2025 Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at the Upper Mississippi River Day 2: Kuphall Still Leads!

Canadians: Gallant 6th, Cory Johnston 11th, Chris Johnston 22nd, Evan Kung 82nd & Gustafson 86th.

Wisconsin's Caleb Kuphall maintains the lead on Day 2 of the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River with a total of 36 pounds, 2 ounces. (Photo: Seigo Saito/ BASS) 

BASS Press Release

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Caleb Kuphall was banking on his local knowledge and that expectation delivered both metaphorically and practically as the pro from Mukwonago, Wis., retained the lead on Day 2 of the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River.

After setting the high mark with a first-round limit of 18-pounds, 15-ounces, Kuphall entered Day 2 an ounce ahead of second-place KJ Queen. Today, Kuphall added 17-3, tallied a total of 36-2 and widened his lead to a 1-13 margin over Bryan Schmitt, who won the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Upper Mississippi River.

“What a day today; I think I’ve weighed in the two biggest bags that I’ve ever weighed in on this river today and yesterday,” Kuphall said. “I got out of the gate good this morning and caught them right away. I think I caught five and culled like four or five times in the first 40 minutes.

“I had a lot of confidence that I can catch a lot of fish here, but the big ones show up when they want to. We’ll see what happens. Hopefully another couple big ones show up tomorrow.”

Trusting the Mississippi River pattern he learned over 20 years ago, Kuphall has been focusing on undercut banks. Key spots had an isolated tree, a cluster of weeds, or a little point to influence fish positioning.

2017 Walmart FLW Tour Beaver Lake Day 1: Cody Meyer Leads with 16-01Lbs

Gustafason 36th, Richardson 66th, Cory Johnston 82th & Chris Johnston 105th.

by Rob Newell

FLW PRESS RELEASE

Imagine trying to shoot a game of pool on a table that rises a foot or two while you’re drawing back your cue to take a shot. Each time you draw for a shot, the table comes up.

Cody stays deep for lead.
(Photo: FLW)

That’s a little bit what fishing has been like for the 165 pros and co-anglers this week at the FLW Tour event presented by General Tire on Beaver Lake. Each day they get on the water, the targets they fished the day before are gone – submerged underwater.

Since practice started on Sunday, Beaver Lake has come up some 8 feet. Since the pros last saw the lake on Tuesday’s practice day, the water has come up more than 4 feet. The rising water creates a moving target that’s hard to hit when everything is in a state of flux.

While the ever-increasing water level has thrown many pros for a loop, Californian Cody Meyer only chuckles at the “epic rise.”

Meyer cut his teeth fishing lakes out west like Shasta and Oroville, where water can rise 10 to 15 feet in a day. What’s happened in eight days on Beaver Lake can occur in 8 hours on Meyer’s home waters.

Maybe that helps explain why Meyer is leading after day one with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce. Meyer’s limit included three smallmouths and two largemouths.

“I’ve fished tournaments out west where the spot I started on in the morning was under 10 feet of water by weigh-in,” Meyer says. “So this is not that much of a shock to me. One thing I’ve learned when a sudden rise happens, especially out west, is that the fish generally stay at the depth they were in as the water rises.”

How to Score on Clear Water Lakes with Megabass Pro Chris Zaldain

Clear lakes can be a challenge. Clear water conditions makes traditional presentations less effective and anglers can become frustrated. Listen to BASS Elite angler Chris Zaldain as he explains some great tips on fishing clear water lakes.

Drop-Shot Rigging Options

Here is a quick video I did for Ontario OUT OF DOORS magazine. It explains how to rig a drop shot.

ICAST 2013 The New Rapala Scatter Countdown jerkbait with Mike Iaconell...

While at ICAST 2013 in the Rapala booth we find Mike "IKE"Iaconelli. Listen as he explains why the new Scatter Rap Countdown Rapala is an amazing bait for cool and cold water.

ICAST 2013: New Power-Pole Micro Anchor

By Luigi De Rose

If  you always wanted to use a shallow water anchor but didn't want to give up your smaller boat, the new Micro Anchor from Power Pole is for you. It has been designed for the smaller aluminum, kayak, duck or skiff style water crafts.

Jackall's Boil Trigger 100

Post Spawn bass are suckers for topwaters poppers. Plus, who doesn't love topwater fishing? So, if you're after a new popper or just appreciate good quality, then you need a few Jackall Boil Trigger 100s. Jackall is well known for its fine craftsmanship and this popper is no different. One truly unique feature is that this bait is jointed. Jointed lures have always shined but never really seen much play in topwater fishing. Expect easy popping action at slow and fast retrieves. The jointed body will provide sexy swimming action.

Photo features Baby Bass colour pattern.

Coolest Tackle Box Ever!

Once in a while you see something totally cool. At the recent Spring Fishing and Boat show in Toronto, I chatted with the gang at Megabass. Theo, the Canadian dealer for Megabass showed off the Asylum. The Asylum is one wickedly, majestic lure box with slide out spinnerbait slide tray. Only Yuki Ito could concock such a tackle storage system.

Enough storage for all your topwaters and cranks. 

Each have their own slot and the whole thing is vented. 

A top lid for tools, line or more Megabass baits. 

Slide out spinnerbait rack. Not sure what this thing cost?