The study, Estimating recruitment of Largemouth Bass to exceptional weights using angler-reported catches, was authored by Leandro E. Miranda, Frank Griffin, Natalie Goldstrohm, J. Wesley Neal and Thomas J. Lang. Researchers examined what happened after largemouth bass reached 3.6 kg — about 7.9 pounds — and looked for environmental and genetic factors associated with more fish reaching even heavier weight classes.

First: what does “recruitment” mean here?

This is important because the percentages can easily be misunderstood. The researchers were not following individual 7.9-pound bass and calculating each fish’s personal probability of becoming a 13-pounder. Instead, they developed a population-level index using the distribution of angler-reported catches at progressively heavier weights.

So the 2.5% figure should not be read as “an 8-pound bass has a 2.5% chance of becoming 13 pounds.” A better way to say it is that, across the fisheries represented in the data, the estimated recruitment from the 3.6-kg class to the 5.9-kg class averaged 2.5%.

Why the drop from 8 pounds to 13 pounds matters

A bass that has already reached roughly 8 pounds has cleared a lot of hurdles. It has survived predation, disease, angling pressure, environmental stress and years of seasonal changes while finding enough food to continue growing. The study suggests that moving from “big” to “exceptional” is another much narrower bottleneck.

The researchers reported an average recruitment estimate of about 20% after bass reached the 3.6-kg lunker threshold, but that varied widely among fisheries. When the weight classes were expanded, the estimated progression to about 9.9 pounds averaged 23.5%, while progression all the way to about 13 pounds averaged only 2.5%.

Florida Bass genetics stood out

One of the clearest positive relationships in the study was genetics. Recruitment to exceptional weights increased as the frequency of Florida Bass alleles increased in a population.

That finding fits the long-running use of Florida Bass genetics in trophy-bass management, particularly in Texas. It does not mean that genetics alone create giant bass. The researchers’ conclusion was essentially the opposite: exceptional size appears to require a balance of genetics, environment and survival.

The surprising human-population finding

Perhaps the most interesting result for anglers was the relationship with people. The study found that recruitment to heavier weight classes was negatively correlated with human population density around the reservoir. In other words, fisheries surrounded by denser human populations tended to show lower recruitment of already-large bass into exceptional weight classes.

The study did not prove that any one human activity caused the difference. The researchers did not isolate fishing pressure, harvest, boat traffic, shoreline development or handling mortality and show that one of those variables was responsible.

However, the U.S. Geological Survey’s explanation of the work interprets the result as being consistent with lower mortality in reservoirs near smaller human populations. That makes intuitive sense: a remote fishery may expose a trophy bass to fewer total encounters and fewer human-related risks over the many years required to reach exceptional size.

What about chlorophyll-a?

The researchers also found a negative relationship between recruitment and chlorophyll-a concentration, which is commonly used as an indicator of algae abundance and the trophic — or productivity — state of a reservoir.

This does not mean that low-productivity lakes automatically grow the biggest bass. Bass still need adequate forage and productive habitat. The authors described the apparent requirement as a balance: enough productivity and food to support growth, but not an excessively high trophic state.

Several things were not strongly associated with exceptional recruitment

The USGS summary of the research notes that recruitment to lunker sizes was not strongly associated with several variables that anglers might expect to matter, including reservoir age, reservoir area or depth, stocking density, and length limits.

That does not mean those factors never matter for a bass fishery. It means they were not among the variables that showed a strong relationship with this particular measure of recruitment from already-large bass to exceptional weights.

Why angler data mattered

Truly large bass are difficult to study with traditional fisheries sampling because they are rare. USGS highlighted the scale of that problem in Texas: conventional electrofishing surveys can collect tens of thousands of bass while encountering only a tiny number of fish above 8 pounds. Angler-reported trophy catches create a much larger sample of the upper end of the size distribution.

That makes programs such as Texas’ ShareLunker database unusually valuable for questions specifically about giant bass. Angler data have their own biases, but they can reveal patterns that would be nearly impossible to study using standard sampling alone.

Our take: giant bass require three things to line up

The simplest way we would explain this study is that producing a truly exceptional largemouth appears to require three broad ingredients:

1. Growth potential. Florida Bass genetics were positively associated with exceptional recruitment.

2. The right environment. Reservoir productivity appears to need to land in a productive-but-not-excessive range.

3. Time and survival. A fish can have excellent genetics and abundant forage, but it still has to survive long enough to express that potential. The negative relationship with surrounding human population density may be one clue that survival becomes increasingly important at the upper end of the weight distribution.

That final point may be the most interesting of all. Growing an 8-pound bass is difficult. Turning that fish into a 13-pounder may require not only exceptional growth, but several additional years in which almost everything continues to go right.

Read the original research

The study was published October 7, 2025 in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management, Volume 45, Issue 6, pages 1001–1011.

USGS publication page: Estimating recruitment of Largemouth Bass to exceptional weights using angler-reported catches

USGS explanation: Texas Anglers Unite to Fill Knowledge Gaps on Black Bass

Journal article / DOI: 10.1093/najfmt/vqaf082

Bass Fishing Facts note: This article is an explanatory summary of the published research. Statements identified as our take or interpretation are intended to help anglers understand the findings and should not be confused with conclusions directly tested by the study.

The post How Many 8-Pound Bass Become 13-Pound Giants? What the Science Says first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Bill Evans holding his record largemouth bass he caught on August 8, 2016 – breaking an almost 40 year Washington record.

Updated October 13, 2026 – Originally posted October 2016

We have all heard of Manabu Kurita’s world record-tying 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught at Lake Biwa in Japan on July 2, 2009 (see IGFA record details). And we have heard legends of George Perry’s 22-pound, 4-ounce bass caught at Montgomery Lake in Georgia on June 2, 1932. But what if you live in a state where the average weight of a bass caught is between 1-2 pounds? How do you know if your personal best stacks up to the record held within your own state?

Below is a list of all the current record holding largemouth bass from all 50 states. Use this state-by-state list to compare the biggest officially recognized largemouth bass across the country. For catches beyond state records, see our world-record largemouth bass guide and the story of Dottie, the legendary 25-pound bass.
Related record lists: smallmouth bass records from all 50 states · Texas Top 50 largemouth bass · Texas Top 50 smallmouth bass.

The post Record Holding Largemouth Bass From All 50 States first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Jordan Lee – 2017 Bassmaster Classic Champion – Sparks Flying After Win.

New to the event? Start with our guide to what the Bassmaster Classic is, then use the year-by-year table below to follow every champion.

Bassmaster Classic records and milestones

Most Classic championships: Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam are tied with four wins each. Bassmaster’s historical analysis documents their title runs.

Back-to-back champions: Rick Clunn (1976–77), Kevin VanDam (2010–11), Jordan Lee (2017–18), and Hank Cherry (2020–21). B.A.S.S. confirmed Cherry’s milestone in 2021.

Record winning weight: Easton Fothergill’s 76 pounds, 15 ounces in 2025 was the highest winning total in Classic history at the time, according to Bassmaster. 2026 milestone: Dylan Nutt became only the second champion to qualify through B.A.S.S. Nation, joining Bryan Kerchal (1994). Read the official account.

Next championship: The 2027 Bassmaster Classic is scheduled for Lake Hartwell in Greenville, South Carolina; the next champion will be added after the event.

Explore the champions: The table now includes verified angler profiles, selected photos already in the Bass Fishing Facts media library, and social pages where a reliable account could be identified. “—” means no account was confirmed for that entry. For more historical winner photos, see Bassmaster’s official winners photo archive. Scroll the table sideways on smaller screens.

Bassmaster Classic champions, winning weights, boats, tournament locations, angler profiles and social links, 1971 to 2026.

Year	Classic champion	Winning weight (lb–oz)	Boat brand	Tournament water	Photo / profile	Social media
1971	Bobby Murray	43-11	N/A	Lake Mead, NV	—	—
1972	Don Butler	38-11	N/A	Percy Priest Reservoir, TN	—	—
1973	Rayo Breckenridge	52-8	N/A	Clarks Hill Lake, SC	—	—
1974	Tommy Martin	33-7	N/A	Wheeler Lake, AL	—	—
1975	Jack Hains	45-4	N/A	Currituck Sound, NC	—	—
1976	Rick Clunn	59-15	Ranger	Lake Guntersville, AL	—Profile ↗	—
1977	Rick Clunn	27-7	Glastron	Kissimmee Chain, FL	—Profile ↗	—
1978	Bobby Murray	37-9	N/A	Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS	—	—
1979	Hank Parker	31	N/A	Lake Texoma, TX	—	—
1980	Bo Dowden	54-10	N/A	St. Lawrence River, NY	—	—
1981	Stanley Mitchell	35-2	Ranger	Alabama River, AL	—	—
1982	Paul Elias	32-8	Ranger	Alabama River, AL	—	—
1983	Larry Nixon	18-1	Ranger	Ohio River, OH	—	—
1984	Rick Clunn	75-9	N/A	Arkansas River, AR	—Profile ↗	—
1985	Jack Chancellor	45	Ranger	Arkansas River, AR	—	—
1986	Charlie Reed	23-9	Ranger	Tennessee River, TN	—	—
1987	George Cochran	15-5	Ranger	Ohio River, OH	—	—
1988	Guido Hibdon	28-8	Ranger	James River, VA	—	—
1989	Hank Parker	31-6	Ranger	James River, VA	—	—
1990	Rick Clunn	34-5	Tracker	James River, VA	—Profile ↗	—
1991	Ken Cook	33-2	Javelin	Chesapeake Bay, MD	—	—
1992	Robert Hamilton, Jr	59-6	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL	—	—
1993	David Fritts	48-6	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL	—	—
1994	Bryan Kerchal	36-7	Ranger	High Rock Lake, NC	—	—
1995	Mark Davis	47-14	Basscat	High Rock Lake, NC	—	—
1996	George Cochran	31-14	Ranger	Lay Lake, AL	—	—
1997	Dion Hibdon	34-13	Ranger	Lake Logan Martin, AL	—	—
1998	Denny Brauer	46-3	Ranger	High Rock Lake, NC	—	—
1999	Davy Hite	55-10	Stratos	Louisiana Delta, LA	—	—
2000	Woo Daves	27-13	Nitro	Lake Michigan, IL	—	—
2001	Kevin VanDam	32-5	Nitro	Louisiana Delta, LA	Profile ↗	IG @kevinvandamfishing · Facebook
2002	Jay Yelas	45-13	Skeeter	Lay Lake, AL	—	—
2003	Michael Iaconelli	37-14	Ranger	Louisiana Delta, LA	Profile ↗	IG @mikeiaconelli · Facebook
2004	Takahiro Omori	39-2	Ranger	Lake Wylie, NC	—	—
2005	Kevin VanDam	12-15	Nitro	Three Rivers, PA	Profile ↗	IG @kevinvandamfishing · Facebook
2006	Luke Clausen	56-2	Ranger	Kissimmee Chain, FL	—	—
2007	Boyd Duckett	48-10	Triton	Lay Lake, AL	—	—
2008	Alton Jones	48-7	Skeeter	Lake Hartwell, SC	—	—
2009	Skeet Reese	54-13	Champion	Red River, LA	—	—
2010	Kevin VanDam	51-6	Nitro	Lay Lake, AL	Profile ↗	IG @kevinvandamfishing · Facebook
2011	Kevin VanDam	69-11	Nitro	Louisiana Delta, LA	Profile ↗	IG @kevinvandamfishing · Facebook
2012	Chris Lane	51-6	Legend	Red River, LA	—	—
2013	Cliff Pace	54-12	Skeeter	Grand Lake, OK	—	—
2014	Randy Howell	67-8	Triton	Lake Guntersville, AL	—	—
2015	Casey Ashley	50-1	Triton	Lake Hartwell, SC	—	—
2016	Edwin Evers	60-7	Nitro	Grand Lake, OK	—	—
2017	Jordan Lee	56-10	Legend	Lake Conroe, TX	Profile ↗	IG @jleefishing
2018	Jordan Lee	47-1	Ranger	Lake Hartwell, SC	Profile ↗	IG @jleefishing
2019	Ott Defoe	49-3	Nitro	Tennessee River, TN	Profile ↗	—
2020	Hank Cherry	65-5	BassCat	Lake Guntersville, AL	—Profile ↗	IG @hankcherryfishing
2021	Hank Cherry	50-15	BassCat	Ray Roberts, TX	—Profile ↗	IG @hankcherryfishing
2022	Jason Christie	54-00	Xpress	Lake Hartwell, SC	—Profile ↗	IG @christiefishing
2023	Jeff Gustafson	42-7	Lund	Tennessee River, TN	—Profile ↗	IG @gussyoutdoors · Facebook
2024	Justin Hamner	58-3	Falcon	Grand Lake O the Cherokees, Tulsa, OK	—Profile ↗	IG @justinhamnerfishing
2025	Easton Fothergill	76-15	Skeeter	Lake Ray Roberts, Fort Worth, TX	—Profile ↗	IG @eastonfothergillfish
2026	Dylan Nutt	66-13	Caymas	Tennessee River, Knoxville, TN	—Profile ↗	IG @dylan.nutt

The post List of Bassmaster Classic Champions first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

33 practical fishing gifts and gear ideas for bass anglers

Originally published November 23, 2019. Reviewed October 2026 to remove stale pricing, improve product-link transparency and update the page for current search and accessibility standards. Product availability can change.

Looking for more ideas? See our bass fishing man-cave ideas or our guide to the best bass lures.

1.Fishing Line – Removing old line and re-spooling with fresh fishing line is relatively cheap, can be done in a matter of minutes, and could be the difference between landing that lunker or breaking on off at the boat.  

Check current price on Amazon

2. Head Lamp – Having a head lamp is a basic essential for all anglers. Whether searching for the right lure in the morning dawn or packing up right a dusk after a long day on the water – having a head lamp to pop on is a great convenience and frees up your hands. Don’t forger that people can and do fish at night.  

Check current price on Amazon

3. Pliers – This simple tool makes such a difference on the water. From cutting line to crushing barbs to removing hooks from fishes mouths, pliers a versatile tool that is essential for every fisherman to have.  

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4. Rod Sleeves – Carrying around multiple rods almost requires rod sleeves, not just for the general protection that the sleeves provide, but to also ensure there is no criss-crossing and accidental damage to your poles.  

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5. Reel Bag – A reel bag is good for storage, travel, and for the fisherman who works with his reels often. This promising review on Amazon says it all, “Movable pockets, secure, lightweight, no complaints.“  

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6. Fish Book or Magazine Subscription – Legitimate magazines still do exist. You can choose from digital or print versions. They are easily gifted via Amazon too!  

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7. Filet Knife – Many anglers practice the Catch-Photo-Release (CPR) method, especially with largemouth. Catfish however, are quite tasty and easy to catch. Having a good, sharp knife around is never a bad idea.  

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8. Tackle Organization – Getting a premium tackle storage box can be quite helpful. Not only are there several compartments to store all sorts of gear – from hard baits, to soft plastics, to extra fishing line – but most come with a flat bottom and sturdy handle for easy portability.  

Check current price on Amazon

9. Polarized Sunglasses – A quality pair of sunglasses can make a big difference on the water. Less eye strain combined with the ability to “see” further into the water makes having a pair of polarized glasses a fishing must. Sunglasses lenses are typically made of plastic or glass and come in a variety of different colors – each color is best suited for specific weather conditions. You can easily find a quality pair of polarized sunglasses for these current options on Amazon.  

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10. Tournament Identifier Cull Kit – Whether it’s a friendly fishing match between buddies or the real-deal money tournament – using a cull-kit is an easy way to keep track of multiple fish in a live well.  

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11. Rod Rack – Storage and organization is just as important at home as it is on the go. Consider an on-the-ground circular rod rack or a wall rod rack or both!  

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12. Latest and greatest from ICAST – While ICAST has lots and lots of 2019 winner from different categories – this year’s freshwater soft plastic lure winner is the Phantom Spider by Lunkerhunt.

Check current price on Amazon

13. Hawg Trough – A scale is not the only way to get stats on a fish. Many anglers – especially kayak fishermen – now use Hawg Trough’s. A Hawg Trough is essentially a glorified plastic ruler. Pro tip: darken the measurement lines with a sharpie for easier fish length determination. Darkening the measurement lines if often required for tournaments and helps get accurate measurements from pictures.  

Check current price on Amazon

14. Scale – Having a nice scale on hand is always great to truly know how much that “huge” fish weighed. Many anglers will use a strong lip-grip tool in conjunction with the scale so that their is less potential to harm to the fish.  

Check current price on Amazon

15. Glasses Retainer – Using a glasses retainer ensures that you know where your glasses are at all times – around your neck or on your face. Retainers also make it a breeze to constantly take your glasses on and off. Expensive pairs of glasses deserve retainers so that they don’t get stepped on, get flung off, or fall overboard.  

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16. Hat – Spending the day in the sun can be brutal on your skin. A moisture-wicking UV-protecting wide brim hat can offer a great amount of head and face cover.  

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17. Fishing Gloves – Have the hat? Have a long sleeve shirt? Pants? While fishermen typically cover all other areas of their body, their hands and fingers are typically the last thought on their mind, and are often overlooked and left exposed to the elements. However, the area should not be ignored and should either be protected well with sunscreen or specially made fishing gloves.  

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18. In-Ground Rod Holder – Fishing is supposed to be a relaxing hobby. What better way to take that to the max but with a in the ground rod holder. Just shove it in to the ground, cast out your bait, and keep an eye on your rod.  

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19. Fishing Seat – See above re: relaxing fishing. A portable chair with back support that can also hold items sounds like the swiss army knife of chairs. Holds up to 250 pounds!  

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20. Hard Baits – New lures to test and try or that become a favorite are always worth getting. You can also never have enough. Pick the color and size that best suits your location the fish you typically see.  

Check current price on Amazon

21. Soft Plastics – These are hands down the most popular lure or method of largemouth bass fishing. Soft plastics come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and scents. A classic soft plastic that many beginner anglers use is the 5 inch worm in watermelon with black flake.  

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22. Bait Bucket with Aerator – Bait won’t keep with an aerator at the very least. Some will do this with just any ole bucket – which is fine and cheaper. The specially made bait bucket provides an easy access lid for bait that can jump or crawl out.  

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23. Rod Cleaning or Repair Kit – Rods get dirty. Rods get broken. Having a cleaning or repair kit can help extend the life and maximize the value of your favorite rods. One can also get satisfaction from restoring something that was once broken back to working condition.  

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24. Fishing Grips – Most grips slide easily over the existing handles and simply add a pop of color while providing extra grip and comfort.  

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25. Fishing Box Subscription – Getting a box of new and curated fishing items delivered to your door each month is exciting. Getting its a gift is even better. The most popular websites, Lucky Tackle Box and Mystery Tackle Box, both make it easy to gift multi-month subscriptions. Always check around on the internet for a discount count code before purchasing at full-price.  

Get it from Lucky Tackle Box or Mystery Tackle Box

26. Fishing DVD’s – When the wifi is down or when you are at the far and away lake house – it’s nice to have the physical DVD to pop in and watch some great fishing actions while also getting some tips and tricks to employ the next time you are out.  

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27. Neck Guard – Covering up your neck can be easy, stylish, and cheap – it also can protect you from the sun!  

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28. Storage – kayak rack in garage – Getting your kayak inside your garage is one thing – getting up on the wall is another. It’ll make a world of difference once you have your kayak(s) up on the wall and off the ground. Check out this link for a how-to on kayak wall hanging.  

Get a 4-pack from Amazon for Check current price on Amazon

29. Bobber with Light – This product is actually a light that goes underwater to attract fish – which is kind of cooler than a light-up bobber anyway. Both are cool and should be considered if you’ll be fishing with kids or at night.  

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30. Line Cutter Ring – This ingenious invention hit the market several years ago and is now available to the mass market at an affordable price. Wearing the ring makes retying and cutting line a breeze.  

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31. Camera to Record Record Catches – Having a camera on board or around that’s in a waterproof casing that floats just feels safer than using your phone. Top end cameras like the GoPro offer better quality videos too.  

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32. Fishing Scent – Adding a little fishing scent to your lures is an easy way to differentiate your lure attractants while on the water. Don’t be afraid to put this on soft or hard baits.  

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33. Knife – Finally on this list is a knife. A simple knife is one of the most convenient and handy tools to have in life in general. Having a knife on your person can make up for a lot of things in a jam – it’s a good idea to have one.  

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The post Bass Fishing Gift Guide: 33 Gifts Every Angler Will Use first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Quick list: This page focuses on 15 classic fishing gift ideas. For a larger, more current collection of practical options, see our 33-item Bass Fishing Gift Guide.

As the holidays are rapidly approaching you may be looking for fishing gift ideas for the angler in your life. We’ve compiled a list of great fishing gift ideas for the holidays. Presents from just a few dollars all the way up to several hundred – this list has it all!

Updated December 14, 2021. Originally published November 28, 2016.

In-Fisherman Magazine

1 – Tackle Subscription/Magazine Subscription

Monthly subscription boxes are all the rage these days and you can find many different options to meet your needs. Mystery Tackle Box and Lucky Tackle Box are two of the most popular – subscription prices vary by plan and each website has the option to give the subscription as a gift. If magazines are more your style; In-Fisherman, Sport Fishing and Bassmaster are all great options.

Rapala Scissors

2 – Line Cutter Scissors

While most anglers have a pair of pliers – not many have line cutter scissors. This little tool is extremely useful when re-tying knots. Fishing scissors allows the fisherman to accurately remove tags in a quick and efficient manner.

Largemouth Bass Art

3 – Fishing Art

A fisherman loves all thing fishing – and that includes artwork. The world wide internet offers art items for a man-cave such as this awesome tin sign or a street-type sign. You can also find more refined office and home fishing artwork like this realistic painting of a bass vs dragonfly or this more abstract concept that includes very vivid colors. To make this holiday season a truly memorable experience try going for the original drawing or prints if for sale.

GoPro Camera

4 – Action Camera

Sure you get to see all the great pictures of your favorite angler holding his new record fish and smiling but what if you could watch a short video clip which captured all the awesome hook-setting, heart pounding action that took place to land that record fish – an action camera like a GoPro can allow anglers to share their experience with you. Action cameras are often waterproof and can be mounted in many different ways for different angle shots.

Costa Sunglasses

5 – Sunglasses

Polarized sunglasses can be a game changer on the water – allowing anglers to see into the water at greater depths and with greater clarity. Costa Del Mar is the primo brand name when it comes to fishing sunglasses and the cost of these sunglasses is totally worth it. You’ll soon be hearing stories about how he or she wouldn’t have caught a fish without them. Opt for glass for the best quality and a scratch resistant lens (also more expensive) or for plastic lenses if your angler is prone to dropping things (impact resistant).

Fishing Rain Gear

6 – Rain Gear

Just because the weather is bad doesn’t mean the fishing is bad. Bass often are biting most as a storm front approaches. That can mean that anglers often get caught in the rain or simply just decide to fish in it. A good set of fishing rain gear can go a long way in making fisherman warm and dry in the midst of a downpour.

Hawg Trough

7 – Hawg Trough/Scale

Stop all those BIG FISH stories by gifting a Hawg Trough (fish length measuring device) or a fishing scale – that way you’ll know for sure when they say their fish was “this” big.

YETI Cooler

8 – Cooler

Being on the water all day takes its toll – anglers can quickly become drained of fluids. Staying hydrated is key. Just like Costa is the name in sunglasses – YETI is the name in coolers. Yeti coolers fit snugly in the back of kayaks and provide no-skid surfaces when installed on boats. If a hard-body cooler shell is not preferred YETI also offers soft-sided cooler bag options.

Berkley Logo

9 – Fishing Stickers/Decals

Fishing stickers are a cheap and easy gift to give to anglers. Brand names stickers are often placed on boats, kayaks, tackle boxes and vehicles. You can’t go wrong with brand name stickers from: Costa, Yeti, Abu Garcia, Gary Yamamto, Shimano, Rapala and Berkley. If brand names are their style – try going with classic bass fishing stickers and decals.

Largemouth Bass Picture Frame

10 – Bass Picture Frame

This one is cheap, easy and sentimental. Step one: buy bass themed picture frame. Step two: print out photo of angler with their best catch. Step three: frame photo for excellent and personalized gift idea. To flip the script – you could print a out a photo of your biggest catch and autograph it to your “biggest fan” as a funny way to gift the frame.

Long-sleeved Fishing Shirt

11 – Fishing Clothing – hat, gloves, pants, shirt

Yes, your favorite angler wears clothes when they fish – but do they wear fishing gear? Are they adequately protected from the sun? Or are they too cheap to spend money on fishing clothing and would rather save it all for baits? Now is your time to gift an item or two to give your favorite angler a better experience out on the water. Fishing is a huge sport and fishing product lines have been developed for hats, gloves, pants and shirts.

Cabela’s Fishing Bag

12 – Fishing Bag

Most anglers have a tackle box but not all have a fishing bag. A fishing bag is versatile and great for anglers on the move. Whether it’s fishing a local pond or getting down to your favorite spot – having a fishing bag makes it much easier for an angler to carry a rod and baits and still have a hand free.

Waterproof Case

13 – Waterproof Case

Nobody wants to have their phone destroyed because of a rogue wave or an unintended swim. A waterproof case is a quick and easy way for fishermen to protect their valuables from the elements. Locking plastic cases have long been the norm but YETI has recently introduced a new soft-sided bag which has impressed many anglers.

Whistle

14 – Safety Items

Safety while on the water is something to take very seriously. It is relatively cheap and easy to equip an angler with many safety tools such as: a whistle, air horn, compass and para-cord, flare gun, life jacket and more.

Fishing Chair

15 – Fishing Chair

Not everyone knows that there are specially made fishing chairs that anglers can not only when on the ice but also on banks or piers.

The post 15 Classic Fishing Gift Ideas for Bass Anglers first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

We scoured the internet (well Amazon really) to find all the best bass and fishing related man-cave items so you don’t have to. It’s like an early fishing report – but not.

All links accurate as of November 24, 2019. Originally published December 3, 2017. Please know that we may collect a share of the sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

#1. Bass Ceiling Fan/Light Chain

See a largemouth bass every single time you reach to turn on the light. See it swing in circles to the motion of your fan.

Buy on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#2. Flying Remote Control Bass

Fly this bad boy all around your man-cave, heck, make it the whole house.

Get it on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#3. Bass Popper Toy

Angry that you couldn’t go fishing? Squeeze away at your very own largemouth bass shaped popper toy!

Get from Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#4. Hand Painted Bass Replica

Order this hand painted largemouth bass replica to remind yourself of the beauty of this fish you pursue – and to support someone who hand paints fish replicas.

Sold through Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#5. Toy Fishing Truck and Boat Combo

Guys will always want toy trucks – always – no matter the age. Nowadays, you can get a toy truck with a nice bass boat hitched behind. Bonus points if you are able to find the exact make and model vehicle your buddy drives – give it a shot, seriously.

On Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#6. Largemouth Bass Throw Pillow

Get an avid angler this largemouth bass throw pillow so they can rest their head on a comfy plush bass and dream of the record catches to come.

Buy with Amazon Prime – Check current price on Amazon

#7. Largemouth Bass Weather Vein

Nothing screams, “I LOVE BASS!” to the neighborhood like a largemouth bass shaped weather vein on prominent display on your roof.

Purchase from Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#8. Largemouth Bass T-Shirt

Don’t even think about going to grab the newspaper or check the mail without a bass on your chest.

Found on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#9. Largemouth Bass Wall Art

Tin signs, posters, original art….are all acceptable choices for your walls.

Many choices on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#10. Largemouth Bass Salt and Pepper Shaker Holder

If there will be food served in your bass themed room then step up and get this salt and pepper shaker holder to complete the room.

Order on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#11. Fishing Reel Trinket/Storage Box

Make storage cool! Also a great place to put all the leftover hooks and lures you’ve been meaning to clean.

Buy on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#12. Fishing Themed Throw-Rug

Nothing ties a room together like a well placed bass themed rug.

Can be found on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#13. Fishing organization

For the fisherman who would like to be organized but spends all his free time fishing. Tackle box decals make it super easy to grab-n-go! Extra points for personalization and waterproof stickers.

Order from Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#14. Fishing Journal/Log Book

Ok, there a ton of killer smartphone apps out there but there is something nostalgic about keeping track of your fishing trips on paper – you never have to worry about battery life.

Buy on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#15. Fishing Magazine Subscription

There are several to choose from but only a few that are quality. In-Fisherman is quality BUT covers a multitude of fishing. Bassmaster or Field and Stream are a couple other obvious options.

Subscribe to the paper or kindle version via Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#16. Lure Display

This can be done in two ways – purchase the complete and likely better finished product from a professional at a much higher price. Or buy the supplies from a craft store like Hobby Lobby and make a pretty nice DIY lure display at a fraction of the price.

Get it on Amazon -Check current price on Amazon

#17. Bass Shower Curtain

If the man-cave bass theme is not enough – set the tone for the bathroom with this awesome largemouth bass shower curtain.

Buy on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#18. Bass slippers

Bass shirt, bass coffee cup, bass slippers. What’s next, bass shorts and socks?

Get them on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#19. Bass Bottle Opener

Catch a bass while your catching a buzz…..responsibly.

Found on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

#20. Bass shaped candy or food

Lastly, every guy loves food – amirite – so why not bass or fished shaped chocolate candy or cookies. This mold will allow you to melt some Hershey’s bars into bass shape – as many times as you want. 

Buy on Amazon – Check current price on Amazon

The post 20 Must Have Bass and Fishing Related Items For You Man-Cave first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Here is a list of the 2019 ICAST Best of Category winners, with product links and the prices that were listed when this article was published.

Historical note: non-Amazon prices below reflect 2019-era listings and should not be treated as current pricing. For a very different look at tackle history, browse our classic bass lures. For Amazon-linked products, use the current-availability link instead.

Best of Category – Boating Accessories – Garmin USA
Product: Force™ Trolling Motor
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Boats and Watercraft – Hobie
Product: Mirage ProAngler 14 with 360 Drive Technology
Price: $4,799

Best of Category – Eyewear – Costa Del Mar, Inc.
Product: WaterWoman
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Footwear – Frogg Toggs
Product: Skipper
Price: Available Spring 2020

Best of Category – Giftware – 13 Fishing 
Product: Fillet Table Beverage Management System
Price: Could Not Locate

Best of Category – Lifestyle Apparel – AFTCO/American Fishing Tackle Company

Product: Yurei Air-O-Mesh Performance Shirt
Price: $55 – Available January 2020

Best of Category – Technical Apparel – Cold Weather – Simms Fishing Products
Product: M’s G4Z® Stockingfoot Wader
Price: $849.95

Best of Category – Technical Apparel – Warm Weather – AFTCO/American Fishing Tackle Company
Product: Overboard Submersible Shorts
Price: $99 – Available January 2020

Best of Category – Ice Fishing – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
Product: Ice Helix 7 Chirp GPS G3N All-Season
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Cooler and Bait/Storage – Plano Synergy

Product: Frabill Magnum Bait Station 30
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Cutlery, Hand Pliers or Tools – Bubba
Product: 110V Electric Fillet Knife
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Electronics – Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc.
Product: MEGA 360 Imaging
Price: $1,199.99 – Available Soon

Best of Category – Fly Fishing Accessory – Simms Fishing Products
Product: Dry Creek® Z Sling Pack
Price: $199.97

Best of Category – Fishing Accessory – American Tackle Company
Product: MW20 Finesse Set
Price: Not Listed

Best of Category – Fishing Line – PowerPro
Product: Moon Shine Braid
Price: $20.99 – $43.99

Best of Category – Kids’ Tackle – Anything Possible Brands
Product: The Bumblebee by ProFISHiency
Price: Could Not Locate

Best of Category – Tackle Management – Plano Synergy
Product: Plano EDGE
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Terminal Tackle – Rapala
Product: VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble Short
Price: $5.99

Best of Category – Freshwater Soft Lure – Lunkerhunt
Product: Phantom Spider
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Saltwater Soft Lure – LIVETARGET
Product: Slow-Roll Shiner
Price: $9.99

Best of Category – Freshwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET
Product: Erratic Shiner
Price: $9.99

Best of Category – Saltwater Hard Lure – LIVETARGET
Product: Flutter Sardine
Price: $9.99

Best of Category – Freshwater Reel – Shimano
Product: SLX DC Baitcasting Reels
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Saltwater Reel – Shimano
Product: Stradic FL Spinning Reel
Price: Check current availability

Best of Category – Fly Reel – SEiGLER Reels
Product: SF (Small Fly)
Price: $750

Best of Category – Freshwater Rod – St. Croix of Park Falls
Product: Mojo Bass Glass MGC72HM Rip N’ Chatter Rod
Price: $160

Best of Category – Saltwater Rod – St. Croix of Park Falls
Product: Avid Surf VSS80MMF
Price: $260

Best of Category – Fly Fishing Rod – St. Croix of Park Falls
Product: Imperial Salt IS908.4
Price: From $340

Best of Category – Rod & Reel Combo – Lew’s Fishing 
Product: Lew’s Mach Smash Baitcast Combo
Price: $129.99

The post 2019 ICAST Best of Category Winners: Full List first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Manabu Kurita and his record setting largemouth bass in Japan.

Explore the record book: Read the story of Dottie, the 25-pound largemouth bass, and compare these catches with the largemouth bass records from all 50 states.

*Manabu Kurita officially tied Perry’s record from 1932 but his fish did not weigh 2 ounces more than Perry’s so it did not officially beat it.

*Dave Zimmerlee – several anglers claimed to have seen Zimmerlee pull the dying bass from the water instead of actually catching it. Zimmerlee denies this claim.

*Johnny Garduno – anglers claimed that Garduno used his net to scoop his bass as it investigated his stringer of trout.

*Sandy DeFresco – weights were found in the belly of this fish but nobody could explain why. Defresco was awarded the weight of the fish minus the 2.5 pound weight.

*Mike Long – after an expose and in-depth report by Kellen Ellis titled The Dark Secret of “America’s Big Bass Guru” – all of Mike Long’s catches are now suspect.

Interesting Note:

Mac Weakley in California.

An angler from California named Mac Weakley actually caught the largest largemouth bass ever but it did not count towards any records because he foul-hooked it!

On March 20, 2006 Mac caught a 25.1 pound bass with a distinctive dot on the bottom of her gill-plate on Lake Dixon the US state of California.

Mac could have gone the way of controversy as a few of the angler above but did not. He released Dottie after a quick picture. She died of old age 3 years later.

The post Largemouth Bass World Records first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

The post 2017 Bassmaster Classic – Houston, Texas (Lake Conroe) first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.

Lucky Tackle Box (LTB) and Mystery Tackle Box (MTB) side-by-side comparison.

Two of the most popular bass fishing monthly subscription boxes are Lucky Tackle Box (LTB) and the

Mystery Tackle Box (MTB). Both currently offer an entry level subscription package for $14.99/month, or cheaper if you subscribe for multiple months at once.

Both MTB and LTB typically accept a variety of promotional codes (even old ones) that allow you get a box for $5 including free shipping. You can simply cancel the subscription after the month and get the bait box for just 5 bucks. I found the following promotion codes on the web: For $10 off Mystery Tackle Box try: TRYMTB. For $10 off Lucky Tackle Box try: SAVE10

This video compares the July 2017 bass fishing gear (normal $14.99 membership) box shipment from each company: Lucky Tackle Box (LTB) and Mystery Tackle Box (MTB). The estimated retail value for LTB was $44.75 while the retail value of MTB was $24.83. The Lucky Tackle Box focused on topwater baits while the Mystery Tackle Box contained drop shot baits with the added frog.

The post Lucky Tackle Box (LTB) vs Mystery Tackle Box (MTB) first appeared on Bass Fishing Facts.