Bassmaster

The definition of the word “rookie” is simply someone who’s new — and for many years, B.A.S.S. used that basic interpretation to decide which anglers were labeled rookies on the Bassmaster Elite Series. If a guy was fishing the Elites this year who w

Talk to us about growing up in Coalgate. What was that like? It’s really small-town Oklahoma. My family has had a hardware store in Coalgate since the 1940s. It’s a small country town where you have to drive 30 minutes to find a Walmart or McDonald’s

Turn to page 32 to find out which baits Elite Series pros reach for to catch ’em in cold water. ■

It’s your turn to write a cutline for your favorite magazine. Follow B.A.S.S. on Instagram (@bass_nation) and comment with a clever caption on this cartoon that will be posted on our feed on Jan. 5, 2022. If your caption is chosen, it will be printed

Do line characteristics affect lure performance in cold water, and if so, what is the best choice for some of the techniques you use that time of year? Robert Smith, Carbondale, Ill. Cold water can cause all lines to stiffen a little, especially brai

Scott Martin can’t stand the cold. The Bassmaster Fishing 2022 cover star is an ace in hot weather. He was born for the humid, sun-soaked summers of central Florida and a life of scouring its byways for big bass. And while warm weather permeates most

FOCUS. AN INTENSE gaze beaming from the eye of the competitor. Peer across the bass fishing landscape and you’ll see dozens of thousand-yard stares in each field every weekend. They’re the mark of the competitors who are locked in, the men and women

$59.99 | purefishing.com • Ugly Stik now offers a spincast combo tough enough for almost any fish that bites• Rods feature the Clear Tip design for strength and sensitivity and Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless-steel guides and rubber shrink tube handles

MY PHONE SPRANG to life in the dark as a blue bubble illuminated the screen. “Look for my name at the top, bro.” The message was from Aaron Martens, and it came to me 12,000 feet above sea level on the slopes of Mount Whitney. Martens, of course, had

BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES veteran John Crews claims to be a die-hard junk fisherman who “doesn’t feel comfortable” unless he has 10 rods on his boat’s deck in a tournament. However, he relies on only three lures to find bass and deduce productive patte

WEATHER PARTICULARS CAN be tricky, but knowing when and where the whoppers do their dining provides a road map to success. We asked a handful of Bassmaster Elite Series anglers to share their best advice for finding a thrill in the chill. Here’s what

THE BASSMASTER KAYAK Series saw some incredibly close finishes over its six contests held in 2021, its second year of organizing national tournaments for kayak bass anglers. From bagging record-setting fish at a launch ramp, to a Bassmaster Classic c

Date: Jan. 18, 2021 Venue: Lake T, a small flatland reservoir Water: 40 to 42 degrees, clear to stained Weather: Sunny, high of 48 degrees Pro: Patrick Walters, 26, of Summerville, S.C. Walters fished on the University of South Carolina’s bass team t

FISHIN’ STIX BITE ALARM — Missed opportunities are a thing of the past thanks to the Bite Alarm from Fishin’ Stix. Available in black, pink, green, orange and yellow, this battery-operated device mounts directly to a fishing rod via the articulated c

PATRICK WALTERS LOVES it when the going gets tough. He’s in his element when his competitors are scratching their heads. “Figuring out the puzzle. Yeah, that’s the best part of bass fishing,” he says. Case in point: the November 2020 Toyota Texas Fes

Stuck. With four wheels in the water and Lake Murray lapping at his rocker panels, Bryan New was stuck at the boat ramp. The water was especially low that year, and his usual launch location had been fortified with a load of pea gravel at what should

EVERY BASSMASTER ELITE Series pro has a painful tale of a near-win, a total bomb or something in between where a key decision shifted outcomes one way or another. Within these tales, we find a rich harvest of techniques, tactics and timing that can h

Bass often become extremely lethargic as water temperatures reach their lowest point during the year, but that doesn’t mean they’re not catchable. Using a subtle lure like a small swimbait (2- to 4-inch range) in the early part of the year can produc

1 The iTrek MirageDrive GT with Kick-Up Fins, chair, rudder, pump and three-piece SUP paddle all fit in the iTrek 9 Ultralight’s rolling, soft-side suitcase. Not pictured are a repair kit and electric pump that also come standard and fit in the case.

Jake Whitaker Fairview, N.C. First move: When bright skies and high pressure dominate the scene, Whitaker always looks for heat-holding rock structure. Bluffs are his preference, but rocky bottom with brush also works. Baits/tackle to use: For bluffs

The sight of a bass in midair, particularly when you’re trying to secure the biggest win of your career, would be enough to make most anglers a little weak in the knees. But Wisconsin pro Caleb Kuphall stood up straight and tall to land this sailing