In late fall of 1988, B.A.S.S. held an Invitational on Bull Shoals Reservoir. I remember it clearly. It was one of my best showings to date, early in my career.Gary Klein won the event by shaking a...
Bernie Schultz has mastered the art of professional fishing, and he’s picked up a few valuable pieces along the way. Spoiler alert — both statements address the literal as well as the figurative...
My first real introduction to Guido Hibdon happened in the fall of 1984 — during the B.A.S.S. St. Johns River Invitational. Although I was familiar with his name and what he had accomplished to...
In part 1 of this column, I began the story of the “National Fresh Water Bass Tournament” that took place in 1928. Some history buffs believe it to be the first-ever, organized national bass...
Mention Daytona to any gearhead, and two monumental events immediately come to mind — Bike Week and Race Week.But for fishing tackle collectors with a different set of gears in mind, there is the...
Those of you following this column know that I have a keen interest in the history of our sport, especially when it involves vintage tackle. I love collecting and researching old lures, rods and...
Each year, pro anglers make a move to newer boats, but not always because we choose to. It’s more because we’re expected to.Our sponsors want us showcasing their latest products. That includes boat...
A few weeks ago, B.A.S.S. hosted a gathering of Bassmaster Elite Series pros at its headquarters in Birmingham, Ala. There were a few reasons for the meeting. The first was to welcome the...
When B.A.S.S. announced last season’s Elite Series schedule, I saw a huge opportunity. Nearly every venue played to my skill set. Some were repeat fisheries, others were new, yet all made me feel...
Kids love stuff. That’s a fact. And it’s a safe bet that any kid who likes fishing also likes the tackle that goes with it.Knowing that, why not take it a step further and introduce them to the...
For any angler, shopping for tackle should be a treat. There are so many new and exciting products out there to choose from — all promising to catch more fish. But for any product to become...
The longer I’m in this business, the more I realize it’s less about the fish and more about the people.Recently, I had the chance to catch up with several individuals who not only had a major...
I’ve been at this game a long time. Too long, perhaps.In that time, I’ve developed some strong opinions — some I’ll share, others I should probably keep to myself.After witnessing the departure of...
It’s 4 a.m. and you’re wide awake.It’s Day 3 of competition, but you’re not fishing. You’re going home. As you lie there — half-listening to the Weather Channel — you watch as your roommate...
It’s 3:45 a.m. and you’re wide awake … waiting for an alarm to sound.You don’t really need it. You never have. Probably through anxious anticipation, you always seem to wake before it’s time. ...
At 4 a.m. an alarm sounds. Time to get up!With sleep in your eyes, you stagger to the bathroom, wash your face, brush your teeth, then scan the room for anything you might need for the day.As you...
Adversity causes some men to break — others to break records. That’s going to be the story as the 2018 regular season comes to a close. With the cancelation of the Chesapeake Bay, that will...
As the Bassmaster Elite Series embarks on the eighth-but-should-have-been-ninth tournament of the 2018 Season, just about the whole field is fishing for something. Whether it’s the Toyota...