fayetteville, TN    08-06      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        27       208       758-14
 2        29       211       757-09
———————————-
          56       419      1516-07





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

Brian Carter
-
0
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 (March 21, 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. The rods are part of DAIWA’s long list of new bass tackle being introduced at the Bassmaster Classic Expo – and are now shipping to tackle shops throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each of the 13 casting and 10 spinning rods retail for $149.99 (USD).
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.
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





Bass Fishing in Tough Conditions!

Brian Carter
-
0
Bass Fishing in Tough Conditions!
Spring bass fishing demands a fresh mindset every time you hit the water. Conditions can shift overnight with changing weather, moon phases, or water levels, and bass often respond by relocating or changing behavior. Don’t let a slow day discourage you from giving it your all the next morning. Instead of forcing the same pattern repeatedly, adapt and approach the day as if you’re fishing a new lake. Keeping a clear head and a flexible strategy is often what separates successful anglers from frustrated ones. Bass are especially sensitive in spring, and a subtle change in temperature or water color can cause them to completely reposition. That means yesterday’s productive spot might just be empty today, but a nearby area with slightly better conditions could be loaded. By staying open to change, you give yourself the chance to reconnect with active fish more quickly. Pay attention to what the day is offering instead of what you hoped would happen. The best anglers learn to expect the unexpected and treat every outing as a brand-new puzzle to solve. Every shift in weather, light, or water movement is a clue that can bring you one cast closer to your next bite.Our Fresh HellaMite is designed to imitate a major aquatic food source, delivering a realistic profile of an insect larva that fish can’t resist. Scented for complete and total attraction underwater along with being made in the USA by real fishermen just like you. Grab our newest Lil Bass, Hot Sauce, MidNight, Glow, 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink HellaMite colors. Act quickly, these new colors won’t stay in stock for long. We also recently restocked our Ghost, Red Bug, Purple Rain, Brown Bug, Electric Chicken, and Goby Wan colors. The HellaMite’s solid body and hyperactive ribbed tail design produce a life-like quivering action with every twitch of the rod. Its unique flat underbelly detail enables this bait to be fished as a drop shot, Ned rig, neko rig, and even a small Carolina-rig, making it the ideal bait in any condition year-round. When the water is clear, the fish can see the bait and look like real food, causing strikes. Each cast becomes an opportunity for an exhilarating catch, thanks to its superior performance and versatility.
Springtime brings unstable conditions, sunny and calm one day, muddy and windy the next. Being successful means adjusting your tactics on the fly, from changing depths to modifying your retrieve speed. Soft plastics like lizards, beetles, and cray-styled baits offer versatility for adapting to various water temperatures and clarity levels. Have multiple setups ready, ranging from finesse presentations to more aggressive approaches. Let the current conditions dictate your technique, not your favorite way to fish. Pay close attention to subtle cues, like how bass respond to a faster versus slower fall rate, or whether they’re holding tight to cover or roaming open flats. Some days they’ll want a slow-dragged beetle, other days a hopping lizard near structure gets their attention. Adaptation isn’t just about switching baits; it’s about adjusting your mindset, tempo, and areas of focus. Even small changes like line size or hook weight can make a big difference in spring. The more tools and tactics you’re willing to try, the more consistent your results will be. In spring fishing, flexibility isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for staying in tune with ever-changing weather conditions.We use our Fresh Scorpion because it closely imitates a crawfish. Our newest 10w30 Synthetic, Slimer Green, and Barbie Pink Scorpion colors work wonders. The Scorpion is a revolutionary new look to soft plastics. Its intricate detailing and texture mimic the nuances of a real crawfish, making it hard for bass to resist. Of course, water clarity always plays a role in color selection but in any season, you can’t miss using colors such as Green Pumpkin Seed, Brown Bark, Magneto. This bait not only appears natural to fish but gives them something to become curious about. The Scorpion paired with a stand-up jig is deadly because the jig actually sits the bait upright in a defensive stance. The subtle color variations across the bait further enhance its appeal, mimicking the natural color shifts found in live prey. Each Fresh Scorpion has a unique and exclusive 3-axis tail design that is engineered like no other soft plastic bait. Our Scorpions are made by anglers from high-grade non-salt plastic to provide superior life-like action-triggering strikes!
One of the biggest mistakes spring anglers make is fishing based on where the bass should be located, instead of where they actually are. Just because a certain creek or stretch produced in past seasons doesn’t mean it will now, especially if water clarity, flow, or temperature has changed. If your go-to spot is now blown out or muddy, don’t try to force a bite. explore new water that better fits the present scenario. Bass are constantly adjusting to their environment, and you should too. Focus on the present and let the current conditions lead your decisions. The more you rely on real-time observations, like baitfish presence, water temperature shifts, or subtle current breaks, the more in tune you’ll be with where bass are positioned. Look for cleaner water, protected coves, or warmer pockets instead of defaulting to history. Even on familiar lakes, fish will often hold in entirely different places year to year based on how spring unfolds. Staying mobile and open to change allows you to stay one step ahead. It’s not about where the fish used to be, it’s about where they’re feeding now. Trust your instincts, not just your memories.The new FreshBaitz Lizards deliver a realistic profile that excels in both power and finesse techniques. Act fact, we just released new Hot Sauce, MidNight, Ghost, and 10w30 Syntheic Lizard designs! The unique forward-facing leg design creates drag that holds it in the strike zone longer or produces wild flapping action with every pull of the rod. Additionally, its slightly ribbed solid body and large head hold your hook in place and provide much better weedless performance making it the ideal bait to use in any condition. Water clarity always plays a super big role in color selection but in any season year-round, you can’t miss when using colors such as Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, or Green Pumpkin. Its flexible tail design ensures added movement, tempting even the most cautious fish. The superior 5.5-inch profile stretches to a whole 7 inches which is perfect for predatory fish including bass year round. Made from long-lasting durable high-grade non-salted plastic for total and maximum attention-grabbing action underwater.
Spending too much time in an unproductive area can quickly burn through your day. A good habit in spring is to give a spot about ten minutes, if you don’t get bites or signs of life, it’s time to change something. That might mean switching from a beetle-style bait to a worm, or moving from shallow cover to a nearby drop-off. Keep experimenting until something clicks. Bass behavior in spring is too unpredictable to rely on just one spot or technique for too long. This rule helps you stay efficient and prevents you from mentally locking into a non-productive pattern. It’s not about rushing, it’s about keeping your time purposeful and reactive to what the fish are doing. Sometimes just a short relocation or small bait adjustment can uncover a bite window you would’ve otherwise missed. Use your instincts and observations to guide each change you make. Over the course of the day, these quick decisions can make the difference between a tough outing and a standout one. Efficiency and adaptability go hand in hand when chasing bass in rough conditions.Our Fresh Beetle delivers ultimate versatility in a soft plastic bait. Its slim yet wide body design and four claws are engineered to naturally glide and wobble as it moves through the water. This design ensures they remain enticingly active longer than conventional baits. Its unique texture also provides a realistic feel, making bass hold on longer once they bite. Water clarity plays a big role in color selection but year-round you can’t miss when using go-to colors such as Chocolate Mint, Ox Blood, or 10w30 Synthetic beetles. The hyper-active swimming claws are designed thin with long-lasting durable non-salt plastic to make them come alive with the slightest movement. The Fresh Beetle offers an enticing 4-inch profile and is scented for complete and total attraction! You can rig these Beetles as a Jig/ Chatter Trailer, Flippin/ Punching, Texas Rig, Swing Jig, and Carolina Rig. Making the beetle beyond perfect in any weather condition year-round!
Before doing anything else, start by identifying what phase of the season the bass are in pre-spawn, spawn, or post-spawn. Each stage leads bass to predictable areas like staging points, flats, or bedding zones. Once you’ve pinpointed that seasonal pattern, fine-tune your approach with soft plastics like insect larva or lizards to match the mood of the fish. Think of the seasonal pattern as the framework, and your bait and technique as the fine brush strokes. This gives your search purpose and helps you dial in faster, even on unfamiliar water. By narrowing your focus to likely zones for that specific stage, you avoid wasting time on water that simply doesn’t hold fish. Water temperature is a critical clue—knowing whether it’s climbing into the 50s, 60s, or beyond will tell you a lot about bass behavior. Pay attention to subtle cues like increased sun exposure on northern banks or the presence of roaming baitfish. Seasonal patterns are reliable starting points, but always adjust based on what the fish are telling you that day. With a strong foundation, you can build a productive game plan even under unpredictable conditions.Using a stick-styled worm is the most tried and true ways to catch fish. We have a variety of 5-inch Worms to choose from but we just added new MidNight, Glow, and Ghost Worms! Our popular Wild Cherry Worms have been restocked as well. You can also experience our new wacky rigging kit while it’s ON SALE! The WACKY Pack offers our most popular colors and essential tools for wacky rigging. If you’re fast enough you might be able to grab the limited-release Pumpkin Spice Worm before it’s completely sold out along with some of our newest colors including the Brown Worm, Electric Chicken Worm, and Goby Wan Worm colors. The high-grade non-salt plastic they’re made from provides positive buoyancy and it even floats underwater! We also released new 6-inch Worms including Charmeleon, Rainbow TRT, Bone, Chocolate Mint, and Fire TGR — all available in 5 and 6-inch. We’ve also recently released new 8-count packs of worms available in Watermelon Red, Black & Blue, and Green Pumpkin. We also offer worms that have the unique ability to shift from one color to another. Scented for total attraction underwater.
You don’t need a dozen different baits to succeed during the  spring, you just need the right area and the right approach. Confidence is key, so stick with a few soft plastics you trust, like worms or crayfish imitations, and focus on covering water effectively. The goal is to put a bait in front of as many fish as possible, rather than overanalyzing colors or rigging. When visibility is low or fish are scattered, movement and location matter more than exact bait profiles. Simplicity helps you stay efficient and focused when things get tough. Just by  eliminating unnecessary decisions, you free up your attention for reading water conditions and tracking how bass are responding. Covering more water gives you a better chance of intersecting with active fish, especially during transitional periods. Once you get a few bites, you can slow down and refine your approach in that area. Trusting your core setup allows you to move with confidence and make smarter adjustments on the fly. Sometimes less truly is more, especially when spring bass are unpredictable. The more time your bait spends in the strike zone, the better your chances.Our newest FreshBaitz Mandingo Trick Worm is the ultimate game-changer for anglers with a passion! Engineered for the angler who knows SIZE does matter, this lure is designed to attract only the BIGGEST bass with a penchant for the larger bait. The Mandingo Trick Worm boasts a solid 7-inch body enhanced with a hyperactive ribbed design, ensuring irresistible mouth-watering action for those trophy bass. Officially available in a vibrant array of 8 colors. Each worm is made from durable, high-grade Non-Salted plastic for lifelike action and unparalleled durability. Perfectly balanced for a variety of rigging options and scented for total and maximum attraction, the Mandingo Trick Worm promises year-round effectiveness in lakes, rivers, and streams. Whether you’re rigging it on a Shakey Head, Drop Shot, Texas Rig, or Carolina Rig, these worms are your ticket to landing the big ones. Proudly made in the USA by real anglers to help elevate your fishing experience and catch more bass year-round!
When conditions are tough, the most important thing you can do is slow down and pay attention. Bass in spring may relate to subtle differences along a bank, an isolated stump, a patch of submerged grass, or a slight bend in the current. Anglers downsizing to a finesse worm or beetle-style bait and moving slowly can help trigger bites from fish that aren’t actively feeding. Take note of where and how you’re getting bit and try to replicate that situation elsewhere. Success often lies in small patterns hidden within bigger ones. Even the direction of your cast or the angle of your retrieve can make a real noticeable difference. Watch for clues like swirls, baitfish activity, or a sudden temperature change along a stretch of shoreline. These subtle indicators often reveal the true sweet spots when conditions are tough. By fishing methodically and staying alert to small changes, you’ll start to uncover patterns others may overlook. Patience and attention to detail often outperform speed and aggression during finicky spring bites. Slow fishing doesn’t mean lazy fishing, it means fishing with purpose, focus, and precision to land more trophy bass.We have a wide variety of terminal tackle to choose from, but we’ve recently released new Nako Tungsten Tear Drop Shot Weights, crafted from 97% eco-friendly tungsten for stealth, durability, and vibration, with easy-to-read size stamps and a crimped swivel for quick changes. The new Haymaker EWG Worm Hooks are also now available, featuring an extra-wide gap for various soft plastics, a Z-lock shoulder bend for secure bait placement, and an angled-up super needle point for fast, powerful hooksets. For creature-styled baits, a more popular choice to use is the Stand-Up Jig because it sits the bait up-right in a defensive stance! Mosquito Hooks work for dropshotting and perfectly accommodates a wide range of soft plastics. The popular All Purpose Hooks are built with an extra-wide gap and are made to accommodate a wide range of soft plastics. The Block Head Jig is perfect for ned rigging the HellaMite with its mushroom-style head that seamlessly matches a wide variety of soft plastics. The Offset Block Head Jig, offers the same mushroom-style head with a unique offset hook, making it a go-to for weedless Ned Rig applications. The Shakey Ultrahead can permanently secure baits by inserting the pin in the center and screwing the twist lock coil spring for perfect rigging every time! The Ultrahead Wacky Jig features precise weight positioning and hook orientation for the ultimate wacky presentations. For fast Texas rigging, we use the Bullet-Type Rig which has an attached weight saving you pressure time when fishing cover. The 4x Jungle Flippin Hook is designed for big fish and the toughest conditions. The Range Roller Jig Head is crafted for precision with its high center axis design, perfect for hover-strolling and mid to bottom strolling with forward facing sonar, ensuring an enticing rolling action that triggers bites. We also just release New Keep’em Fresh Bait Bags! These bags are the ultimate solution for anglers who need their gear to perform. Built like a tank, this bag is 20x stronger than regular zip bags and offers 100% waterproof protection with a rock-solid double zipper seal. Whether it’s for soft plastics, snacks, or your smartphone, this reusable and versatile bag keeps everything safe from the water, mud, and grime. Lightweight yet spacious, it fits snugly in your tackle box or backpack, making it perfect for your next adventure.





The Thrill and Challenge of the Bass Spawn

Brian Carter
-
0
The Thrill and Challenge of the Bass Spawn

Introduction

When the bass spawn arrives, anglers experience an electrifying period on the water. This time marks not only a heightened chance for a big catch but also a unique window into the dramatic life cycle of one of freshwater fishing’s most prized species. During the spawn, bass become unusually active and aggressive. However, their vulnerability increases as well, setting up a natural tug-of-war between nature’s rhythms and angler ambitions. In this expanded discussion, we explore the complex behavior of bass during the spawning season, the fishing opportunities it creates, and the ecological challenges that must be managed to preserve this natural phenomenon.

A Time of Increased Activity and Aggression

Bass spawning is a reproductive phase during which fish, driven by a deep biological imperative, vigorously prepare for the future. As water temperatures begin to climb above 60°F (approximately 15°C) in the spring, bass shift from their winter haunts into shallower, warmer waters. Here, males build nests—carefully clearing and fanning substrates like sand, gravel, or even vegetation—to create a safe haven for their eggs. During this period, males exhibit extraordinary territorial behavior. They aggressively defend their nests against intruders, whether those intruders are rival bass, small forage fish, or even fishing lures that resemble potential threats.

This territorial drive is what makes spawn time so exciting for anglers. The bass are more visible, their movements more frantic, and their defensive strikes can be sudden and powerful. Lures that mimic small fish or crawfish can trigger these aggressive reactions, and many anglers take advantage of this by using topwater baits, soft plastics, and even specially scented baits designed to exploit the bass’s heightened state of alert.

The Dual-Edged Sword of Vulnerability

While the spawn offers an abundance of opportunities for catch, it also exposes bass to increased risks. With their attention fully absorbed by nest defense, bass become less adept at evading natural predators. Birds such as herons and ospreys, as well as predatory fish like pike or muskie, take advantage of this moment of distraction. Studies have documented how nesting bass are particularly susceptible to predation during this vulnerable period, which in turn can have long-term impacts on local fish populations if not managed responsibly.

This delicate balance has sparked debates among anglers and conservationists alike. Responsible fishing during spawn is crucial—not only for ensuring that anglers get a thrilling fight but also for safeguarding the future of the bass population. Many regions now advocate catch-and-release practices during the spawning season and even enforce temporary fishing closures to protect nesting fish from overharvesting.

Impact on Fishing Techniques and Angling Strategy

Anglers who understand the nuances of bass spawning are better equipped to tailor their techniques for optimal success. During the early stages of the spawn, when male bass are actively constructing and defending nests, lures that mimic disturbances or potential predators can provoke aggressive strikes. Fast, erratic retrieves or even a paused, twitchy presentation can sometimes set off a defensive reaction in a nest-guarding bass.

As the spawn progresses and females visit the beds to lay eggs, the overall aggression may slightly subside—but the opportunity remains. Many anglers report that during this time, a delicate balance is needed: too aggressive a presentation might scare the fish, while too gentle an approach might not trigger the necessary defensive instinct. Lures that are smaller and more subtle—such as finesse worms, light jig presentations, or even softly trolled jerk baits—often yield better results during this nuanced period.

Ecological Considerations and Conservation

The spawning period is not just a prime time for sport; it’s a critical moment in the bass life cycle. Healthy spawning success ensures a robust population of future bass, which supports not only recreational fishing but also the ecological balance of freshwater systems. For instance, when bass spawn, the sheer number of eggs laid (often in the tens of thousands) serves as a natural buffer against predation. Even if many eggs are consumed by predators, enough survive to sustain and grow the population.

However, excessive fishing pressure during the spawn can disrupt this balance. Anglers who repeatedly remove nest-guarding bass risk causing the fish to abandon their nests. Once a male abandons a nest, predators can quickly decimate the remaining eggs, reducing the overall reproductive success of the population. That is why many fisheries management programs now stress responsible angling techniques during the spawn and promote catch-and-release practices to preserve the delicate natural order.

Conclusion

The impact of the bass spawn on fishing is undeniable. It is a time of heightened aggression, increased visibility, and unparalleled challenge—providing anglers with the thrilling opportunity to engage with one of nature’s most dynamic phenomena. Yet, this period also serves as a reminder of the fragility of natural systems. Anglers, by practicing responsible fishing methods and respecting the reproductive cycle of bass, ensure that this dramatic spectacle will continue to be a cornerstone of freshwater fishing for generations to come.

In the end, the bass spawn is not just about the fight on the line; it is about understanding and preserving the intricate balance of nature. Every cast during this season is an invitation to witness the raw power of life—and to participate, respectfully, in its ongoing cycle.





1...969798...1,532Page 97 of 1,532

Follow Us

The latest

Mike Stephens Wins CATT Lake Wylie! 5 Bass weighing gup at 16.05 lbs!

CATT Lake Wylie 0
Up next is the Lake Wylie Fall Final on...

Zack LeMaster & Josh Whalen Win 2025 Bass Cast Championship with 20.33 lbs

Smith Mountain Lake Tournament Results 0
CLICK TO SEE RESULTS We would like to thank everyone...

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Locks in Full Field of 150 pros for 2026

Breaking News 0
With every spot claimed, Pro Circuit momentum reaches a...

© 2023 The Bass Cast. All Rights Reserved.