Bass Fishing

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

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.

Bass Fishing

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.

Recent Articles

Randy Moss gets excited about every bass he catches—part of a 25-year passion he says became his “therapy” after football.

Bass Fishing

Randy Moss reveals how bass fishing became his therapy after football—and why he’s still chasing a 10-pound bass 25 years later.

The Shimano Vanquish C is a lightweight powerhouse

Gear Reviews

We tested the Shimano Vanquish spinning reel for 8 weeks. Here’s how it compares to the Stradic and Stella—and whether it’s worth the $530 price.

Bass Fishing

“It’s Not the Technology”—Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back on Critics of Young Anglers; You’re Ignoring the Hardest-Fighting Fish in Your Local Water; and What’s the Best Way to Improve Your Fly Cast?

Jacob Wheeler and seven-year-old daughter Olivia celebrate his first REDCREST title on Table Rock Lake. On Saturday, Olivia had given her father the best advice of the tournament: "Dad, you don't have to win today. Just win tomorrow."

Bass Fishing

Jacob Wheeler's no-hooks strategy and his daughter Olivia's advice powered his first REDCREST title and $300,000 payday on Table Rock Lake.

Bass Fishing

“It’s Not the Technology”—Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back; Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing; My Wife Finally Understands Why I Fly Fish After 'The Madison’

The most sage advice Jacob Wheeler received was from his seven-year-old daughter.

Bass Fishing

Jacob Wheeler's daughter had the best advice of Championship Sunday eve. Here's how the REDCREST 2026 top 10 feel about scores resetting to zero.

Jacob Wheeler fights a bass during REDCREST competition—the kind of moment built on what he calls “unseen reps.

Bass Fishing

At REDCREST, Jacob Wheeler pushes back on critics who say young anglers are winning because of technology, emphasizing the unseen work behind their success.

The top BPT pros reveal their Table Rock game plans before MLF REDCREST 2026 — including one unexpected species.

Bass Fishing

Jacob Wheeler, Dustin Connell and Spencer Shuffield reveal their Table Rock game plans before FLW REDCREST 2026 — including one unexpected species.

Freshwater

A Fly Fishing Trip to Africa Took an Unexpected Turn on Safari; The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026; I Didn’t Expect the Best Bass Fishing of My Trip to Happen at Disney World.

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

Gear Reviews

Costa’s Pilothouse PRO sunglasses use a semi-rimless design to open up your field of view. Here’s how they perform on the water.

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

Destinations

Discover bass fishing inside Walt Disney World, where Seven Seas Lagoon delivered some of the most surprising and productive fishing of our Florida trip.

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

Fly Fishing "The Madison" in Montana; Two ‘Mystery Baits’ of the Bassmaster Classic; Berkley Lab Series Baits Revealed.

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

Gear Reviews

This Mystery Tackle Box finesse kit is built for pressured bass. See what’s inside and why finesse fishing is more important than ever.

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

Bass Fishing

Two iconic brands, Busch Light and Bass Pro Shops, partner up to give anglers the best beer (in the coolest can!) to enjoy after a long day of fishing.

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.

Bass Fishing

Berkley lifts the curtain on its Lab Series baits after Dylan Nutt’s Bassmaster Classic reveal, including new minnows, worms, and scent tech.

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.

Bass Fishing

Dylan Nutt exposed Berkley’s unreleased Lab Series bait at the 2026 Bassmaster Classic. But a strange spiny lure—the Coike—was just as influential. Here’s what anglers need to know.

Bass Fishing

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

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

Bass Fishing

After riding along with Justin Hamner and Tucker Smith during the 2026 Bassmaster Classic, one thing became clear: even the best anglers can miss the cut.

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

Bass Fishing

The Hideup Coike — a strange spiny bait resembling a sea urchin — is quickly becoming one of the hottest bass lures in the country. Learn how anglers are rigging and fishing this unique bait.

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

Bass Fishing

Learn how to modify a flipping jig by trimming the weed guard, adjusting the skirt and sharpening the hook to improve hook penetration and land more largemouth bass.

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

Bass Fishing

A severe reaction years ago changed how I approach long days outdoors — and why MLF’s new OFF! partnership makes practical sense.

Fly Fishing

Bass don’t disappear in winter – they move. Here’s where to find them and how to catch them on a fly rod, when cold water changes everything.

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.

Bass Fishing

The 2026 iKon Tailgate Tour features four Southeast qualifiers with $10,000 payouts and a no-entry-fee championship for non-pro anglers.

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.

Bass Fishing

Losing bass on a jighead minnow? These three subtle adjustments with casting distance, leader length, and rod action boost landing percentage.