April 2024

Bassmaster

The Worldwide Authority on Bass Fishing

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Bassmaster
Editor-in-Chief: James Hall Executive Editor: Bryan Brasher Managing Editor: Mandy Pascal Assistant Editor: Natalie Landers Design and Photography Manager: Breanne Jackson Graphic Designer: LeeAlice Monroe Senior Writers: Steve Bowman, David A. Brown
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The Legacy Continues
There was some confusion on Lake Okeechobee during the St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN held there in early February. Anglers and media alike knew Scott Martin was fishing the event but couldn’t find him on the water. What they did see w
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Datebook
1 April Fools’ Day. The annual holiday where all anglers are invited to celebrate the legend of Ken Gomez. 5 National Dandelion Day. A reminder to stock up on braided line and terminal tackle needed for warm-weather fishing in the weeds. 12 Walk On Y
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Bass City, USA Leesburg, FLa.
Located about 50 minutes northwest of Orlando, the city of Leesburg is the official host of April’s Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain. A one-time home to legendary sharpshooter Annie Oakley, Leesburg is a modern-day hub for anglers loading in
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Lake Apopka Gets Hosed
The playing field at the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite on the Harris Chain could feel the direct effect of aquatic vegetation management practices this month. In Palatka, Fla., the St. Johns River Water Management District received a permit for and has g
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Mail Call
Brooklyn Strelow Oak Forest, Ill. Paul Zeytoonian Sudbury, Mass. Justin Gomes Nashville, Tenn. Becky Potter Winchester, Wis. This is my son Micah. When he was 6 years old, we’d fished for bluegill with a kid’s pole plenty of times. On a grocery run,
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On The Tournament Trail
3-5 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance, Arkansas River, Oklahoma 11-14 Lowrance Bassmaster Elite, Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida 13-14 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series scored by TourneyX, Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas 17-1
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Conservation
In January, the American Sportfishing Association spearheaded a first-of-its-kind meeting of federal agencies and members of the sportfishing community to discuss shared priorities and improve dialogue on fisheries management. Around 30 representativ
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You Write The Caption
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 14, 2024. If your caption is cho
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Facebook.com
The weather is shaping up to make this one a slaunch fest I wouldn’t be surprised to see the top 5 all over 100lbs Going to be some Monster bags caught in this one!! Best lake in the country right now! Lots good bass my favorite lake we live in Louis
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Twitter Poll
If you had to choose, which weather condition would you rather fish in? Turn to page 46 for clear tips on fishing muddy water, or flip ahead to page 56 for windy-day tactics. ■
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Trey McKinney
When did you know you were going to be an Elite? The last tournament of the year, I was down in Florida and I had a pretty good lead going into the last day. It was one of those tournaments where I knew all I probably had to do was catch one fish to
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Looking For The Line
I REMEMBER NOT so very long ago riding a little train within the giant golf ball ride in Disney’s Epcot theme park, thinking, “That’s never gonna happen.” The ride is called Spaceship Earth and it focuses, at least at the end, on future technology we
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Bass Boating
How do you pull up your Power-Poles if they won’t come up when pushing the button? This hasn’t happened to me yet, but I’m guessing that hydraulics can break? I just don’t want to get stuck! @abbyjanebassmom, Instagram Sometimes it’s not a malfunctio
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What’s It Worth
By ROB PAVEY 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. Deon Grandon, email $5 to $15 The Burke Flexo
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Eyeing The Spawn
WHILE APRIL MAY show a dwindling influence of spring’s temperamental tendencies, bass have spawning on their minds. Some are on their way up; some will be headed out; and, depending on the fishery, others will be sitting on those cleared-out hard spo
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Ins And Outs Of Structure
TECHNICALLY, STRUCTURE IS the same for every fisherman. The how, why and when they fish it can be very different. A complete analysis of every type of structure would require at least one very long shelf in your bass fishing library. Even there, you
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Rick Clunn By The Numbers
IF YOU’RE A sports fan, you know that statistics tell a story that cannot be told with even the purplest of prose or the highest of hyperbole. Sometimes, it takes raw numbers to properly capture an athlete’s performance and to explain how far, how fa
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Mudline Magic
THE FORMULA IS pretty simple: Water plus earth equals mud. But while the slippery substance is little more than a floor-tracking nuisance on terra firma, mud — specifically, mudlines — can have a significant impact on your bass fishing game. Rains an
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Scientific Angle
Shane LeHew never gave them a second thought. His constant companions on the road, at the gym and on the water, the simple pairs of cotton socks riding along between his feet and his shoes were absolutely an afterthought — until this year. Now, the v
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Near Misses
EVERY 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 help every an
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Stubbornly Successful
IN BASS FISHING, certain things are difficult if not impossible to teach. However, it doesn’t make them any less important. Quite the opposite. Without a guidebook or rules, they are often the critical elements less analyzed and more left to the mome
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Wind Chiming with Bass
“THE WIND IS your friend” is a common refrain among bass anglers. The basis for it is that bass are generally more inclined to feed when the wind blows. A choppy surface also confuses light penetration, which makes it harder for a bass to detect that
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Riverine Spawners
Water type: Current spawners on a Southern river Water temp: Upper 60s to low 70s Clarity: Zero to 1 foot Depth: 1 to 8 feet Structure: Rock, laydowns, stumps Cover: Docks, grass, overhanging trees Forage: Shad, bluegill, crawfish Weather: Mild, most
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Lunker Club
Congratulations to the newest members of the Bassmaster Lunker Club™. Membership in the club is free and open to any B.A.S.S. member who catches a largemouth bass weighing 10 pounds or more, a spotted bass weighing 5 pounds or more, or a smallmouth b
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Steve Kennedy Is Going Under Cover
Steve Kennedy knows what you are probably thinking. It’s April. The spawn is on. You’ve got to target those bed-bound bass. And, while generally speaking, April is one of the best months to target bass on beds throughout most of the United States, th
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New Face Of Hydrilla
AFTER SCOTT MARTIN’S record-breaking victory in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Okeechobee presented by SEVIIN, I called to chat with him for a few minutes about the impending crisis at Okeechobee. While things may look like they’ve never been
Bassmaster4 min read
High Water, Flippin’ Bushes
The springtime is notorious for bringing rain, which causes flooded water conditions on lakes across the country. This can be daunting, as the cover that bass can live in is multiplied by a large number. When these conditions strike, don’t be afraid
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It’s Still Fun!
Randall Tharp has been fishing competitively for more than 20 years. The 55-year-old Florida pro just recently found the fun in it again. He had been fishing in a different league since 2018 but decided to commit to fishing all nine St. Croix Bassmas

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