Cody Stahl Wins St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Mississippi River; Mc Garry 9th!

Cody Stahl claims the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Mississippi River presented by SEVIIN with a three-day total weighing 53 pounds, 1 ounce. 

By David A Brown

BASS Press Release

LA CROSSE, Wis. — At Thursday’s tournament commencement, Cody Stahl was one of 213 pros in the hunt. Two days prior, a completely different hunt gave him the clues he needed to amass a three-day total of 53 pounds, 1 ounce and win the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Mississippi River presented by SEVIIN.

Placing 29th on Day 1 with 15-09, Stahl added a second-round limit of 18-0 and moved up to fifth. Day 3 saw the pro from Barnsville, Ga., weigh 19-8 — the event’s biggest bag — and edge Day 2 leader Chris Hellebuyck by 10 ounces.

Along with the top prize of $40,607, Stahl received an invitation to fish the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts.

“I’m speechless,” a clearly emotional Stahl said. “To start the season out with a 187th place at Lake Okeechobee, I didn’t think I deserved to be here and compete with these guys. After all the years of hard work and time on the water, it feels good to finally bring one home. I feel like I belong here.

“It’s been a phenomenal week. I never would have thought this would happen.”

As Stahl explained, his tournament unfolded much differently than he had originally planned. Upon arriving, he decided he’d avoid the often-crowded Pool 8 and lock up to Pool 7.

Peanut Bunker Jigging Spoon

 

Thundermist Lures isn't well know for great bass lures but they sure have some. This YouTube sensation offers some great baits that are ideal for deep water fishing like Great Lakes smallmouth or spotted bass.

See the new Thundermist Peanut Bunker Jigging Spoon. Check them out at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmz-NT1dtjcVzigo8PylDBw

MLF announces forward-facing sonar rules for 2025

New MLF rules embrace forward-facing and 360-degree sonar while protecting traditional tournament fishing

BENTON, Ky. – Major League Fishing announced Friday updates to its 2025 rules that will allow tournament anglers to utilize the fish-catching power of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar technology while preserving traditional fishing techniques enjoyed by millions of anglers and fans. 

Starting in 2025, all boats, across all MLF circuits, will be limited to two forward-facing or 360-degree sonar transducers in any combination. Additionally, no bow-mounted screen may extend vertically more than 18 inches off the surface of the front deck at its highest point when the boat is on plane, and no screen mounted at the console may extend vertically more than 16 inches off the top of the steering column where it protrudes from the console. 

Pros competing on the 2025 Bass Pro Tour will be allowed to use forward-facing and 360-degree sonar for only one of three periods each day. Anglers will declare their use of the technologies before the start of the period of their choice, and fans watching on MLFNOW! will see an indicator on SCORETRACKER® next to each angler’s name showing who is actively using the technologies, has used them or still has them available. This rule applies to all seven regular-season Bass Pro Tour stages and REDCREST 2025. There will be no restrictions in the General Tire Heavy Hitters or General Tire Team Series, where anglers compete out of similarly equipped, league-provided boats that level the playing field. Use of forward-facing and 360-degree sonar will be permitted during practice.

2025 BASS Elite Schedule Announced

 

The opener visits St. Johns River in Palatka, Fla., Feb. 20-23. In 2024, a four-day total of 93 pounds, 6 ounces gave Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, a winning margin of 21-2 over Texan Brad Whatley. Of note, Johnston’s Day 3 total — 73-13 — would have edged Whatley’s tournament total of 72-4 by 1-9.

The Elites will travel south to Okeechobee, Fla., Feb. 27-March 2 to return to Lake Okeechobee, which covers 730 square miles and has an average depth of only 9 feet. Louisiana pro Tyler Rivet called his win in 2023 on Day 1 of the competition. Rivet coaxed a four-day total of 86 pounds, 15 ounces from the largest freshwater lake in Florida by throwing a jerkbait and punching mats and grass.

From Okeechobee, Elite anglers will take a break from the Elite trail for the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas, March 21-23.

B.A.S.S. announces technology standardization for Elite Series, Classic

Technology Standards: FFS reduction, trolling motor restrictions and total inches enforcement

By Luigi De Rose

The controversy has been at fever pitch throughout the 2024 Bassmaster Elite season and now Bassmaster has made their ruling.  Consider the new standards for the 2025 B.A.S.S. Elites and 2025 BASSMASTER CLASSIC more of a compromise than a ban. The overall focus is to standardize technology to ensure anglers compete under a more level or equal playing field. 

Here are the highlights to the new rules for B.A.S.S. Elite and Classic anglers:

1. Only 1 Live, Forward Facing Sonar Unit per boat and it must be mounted to the bow trolling motor. 

2. Only 1 trolling motor per boat. 

3. A total of 55 inches of screen (bow and dash unit heads) per boat.

4. Providing more diversity in venues for B.A.S.S. Elite events. 

Click for the full press release

The National Professional Fishing League Bans Live Sonar for 2025!

Starting with the 2025 season, the NPFL will prohibit the use of real-time imaging units (FFS).

By Luigi De Rose

There always has to be someone to go first and The National Professional Fishing League has announced the outlaw Forward Facing Sonar (FFS) for the 2025 season. Speculation has been running white hot on the future of FFS. Debates have raged for the last few years and many cite the BASS allowing Elite anglers unlimited electronics on their rig a tipping point. 

Love it or hate it, the NPFL has made their decision. The NPFL states 4 main areas of concern with FFS and they openly accept that technology cannot be bridled nor that every stakeholder will be happy. They envision this restriction as a professional judgment that will ensure the purity of the sport such as no aluminum bats in the Major Leagues or restrictions in motor racing. 

Will other tournament organizations follow? Time will tell. 

Here is the link to the full NPFL press release. 

Heavy Neko Rig: The Easiest Way to Fish Matted Grass

Fishing matted grass needs the correct tackle. But, what happens when you're not comfortable using a magnum bullet weight and punching rig? Look no further than a heavy spinning rod and reel spooled with braided line and a beefed up neko rig.

Check out this video and learn how to break through the heavy cover without using the big rod.

Neko rigged senko style worm with braid is a great solution if you know how to rig up for monster bass.

Easton Fothergill Wins St. Croix Open at Leech Lake Presented by Seviin; Carl Jocumsen Advances to Classic!

By Andrew Canulette 

BASS Press Release

WALKER, Minn. — The major storyline heading into the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN was that the global bass-fishing community would get its first look at what’s heralded as one of the sport’s best, yet relatively unknown, fisheries.

Everyone watching, meanwhile, already knew that Easton Fothergill is one of the best young anglers on the water today.

The two forces collided during a spectacular two-day derby in northern Minnesota this week, and both shined under pressure — Leech as host of its first B.A.S.S. tournament and Fothergill as the young prodigy looking to make hay on home water.

The 22-year-old Fothergill, a Grand Rapids, Minn., native who grew up 30 minutes from Leech Lake, bagged a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49 pounds, 13 ounces and clinched the tournament championship Saturday at Walker Public Dock. He collected $45,936 cash with the win, part of a $300,034 purse split among the Top 45 of 203 pros competing at Leech this week.

The victory at Leech continued a hot streak not often seen at any level of professional fishing. In the past 10 months and change, Fothergill won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’son Kansas’ Milford Lake last October, finished 16th of 56 anglers in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in March, and followed with his first St. Croix Bassmaster Opens win of the year in June on Lake Eufaula, also in the Sooner State.

The Legendary Rick Clunn Retires for BASS Elite tournaments after 50 years!

 

After 50 years with B.A.S.S., Rick Clunn decided to step away from full-time Elite Series competition at the end of the 2024 season. He will continue to fish select events throughout his home region. Clunn, an icon in the sport of bass fishing, made 32 Bassmaster Classics, won 16 events, 4 Classics and an AOY title. With over 500+ B.A.S.S. events he is THE Iron Man of the sport of bass fishing.

Check out Rick's final Elite tournament at the 2024 St. Lawrence River event this past weekend.