2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops Day 2: Ethan Fields Takes Lead!

With a two-day total of 55 pounds, 6 ounces, Ethan Fields moves into the Day 2 lead at the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops! 

David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

MANY, La. — On a day that seemed to defy consistency, Ethan Fields stayed on pace and moved atop the Day 2 leaderboard in the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops.

While many of the first day’s top performers struggled to reconnect with their first-round quality, the pro from Carlyle, Ill., backed up his opening limit of 28 pounds, 2 ounces with a Day 2 sack that went 27-4. With a two-day total of 55-6, Fields rose from fourth place to the top spot.

“I felt so calm today, which is kinda weird, because I was thinking about how I needed to back up yesterday,” Fields said. “This morning, I felt a little jittery but once I got to my area, I was calm and steady.”

Heading into Championship Friday with a lead of 3-6 over Riley Harris, Fields said his second day actually delivered a steadier flow than his first.

“Yesterday, it was a really slow morning and the afternoon was when it really turned on,” Fields said. “Today, I’d say it was a bite every hour, so I kinda pieced it together one by one. I never had any big flurries.”

Fields has done all of his work in a creek at the lake’s lower end. Clearly, his area fits the criteria for big bass making their fall transition and chasing bait schools.

“The first day of practice, I had 25 pounds in that creek; I didn’t go there the second day, but I went back to check it the last day of practice and had 32,” Fields said. “I had 28 yesterday and 27 today, so it’s a good spot.

2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops Day 1: Luke Palmer Leads!

Luke Palmer takes the Day 1 lead at the 2026 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend presented by Bass Pro Shops with a whopping 32 pounds, 14 ounces! 

David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

MANY, La. — Luke Palmer admitted he did not carry much optimism onto Toledo Bend Reservoir and his morning’s disappointing start deepened the despair. Thankfully, Palmer’s perseverance was rewarded with a massive limit of 32 pounds, 14 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier at Toledo Bend Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Clearly demonstrating why it’s consistently ranked among the nation’s top lakes, this Sabine River impoundment kicked out 29 limits over 20 pounds, 10 of which broke 25, including a trio of “Dirty 30s.” Heading into Day 2 with a 2-4 lead over Riley Harris, Palmer said he’s elated with the contrast between his practice and the tournament.

“My practice was horrendous; I was almost ready to pack up and head back home,” said the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Coalgate, Okla. “You never know with fishing. It changes every day and I just made the right moves today.

“I had some offshore stuff and they showed up. It was fun.”

Noting that his day’s final tally belied a round of early frustration, Palmer said his fortune changed at just the right moment.

“It was a struggle,” he said of his morning’s start. “It looks good on paper, but I lost my first three fish this morning and I was very frustrated.

“I caught a 7-pounder not too long after that and got the ball rolling. That was my first fish and I was just tickled to death to have her in the box. Everything I did today just went right.”

Palmer did his work in the lake’s lower end. He was mostly looking for bass that were following bait schools and he found good numbers of quality fish spread throughout his target zone.

“After that 7, I caught some 3-pounders with it, then I’d go a little farther and I caught a 6, then I went a little farther, and I caught another 6,” he said. “It was very random, but there’s a lot of fish there.

“There might not be (anything) there tomorrow. It’s one of those iffy things, but I have a few areas where I think I can at least go scrounge out a limit if I need to just to make the Top 10.”

Daiwa's XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 Expands!

 Premier 9-carrier architecture of XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 transitions from a specialized, metered braid to the ultimate all-purpose line

Last year, Japan’s legendary 9-strand line technology hit the market and immediately altered the high-end braid category. Built by craftsmen with a lineage tracing back to 1945, this advanced architecture gives serious anglers a weapon that stubbornly refuses to flatten under the most extreme loads.

While the original five-color metered version was a masterclass in depth tracking for deep jigging, trolling, and long-lining, the response from the angling community was immediate: We need FULLDRAG X9 for every style of fishing.

That demand has now been answered with the introduction of a requested, low-visibility solid: XBRAID FULLDRAG X9 in Marsh Green.

This new offering transitions the industry's most advanced 9-carrier configuration from a specialized deep-water and big-game tool into a premier crossover braid. This solid profile delivers maximum performance to every fishery. Bass anglers can punch heavy mats and skip docks with confidence. Inshore specialists can grind redfish out of shallow grass flats. Northwoods musky hunters get the absolute line integrity they demand. 

The planet's most advanced round-profile braid is now built for every scenario.

The Structural Reality Of Standard Braids

The average braided line is subjected to intense physics forces on the water. Under repeated heavy casting or the sustained pressure of a hard fight with big fish, standard configurations can flatten over time.

When a braid loses its round profile, it fundamentally changes how the line behaves. The line can fail to lay as smoothly or evenly on the reel spool, creating weak spots that encourage fraying. Friction increases dramatically as the flattened surface area rubs against rod guides and blanks during a cast. This increased friction ultimately restricts casting distance, robs the angler of accuracy, and creates excessive, scratchy noise through the guides. 

ZMan's Finesse Chatterbait

 Z-Man® Unveils Premium, Micro-Sized Bladed Jig 

Several years of testing with renowned Bait Finesse System (BFS) enthusiast Jimmy Ly helped refine the bait’s final form, but the focus of the design is simple: deliver reliable ChatterBait action in a smaller, more responsive package that excels with panfish, trout, bass, and other BFS and ultralight‑tackle targets.

"I began working on this project with Z-Man when I sat down with them at ICAST in 2023," said Ly. "The following fall, they sent me some new prototypes to test. We went through several iterations and changes and eventually landed on this model."

Micro Size, Major Performance The Micro Finesse ChatterBait bladed jig is built around a custom needlepoint black‑nickel hook that delivers the strength and sharpness most micro‑sized baits lack. A stamped stainless‑steel bait keeper with two sharp keeper points makes rigging simple, even with ElaZtech superplastics, and grips trailers firmly so they stay put through repeated strikes and multiple fish catches. Its compact stainless‑steel ChatterBlade® connects directly to the head and engages the moment the retrieve begins, producing immediate vibration without the need to pop the rod or accelerate the reel. The result is a small‑profile bladed jig that thumps hard, responds quickly, and appeals to everything from bluegill and crappie to stocked trout and pond bass. "It doesn't foul up on the retrieve, it begins working the second you start retrieving it, and most importantly, it gets bites," said Ly. "Anything under the sun, really. Trout, all sunfish species, bass, perch. Whatever you'd like to catch, this lure will do it."

Late Fall is Drop Shot Time: Time to Invest in a New Hook!

The new Nishine Lure Works DS drop shot hook is really something new. This new style of hook ensures baits run straight and swim naturally. You do have to use a specific knot but don't worry, it's easy to tie. Come along and learn all about the new
Nishine Lure Works DS Drop Shot Hook.

Expertly crafted with precision and innovation, the Nishine Lure Works DS Hook Drop Shot Hooks rely on a specialized construction that is enhanced for the Drop Shot technique. Unique from other drop shot hooks on the market, these feature a modified 90-degree bend that is purpose-built to be a platform for the Snell Knot with an elongated tag end. The Snell Knot and modified bend work in tandem to hold your favorite finesse plastic in a perfectly horizontal position to tempt the most lethargic fish into biting. In addition to their innovative bends, the Nishine Lure Works DS Hook Drop Shot Hooks also feature extended shanks that are longer that most traditional drop shot hooks. These longer shanks enable anglers to use slightly bigger finesse baits while simultaneously optimizing hook up ratios thanks to the wider gaps that hook fish deeper in the lip rather than the teeth. An exciting improvement to the productive Drop Shot rig, the Nishine Lure Works DS Hook Drop Shot Hooks will help you put more fish in the boat when the conditions are challenging.

Justin Kerr Wins the 2026 WON BASS US Open!

Sean Coffey Finishes in Second Place, Matthew Keats Wins AAA Division 

WON  BASS Press Release

VEGAS, Nev. – October 10, 2026 –– As reported earlier in the day, with Tropical Storm Rachel approaching through the Southern Border carrying unsafe conditions to Lake Mead, the National Park Service made the call to pull the day three permit for the event, resulting in the cancelation of the scheduled final day of the 2026 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury on Sunday.

That meant that Saturday’s competition would be the culminating day of the event.  With the most important bass fishing tournament in the Western United States now being a two-day event, the anglers knew there would be no holding back and they would have no choice but to step on the accelerator and catch everything they could.

Mesa, Ariz. pro Sean Coffey took his place in the Ranger Boats Hot Seat midway through the final weigh-in after climbing from his second-place position from the first day.  Coffey posted an 11.39-pound limit to bring his total weight to 26.22 pounds.  That weight would hold strong until the final angler to come to the scales at Calville Bay Marina.

That person was none other than 2008 U.S. Open Champion Justin Kerr from Lake Havasu City, Ariz. needed 13.34 pounds to take the lead, and when the scales tipped at 13.41, Kerr had won his second WON Bass U.S. Open title and the keys to a 2026 Ranger Z520R powered by a Mercury ProXS250 valued at $90,000 and a $70,000 cash prize.

Brandon Keuhl of Peoria, Ariz. finished third in the pro division with 25.64 pounds, he was followed by Jason Borofka of Lavon, Tex. in fourth place with 23.90 pounds while fifth place went to Hermie Romero of Boulder City, Nev. with 23.78 pounds.

Kerr said that he made the run to the Overton Arm and targeted clumps of Spiny Niad grass with a pair of lures.  “I caught six of my keepers on a Morning Dawn Baby Jackhammer and Bullpoint Shad as a trailer,” he said.  “I caught the rest of the keepers I weighed on a jig I tied with my mentor Aaron Martens years ago.  It was a handmade black and blue jig with a matching Rage Craw trailer.”

Kerr said his main stretch of grass was one he had to make multiple presentations to create strikes.  “I had one really good stretch of grass that I caught quite a few of my fish from that patch, but I had to make at least 25 casts to it to get bites,” he said.  “I had a good one chase my bait out today and miss my Jackhammer, I told my co-angler to throw in there quick, and our biggest fish of the day ate it.”

2027 Shootout Tournaments Schedule Announced

 

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

IBASSIN.com goes fall smallmouth fishing with fellow outdoor writer Don Sangster. It is Canadian Thanksgiving and we hope the smallmouth are eating more than turkey. Come along and check out how Luigi De Rose and Don Sangster figure out how to catch smallmouth from a deep, clear lake.

This is one of the original IBASSIN.com videos we shot over Thanksgiving. Cool nights and sunny afternoons can make fishing challenging if you don't get the timing down right. 

Minn Kota Unifies Technology and Brands into One!

Minn Kota integrates its fish finder technology, mapping, trolling motor system and precise boat positioning into one system titled Minn Kota. By integrating Talong, Minn Kota and Humminbird into one, anglers can expect easy compatibility and flawless total boat control. The heart of the system is the Minn Kota fish fishers and that deliver sonal and imaging building that developed over the last 40 plus years. For the angler, expect easy setup and use between screens, motor and Talon technology. 

Learn more here.