July/August 2020

Bassmaster

The Worldwide Authority on Bass Fishing

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Bassmaster
Editor-in-Chief: James Hall Director of Design and Photography: Laurie Tisdale Executive Editor: Bryan Brasher Associate Editor: Mandy Pascal Editorial Assistant: Natalie Landers Designer: Breanne Jackson Senior Editor: Thomas Allen Senior Writers: D
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First Cast
When Elite Series pro Paul Mueller captured his second career win at the first event of the 2020 season during the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite on the St. Johns River, nobody considered him a showboat. This marked his second win in as many years, which is
Bassmaster2 min read
On The Hook
You’re well-known for being one of a handful of Canadian anglers on the Elite Series right now. Describe Canadian fishing culture for Americans who might not know much about the world north of the border. Believe it or not, in Canada we only have a t
Bassmaster3 min read
Upfront
“IF PEOPLE CONCENTRATED on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” Although this decades-old quote by American journalist Doug Larson was no doubt aimed at an overblown crisis of his day, there is a truth in thes
Bassmaster3 min read
Scientific Angle
Ed Loughran has built a career on technology. It’s part of how the 49-year-old Bassmaster Elite Series pro maintains an edge on a younger field. When new electronics come out, you can bet that Loughran is one of the first to master their uses. In 201
Bassmaster1 min read
Datebook
1 International Chicken Wing Day. Hone your grill skills in preparation for the big boom day around the corner. 4 Independence Day. The official holiday of freedom, barbecue and bass fishing. 13 Fool’s Paradise Day. The only fools with boats are the
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Tournament Trail
14-17 Bassmaster Elite, Cayuga Lake, New York 23-26 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite, St. Lawrence River, New York 30-August 2 Bassmaster Elite, Lake Champlain, New York 6-8 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open, Oneida Lake, New York 8 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassm
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Bass Fishing Hall of Fame
The 2020 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame class includes a gallery of men with deep ties to B.A.S.S. The late Bryan Kerchal was the first Bassmaster Classic champion to emerge directly from the B.A.S.S. Nation to the pinnacle of the sport by taking home the
Bassmaster1 min read
State Of The Nation
Earlier this year, B.A.S.S. Conservation honored three members with its highest awards. Barb Elliott of New York, Bill Frazier of North Carolina and Jake Davis of Tennessee were all three named Co-Conservation Directors of the Year. The awards were h
Bassmaster2 min read
You Ask, Pros Answer
What is the best all-around gear ratio for a baitcast reel?@Aidanlague67Instagram My suggestion would be a reel with around a 6.5:1 gear ratio. That’s something you can use for crankbaits and other baits. I use the Revo AL-F High Speed with an 8:1 ge
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What’s It Worth?
The images below were submitted by Bassmaster readers, and our antique tackle expert, Karl White, appraises the value of each unique find. To submit yours, email editorial@bassmaster.com. George Yezbak, email $50 Notched Shakespeare. $50 with box. $2
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Bass Boating
How can I get the most out of my trolling motor? Power? Speed? Stealth?Captain Kenny Wegner, Instagram Brad Henry of Minn Kota says the first thing is to make sure your motor is appropriately sized for your boat. If you’re uncertain, visit the Minn K
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Mail Call
I’m a B.A.S.S. Life Member, was born at Gettysburg, PA, almost 62 years ago, have lived nearby ever since. I’ve been a member of the Hub City Bassmasters since ’86, going on 34 years. I have missed one club tournament. My partner had a breakdown in h
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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 Instagram (@bass_nation) and comment with a clever caption on this cartoon that will be posted on our feed on June 29, 2020. If your caption is chosen, it will be printe
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Get Social
Had two good days this last week on Jordan Lake, NC. Ended up with 30 bass! Just wish everyone would go back to work so the lakes and ramps won’t be so full LOL.….Had a lot of fun throwing Lucky Craft baits, Freedom Lures & Deep Creek baits! Got out
Bassmaster16 min read
100 Best Bass Lakes-Best of the 2010’s
THIS ISSUE OF Bassmaster typically includes one of the most anticipated features in our sport: Bassmaster’s 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings. This list is created by collecting reams of tournament data from spring events to make the rankings timely and a
Bassmaster2 min read
Gear Grab
$59.95 | fishmonkeygloves.com Features: • The Stealth Dry-Tec gloves feature a new water-shedding exterior material.• They come standard with 40 grams of Thinsulate to cut through the chill of a saturated day, while still remaining lightweight and al
Bassmaster3 min read
Tokwe Mukosi: Africa's Up-And-Coming Trophy Bass Lake
TOKWE MUKOSI MAY be only 470 miles from home, but it took me five years to get there. The late Clive Harris, owner of Master Angler Tackle Store in Harare, Zimbabwe, told me about the remote waterway three years before it opened and suggested it woul
Bassmaster7 min read
The Colors of Night
CAN FISH DISTINGUISH colors at night? This is a question that has been argued back and forth for years with strong opinions on both sides, especially among nighttime spinnerbait aficionados. Some say just throw a dark bait with a black blade all the
Bassmaster5 min read
Pointing to Ledges
MAIN-LAKE POINTS AND river-channel ledges: Both provide everything bass need to survive the summer doldrums. Shallow and deep water, ambush points and cooler water come to mind. For a bass, there is no better place to be during the lazy days of summe
Bassmaster4 min read
A Bass’ Viewpoint
IT’S TOUGH TO beat the excitement of topwater fishing. The anticipation is nerve-wracking. The sometimes startling and often explosive strikes can make your heart skip a beat. And the better-than-average bass that these darting, popping, spitting and
Bassmaster6 min read
Find Current for the Hot Bite
IF IT’S SUMMERTIME, at least three things are predictable about how Bill Lowen will spend his time on the water. First, he’ll have three rods on the deck, rigged with a finesse jig, a squarebill crankbait and a compact 1/4-ounce spinnerbait. Second,
Bassmaster8 min read
DOTL: Gary Clouse [Summer]
Date: July 25, 2019 Venue: Lake K, a small flatland reservoir Water: 82 degrees, stained Weather: Sunny, high of 83 degrees Pro: Gary Clouse, 59, Winchester, Tenn. Clouse, an Elite Series sophomore, qualified through the Central Opens. He’s president
Bassmaster6 min read
Summer Of The Jerkbait
IT’S ONLY A guess, but if you could imagine Hank Cherry, Kelley Jaye and Jamie Hartman in their younger years, it might be easy to see them coloring outside the lines in their “Batman, Caped Crusader” coloring books. Not only would they be outside th
Bassmaster9 min read
Handle ‘Em in Heavy Cover
IT’S BASS FISHING’S version of urban warfare — going “door to door,” shaking things up and extracting the high-value targets wherever you find them. It’s often a rough-and-tumble deal, but forethought and precision also factor into mission success. W
Bassmaster4 min read
Bass Basics
As if the wide array of lure styles on the market weren’t enough to confuse novice bass fishermen, the task of lure selection is further complicated by the seemingly endless palette of colors that each bait comes in. This input from Bassmaster Elite
Bassmaster5 min read
Pattern Of The Month
While everyone else is offshore, you can have success by going shallow You don’t win on the Bassmaster Elite Series without being versatile, and veteran pro Chad Morgenthaler has a summer strategy that could separate you from the pack when the going
Bassmaster1 min read
Bass Yak
Keep your most-used terminal tackle stuck to your plastic boat’s sidewalls in a couple of waterproof tackle trays. A pack of heavy-duty Velcro and some alcohol for prepping surfaces are all you need for this simple project that saves you from rooting
Bassmaster1 min read
Lunker Club
To request an application, write to editorial@bassmaster.com or B.A.S.S., The Lunker Club, 3500 Blue Lake Drive, Suite 330, Birmingham, AL 35243. A photo documenting the catch must be provided, along with the length and girth of the bass. Only suitab
Bassmaster2 min read
Back Deck
FOR THE MOMENT, we still have more important issues to ponder. Health issues. Economic issues. The issue of finally cranking up the tournament schedule again after the longest unplanned layoff in B.A.S.S. history. It’s a lot to worry about. A lot to
Bassmaster3 min read
Triple Threat
Use one of these three approaches to heat up your summer fishing Water type: Dog days on a grassy Southern lake Water temp: Upper 80s to low 90s Clarity: 1 to 2 feet Depth: 3 to 30 feet Structure: Offshore breaks, rocks, bridges Cover: Shallow grass,
Bassmaster1 min read
Down Boy!
This image was captured on Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite on the St. Johns River. That day, Elite Series pro Kelley Jaye led the pack with 21 pounds, 7 ounces. The fish heading skyward was an important part of that limit, which ended up being th

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