Bass Fishing

The craze of urchin-style bass baits launched at ICAST this past week make it no wonder this is our top 3: 2026 Urchin Bait Trend for Fly Fishing; Sold Out and Copied to Death: Bass Fishing's Wild Urchin Bait Craze; Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Fishing

Bass Fishing

The craze of urchin-style bass baits launched at ICAST this past week make it no wonder this is our top 3: 2026 Urchin Bait Trend for Fly Fishing; Sold Out and Copied to Death: Bass Fishing's Wild Urchin Bait Craze; Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Fishing

Recent Articles

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

Bass Fishing

Sold out everywhere and copied by every major bait maker — why bass fishing's urchin bait craze might be more than hype, and which one to actually throw.

Bass Fishing

The Coike urchin bait trend proves what fly anglers have known for years: subtle movement beats exact imitation. Here are some updated tying tips for Woolly Buggers and Pat’s Rubber Legs, plus presentations that deliver more bass on the fly.

Post-Mohs surgery. The bandage came off eventually. The sun protection protocol doesn't.

Bass Fishing

A longtime angler thought decades of sunscreen made him careful. A basal cell carcinoma diagnosis on his jawline said otherwise — and changed how he fishes.

Spending a day on the waters near Crystal River with longtime friend and Florida fishing legend Bernie Schultz reminded me that some of the best travel memories come from the people you share them with.

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.

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.

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.

Bass Fishing

How good is the lure selection in the Mystery Tackle Box Swimbait Sensation Bass Fishing Kit? Within ten minutes, the first bait I tied on hooked two big largemouth at the same time. Good baits!

The new Abu Garcia VoltiQ baitcast reel.

Gear Reviews

Abu Garcia’s new VoltiQ baitcast reels use electronic braking to reduce backlashes and improve casting distance. Justin Hoffman tested one on the water.

Guide Jacob Thomason with a barely hooked smallmouth bass from Lake Ontario.

Fly Fishing

The smallmouth bass bite is entering one of its best windows of the year. Rivers are warming, fish are active, and fly anglers from the Midwest to the Northeast have their hands full with one of the hardest-fighting fish in freshwater.

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

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

Sun hoodies are "can't-miss" finds for dads who love fishing. This is from the Magellan Jacob Wheeler collection.

Gear Reviews

Guys are notoriously hard to buy for, especially if they love to fish. If you're like my wife, you can appreciate your guy's passion for the sport, but have no confidence in picking out fishing gear as a gift. I'm here to help.

The right gear makes all the difference when you're shooting professional bass fishing's biggest events.

Gear Reviews

I used Sony's A1 II at the Bassmaster Classic and the A9 III at REDCREST. Here's which flagship mirrorless wins for fishing and outdoor photography.

Bass Fishing

The Bassmaster Elite Series Lost Two Anglers in One Day—A Reminder of How Fast Everything Can Change; Can a Luxury Ski Resort in Utah Also Be a Great Summer Fly Fishing Destination?; Randy Moss Has a 25-Year Bass Fishing Obsession Most Fans Never Knew

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

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.

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.