Daiwa's New Lexa HD 500

Musky reel ideal for big swimbaits, Alabama Rigs and glide baits

Introducing the Daiwa Lexa HD 500, a reel that combines power, precision, and durability for the ultimate angling experience. Crafted with an aluminum frame and side cover, this reel is built to withstand the toughest conditions while remaining lightweight for comfortable handling. With a maximum drag of 30lbs, it's ready to tackle even the most formidable opponents.

 

The Magforce cast control system ensures smooth and precise casting, making it ideal for various fishing techniques. Its stainless drive gear guarantees long-lasting performance, even when battling hard-fighting fish. The Daiwa Lexa HD 500 is equipped with the Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD) system, providing consistent and smooth drag pressure for maximum control.

With a 120mm swept handle, you'll have a secure grip and precise handling, allowing you to conquer the most challenging fishing scenarios. This reel can hold an impressive 250 yards of 65-pound braid, making it perfect for landing those trophy-sized fish. Whether you're targeting giants or enjoying a day on the water, the Daiwa Lexa HD 500 is your trusted partner in the pursuit of angling excellence. Elevate your fishing game with this reel that combines strength, control, versatility, and a capacity to handle the big ones.

Patrick Walters wins the 2024 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with 93 pounds, 15 ounces.

 Walters wins in dominating fashion at Lake Murray

Wire to wire win for Walters who sacks massive 26lb limit on final day. 
(Photo: BASS/Andy Crawford)

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

PROSPERITY, S.C. — Despite the gloomy weather, Monday brought bright prospects for Patrick Walters, who leveraged the opportunity to inflict a straight-up South Carolina smackdown en route to notching a wire-to-wire victory in the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

Following Thursday’s storms, which postponed the event’s scheduled start to Friday, a mostly cloudy Day 1 saw Walters catch 25 pounds, 8 ounces and establish a lead of 3-3. Adding a second-round limit of 19-13 kept Walters on top and expanded his margin to 4-15. With 21-14 on Day 3, Walters carried a margin of 8-4 into the final round.

Saving the best for last, he rocked Championship Monday with 26-12 — the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament worth a $2,000 bonus — and tallied an incredible four-day total of 93-15. Besting Missouri pro Cody Huff by 12-11, Walters won his third blue trophy and the $102,000 top prize. He also has two career wins in the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN.

2024 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray Day 3: Patrick Walters Takes 9lb Lead into Final Day!

Canadians Chris Johnston 23rd, Cory Johnston 24th & Gustafson 44th. 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

PROSPERITY, S.C. — The thrill of a blistering start more than offset any frustrations of a long dry spell, as Patrick Walters held on to his lead for a third day in the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

Day 1 saw the two-time Elite Series champion from Eutawville, S.C., launch what has thus far been a dominant performance with the tournament’s heaviest bag — 25-8. That opening pace-setter gave Walters a 3-3 lead.

Adding a second-round limit of 19-13 kept him in the top spot and expanded his margin to 4-15. Then with 21-14 on Semifinal Sunday, Walters pushed his three-day total to 67-3 and now heads into Championship Monday with a margin of 8-4 over rookie JT Thompkins. (Severe weather postponed the event’s scheduled start by one day).

“I had most of my weight by 8:30,” Walters said. “It doesn’t matter when you get ’em or how you get ’em, as long as you get ’em in the boat.”

Since Day 1, Walters has done the majority of his damage by targeting the early-morning blueback herring spawn. Bass feed aggressively when these large baitfish become distracted with reproduction, so he has been mimicking the profile and motion of this food source with topwater baits and soft-plastic jerkbaits.

2024 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray Day 2: Patrick Walters Remains in the Lead!

Canadians Cory Johnston 11th, Chris Johnston 17th, Gustafson 41st & Gallant 55th. 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

PROSPERITY, S.C. — Patrick Walters admitted he missed his goal by a few ounces, but you wouldn’t know it from the Day 2 standings.
After turning in an opening-round limit of 25 pounds, 8 ounces — the tournament’s heaviest bag — the pro from Eutawville, S.C., added 19-13. Tallying 45-5, Walters leads rookie J.T. Thompkins by 4-15, as the Top 50 anglers head into Semifinal Sunday of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray. (severe weather postponed the event’s scheduled start by one day).

“I knew it was going to be a slower day,” Walters said of the day’s calm, sunny conditions, which contrasted Friday’s cloudy, windy makeup. “The goal was to just survive and get 20 pounds, but I was just a few ounces shy of that.
“The sunny skies don’t bother me, but it means the bite is probably going to end quicker. At 9:30, it shut off for me and I felt like it did for the whole lake.”
At the day’s beginning, Walters knew he was facing a do-or-die scenario. With no time to dally, he went to work on the blueback herring spawn.

2024 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray Day 1: Patrick Walters Smashes 25lbs and Lead!

Canadians Gustafson 26th, Chris Johnston 39th, Gallant 43rd & Cory Johnston 60th. 

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

PROSPERITY, S.C. — With more than 48,000 acres, Lake Murray has plenty of places to find a bite. Dialing in the better ones is a process of elimination that favored home-state pro Patrick Walters.
Sacking up a limit of 25 pounds, 8 ounces, the pro from Eutawville, S.C., leads Day 1 of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

Exemplifying the importance of multiple options, the two-time Elite Series champion leveraged the morning blueback herring spawn, but also found consistent action throughout the day.

“It’s important to have (a diverse game plan) because you can start on the wrong spot,” Walters said. “You need options because you can run around little bit and make a couple of decisions.”

Elite: Day 1 postponed at Lake Murray

Due to the forecasted severe weather throughout Thursday, B.A.S.S. has elected to postpone Day 1 of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray.

 

Josh Butler wins the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN with 49 pounds.

By David A. Brown,
BASS Press Release

LINCOLN, Ala. — Josh Butler played the long game and, despite some midpoint frustrations, he executed that strategy to near perfection.
Committing to his plan, the Hayden, Ala., pro claimed a wire-to-wire victory with a three-day total of 49 pounds in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake.
“The Lord just blessed me,” Butler said. “When it’s your time, it’s your time.”
Butler, who recently left another trail to pursue Bassmaster Elite Series qualification and earn a berth in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors checked the latter box and moved closer to the former with this week’s performance.
Taking the top spot with a Day 1 limit of 19-7 — the event’s heaviest bag — Butler anchored that catch with a massive largemouth that went 7-13.
“That was a game-changer,” Butler said. “That fish was probably the reason I won.”

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN Day 1: Josh Butler Scores Lead!

Big bag moves Butler into Day 1 lead

Josh Butler takes the Day 1 lead at the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN with 19 pounds, 7 ounces. (Photo: Crawford/BASS)

By David A. Brown

BASS Press Release

On a day when quality was hard to come by, Josh Butler’s early bonus quickly put him on course to sacking up a five-bass limit of 19 pounds, 7 ounces and leading Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Logan Martin Lake presented by SEVIIN.

Anchoring his bag with an absolute Coosa River tank that went 7-13, the pro from Hayden, Ala., heads into Day 2 with a lead of 3-9 over Georgia pro Emil Wagner.

“That’s the biggest one, by far, that I’ve ever caught here,” Butler said of his kicker. “I’ve caught fives and sixes, but never one nearly that big. The Lord blessed me today.”

Capitalizing on the seasonal day-maker known as the shad spawn, Butler started his day with a couple of small keepers. Adding one around 2 1/2, his big fish was No. 4.

Butler said he hit a few different areas for his shad spawn bites and caught all of those early fish on a spinnerbait with a particular design the fish clearly found appealing.

DAIWA: The Tiniest of TATULA's

DAIWA adds a second Bait Finesse baitcaster – new TATULA BF70 – to its expanding collection.

 

Rather suddenly, “Downsizing” and “fishing small” have new meaning, particularly in the global world of bass fishing. “Bait Finesse” is the latest rage in the pursuit of largemouth and smallmouth bass. And, to no surprise, DAIWA is on the forefront tendering two new reels specific to these micro-fishing techniques: the recently unveiled PX BF70 and now its sister baitcaster, the TATULA BF70. 

The baseline for Bait Finesse (BF) is presenting smaller, more natural baits with the same authority achieved via their larger counterparts. To do so requires the downsizing of gear without sacrificing performance. And that necessitates specialized baitcasting gear.

DAIWA Marketing Manager calls BF “ninja fishing,” the technique employed by bright-minded “bank beaters” who ply small lakes, ponds, streams, and canals. It’s about traveling light with technical and tactical gear to target often pressured fish in tight confines. 

Casts are short, fired with GPS-guided missile accuracy. Adding to the challenge is the lightness of the lures. We’re talking one- and two-inch crankbaits, hair jigs, inline spinners, lightly weighted plastics and the like.

To achieve this level of control, DAIWA injected exceptional technologies into a fantastically lightweight, palmable baitcasting reel. Mills said DAIWA eliminated as much weight as possible while maintaining outstanding performance.

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