Bassmaster

Most successful pro anglers can look back and identify that one special moment when their careers officially took flight. For some, it takes some serious thought. For others, it’s just plain obvious. Wisconsin rookie Jay Przekurat’s moment will forev

First things first: Welcome back. You took some time off last year and were in the hospital. How does it feel to be back? Well, I’ve got what they call long COVID, so I still have no sense of smell and I don’t have all of my energy. My nose runs when

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 Aug. 24, 2022. If your caption is chosen, it will be printe

If you could fish any of the Best Bass Lakes divisions, which one would it be? Turn to page 18 to see which lakes made the cut and start planning your next fishing trip. ■

What are the three lures/rigs you will have on deck when fishing a smallmouth lake in the fall? Jeremy Allen, Portland, Maine Bassmaster Elite Series pro Keith Combs You will likely find a topwater, jerkbait and tube tied on my rods when fishing smal

AS PROJECTS FOR this magazine go, ranking the Top 100 lakes in the nation is by far our most ambitious. For over a decade now, we have sifted through the thousands of bass fisheries across the nation to bring to you the cream of the crop. We know mos

AS FALL’S ARRIVAL brings that potent combination of declining temperatures and shortening days, bass feel the internal signal to start packing on weight and readying themselves for winter’s approach. Five Bassmaster Elite Series anglers share their i

YEP, FEW FISH are more frustrating than smallmouth, which have a habit of shutting down or disappearing just when you think you have everything figured out. Seth Feider must agree. I had to chuckle when the 2021 Bassmaster Angler of the Year muttered

Date: Oct. 13, 2021 Venue: Lake T, a small flatland reservoir Water: 74 degrees, stained Weather: Partly cloudy to rainy, windy, high 82 degrees Pro: Wes Logan, 27, of Springville, Ala. Logan qualified for the Elite Series after claiming 2019 Angler

WEDDING RECEPTION, NEW Year’s Eve party, quinceañera — everyone’s dancing and having a big time, but suddenly the DJ loses power and everything pauses. Same thing happens in fishing when a phenomenon known as an Indian summer puts the brakes on fall’

The strike happens in an instant. The water ripples, its surface erupts and a bass swallows a frog. It is perhaps the most thrilling moment in bass fishing — a moment that Clifford Pirch remembers well. He’s felt that bite in tournaments in nearly ev

As summer winds down and the nights begin to get cooler and the fish start to migrate to the back of the creek, that means it’s time to think about getting in some skinny water with a balsa squarebill tied on. A squarebill made from balsa wood can be

Water type: Fall feeding frenzy on a highland reservoir Water temp: Mid- to upper 70s Clarity: 4 to 5 feet Depth: 12 to 25 feet Structure: Points, bluffs, channel swings Cover: Laydowns, overhanging trees Forage: Shad, bluegill Weather: Mostly sunny

Apartment-dwelling bass anglers can have trouble storing a kayak. A folding kayak they can store in a closet? They do exist. Inspired by the Japanese art of origami, Oru kayaks don’t come in a case — they are the case. The Coast XT, one of Oru’s 16-f

Sometimes you lose. You make a mistake. A fish breaks your line or shakes the hook at the boat, and it’s easy to identify why you lost. Other times, you just get beat. During the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River in July, Cory Jo