The sun was threatening the pines that lined the little East Texas lake. My host for the afternoon, Troy Cooper of New London, suggested we hit an area out of the stiff wind that was persisting. It wasn’t long until a stocky 4 ½-pound bass snatched a bream-colored swim bait, boiling the shallow water next to the protected bank. As ...Full Story

For most of us, a day on the water is filled with a range of excitement. There is the constant anticipation with every cast that a big bite is only moments away, the exhilaration of adrenaline and joy when you land that big fish, and the emotional high that results from a load of keepers in your live well! With ...Full Story

Picking the right life jacket is a very important task. It is imperative that life jackets be chosen based on the proper fit for your size . Do not to confuse age with size. After speaking with Missouri Conservation Agent Ron Kelley it was apparent that many people he encounters are wearing the wrong size of jacket. There are many ...Full Story

Seeing a fish react to your offering is perhaps the most exciting experience in fishing. Whether it’s a group of tailing bonefish or a muskie stalking a bait back to the boat, little else elevates the angler’s heart rate like seeing it all happen. Bass fishermen get their opportunity for this visual experience in most lakes in the country as ...Full Story

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mike McClelland has always been a stickler for details. “I’ve always been accused of being a perfectionist,” McClelland explained. “Even before I got into fishing, I was in a paint-and-wall-covering contracting business, and everything we did I just always put on the final touches. I kind of take that same approach to the baits that I ...Full Story

Editor’s note: Our colleague, Tim Tucker, was killed in an automobile accident on July 16. We have lost a great friend and the fishing world has lost one of its most talented and passionate advocates. We will miss him. There is a weird kind of bass-fishing hibernation that occurs each summer throughout the country. Not with the fish, but with ...Full Story