Innehållsförteckning för Classic Preview 2025 från Bassmaster

Wildlife Forever and Yamaha Rightwaters are sponsoring a fishing photo contest with an unusual twist. Through March 31, anglers are encouraged to “Catch, Kiss, & Cook” invasive species of bighead, black, silver and grass carp. “It’s a fun challenge. And our goal is to inspire anglers, chefs, influencers and everyday citizens alike to help protect our waters,” says Zach Burnside, Wildlife Forever’s invasive species program manager. Recent efforts to increase commercial harvest of invasive carp are ongoing but have not yet become profitable. By encouraging everyday anglers to catch and remove carp from fisheries, conservation organizations hope to raise awareness for the issue and remove some carp from non-native waters. To enter the contest, anglers are asked to use hashtag #CatchKissCook on social media for a chance to win fishing…

The illegal stocking of Alabama bass into non-native waters is one of the most serious conservation issues facing bass anglers in 2025, according to B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland. Gilliland — who serves as a constant liaison between tournament anglers, state agencies, B.A.S.S., the American Sportfishing Association and private enterprises — says the Alabama bass stockings are a “disaster in the making.” “These stockings threaten populations of both smallmouth and largemouth bass by introducing a species that outcompetes and easily hybridizes with other bass,” says Gilliland. “These hybrid species eliminate native species from those systems, resulting in a stunted, slow-growing mix of genetic ‘mutts.’” Gilliland says a more concerted, widely publicized effort to educate anglers about the ecological impact of moving fish around is sorely needed. Consider this step one.…

The images below were submitted by Bassmaster readers, and our antique tackle expert, Rob Pavey, appraises the value of each fascinating find. To submit yours, email editorial@bassmaster.com. Johnny Walker Spin/Cast reel Noah Thompson, email $5 to $10 Johnny Walker reels were made in Japan and imported by Walker International of Detroit in the ’60s and ’70s. The product line included spinning, casting and fly reels, along with rods and other tackle. The reels were likely made by Olympic Fishing Tackle Co. of Japan. Despite a similar name, the company is unrelated to Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky. Pflueger line spools unused in box Nicholas Schaffer Walker, email $5 to $10 Founded as Enterprise Manufacturing Co. by Earnest A. Pflueger in 1880, Pflueger tackle company of Akron, Ohio, was one of the…

ACTIVE ANGLER A white tentacle reaches upward from an orange icon on Mark Menendez’s iPhone. The button conjures images of the kraken, an 18th-century Scandinavian sea monster rumored to scuttle ships sailing between Norway and Iceland. In pop culture today, the kraken might be more notable as Seattle’s new NHL team or a bottle of rum. But Elite Series pro Menendez says the modern-day sea monster lurking on his phone’s hard drive is an essential passenger on every fishing trip. BLUE-COLLAR BREAKDOWN Menendez’s kraken doesn’t conjure Viking myths. Instead, it unlocks Power-Pole’s C-Monster app, a smartphone utility that monitors his boat’s batteries and other marine electronics. With the swipe of a screen, Menendez is able to pull a visual from his Power-Pole CHARGE Marine Power Manager and diagnose how much…

  WHICH JERKBAIT WILL play most in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour? That’s a good question that will be addressed on an ongoing broader scale in a new series introduced by Bassmaster and Bassmaster.com. Called “The DeBait,” two Bassmaster Elite Series pros square off and debate a common topic, from baits to tactics and more. Each DeBaiter weighs in on his preferences and why those are better — or not — than the other’s opposing views. In the end, you get to decide based on your own style and preference of angling. You can even settle the score by casting a vote in a poll on Bassmaster.com. Bass fishing’s world championship will play out in north Texas on Lake Ray Roberts in mid-March. Given…

I WAS SITTING at my desk inside The Birmingham News on the afternoon of Dec. 13, 1994, when I heard outdoors writer Mike Bolton sit back in his chair and mumble what sounded like some mild profanity. After a few seconds of silence, he then said, very much out loud, “There’s no justice in the world. Bryan Kerchal just died in a plane crash.” I thought for a second he might be joking. But then I realized that even one of the most naturally funny people I’ve ever known wouldn’t joke about something so terrible. Kerchal had, in fact, died. Just five months after doing what many thought could never be done — after winning the Bassmaster Classic as an amateur Federation qualifier — Kerchal was gone. He would never…

Situated just west of the Outer Banks, the charming Inner Banks town of Elizabeth City plays host to the first Elite Series tournament after the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour — the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River. Translated from Carolina Algonquian, “Pasquotank” means “where the current forks,” and it’s here where pro anglers will put together the puzzle of shifting tides in the river and the adjoining Albemarle Sound April 10-13. 2025 marks the first time B.A.S.S. has visited the Inner Banks for a major tournament since the 1981 North Carolina Invitational. In Elizabeth City, known as the “Harbor of Hospitality,” a lively waterfront joins arms with a bustling local art scene, breweries and coffee shops to offer B.A.S.S. fans one of the most…

Joey Hasan Round Lake, N.Y. Colton Freemire Clifton Park, N.Y. Faith Carruth Fort Worth, Texas Mariah Carruth Fort Worth, Texas Teaching The Next Generation To whom it may concern, I have been a “Super Fan” of Bassmaster for many years and absolutely love my monthly subscriptions — thank you! Meanwhile, I thought I would share this cool shot of my 6-year-old granddaughter Annalisa Fikany bringing in a largemouth at our lake house up north in Michigan on Perch Lake. Catch and release always!! I am all about teaching all ages different techniques from the shore before they can get on the boat. Thank you to all the pros and Bassmaster family for sharing such great tips and stories all year long. Bless you all! Joseph A. Fikany St. Clair Shores,…

FORT WORTH When news dropped that the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour was coming back to Fort Worth, a tangible excitement spread across the Bassmaster offices. It’s been four years since the historic 2021 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Ray Roberts. Anglers may remember it best for a mid-June shootout on Lake Ray Roberts that saw Hank Cherry make history as a back-to-back champion. In the staff offices, though, the 2021 event is also fondly remembered for an endless collection of in-house jokes, laughs and memories made in Fort Worth itself. In one of the bass fishing industry’s first family reunions of the COVID-19 era, the Bassmaster staff might have taken the assignment of exploring Fort Worth’s nightlife a little too seriously. And while that experiment…

Building The New COMPETITIVE ANGLERS DON’T typically treat change kindly. New technology, new rules, new formats … all are usually looked at with a furrowed brow and downward slant toward the corner of the mouth. Better the devil you know, right? Well, as our Greek philosopher friend Heraclitus was fond of saying, the only constant is change. And for 2025, some sweeping changes to the competitive landscape of Bassmaster tournaments were implemented. In the past, the organization would likely have rolled out these changes over several years, slowly tugging at the Band-Aid until the desired outcome was eventually revealed. Today’s B.A.S.S. moves faster and has a vision of what the ladder of success should look like for anglers who desire to climb. The overhaul starts with the Bassmaster Opens. Last…

Do you think qualifying for the Elite Series carries extra meaning when you’re from the very heart of B.A.S.S. country? The direct answer is yes, but the explanation is because you go up against so many people that are so competitive. The tournament scene is so big here, and there are so many guys that have tried to qualify and don’t make it. In Alabama, you have a whole community around you that supports you, and you don’t want to let anybody down. When you started fishing the Bassmaster Opens, who was around you that really helped? I talked to Josh Stracner and Justin Hamner, but after them, I had a group of people I would call my true friends. I’ve made a bunch of friends in the fishing industry…

Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries. Up to two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded by the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee in summer 2025 to honor the late former B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Noreen Clough. Clough rose to one of the most prominent positions in sportfishing from a clerical desk in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) during the 1970s. In doing so, she became a trailblazer for countless women to follow and left a heavyweight impact on recreational fishing. Clough’s career spanned projects from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Southeast. She worked in an array of leadership positions within USFWS in Washington, D.C., as a regional director, deputy director and deputy assistant director.…

Rockin Ron Denslow Jr. A 6 Point Buck Swam across a Pond to get away from our Hunting Party once!!! Ben Cortez On my favorite lake to fish in the foothills of California I have seen a bobcat, deer, pigs, rattlesnakes, and even tiny freshwater jellyfish swimming. Zack Holiskey Watched a black bear chase a fawn into the upper end of Youghiogheny Dam. The fawn swam right to me, and the big bear just sighed and mozied back into the woods. Rick Seabaugh I saw an armadillo swimming lake fork several years back. Cory Bowers A mink in the middle of a 2.5 mile crossing with food for it’s family…

What is a mistake that all new boat owners make, and how do they fix it? @21h, Instagram Skeeter Boats Brand Manager Chris Brown says the biggest mistake is not developing a routine between the time you leave the house with your boat and the time you get home. “Since most of us weekend warriors only get to fish weekends, establishing a routine or system when heading out gives you peace of mind,” he says. “For example, I take responsibility for hooking up the trailer [and] securing the hitch pin, safety cable and trailer plug.” He also walks around the rig to make sure the tires look good, trailer lights work, all straps are in place and that the steering stops and motor support on his Yamaha outboard are secure.…

THIS MAY BE the youngest field of anglers to ever fish a Classic, and many of them have embraced forward-facing sonar. Will technology determine the winner or will an angler who relies on old-school tactics prevail? The diverse fishermen who have qualified for this edition of bass fishing’s premier tournament make picking the winner more challenging than ever. Whether they qualified through the Elite Series, the Elite Qualifiers division of the Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation, Team Championship or the College Series, each one has proven their angling prowess. Whoever wins the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Lake Ray Roberts presented by Under Armour will likely be arm-weary after lugging heavy limits of bass to the scale. This Texas reservoir is known for yielding 30-pound sacks of prespawn bass…

Water type: Southern grass lake Water temp: Upper 60s Clarity: 1 to 2 feet Depth: 4 to 12 feet Structure: Hydrilla, milfoil, pads Cover: Docks, overhanging trees Forage: Shad, bluegill Weather: Bright bluebird conditions Wind/current: Calm morning with light afternoon breeze Experts: A trio of Elite Series pros explain how they take on a postfrontal prespawn day 1 DON’T “DITCH” THE PLAN Chris Johnston Otonabee, Canada First move: Noting the severe impact of cold fronts on Southern bass fisheries, Johnston said he’ll be looking for the fallback spots, like a deeper-water zone adjacent to the spawning flat. “If they’re spawning 2 to 3 feet deep on the edges of hydrilla and there’s a ditch that drops into 4 to 5 feet, they’re going to be on that break,” Johnston said.…