Kurt Mazurek

Joined: Nov 5, 2024

Kurt Mazurek writes about all things fishing and the outdoor lifestyle for Fishing On SI -a division of Sports Illustrated. Before writing On SI he enjoyed a successful career in the fishing industry, developing marketing campaigns and creative content for many of the sport’s most recognizable brands. He is a dedicated husband and father, an enthusiastic bass tournament competitor, YouTuber, photographer, musician, and author of the novel "Personal Best: fishing and life”.

One bait in focus, and imitators filling in behind it — the exact scene playing out on tackle shop shelves right now.

Destinations

Our final stop in Crystal River, Florida, included bass fishing with Bernie Schultz, relaxing campground days, memorable local restaurants, and a fitting conclusion to a 1,600-mile electric RV adventure.

Fly Fishing

High-end Father’s Day Gifts for the Fly Angler Who Deserves the Best; Where to Fly Fish for Wild Trout in New Mexico; The Big Guns: How One Family's Crappie Obsession Evolved Into the South's Most Deadly Trolling System

Jason Christie holds up his arsenal on the morning of his latest Bassmaster Elite victory. Every one of them rigged with an urchin-style bait. When the tournament winner's entire rod deck looks like this, the conversation about the Coike stops being about hype.

Bass Fishing

Three straight major tournament wins on the Coike. Alex Davis calls it the next wacky worm. Chris Johnston gives it two years. And someone will probably try to ban it anyway.

A crappie goes airborne as Les Smith hoists a 20-foot rod clear of its holder — no reeling required. The second lure on the rig swings free in the air above it.

Freshwater

Les Smith inherited his dad's legendary crappie trolling system — 8 long rods, precise depth control, zero casting. Then Church Tackle planer boards made it even deadlier.

Fly Fishing

Fly Fisherman’s 2026 Father’s Day Gift Guide: Gear He’ll Actually Use; Where to Fly Fish for Wild Trout in New Mexico; Shopping for a Fishing Dad? Here's What We Actually Want.

The Bollé Airfin fishing sunglasses are one of seven field-tested picks for the fishing dad in your life.

Gear Reviews

Seven field-tested Father's Day gifts for fishing dads, picked by a fishing journalist with 30 years in the industry — from a $15 pack of soft plastics to a $2,000 eBike.

Fly Fishing

How to Fly Fish for Brown Trout In the Moonlight; The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026; Here's Why the Abu Garcia VoltiQ is a Must-Buy Baitcast Reel

Freshwater

At Just $80, How Good Could These New H2OX Carbon Rods Be?; How to Fly Fish for Brown Trout In the Moonlight; Is this the Year of the Coike? The Strange Japanese Bait is Silencing Its Doubters

Bass Fishing

Is this the Year of the Coike? The Strange Japanese Bait is Silencing Its Doubters ; Randy Moss Has a 25-Year Bass Fishing Obsession Most Fans Never Knew About; The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026

Can a guy who has built his entire wardrobe around being an angler make the transition to responsible, well-dressed adult...who still fishes?

Gear Reviews

Anglers don't have to choose between functional and presentable. Here's the gear taking me from the water to the dinner table—and actually impressing my wife.

Chris Johnston worked a dock pattern at Santee Cooper, skipping a Coike for four straight days, and took home his second Elite Series title.

Bass Fishing

Chris Johnston called the Coike's window "about two years" at the Bassmaster Classic. Two months later he won Santee Cooper on one. Here's the full story behind bass fishing's strangest trend.

Bass Fishing

Randy Moss Has a 25-Year Bass Fishing Obsession Most Fans Never Knew About; The Bassmaster Elite Series Lost Two Anglers in One Day—A Reminder of How Fast Everything Can Change; The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026

Kurt Mazurek

Joined: Nov 5, 2024

Sold Out and Instantly Copied to Death: Inside Bass Fishing's Wild Urchin Bait Craze

The Most Fun Fly Rod You’re Missing Out On and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

I Thought I Was Ahead of the Curve on Sun Protection. It Was Already Too Late.

Two Fish of a Lifetime in 24 Hours and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Destinations

Our Florida RV Adventure Didn't End the Way We Planned—And That’s Okay

Fly Fishing

High-end Father’s Day Gifts and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Bass Fishing

The Coike Is Having Its Moment. Let's Hope Bass Fishing Doesn't Try to Ban It.

Freshwater

The Big Guns: How One Family's Crappie Obsession Evolved Into the South's Most Deadly Trolling System

Fly Fishing

2026 Father’s Day Gift Guides and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Gear Reviews

Shopping for a Fishing Dad? Here's What We Actually Want.

Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Brown Trout In the Moonlight and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Freshwater

How Good Could these $80 Rods Be? and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

The Year of the Coike Bass Lure and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

My Other Shirt Is Also a Fishing Shirt

Is this the Year of the Coike? The Strange Japanese Bait is Silencing Its Doubters

Randy Moss Has a 25-Year Bass Fishing Obsession and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI