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Matt Arey (left) and Jamie Hartman both stepped away from the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series on May 4 due to medical issues.

The Bassmaster Elite Series Lost Two Anglers in One Day—A Reminder of How Fast Everything Can Change

Two Bassmaster Elite anglers stepped away the same day for medical reasons. Matt Arey and Jamie Hartman’s stories show how quickly things can change.

Kurt Mazurek

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May 5, 2026

Bass Fishing

Randy Moss Has a 25-Year Bass Fishing Obsession Most Fans Never Knew About

Shimano’s Lightest Spinning Reel Yet—Is the Vanquish Worth $530?

REDCREST Champ Wheeler Says “It’s Not the Technology” and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

No Ego. No Hooks. His First REDCREST Trophy.

Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back “It’s Not the Technology” and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

"Dad, You Don't Have to Win Today. Just Win Tomorrow."

“It’s Not the Technology”—Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back on Critics of Young Anglers

Four Species? Table Rock Has a Surprise Waiting for REDCREST Anglers

An African Fly Fishing Trip Takes Unexpected Turn and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Fly Fishing

Can a Luxury Ski Resort in Utah Also Be a Great Summer Fly Fishing Destination?; You’re Ignoring the Hardest-Fighting Fish in Your Local Water; “It’s Not the Technology”—Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back on Critics of Young Anglers

Can a Luxury Ski Resort Be a Great Fly Fishing Destination and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Utah guide Sammy Elam taking the scenic route to the river.

Can a Luxury Ski Resort in Utah Also Be a Great Summer Fly Fishing Destination?

Fly angler and West Virginia guide Chase McCoy, throwing a tight loop while balanced on his kayak.

What’s the Best Way to Improve Your Fly Cast?

Tenkara rods are compact and easy to use, perfect for squeezing in some extra fishing on a road trip

The Must Have Road Trip Accessory: A Tenkara Rod

Gear Reviews

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The Berkley Dough Rider spinner has a unique Scent Vent pocket in the body, designed to hold scented Berkley PowerBait dough to attract more fish.

This New Berkley Spinner Adds Scent—and It Might Be the Edge You Need

The semi-rimless Pilothouse PRO is Costa’s first attempt at a more open, less obstructed view of the water.

Less Frame, Better View? Is Costa Right About This New Design?

Summer fishing essentials.

Summer Fishing Gear to Buy With Your March Madness Money

The Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show is Southern California's premier outdoors trade show

The Six Coolest Things I Saw at The 2026 Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show

Dye was added to the scent powder for this demo only, but it paints a dramatic picture of how this baits leaves a scent trail to convince wary bass to bite.

REVEALED: Berkley Lab Series Baits Unveiled After Bassmaster Classic Leak

The new Mystery Tackle Box 'Finesse' Bass Fishing Kit curates the perfect selection of lures to coax finicky bass.

The Finesse Fishing Kit Built for Today’s Pressured Bass

YETI gear is built for the cold and ready for the catch.

YETI Has the Ultimate Gear for Your Ice Fishing Adventures

Fishpond welcomed anglers to a converted trailer full of new gear. You could come and hang out, talk with the reps, and go hands-on with gear you might want.

Inside The Fly Fishing Show: Gear, Lessons, and the First Hint of Spring

Destinations

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2026 has brought warmer than usual water temperature and a hot bite to Southern California. Are we due for an epic El Niño?

A Super El Niño? What To Expect in the 2026 Southern California Offshore Season.

A feeling like no other.

Thank You, Taylor Sheridan—My Wife Finally Understands Why I Fly Fish After Watching 'The Madison'

A Fly Fishing Trip to Africa Took an Unexpected Turn on Safari; REVEALED: Berkley Lab Series Baits Unveiled After Bassmaster Classic Leak; The Finesse Fishing Kit Built for Today’s Pressured Bass

African Fly Fishing Takes Unexpected Turn on Safari and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Big bass, Disney backdrop—Seven Seas Lagoon delivered one of the best bites of our Florida trip.

I Didn’t Expect the Best Bass Fishing of My Trip to Happen at Disney World

An older male lion with fiercely intense eyes.

A Fly Fishing Trip to Africa Took an Unexpected Turn on Safari

Montana's beautiful native Yellowstone Cutthroat

If "The Madison" Made You Want to Fly Fish Montana, Here’s Where to Start.

Anglers working the riverbank for African tigerfish.

A Fly Angler's Trip to the Okavango River in Africa

Why San Diego Might Be the Best Fishing Destination in America

Freshwater

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Opening day walleyes aren’t always aggressive, but the right presentation can still get them to bite.

Wisconsin’s Walleye Opener Is Here—A Simple Plan to Catch Fish Fast

When the white bass make their spring spawning run, anglers can catch a lot of fish in no time.

The Spring White Bass Run Is Pure Chaos—and the Fishing Is Nonstop

Rough fish like this buffalo are widespread and incredibly powerful, often using current to extend fights far beyond what most anglers expect.

You’re Ignoring the Hardest-Fighting Fish in Your Local Water

A few overlooked checks can turn your first launch of the season into a delay for everyone at the ramp.

Don’t Be “That Guy” at the Boat Ramp: The Simple Checks Most Boaters Skip

When the perch won’t cooperate, you make your own fun.

I Planned the Perfect Lake Gogebic Perch Trip—Caught Two Fish and Left Early

The 'Beer for Every Angler' unveils a nationwide limited-edition can celebrating anglers everywhere.

Busch Light and Bass Pro Shops Release Limited-Edition Collectors Can Collab

The face of a brawler.

It’s the Stuff of Dreams. Fly Fishing and Adventure in the Wilds of Africa.

Warm late-winter days before ice-out can produce some of the most aggressive perch fishing of the season, as fish feed heavily in preparation for spawning.

The Best Perch Fishing of the Year Happens Right Before Ice-Out

Saltwater

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After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Again?; Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; Svivlo Draken ONE Baitcaster Review: Is This Really a Backlash-Free Reel?

After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Back and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Scott Finanger of Wild Fly with "fish on!" in Belize.

The Fish That Becomes an Obsession for Fly Anglers

By understanding the proven baits, fish location, and tactical tips on retrieve speed, structure, and conditions, you can catch more redfish.

Proven Redfish Baits and Tips for Beginners

The ending of a very good day.

Wadeable White Sandy Flats, Crystal Clear Water, Cruising Striped Bass. A Fly Angler's Paradise in the North East

Surprise the special angler in your life with one of these fishing gear stocking stuffers.

10 Fishing Gear Stocking Stuffers for the Anglers on Your Christmas List

Utah fly fishing guide Sammy Elam dialing in on the right pattern for the Provo River.

How to Fly Fish: Pay Attention - Success Is Found in Awareness

Gunpowder released 27 blue marlin in a single day to set the new Atlantic record.

'Gunpowder' Sets New Blue Marlin Release Record Fishing Out of Marina Cap Cana

The view from my 5th floor terrace at the Sports Illustrated Resorts Marina & Villas Cap Cana.

Staying in Style: Dominican Republic's Sports Illustrated Resorts Marina & Villas Cap Cana

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If "The Madison" Made You Want to Fly Fish Montana, Here’s Where to Start; The Two ‘Mystery Baits’ That Defined the 2026 Bassmaster Classic; REVEALED: Berkley Lab Series Baits Unveiled After Bassmaster Classic Leak.

Fly Fishing the Madison, Mystery Bass Baits and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Dylan Nutt revealed Berkley’s unreleased Lab Series bait during the final day of the 2026 Bassmaster Classic—while a strange spiny lure trend quietly spread among the field.

The Two ‘Mystery Baits’ That Defined the 2026 Bassmaster Classic

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026; The Brutal Reality of the Bassmaster Classic; Why San Diego Might Be the Best Fishing Destination in America.

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Justin Hamner swings a Tennessee River largemouth into the boat during Day 1 of the 2026 Bassmaster Classic near Knoxville.

The Brutal Reality of the Bassmaster Classic

Mountain town essentials.

Why Bluegrass Is Fly Fishing’s Official Soundtrack

The Coike, spiny ball, or urchin-bait is the hottest bass lure in the country right now.

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026

Tweaking your flipping jig will make this best-in-class bass bait more effective at catching fish.

How to Modify a Flipping Jig to Catch More Largemouth Bass

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating; Burbot Ice Fishing Is Booming — From Overlooked to Late-Ice Target.

A Perfect Walleye Evening—a Limit, a Scar and a Story and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

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For top anglers, preparation isn’t just about rods and lures—it includes managing the elements within your control, like mosquitos.

A Bug Bite That Changed the Way I Fish

Capt. Troy Perez feeling optimistic for the future of Mosquito Lagoon.

After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Again?

A winter spotted bass caught on fly.

Where Do Bass Go in Winter? How to Find and Catch Them on a Fly Rod Right Now

Jon Kroll of Ashland, Wis., displays a 14-pound Lake Superior eelpout. This fish is longer than the existing state record, but came up a little short of record weight.

Burbot Ice Fishing Is Booming — From Overlooked to Late-Ice Target

The look on the rescuer’s face suggested this wasn’t his first call like this, and possibly not the first time we had met under these circumstances.

Bad at Boat Maintenance. Expert at Getting Towed.

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating; The Fish That Becomes an Obsession for Fly Anglers.

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes and a Problem—and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Five miles from the truck, after dark, with a limit of walleyes — and a treble hook I didn’t plan on bringing home.

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies; California Beaches, Redwoods & Big Fish on the Fly; Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

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Teams launch at sunrise during an iKon Tailgate Tour qualifier, part of the 2026 grassroots bass tournament series offering $10,000 payouts and a championship boat prize.

Big-League Prizes. No Pros Allowed. The iKon Tailgate Tour Is Back

A jighead minnow may look simple, but subtle adjustments in casting distance, leader length, and rod action can dramatically improve landing percentage in the world of forward-facing sonar fishing.

3 Jighead Minnow Mistakes That Cost You Bass (and How to Fix Them)

Trophies line the stage as anglers compete on the ice during a midwinter fishing derby.

How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating

Fishing in central Florida offered a reminder that timing, conditions, and local knowledge often matter more than reputation.

Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

There are only pretty steelhead in the Smith River.

California Beaches, Redwoods & Big Fish on the Fly

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss; How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?; Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies.

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

The best Valentine’s Day gifts for anglers are the ones that fit seamlessly into time spent on the water.

Valentine’s Day Gifts Anglers Actually Want

Taking kids ice fishing is a good way to get them interested in the outdoors. Keep them warm and entertained and your fishing trip will be a positive experience.

What I’ve Learned About Taking Kids Ice Fishing So They Want to Do It Again

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Finding solitude and fun on a Utah river.

Is Fly Fishing Hard To Learn?

Women often outfish men, which can hurt a guy's fragile ego.

5 Reasons Fishing With a Woman Will Test Your Fragile Ego

This is the day a small New England river finally revealed a reliable winter crappie pattern.

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies

The Champions tournament will bring Bassmaster and MLF anglers together on neutral ground to crown a true world champion in pro bass fishing.

What the New “The Champions” Tournament Means for Pro Bass Fishing

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, honors anglers and industry leaders whose contributions shaped the sport’s history and legacy.

What Defines Bass Fishing Greatness?

How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?; Why Ciscoes are My Favorite Fish to Pull Through the Ice; and Why the Best Ice Fishing Is Where Other Anglers Won’t Go.

Understanding What Your Fish Finder is Actually Showing You and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Making the short cast for the win.

Why a Fiberglass 8-Weight Might Be the Best Redfish Rod You’re Not Fishing

Midwinter perch can often be found on deep mud flats. Use large spoons to get down quickly and attract fish from a distance.

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss

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This collection of fishing lures are sure to be a hit with the forward facing sonar crowd.

Why These Are the Best Lures for Forward-Facing Sonar Anglers

In Key West, the decision not to fish shaped the experience just as much as any day on the water.

Why I Didn’t Fish Key West — And What I’d Do Differently Next Time

The Rapala Busch Light Original Giant Lure will add fishing flair and originality to any cottage, office, or man cave wall.

Rapala’s Giant Busch Light Original Lure Is a Must-Have for Fishing Collectors

Big 'bows still eat in the cold.

Why the Blue Ridge Mountains Are One of the Best Winter Trout Fisheries in the U.S.

The transducer's cone angle is important: the wider the cone angle, the more of the bottom you can see.

How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?

A little more than an hour outside of Charlotte, NC, can get you into some good striped bass fishing on a fly rod.

I Went to Charlotte for the Food—Then I Found a Striped Bass Fly Blitz Nearby

Ciscoes form large schools, fight hard and taste great. Plus, they are willing biters all winter long.

Why Ciscoes are My Favorite Fish to Pull Through the Ice

It probably makes perfect sense that the last week of January was dominated by ice fishing stories.

Fishing Lake Superior All Winter—Despite the Risks and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

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Crappies are generally pretty cooperative, but even they can be finicky at times. Employ these five tips to help put more crappies on the ice.

My 5 Favorite Ice Fishing Moves to Make Crappies Bite

Fans gather for the final weigh-in of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series, setting the stage for a 2026 season shaped by schedule changes and new sonar limits.

What to Know About the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Season as New Sonar Limits Take Effect

If the ice is thick enough, use a snowmobile, ATV or truck to get away from the crowds and find unpressured fish. If the snow is deep and travel is difficult, you can really escape the crowds.

Why the Best Ice Fishing Is Where Other Anglers Won’t Go

Fish sometimes get diseases. This northern pike is heavily infected with neascus, which is commonly called black spot disease.

What’s Growing on My Fish—and Is It Safe to Eat?

Classic combination. A Kabuto custom fiberglass fly rod matched with a Heritage Hardy Perfect fly reel with agate line guide.

The Fiberglass vs Graphite Debate, Here’s When I Choose a Glass Fly Rod to Fish

Running across Lake Worth Lagoon, it was hard to believe how remote the water felt for a Palm Beach-area fishery.

Fishing West Palm Beach Felt More Remote Than We Imagined

On the Lamar River, you're often sharing the water.

The Best Fly Fishing Spots in Beautiful Yellowstone National Park

The author holds a 14-pound Lake Superior lake trout caught while jigging from a small boat on a rare warm, calm January day—proof that winter sometimes rewards dedication.

Why I Fish Lake Superior for Lake Trout All Winter—Despite the Risks

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