Roster announced for 2025 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour season

 

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced today the roster of 66 pros who will compete on the Bass Pro tour in 2025, the seventh season of professional bass fishing’s premier tournament circuit. Offering the highest payout in professional bass fishing, the Bass Pro Tour will award $150,000 to the winner of each Bass Pro Tour regular season event – 50% more than any other league – plus $100,000 to the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year in 2025. The season will kick off Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 at Lake Conroe in Conroe, Texas. 

Full payout tables for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For the first time in Bass Pro Tour history, the full field will compete simultaneously in the Qualifying Round on days one and two. From there, top anglers will advance to the Knockout Round on day three and ultimately the Championship Round on day four. Every day of catch, weigh, immediate-release competition will be broadcast live on MLFNOW! and streamed to MajorLeagueFishing.com, the Major League Fishing app, and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble platforms.

“It’s always one of our most anticipated announcements every season – when we unveil the anglers who will be competing for the sport’s top prizes on the Bass Pro Tour,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Major League Fishing. “We’re looking forward to kicking off our 2025 Bass Pro Tour season in just a few short months at Lake Conroe. The 2025 roster is a fantastic mix of anglers and the race to qualify for REDCREST, Heavy Hitters and the 2026 Bass Pro Tour is going to be more exciting than ever.”

FIND YOUR FAVUORITE ANGLER BELOW

Marine Batteries: How to Stay Positive!

 

GET MORE LIFE OUT OF YOUR MARINE BATTERIES

Marine trolling motor and cranking batteries can be a frustrating subject for many anglers. Overcharging. Undercharging, Neither are good.

We're here to make it simple for you. This short article breaks down some of the most important things to consider when it comes to marine battery maintenance and 8 tips for extending the lifespan of your marine batteries.

Charge after every use and allow the battery to receive a full charge   Avoid high voltage fast charging cycles - Stick to recommended voltage requirements and unplug immediately after the charge is complete OR see the next tip.   Don't over-or under-charge - Over or under-charging can shorten the overall life of your batteries. Find out how to apply a safe and fast charge.   Avoid storing in very cold or hot temperatures - Bring your batteries inside over winter when your boat is in a non-heated storage area.   See the remaining tips and recommendations - Keep your batteries fresh for the 2025 fishing season.

For more information link over to MINN KOTA

Up-Grades to the Abu Garcia Veritas Rods and Combos

 

Abu Garica's best-selling rod for freshwater bass fishing just got a major upgrade

Offering anglers features and benefits normally seen in rods priced above the $200 mark, the new Veritas rods are crafted with Abu Garcia’s Powerlux technology, strengthening the blank and increasing resistance from breaks or fractures while also eliminating unwanted weight. The 30-ton graphite blank helps ensure a light and sensitive feel, the split grip EVA grips and ABU-designed full contact reel seat offer added sensitivity and maximum comfort for long days on the water. Also offered in two rod lengths for both the baitcast and spinning combo configurations, the Abu Garcia Veritas combos include an updated 10+1 bearing system in both options.

KEY FEATURES – RODS 24/30 Ton graphite with Powerlux 100 resin ABU designed reel seat Split grip EVA grips Available in 41 different skus MSRP: $99.95 - $149.95

KEY FEATURES – BAITCAST COMBO 10 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing Graphite frame and side plates Carbon Matrix drag system Duragear brass gear Infini brake system Compact bent handle and star Lube port MSRP: $299.95

Bassmaster Elites no longer pay to play

 B.A.S.S. has announced the no-entry-fee 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series to put professional bass fishing's highest level of competition on par with other major sports.

Professional bass fishing will never be the same. Ever. That’s a huge statement. In this case, it’s true. B.A.S.S. just announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series, heading into its 20th season, will no longer require entry fees. Yes, you heard that correctly. In 2025, competitors of the most prestigious tournament trail on the planet, for the first time ever in the history of B.A.S.S. competition, will no longer fish for their own money. No longer are Elite Series pros required to pay to play.

 

This historic decision was not made lightly. B.A.S.S. has long believed that the ultimate goal of the organization’s highest level of competition should be on par with other individual professional sports, like golf and tennis, which do not require pros to pay entry fees to compete. However, on the heels of record-breaking viewership of Bassmaster LIVE on FOX networks and Bassmaster.com, paired with strong long-term partnerships, this ultimate goal has been realized.

 

“We have been looking at this model for quite some time,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “But, we wanted to make sure that when we flip this switch, which we believe will change the face of professional bass fishing, that the concept is sustainable for the future. For the past several months, we’ve done our due diligence and came to the realization that, with the money we planned to allocate to payouts in 2025, we could offer attractive payouts without putting angler money at risk. This change greatly reduces the risk and financial strain required to compete at bass fishing’s highest level. Now, the Elite Series is in a league of its own, and the only league equivalent to other major individual sports.”

PAYOUTS BELOW

Drop Shotting with Shin Fukae: Selecting the best main lines and hooks for your fishing

 

Shin Fukae is one of the very best on the MLF Bass Pro Tour, FLW Tour and BASSMASTER Opens. He can credit much of his success to the drop shot rig. Heck, he qualified for the Bassmaster Classic with a win using a drop shot. Listen to how Shin sets up this gear and his top baits.

Ever Green's New DVX-18

 Ever Green stitches together crankbait and jerkbait body parts to create the monster of all hardbaits, the new DXV-18.

From the cosmos of fishing, Ever Green’s new DXV-18 – part of the DD X-Over family – is a beautifully engineered crossover lure, merging the body shape and actions of a crankbait and jerkbait. Created in collaboration with Bassmaster Elite favorite, Morizo Shimizu, the resulting “Frankenstein bait” strikes mortal fear in deep ranging bass. 

A larger and advanced diving bill sends the DXV-18 to 18-feet, even deeper with lighter braided lines. The bill’s unique curvature promises a quick plunge and straight run on the retrieve, too. The bill design also accommodates the snapping action associated with hard jerkbaits. 

B.A.S.S. announces schedule for enhanced 2025 Bassmaster Opens season

 B.A.S.S. officials have announced the schedule for the revamped 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN season.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials have announced the schedule for the revamped 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, and the schedule features eight events — including some vintage tournament stops for the organization — across two divisions.

For 2025, Opens anglers placing in the Top 50 in each division’s Angler of the Year race will advance to the Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series. This stand-alone series will feature three events, spanning from September through November, where anglers will compete to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series. The Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers series schedule will be released at a later date.

Barricade Hoody: New from Striker!

 

Barricade Hoody: The Barricade Hoody is designed for anglers seeking superior warmth, protection, and convenience in cool-to-cold weather. Made from a durable fabric blend of 95% Polyester and 5% Spandex (330gsm), this hoody features PFC-free DWR treatment for reliable water resistance. The integrated facemask offers optimal face protection and can be conveniently stored inside the hood when not in use. For added safety, a killswitch cord loop is fixed to the waist, while a hidden zippered pocket and pouch hand pockets provide secure storage for essentials. The adjustable hood cinch ensures a snug fit during high-speed activities, and the soft fleece interior delivers incredible warmth and comfort. With reflective details and a fit designed to layer over shirts, the 

Barricade Hoody is an essential choice for anglers navigating diverse conditions. MSRP: $59.99

Details:

• Fabric: 95% Polyester/5% Spandex – 330gsm
• DWR treated for water resistance
• Hand Pocket: Pouch
• Essentials Pocket: Zippered

 Striker Brands, a leading name in innovative fishing gear, is proud to introduce the Tournament Pant and Barricade Hoody. These new additions are designed to provide anglers with unmatched comfort and protection during long days on the water, no matter the conditions.

Bryant Smith Wins 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open!

Spencer Shuffield Finishes Second, Martin DeHaven Tops AAA Division

WON BASS Press Release

LAUGHLIN, Nev. – October 16, 2024 –– The first two days of the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury had proven to be the shootout that was predicted.  As the 172-boat field ventured out on to the waters of Lake Mohave in Laughlin, Nev. for Championship Wednesday less than two pounds separated the day two leader Bryant Smith (43.84 pounds) and second place pro, Kyle Grover (41.88 pounds), the defending Champion.

Like most events, the one thing that is a certainty is that once the field gets accustomed to the conditions, they will change.  The first two days featured barely a breath of wind, and the water’s surface resembled a mirror.  The final day brought winds in in the 10 mile per hour range which added a wrinkle to the narrative of the event.

The question remained as to which of would be able to maintain the quality results they had to date, or would they fall to the hard charging efforts of pros like third place pro Spencer Shuffield (40.99 pounds), fourth place pro Josh Bertrand (40.16 pounds) or fifth place Julius Mazy (40.03 pounds).

The answer to that question would be Smith.  The Roseville, Calif. pro bagged 20.90 pound of Lake Mohave smallmouth bass to push his final weight to 64.74 pounds to earn the top prize of a fully rigged 2024 Ranger Z520R powered by a Mercury ProXS 250 equipped with Lowrance Electronics, Bioenno Lithium Batteries, Power Pole Charge, Megaware Keelguard and DD26 Accessories valued at more than $90,000.  Along with the Ranger / Mercury prize boat, the $70,000 winner’s share of the payout brings his total package to $160,000.