Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Bassmaster

1 April Fools’ Day. Plan accordingly and, as always, remain vigilant. 2 Autism Awareness Day. Pay a visit to Autismanglers.org and learn how fishing can benefit those on the autism spectrum. 16 National Banana Day. Dare to buck the old fairy tales and bring a healthy snack on board. 22 April Showers Day. A day to inventory your outerwear and replace those worn-out rain bibs. 26 National Pretzel Day. Take a hint and finally respool that forgotten baitcaster with the backlash in your garage.…

Mountain Home welcomes the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Norfork Lake presented by SEVIIN April 3-5. Between Bull Shoals and Norfork lakes, the city is one of the nation’s premier outposts for anglers plying the highland reservoirs of one of its most ancient mountain ranges. Grab a pint at Rapp’s Barren Brewing Co., caffeinate at The Rabbit Hole Coffeehouse and Brew or dine on fried catfish at Skipper’s Restaurant. 41,307 Metropolitan population of Mountain Home 7-15 Weight of a record spotted bass caught on Bull Shoals in 1983…

It’s your turn to write a cutline for your favorite magazine. Follow B.A.S.S. on Facebook (@bass) and Instagram (@bass_nation) and comment with a clever caption on this cartoon that will be posted on our feed on March 28, 2025. If your caption is chosen, it will be printed in an upcoming issue. Last Month’s Post Last Month’s Caption Winner: “She said, ‘Here’s your one chance, Fancy, don’t let me down.’” @findingfish906…

TELL SOMEONE A Bassmaster Elite Series angler caught spawning bass around docks and snarky responses might follow — such lines as: “Yeah, and water’s wet.” Well, the title doesn’t always summarize the movie and, when it comes to spawners, there’s plenty of room for oddities, anomalies and downright “you cannot be serious” moments. John Cox, the shallow-water Jedi with a nose for bedding bass, has seen countless by-the-books scenarios, but one of his most atypically memorable encounters involved, yep — dock fishing. The scene was Lake Travis, and low water levels had rendered much of the shallow habitat unusable. As he worked a line of docks with a spinnerbait, a bass dashed after the bait and then raced back to the boat lift. Moving closer to investigate, Cox saw the…

YES, BILL LOWEN did, in fact, turn on his Humminbird MEGA Live 2 forward-facing sonar unit during his victory in February at the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. But all the folks who spout social media nonsense about live technology these days are going to be disappointed. Turns out, he used the unit only as … a depthfinder. That’s right. He didn’t use it to identify bass and cast straight at them. He didn’t use it to chase fish for hundreds of yards down a stretch of bank. He used it simply to see how deep the water was. Go figure. That’s gotta be a bummer for all the anti-FFS Swifties who were anxious to pounce about how fishing has been ruined and blah-blah-blah. Some might…

Florida’s waters are home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country, but they’re also facing the growing threat of non-native, invasive fish species. These exotics, introduced through various means, are outcompeting native fish and altering aquatic habitats. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is enlisting the help of recreational anglers in an effort to control them. Kelly Gestring, senior non-native fish and wildlife biologist for the FWC, says invasive species, including peacock bass and bullseye snakeheads, exhibit aggressive behaviors that make them thrilling sportfish. Anglers have discovered that targeting these species provides an exciting challenge while also serving a vital conservation purpose. The FWC encourages recreational anglers to participate in controlling invasive fish populations by actively fishing for these species. Reducing their numbers alleviates pressure…

The first Legacy Class Toyota ShareLunker of 2025 came from O.H. Ivie, the reigning lake champion in Texas the past four seasons. Brady Stanford of Millersview reeled in a 13.13-pound ShareLunker in January to kick off the collection season on just its second day. O.H. Ivie has amassed 53 Legacy Class ShareLunkers over the past five collection seasons, with Stanford’s being No. 54. “The new Toyota ShareLunker season sparks excitement as anglers hope to catch a trophy bass and contribute to Texas’ world-class fisheries,” said Natalie Goldstrohm, Toyota ShareLunker program coordinator. “We’re eager to see what fish are caught and what milestones are achieved this year.” Stanford fished with his father in the morning but stayed on the lake on his own for the afternoon, checking a few different spots…

Barbara Harris Great job Bill Lowen! Fishing the Ohio River really does prepare you for fishing anywhere! Way to go! Ernest Gilley So glad Mr. Bill got the win. love the old school fishing. FFS is fun but Bill is a true legend of the true bass fishermen. Duke Bevard Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving angler. Love how he’s thinking of the kids and getting them into fishing. Jeff Miller What an amazing win Bill, and congratulations to all who made the cut on Sunday it was definitely a grind out there. Jay it was nice to see you Representing Wisconsin on the Yeti seat for a little bit only a few ounces separated you from taking it all. Congratulations to all.…

How should a bass boater drive past a kayak angler? @realdiehlfishing, Instagram We turned to kayak angler and former Bassmaster columnist Dave Mull for answers. Not only is he a kayaker, but he’s spent plenty of time in a bass boat. Mull says wake boats produce much scarier events, but kayaks usually can ride over those, too. “Kudos to the angler who posed this question and shows concern for us knuckleheads in our plastic boats,” Mull says. “Most kayaks can handle bass boat wakes. A kayak will capsize because of a wake, but it’s rare.” But there is the matter of respect — just as there would be if you were passing another fiberglass or aluminum fishing boat. “The golden rule applies; don’t rock a kayaker’s world if it can…

THEY’RE THE HYPE man and the headliner, the cheerleaders and the 11 helmets, the appetizer and the main course. They’re here to stay, and calling blueback herring both a blessing and a curse is no exaggeration. Scientifically known as Alosa aestivalis, these nimble nomads widely dispersed throughout Savannah River reservoirs and a few other fisheries, like South Carolina’s Lake Murray, originate from their anadromous kin, which inhabit nearshore waters from Florida to Nova Scotia. In normal settings, bluebacks spawn in coastal rivers and spend the rest of their year in marine habitat. Through incidental as well as unauthorized intentional introductions, these meaty baitfish now thrive in some of South Carolina and Georgia’s top fisheries. Stockings have brought bluebacks out to Texas and up to New York, but for this discussion,…

BASS FISHING WOULD never be the same. That sums up the most profound event to occur in the tournament sphere since June 5, 1967. On that date, Ray Scott’s All-American, the forerunner of the eventual Bassmaster Tournament Trail, proclaimed the beginning of modern-day tournament angling. Thirty-eight years later, on March 9, 2006, history was made again when the Bassmaster Elite Series debuted at Lake Amistad, Texas. The Elite Series promised a smaller field, bigger payouts, more events and expectations for the pioneering 106 anglers to set new standards for professionalism. Success came early and bigger than expected. Indeed, bass fishing has never been the same. Now in its 20th season, the positive influences of the Elite Series in just two decades reaches far and wide. Elevating bass fishing to a…

  TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, WILL Davis Jr. began his fishing career twice, but not quite the way it sounds. In a truer sense, the Sylacauga, Ala., angler’s career today in the Elite Series at age 32 is a mirror of how he fished when he was 10 years old: the same lakes, same lures and exactly the same technique. As a youngster, Davis began fishing team tournaments with his father, William Davis Sr., founder and owner of the nationally known Davis Bait Co. in Sylacauga. Their home water was Lay Lake on the Coosa River, and their favorite, and most productive, technique was throwing heavy spinnerbaits into the current produced by power generation at the Logan Martin Dam. They caught a lot of bass. Jump forward to Nov. 11, 2022, and move…

I REMEMBER THE first time I met Brandon Palaniuk. Even at 23 years old, he still had the boyish look of someone who had yet to pick up a razor. The year was 2011 and we were both on the bus driving to the Champion’s Toast after Kevin VanDam had secured his fourth Bassmaster Classic title, this time on the Louisiana Delta. That New Orleans event was Palaniuk’s first Classic. He had qualified through the B.A.S.S. Nation. Nobody knew his name. Pair that with the fact that he was from Idaho and had never fished against the best anglers in the world, it was safe to assume that nobody gave him a chance in hell to do well. But everyone was wrong. The kid finished in fourth place. On that…

The Elite Series year is really just getting fired up. With this year’s schedule, what locations excite you the most? I’m super-excited for this year’s schedule. When it hit, I was like, ‘Wow,’ because there are four rivers and another shallow-water event on it. I’m not bad-mouthing ’Scoping — I’m a full-on LiveScope guy — but I love rivers. So, for me, one that really stands out is the Albemarle Sound. I’ve prayed to have a Potomac or Chesapeake or James River tournament on the schedule while I’m in the Elite Series, and this is the closest I have gotten to that. It’s three hours from me. I think fans are excited about Albemarle, too, because it feels like a fresh destination. What should they know? There are stories of…

2-3 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma 3-5 St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN, Norfork Lake, Arkansas 9-11 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance, Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma 10-13 Bassmaster Elite, Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, North Carolina 16-18 St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN, Tombigbee River, Mississippi 23-25 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance, James River, Virginia 24-27 Bassmaster Elite, Lake Hartwell, South Carolina 26-27 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee 30-May 1 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Buggs Island Reservoir, Virginia…

Bob Cronen Maple Grove, Minn. Shep Perdue Mountain Brook, Ala. Kate Latty Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada Margot Easley Atlanta, Ga. Perseverance Pays Off Dear Bassmaster Magazine team, I’d like to share an inspiring story about our 13-year-old son Colin Bourne who is fishing for the first time this year. Recently, he participated in a tournament on Cherokee Lake, where many teams faced challenging conditions throughout the day. Despite the difficulties, our son never gave up. In the final 10 minutes before weigh-in, he hooked a fish that not only made a difference but put him and his teammate on the leaderboard. His determination and perseverance, especially as a first-year angler, is something we’re incredibly proud of. We hope this story inspires others, as it truly demonstrates the importance of persistence and never…

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. Staley Johnson Twin-Minn Lure Adam Boothe-Hanna, email $30 to $40 The Staley-Johnson Manufacturing Co. of Fort Wayne, Ind., sold Twin-Minn lures in the 1940s. The wooden lures were made to mimic two baitfish swimming together, and Staley-Johnson was among a half-dozen or so companies that made a similar “fish chasing a fish” design in that era. The Twin-Minn was advertised as available in at least nine color patterns. Drake’s Sea Bat Gary Nault, email $45 to $65 This unique wooden “Sea-Bat” bait was patented by Harry F. Drake of Milwaukee, Wis., in 1932. It was fitted with adjustable metal fins on each side…

ACTIVE ANGLER Timothy Dube has felt the frustration. He’s spent days, weeks and entire tournament seasons with an albatross hanging from his trolling motor shaft: the transducer of his Humminbird MEGA 360 unit. Essential in many waters but less useful in others, Humminbird Mega 360 is the proverbial yin to live sonar’s yang. Where live sonar provides a nearly first-person view of life underwater, MEGA 360 delivers a bird’s-eye view. Both have their uses. Both are indispensable for today’s serious tournament anglers. But sonar of any kind has to have a transducer, and the plunger-like silhouette of 360 units is especially prone to collecting vegetation. For most anglers, it’s an inconvenience that comes with the territory, but for Dube, there’s a quick fix thanks to a new piece of gear.…

FLATLY DISMISSING MAINSTREAM technological advancements usually amounts to little more than a lesson in futility. The world moves on, whether it fits our preferences or not. This, however, does not imply a complete trashing of the traditional. Hold on to that thought for a moment, because we’re going to hitch this wagon to the angling arts. Case in point: There was a day when townsfolk scoffed at those obnoxiously noisy motor carriages, largely because they were scaring the horses. Go figure. The whole car thing has really caught on, but vacation towns coast to coast still offer horseback riding tours. Drive your gas, diesel or electric vehicle to the parking lot, pay your fee and saddle up for a clippity-clopping ride over fields, hills or beaches. Here’s the point: While…

THE STORY OF how James Heddon began making and selling his now-famous fishing lures has been told countless times. It was a spring afternoon in 1898, as the story goes. Heddon, a Dowagiac, Mich., beekeeper and newspaper editor, whittled a piece of wood as he waited for a fishing companion at a mill pond east of town. When the friend arrived, he tossed the “plug” of wood into the water, where it made a slight splash. Before the concentric circles had fully settled, a bass struck furiously at the floating object. An idea was born that led to the development of topwater baits. It’s a wonderful story, but history has shown there were others of that era exploring the use of artificial wooden baits. More than a century later, it’s…

Water type: Southern reservoir Water temp: Upper 60s to low 70s Clarity: 6 inches to 3 feet Depth: 2 to 10 feet Structure: Rock, laydowns, stumps Cover: Docks, overhanging trees Forage: Shad, bluegill Weather: Cloudy, windy, with a late-season front approaching Wind/current: Calm morning with afternoon wind increasing Experts: A trio of Elite Series pros explain how they find prespawn movers 1 A NOT-SO-CLEAR PLAN David Gaston Sylacauga, Ala. First move: Gaston’s looking for prespawners in the backs of runouts and ditches, where they’ll often stage on treetops. “I’m usually going to look for a little dirtier water, because it heats up quicker and you get more big-fish bites,” Gaston said. “They’re feeling [their prey] more than seeing it.” Baits/tackle to use: For shallow areas, Gaston throws a squarebill in…