Bassmaster April 2025

If you’re a tournament bass angler, the city of floating lights present before the start of every competitive event should give you chills. Whether it’s a Bassmaster Elite Series event or a local jackpot tournament, those lights signify hours of preparation and boats filled with justifiable hope. During that brief on-the-water light show, every angler basking in the glow of those mandatory navigational bulbs has an equal chance to lift the trophy or grasp a cash-filled envelope marked “First Place.” It’s the only time of day when it’s not only acceptable, but mandatory, to have an empty livewell. For those who may have never won, it’s a time for camaraderie and coffee, lukewarm biscuits and spooling reels by flashlight, and, perhaps most of all, whopping, shameless lies. Not mean-spirited lies,…

YES, BILL LOWEN did, in fact, turn on his Humminbird MEGA Live 2 forward-facing sonar unit during his victory in February at the FXR Pro Fish Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River. But all the folks who spout social media nonsense about live technology these days are going to be disappointed. Turns out, he used the unit only as … a depthfinder. That’s right. He didn’t use it to identify bass and cast straight at them. He didn’t use it to chase fish for hundreds of yards down a stretch of bank. He used it simply to see how deep the water was. Go figure. That’s gotta be a bummer for all the anti-FFS Swifties who were anxious to pounce about how fishing has been ruined and blah-blah-blah. Some might…

The Elite Series year is really just getting fired up. With this year’s schedule, what locations excite you the most? I’m super-excited for this year’s schedule. When it hit, I was like, ‘Wow,’ because there are four rivers and another shallow-water event on it. I’m not bad-mouthing ’Scoping — I’m a full-on LiveScope guy — but I love rivers. So, for me, one that really stands out is the Albemarle Sound. I’ve prayed to have a Potomac or Chesapeake or James River tournament on the schedule while I’m in the Elite Series, and this is the closest I have gotten to that. It’s three hours from me. I think fans are excited about Albemarle, too, because it feels like a fresh destination. What should they know? There are stories of…

1 April Fools’ Day. Plan accordingly and, as always, remain vigilant. 2 Autism Awareness Day. Pay a visit to Autismanglers.org and learn how fishing can benefit those on the autism spectrum. 16 National Banana Day. Dare to buck the old fairy tales and bring a healthy snack on board. 22 April Showers Day. A day to inventory your outerwear and replace those worn-out rain bibs. 26 National Pretzel Day. Take a hint and finally respool that forgotten baitcaster with the backlash in your garage.…

Florida’s waters are home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the country, but they’re also facing the growing threat of non-native, invasive fish species. These exotics, introduced through various means, are outcompeting native fish and altering aquatic habitats. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is enlisting the help of recreational anglers in an effort to control them. Kelly Gestring, senior non-native fish and wildlife biologist for the FWC, says invasive species, including peacock bass and bullseye snakeheads, exhibit aggressive behaviors that make them thrilling sportfish. Anglers have discovered that targeting these species provides an exciting challenge while also serving a vital conservation purpose. The FWC encourages recreational anglers to participate in controlling invasive fish populations by actively fishing for these species. Reducing their numbers alleviates pressure…

2-3 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma 3-5 St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN, Norfork Lake, Arkansas 9-11 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance, Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma 10-13 Bassmaster Elite, Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound, North Carolina 16-18 St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN, Tombigbee River, Mississippi 23-25 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance, James River, Virginia 24-27 Bassmaster Elite, Lake Hartwell, South Carolina 26-27 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Tennessee 30-May 1 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Buggs Island Reservoir, Virginia…