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Articles by Dustin Wilks
Power-Fishing Tactics Could Prevail At Eufaula
By MLF Communications Staff EUFAULA, Okla. – The MLF Bass Pro Tour is set to visit Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Okla. this week for the fourth event of the 2024 season. Competition days are Tuesday through Sunday. Greg Vinson of Wetumpka, Ala., who'll be among the 79 anglers competing, said he feels like the timing of the event is spot-on and this will be a tournament where the entire field will be able to fish their strengths.
Texas wardens seize equipment at Rayburn event
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced that its wardens seized more than $100,000 in stolen equipment after patrolling parking areas at the recent Sealy Outdoors Big Bass Clash event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Details of the operation are scarce at this point, but apparently no arrests have been made. For a local report, click here.
Strike King sets nationwide online tournament
Strike King Lure Company has announced a month-long digital tournament during May aimed at providing opportunities for anglers to win cash and prizes. Whether anglers are competing, practicing for a tournament or simply enjoying a day on the water, the Big Bass Challenge USA offers participants the opportunity to submit their catches online. By doing so, they stand a chance to claim a share of the prize pool comprised of cash and various other awards valued at more than $60,000.
MLF inks deal with supplement manufacturer
Major League Fishing announced that it's entered into a sponsorship agreement with nutritional supplement manufacturer REDCON1. The exclusive partnership comes on the heels of REDCON1’s February announcement that Hall of Fame two-sport athlete, Super Bowl champion and Division 1 college football head coach Deion Sanders had taken an ownership stake in the company.
bass fishing news, tips, tournament coverage
Who is, or was, the most influential figure in the history of organized bass fishing? Always the subject of debate, this topic comes up each time I visit with other industry veterans at tradeshows and tournament venues. My answer changes, or perhaps evolves, whenever I’m asked. History buffs will occasionally answer Dr. James Henshall, author of The Book of the Black Bass, the first volume known to be dedicated to the subjects of bass and bass fishing.
Surman, 64, Making A Run At Elite Qualification
By John Johnson BassFan Senior Editor A look at the ages of the anglers who comprise the current Top 10 on the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division points list shows that exactly half of them are 25 or younger. There's a couple in their 30s and two in their early 40s. And then there's 64-year-old Mike Surman. Surman, the Florida veteran who spent 27 years competing on the FLW Tour/MLF Pro Circuit, is in 4th place in the EQ standings after three of the nine events.
Rankings: Wheeler adds a bunch more cushion
Jacob Wheeler's lead atop the BassFan World Rankings has increased to 38 points following his latest MLF Bass Pro Tour victory earlier this month. Meanwhile, both Johnston brothers have entered the Top 10. To see the full list, click here.
Balog: Who were the greatest influencers?
In this week's edition of Balog's Bass War, Joe Balog writes about the people who've had the greatest influence on bass fishing. Ray Scott, of course, heads the list and there are some other nationally known names on it, but we should also take the time to acknowledge those who impacted us on a personal basis. To read the column, click here.
New poll: How would you vote on future of FFS?
You've probably heard by now that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources included a question about the use of forward-facing sonar as part of its annual Spring Hearings. What if your state actually put a measure on the ballot and allowed voters to decide the issue? Which option would you choose? To vote, return to the home page and scroll down (the poll is on the right-hand side). After you've voted, click here to tell us about your choice.
MLF, MillerTech renew and expand deal
Major League Fishing (MLF) and lithium battery manufacturer MillerTech announced today a renewed and expanded partnership through the 2024 season. In addition to being an official sponsor of the 2024 Bass Pro Tour, MillerTech has been named the title sponsor of the event at Oklahoma's Lake Eufaula, set for April 30-May 5.
Take Full Advantage Of The Baitfish Spawns
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan (Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs four times per week on the Sportsman Channel – 6 a.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. Sunday and 4:30 a.m. Monday (all times EST).
Nordbye edges Ebare at KY Lake Invitational
CALVERT CITY, Ky. – Leading with 22 pounds, 12 ounces after Day 1 of the MLF Invitational on Kentucky Lake, Andrew Nordbye of Guntersville, Ala., took a step back to second on Day 2 and could have continued the slide. Instead, he sacked up the biggest bag of the final day — 21-14, including a near 6-pounder — to earn the win Sunday. With a 63-5 total, Nordbye finished almost a pound ahead of Brookeland, Texas’ Dakota Ebare and earned $80,000 and a berth to REDCREST 2025.
Three killer March bass patterns
During March bass are all about one thing — stuffing their stomachs with as much food as possible before they spawn. Three distinctive patterns — points, flats, and shallow cover — come into play throughout the month as largemouths eat anything and everything to build strength for the spawning season. First, the standard “point” (an extension of land into a lake’s body of water that has sloping sides and gets deeper the farther from the shore) is always a good place to look for bass.
Dustin Wilks, Author at Carolina Sportsman
During the hottest part of the year, it is often best to stick with the air conditioning, watch fishing shows and ready your gear for the fall, but when the urge hits you and you just gotta go, one great option is to fish at night. […]
Palaniuk Pops 19-07 To Grab Early Lead At Lay
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. – Benefitting from a quick start, Brandon Palaniuk claimed the Day-1 lead Thursday in the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lay Lake with a 19-pound, 7-ounce limit of largemouth. Palaniuk has no idea if he can come close to repeating that performance. But for now, the Rathdrum, Idaho, resident holds an 11-ounce lead over South Carolina’s Bryan New and a 2-pound lead over North Carolina’s Matt Arey.
Jail, fines, boat forfeiture for walleye cheaters
Thursday, May 11, 2023 The two men who pleaded guilty in a much-publicized case of cheating in a walleye tournament at Lake Erie last fall have received sentences from an Ohio court that consist of jail time, fines and forfeiture of a boat. For a report from a Cleveland media outlet, click here.
Shad spawn, ledges will be keys at Eufaula
The MLF Toyota Series visits Eufaula, Ala. this week for a Southern Division event at Lake Eufaula. Competition got under way today and runs through Saturday. “We had an early spring, so a lot of fish spawned early,” said Bass Pro Tour pro Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala.. “But it’s been a cooler latter part of spring, so I think that’s kept some fish still in the shallows.
Frogs and falling water at stingy Lay Lake
(Editor's note: This short feature comes from Alan McGuckin at Dynamic Sponsorships.) Bassmaster Elite Series pros are facing their biggest challenge of the 2023 season thus far in the Whataburger-sponsored event that began today on Lay Lake in Alabama. The 12,000-surface acre Coosa River impoundment simply isn’t a hawg factory like Okeechobee, Seminole, Murray or Santee Cooper, and with water levels falling slightly, the challenge gets even bigger.
Balog: Simple things that are indispensable
Thursday, May 11, 2023 There are a few things that Joe Balog never leaves home without when he's headed for the water – some that help him catch more fish and others that just make the day more enjoyable. He discusses five of them in this week's edition of Balog's Bass War. To read the column, click here.
Postspawn Bite At Lay Should Be Strong
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Temperatures are warming up around central Alabama just in time for the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lay Lake, and for Sylacauga, Ala., rookie Will Davis Jr., that means the bass on the Coosa River impoundment should be feeding up after a tough spawning season. “It is setting up to be a catch-fest, I believe,” Davis said. Although it has hosted four Bassmaster Classics, this will be the first Elite Series tournament ever on Lay Lake.
College Championship headed to Pickwick
The 2023 national championship for the Bassmaster College Series will be decided on the waters of Pickwick Lake, Tennessee. The 2023 Bassmaster College National Championship will head to Counce, Tenn., Aug. 10-12.
The Joy Of Fishing With Unlimited Power
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan (Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs five times per week on the Sportsman Channel Ė 2 p.m. ET Sunday, 4:30 a.m. Monday, 6 a.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier provides BassFans with additional insight about each episode in these submissions.) Wouldnít it be nice to have unlimited power for your trolling motor?
Lay Lake loaded with memories for Swindle
(Editor's note: Alan McGuckin of Dynamic Sponsorships submitted this feature.) Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle sat on the front deck of his boat at iconic Beeswax Boat Ramp after a long day of practice Tuesday. He wore a heartfelt grin as he recounted 30 years of treasured memories on Lay Lake, one after another, like the steady flow of the Coosa River behind him.
Poche's disqualification from Open upheld
B.A.S.S. issued a press release today announcing that Keith Poche's disqualification at last month's Bassmaster Open on Toledo Bend Reservoir will stand. The entirety of the release is reprinted below in italics. B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, after an extensive investigation and appeals process, Keith Poche's Day-1 catch disqualification from last month's Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend has been upheld.
Schmitt Figures Things Out To Lead Day 1
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff Put Bryan Schmitt on a grassy river and he’s a happy man, even when a little meteorological meddling requires an adjustment. Such was the case, as the Potomac River stick from Deale, Md., overcame a water quality issue and caught a limit of 17 pounds, 10 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at the Mississippi River, out of La Crosse, Wis. “It was a blessed day; I almost missed it,” Schmitt said.
Much At Stake In Elite Series Finale At La Crosse
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff “Big” will be a relative term, but the season-ending Bassmaster Elite Series event at the Mississippi River promises plenty of angling intrigue, as 90 pro anglers square off against one of the nation’s most storied waterways. Competition days will be today through Monday with daily takeoffs from Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse, Wis.
Bass-themed slot game ready to hit casinos
Thursday, August 25, 2022 A company called Red Tiger, which manufactures gambling software, has announced the launch of a slot game called Bass Boss (which incidentally was the title of a biography of late B.A.S.S. founder Ray Scott). A press release describes Bass Boss as "a high volatility game of five reels and four rows. Fish symbols each hold a monetary value, which will add to the winnable prizes of win lines." For a little more info, click here.
Chalk Talk: Deep cranking with Combs
(Editor's note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.) Texas pro Keith Combs has made a living on his obsessive need to find and conquer offshore schools of bass. He lives with his face buried in his Humminbird Helix units and loves to hop up and fire a deep-diving plug at the groups he finds, particularly after the shad spawn. “Those post-spawn schools are big schools,” he said.
Crochet raises big bucks to stock F1 fish
While many anglers were enjoying the late-July, post-ICAST lull before events started back up, MLF Bass Pro Tour angler Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., was hard at work. On July 28, at the St. Joseph the Worker Church Hall in Pierre Part, Crochet held the inaugural Every Fish Matters! fundraiser banquet. Crochet’s goal was simple – to raise funds to purchase F1 largemouth bass fingerlings to stock in 2023 into the Atchafalaya Basin and Lake Verret.
Arey talks frogs, family, and whitetails in La Crosse
(Editor's note: Here's another quick feature from Alan McGuckin at Dynamic Sponsorships) Team Toyota’s Matt Arey is the kind of guy you’d want for a college roommate. Goal-focused, spiritually grounded, a great sense of humor and willing to call time out to share a plate of cheese curds along with Wisconsin’s most famous farmhouse ale, Spotted Cow. Those traits have him sitting solidly in the Top 20 of the Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race on the eve of this season’s final event.
USA Bass seeks volunteer captains, marshals
Thursday, August 25, 2022 USA Bass is in need of some boat captains and marshals for the 2022 XVI Black Bass World Championship, which will take place in October at Lake Murray in South Carolina. The event will feature teams from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. For more information, click here.
Tournament angler hooks ancient fossil
Thursday, August 25, 2022 Nebraska resident Andy Moore didn't catch much that he could take to the scale during a recent tournament on the Missouri River, but he did hook a fossil estimated to be 90 million years old that'll go on display at a visitor's center in his home state. To read more, click here.
Nina Wood dies at 90
Thursday, August 25, 2022 Nina Wood, who co-founded Ranger Boats along with her husband Forrest Wood, has died at age 90. Her marriage to Forrest, which spanned nearly seven decades before his death in February 2020, produced four daughters, 11 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson. For more, click here.
Balog: An angling destiny fulfilled
Thursday, August 25, 2022 The son of a highly successful pro bass fisherman, Spencer Shuffield adopted a dramatically different style than his father when he entered the pro ranks. After clearing some major off-the-water roadblocks, he finally achieved what long seemed to be his destiny with his recent victory at the MLF Pro Circuit TITLE Championship. To read the newest edition of Balog's Bass War, click here.
Vista announces closing of Simms acquisition
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 Vista Outdoor Inc., the parent company of 41 brands in the outdoor sector, announced that its acquisition of Montana-based Simms Fishing Products is complete. The purchase price was $192.5 million. For more details, click here.
Students from 22 states set for combine
When the Bassmaster High School Combine kicks off on Sept. 16, 100 gifted anglers from 22 states will have the opportunity to showcase their talents for a host of college coaches and earn college scholarships. The three-day event will be held on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala. The inaugural High School Combine in 2021 generated more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers.
Lester the cutman
(Editor's note: Here's another quick feature from Alan McGuckin at Dynamic Sponsorships.) Boxing’s “cutmen” are responsible for managing a fighter’s lacerations during a match to help him continue competing effectively, but on the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series, no other angler has made more “cuts” than Team Toyota’s Brandon Lester.
Try These 2 Patterns For The Hottest Time Of Year
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan (Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs at 6:30 a.m. on Sundays and at 3, 7 and 11 p.m. on Mondays on the World Fishing Network. The six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier writes about various aspects of the sport in these periodic submissions.) With all the pro tournaments headed up north in late summer, not much current information is out there for the rest of us stuck in the heat.
Missouri offers prizes for 'Smallmouth Slam'
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance have teamed up to offer anglers the "Smallmouth Slam." Participants can win pins and medallions by catching bronzebacks from at least six of the state's 12 Special Management Areas. For more, click here.
St. Croix tabs new product manager
Rod manufacturer St. Croix announced the hiring of Robert Woods as product manager. A passionate angler hailing from southeast Wisconsin, Woods graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and has spent the past eight years at Wells Vehicle Electronics in Fond du Lac. “St. Croix’s continued growth is driven solely by our mission of making anglers better on the water,” said St. Croix VP of Marketing, Jesse Simpkins.
Report: 52 million Americans fished last year
Fifty-two million Americans age 6 and older went fishing in 2021, according to preliminary data from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation's (RBFF) 2022 Special Report on Fishing. Down slightly from 2020, fishing participation exceeded 50 million for the second time in 14 years, posting gains over 2019 and supporting a six-year upward trend. "We were all hoping to hit our goal of 60 million anglers by 2021.
Pickwick guide Mason makes predictions
(Editor's note: This submission comes from Alan McGuckin at Dynamic Sponsorships.) Jimmy Mason holds a college degree in electrical engineering, but now spends 200 days a year as a bass fishing guide on the Tennessee River. He says conditions are wired perfectly for a very successful Bassmaster Elite Series event this week on the 43,000-acre Pickwick Lake, where Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi kiss one another. What can fans look forward to most this week?
Balog: Kehde's fascinating obsession
Thursday, June 2, 2022 Ned Kehde has been obsessed with catching bass using finesse tactics for half a century and the vast majority of us have benefited from his dedication to the pursuit. Joe Balog conducted an interview with him recently and filled 11 pages with notes as Kehde continually expounded upon the concepts he's unearthed during his many days on the water. To read the this week's edition of Balog's Bass War, click here.
Ledges Will Draw Crowds At Pickwick
By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff Brock Mosley didn’t grow up fishing Pickwick Lake, but it’s where he learned how to fish, so to speak. “When I was (at East Mississippi Community College) I was only an hour and a half away from Pickwick,” the 33-year-old Elite Series pro from Collinsville, Miss., said. “It was my first chance to fish something other than a shallow mudhole.
'Tricky' Hamilton Awaits All-American Anglers
By MLF Communications Staff The 39th annual BFL All-American Championship gets under way this week on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark. The three-day tournament (Thursday through Saturday), hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs, will showcase some the nation’s best weekend anglers and awards the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000.
Table Rock to host Bonus Bucks event
The 11th annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event will be held at Table Rock Lake in southwest Missouri the weekend of Oct. 15-16, 2022, and once again one lucky attendee will win a new 2022 Toyota Tundra in a random drawing. There’s no entry fee, but pack your crankbaits if you plan to attend, because lures featuring diving bills took home the win on the rocky, 64-year-old reservoir at both the 2018 and 2021 Bonus Bucks events held there.
For Deep Water, Try Wine With Blue Flake
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan (Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs five times per week on Sportsman Channel – 2 p.m. ET Sunday, 4:30 a.m. Monday, 6 a.m. Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier writes about various aspects of the sport in these periodic submissions.) One of the first things I do for summer is get stocked up on big plastic worms, specifically the 10-inch Culprit Original, my No. 1 summer plastic.
For Deep Water, Try Wine With Blue Flake
By Dustin Wilks Special to BassFan (Editor's note: "Catching Bass with Dustin Wilks" airs five times per week on Sportsman Channel – 2 p.m. ET Sunday, 4:30 a.m. Monday, 6 a.m. Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The six-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier writes about various aspects of the sport in these periodic submissions.) One of the first things I do for summer is get stocked up on big plastic worms, specifically the 10-inch Culprit Original, my No. 1 summer plastic.
Cox Will Stick To 2 Trails In '22
Photo: MLF/Jody White A victory in the MLF Pro Circuit event at Lewis Smith Lake was the highlight of John Cox's three-tour campaign in 2021. By John Johnson BassFan Senior Editor John Cox didn't find the three-tour schedule he fished in 2020 to be overwhelming at all and he hopes to do it again at some point. He won't attempt it this year, though – there are just too many overlapping dates on the schedules.
Becker gets sponsorship with FishUSA
MLF Pro Circuit competitor Matt Becker has entered into a sponsorship agreement with online retailer FishUSA. "I'm super-pumped to be partnering with Fish USA; they are quickly becoming a staple in the bass fishing market," Becker said. "With a huge inventory, super-fast shipping and great prices they are now my one-stop shop for all things bass fishing.
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