Fishing On SI - Sports Illustrated

The Starting Spot: -Seth Feider has teamed up with Z-Man to create the new “Secret Agent” Smallmouth bait. Definitely worth a look. -Bass jigs are a standard, a go-to, a reliable must-fish for bass anglers everywhere. But what if you could make them even better? -Especially in the heat of summer, creating the healthiest possible environment for the “passengers” riding in your live well is critical. Installing an oxygenator is easy and the bass will thank you.

The Starting Spot: New Secret Smallmouth Bait, 5 Tips to Better Bass Jigs, and Install an Oxygenator

The Starting Spot: -Seth Feider plus Z-Man creates new “Secret Agent” Smallmouth bait. -Bass jigs are a go-to. 5 tips to make them even better. -How to install a live well oxygenator.

Bass Fishing

The Starting Spot: Bass Camp for Kids, the Top 3 July Baits, and the Bassmaster AOY Race

Top 3 Fishing Stories of the Week: Choose the Right Lure, Bucket List Bass Lakes, and Slop Fishing Bass Secrets

Lunkerhunt Furenzy Mouse Review: Testing a New Topwater Killer for Largemouth Bass

Top 5 Baits for Potomac River Bass: How the June Bass Pro Tour Was Won

The Starting Spot: Summer Topwater Tips, the Key to Keith Combs Success, and New Okuma Spinning Reel

The Starting Spot: Call Me Florida Bass, Top July Bass Baits, and Trying to Make Sense of Our Lure Choices

The Starting Spot: The Truth About Being a Pro, Wood or Plastic Crankbaits, and McKinney In the Mix for AOY

The Starting Spot: HS National Champs, 20,000 Bass Released, and Green Bay Hosts World Street Fishing

Slop Fishing Secrets: How to Catch Big Largemouth Bass in Thick Cover

Fly Fishing

"We just have to make our way through this bear-infested brush."

The Morning Hatch - An Epic Fly Fishing Film, The Brain of an Angler, A Book List

A catch of a lifetime in Destination Baja

Destination-Baja: A Rare Fly Fishing Film That Dreams Are Made Of

A Yampa Valley rainbow trout.

The Morning Hatch - Marlin Spears An Angler, Steamboat's Female Fly Fishers, And Hoot Owl Restrictions in Montana

FORLOH outdoor clothing. Made in the U.S.A., and some of the best tech clothing on the market. | Photo provided by ECHOS

Take Advantage of This Sale, Your Fly Fishing Will Thank You.

Gear Reviews

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Bajío's Palometa sunglasses.

Best Fishing Sunglasses? Enter Bajío's Palometa

A fly fishing technical shirt is worth writing about when it serves as a functional tool while on the water, and looks good when worn casually.

I Spent a Week Abusing the Poncho Fly Fishing Shirt. Did It Pass the Test?

From finding the perfect gift for your dad who loves fishing and the outdoors, to the lasting memories of a daughter fishing her first bass tournament with her father, and 3 classic finesse baits that still catch bass today, these stories captured our Sports Illustrated fishing reader’s attention on Fishing on SI this past week.

Top 3 Fishing Stories of the Week: Fishy Dad Gifts, a Father-Daughter Bass Tournament, and 3 Classic Finesse Baits

I tested the new HUK Pro Series Rain Suit in a full week of cold, rainy fishing in northern Wisconsin. Find out how this 30K waterproof, 15K breathable rain gear performs for serious anglers.

HUK Pro Series Rain Suit Review: Real Results After a Week of Fishing in Cold Spring Rain

Arriving in the Bahamas for a week of bonefishing.

How To Save Money on Fly Fishing Trips: A Travel Hack Before You Get to the Airport.

I used Outdoorsy to rent a Dodge RAM Promaster 2500 and complete a solo cross-country fishing trip. Here’s my review of Outdoorsy and how it has changed my thoughts about fishing travel.

Fishing Trip RV Rental Review: Outdoorsy Makes Cross-Country Travel Easy

If you're looking for the perfect gift for a fishing or camping dad, this 2025 gift guide features 10 tried-and-tested outdoor essentials he’ll actually use and love.

10 Best Gifts for Outdoorsy Dads Who Love Fishing & Camping (2025 Edition)

Some details of a Lone Bison fly tying table.

Is This the Ultimate Fly Tying Table for Small Spaces?

Destinations

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The Hythe Resort in Vail, Colorado, can set you up for some top-notch fly fishing.

The Hythe in Vail: Proving Luxury Resorts Can Deliver Serious Fly Fishing

Women Fly Fishing on the River Spey

National Women’s Fly Fishing Day and the River Spey

Alaskan Guide Mason Cochran for the assist.

The Morning Hatch - Tuna Blowing Up Fly Rods, Return of a Native Trout, And Tarpon on Top

The crown jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains – a native Appalachian brook trout.

Chetola Resort | A Blue Ridge Mountain Fly Fishing Gem

Sometimes the big ones require a bit of a drive.

Best Practices for an Epic Fly Fishing Road Trip

Catching fat, chunky smallies on four-inch streamers.

Grand Rapids Smallmouth Bass: A Great City and an Exceptional Fishery

The first of three Great Lakes steelhead I caught on a rainy day just outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Fly Fishing for Steelhead Just Minutes Outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Max Werkman releasing a steelhead he swung up from a deep hole at the end of a run.

Why Grand Rapids Should Be Your Next Unexpected Fly Fishing Hotspot

Freshwater

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How_To_Fish_Planer_Board.mp4

How to Fish with Planer Boards: Trolling Tips to Catch More Fish

The author hefts his personal best lake trout, caught while downrigger fishing on Lake Superior.

How to Fish With a Downrigger: Deep Water Trolling Tips for Trout, Salmon and Walleye

You don't see many cats in fishing boats, but I love having my favorite fishing companion along.

Fishing With a Cat: How “Harbor” Became My Favorite Fishing Companion

Finish every cast by drawing a figure 8 with your lure to boat more muskies.

How to Figure 8: Trigger More Muskies to Strike

Use the lightest sinker that gives you good feel for the bottom and you'll catch more walleyes.

Best Sinkers for Walleye Fishing: How to Choose the Right Rig for Any Condition

Hold fish securely, but not too tightly, especially if you plan to release them. Avoid touching their eyes or gills and make sure you support their weight.

How to Hold a Fish Without Hurting It or Yourself: Safe Grips for Every Species

Struggling to pick the right lure? Learn 8 key factors—from species and water temperature to cover and depth—to boost your catch rate and confidence on the water.

How to Choose the Right Fishing Lure: 8 Expert Tips for Fishing Success

From trolling spinners for weed walleye, to building your own tapered trout leaders, to frog fishing for summer bass, these stories captured our Sports Illustrated fishing reader’s attention on Fishing on SI this past week.

Top 3 Fishing Stories of the Week: Spinners for Weed Walleye, DIY Tapered Trout Leader, and Slop Frog Bassin’ Tips

Saltwater

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Watch The Yacht Life, a new TV series blending offshore fishing, luxury center consoles, and saltwater adventure with HCB Yachts.

The Yacht Life : A New TV Series Bringing Beautiful Boats, Big Fish, and Saltwater Adventure to Life

Launching your bass boat solo in under 90 seconds can be done almost every time if you follow this expert step-by-step guide. Stay safe, avoid ramp chaos and get fishing faster.

Launch a Bass Boat Solo in Under 90 Seconds: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

Nothing beats a full day of redfish.

The Lagoonigan Fishing Tournament | Bajío's Inaugural Mosquito Lagoon Giveback

Taking a newbie fishing? Keep it fun, simple and entertaining and your guest may be hooked for life!

How to Teach New Anglers to Fish: A Fun, Beginner-Friendly Guide

This pink salmon is small, but the twisted line it bit on is of world record proportions. Failing to use swivels can cause monofilament line twist.

How to Prevent and Fix Fishing Line Twist Like a Pro

It's important to understand why boating safety matters more than ever and how programs like BoatClass are giving boaters the tools to keep themselves and everyone around them safe on the water.

Why Boater Safety Training Matters More Than Ever in 2025

From gold-striped snakeheads to neon pompano and a 22-pound gourami, these actual record-breaking fish look like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Top 3 Wildest-Looking World Record Fish of 2024: Actual IGFA Certified Records You Won’t Believe

Dave Harding, a representative for the pier-fishing advocacy group Fishing Piers. is protesting a regulation he says unfairly prohibits shore-based anglers from fishing for, catching, landing and keeping bluefin tuna.

Blown away by bluefin rule, NC angler blows up inflatable floatie in protest, plans to fish from it

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Fly fishing for wild brookies on an Appalachian stream.

The Morning Hatch – New Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast, A Remote Oregon Fishing Lodge, And an Homage to Bluegills

Enjoying a break in the fishing.

The Morning Hatch - Fly Fishing Across the USA, PTSD and Fly Fishing, and Carp in the Park

The colors of a wild brookie burn bright in a WV creek.

The Morning Hatch – The World's Finest Fly Fishing School, How an Orvis Fly Rod is Made, And Inshore Fishing Tips

Taking a moment.

The Morning Hatch - Walleye on the fly, Record Tiger Trout, Women Anglers and their Contribution to Fly Fishing

A lovely Wisconsin trout stream.

The Morning Hatch - Saving Yellowstone Cutthroats, The Great John Gierach, and Chasing Big Bluegills

The Starting Spot: -Ott DeFoe, the third winningest angler ever on the Bass Pro Tour gets win five on the Potomac River. Success came way up a creek, ultra shallow, pitching a jig. -Long-form, heartfelt conversation with Bassmaster Emcee, Dave Mercer and Elite pro Brandon Palaniuk. Nearly two hours of what makes this sport great. -Less than two months after his first major win at the Lake Fork Elite, Tucker Smith scores a W at the Toyota Series on Champlain. Get used to hearing his name.

The Starting Spot: DeFoe’s 5th BPT Win, Palaniuk Interviews Mercer, and Tucker Smith on Top

Think time on the water is all it takes to become a pro bass fisherman? Discover why deliberate practice is the true key to tournament success—and how lots of pros unknowingly overlook it.

Time on the Water Won’t Make You an Expert Bass Fisherman—But This Will

A slippery rainbow.

The Morning Hatch - Record Trout, Protecting Spawning Bonefish, And a Case for Slowing Down While Fishing

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The Starting Spot: -In most places around the country, the smallmouth bass spawn is just about done, but the bass haven’t really fallen into their summer patterns yet. Here’s how to catch them right now. -Bass pro Laker Howell shares a quick, deadly tip for hooking more bites on a Senko. And it works great on all your Texas-rigged baits. -When the water gets high and stained bass live tight to cover. Here are some great tips to find the best cover and fish it effectively.

The Starting Spot: Catch Transitioning Smallmouth, Senko Mod Tip, and High-Water Bass Cover

Clear Lake in California is a special place. That's why it, and these five other legendary waters, should be on every true bass fishing fan's bucket list.

6 Bucket List Bass Fishing Lakes You Need to Visit Before You Die

The Starting Spot: -Top-notch advice for catching more bass on a slop frog this summer. Who wouldn’t want that? -Did you know you can get a college scholarship for bass fishing? Collegiate fishing has become a viable path to a pro career. -If you’ve never competed in a bass tournament, your first one can be intimidating. Get some solid tips here and make the most of your first event.

The Starting Spot: Summer Slop Frog Bass, Collegiate Bass Careers, and Bass Tournament Tips

A beautiful streamer-caught brook trout.

The Morning Hatch - Essential Trout Skills, Fly Fishing Pocket Water, and Catching Trout on Beetles and Ants

Former Bassmaster Editor, Dave Precht shares his plans for a fulfilling retirement. Hint: It includes bass fishing. St.Croix Rods has reimagined the best-selling American-made rod series, Premier, with even better performance, more tech and angler-driven specs. Nobody can touch the proven success of the big bass programs in the state of Texas. Genetically superior fingerling bass produced by the Texas Toyota ShareLunker program released into already legendary O.H. Ivie sounds like a can’t miss.

The Starting Spot: Longevity Through Fishing, Best-Selling Rod Gets Better, and More Big TX Bass

The Starting Spot: Poche Wins Big Shallow, Flipping for Bass, and Bass Sponsorship

The Starting Spot: Poche Wins Big Shallow, Flipping for Bass, and the Truth About Bass Sponsorship

Photographer Gary Tramontina captures a happy Connor Cinelli with a chunky Niagara River smallmouth bass.

How To Fish a Streamer Like a Jerkbait for BIG Smallmouth Bass

The category of fishing gear known as terminal tackle—hooks, weights, jigs, and other miscellaneous rigging bits— really is the foundation for any bass angler’s fishing arsenal.

Terminal Tackle Guide for Bass Fishing Beginners: The Complete Starter Kit Checklist

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These are the Top 5 baits that helped Jacob Wheeler and other top anglers produce at the 2025 Bass Pro Tour on Kentucky Lake. Classic ledge fishing at its best.

Top 5 Lures That Dominated the 2025 Bass Pro Tour on Kentucky Lake

Today we're covering the NPFL’s plans for a Military Classic tournament, the new Yamamoto Slinko 3.25, and 10 Odd Bass Baits Worth Fishing.

The Starting Spot: NPFL Military Classic, a New Ned from Yamamoto, and 10 Oddball Bass Baits

Up close and personal with largemouth bass. Today we’re covering Keith Combs’ recommendations for Summer Bass Baits, the new Skeeter Boats ZXE model line, and a new worm from Big Bite Baits called the Thresher.

The Starting Spot: Combs’ Top 3 Summer Baits, a New Hotrod Skeeter Boat, and the Versatile Big Bite Thresher Worm

With a four-day total of 63 pounds, Alabama’s Wes Logan wins the Lowrance Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller by just one ounce!

Wes Logan Wins Bassmaster Elite at Lake Tenkiller in Fitting Father’s Day Finish

"Go easy, go easy."

The Morning Hatch - Sins of Fly Fishing, The Greatest Fly? And "Is Fly Fishing Hard?"

Wes Logan’s Elite victory, the best bass lures for June fishing, and Jacob Wheeler sharing details of his win on Kentucky Lake.

The Starting Spot: Logan Pounces on Tenkiller Trophy, June Bass Lures, and How Wheeler Won Kentucky

To catch boatloads of big Tennessee River bass during a shad spawn, Major League Fishing Pro David Walker spends his mornings casting reaction baits and finesse rigs at freshwater mussel beds on the tops of shallow, offshore bars.

Shad Spawn 101: David Walker’s Best Baits for Catching Big Bass on Tennessee River Bars

My first bass tournament with my dad on the Mississippi River.

Fishing with Dad: The Bass Tournament That Taught Me More Than Winning

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Check out the shift of young Minnesota anglers from walleye to bass, tips to find transitional postspawn to summer bass, and Marler wins the NPFL tournament on Lake Eufaula.

The Starting Spot: Bass Over Walleye, Summer Bass Patterns, and the NPFL on Eufaula

Landing a beautiful Alaskan rainbow trout.

The Morning Hatch - Fly Fishing With a Shorter Rod, Voted the #1 River in America, And Understanding Tippet Length

Flipping jigs are guaranteed to help you horse big bass to the boat

The Flipping Jig: Is This The BEST Bass Bait?

In this edition of The Starting Spot Daily Bass Fishing Headlines, we’re covering, the Scrounger jig making it’s way back into the bass fishing limelight, a new bait finesse system bladed jig from Z-Man, and a lure upgrade One-Touch Blade from Gamakatsu.

The Starting Spot: Return of the Scrounger, New Finesse Bladed Jig, and the New Gamakatsu Blade

Texas-rigged soft plastics are a go-to for catching bass on deep weed edges in natural northern lakes. Let me show you rigging tips, gear guides, and top lure picks for summer success.

Texas-Rigged Soft Plastics: The Ultimate Deep Weedline Bite for Summer Bass

In this edition of The Starting Spot Daily Bass Fishing Headlines, we’re covering, an urgent call to help Save Rodman Reservoir, a discussion about pro bass anglers after retirement, and Gerald Swindle shares summer bass tips.

The Starting Spot: Save Legendary Rodman Reservoir, Bass Pro Retirement Concerns, and Swindle Summer Bass Tips

A mayfly, caddis, and terrestrial insect imitation.

Fly Fishing Lessons | What Do Trout Eat?

These are the top 3 lures that carried Wes Logan and other pros to strong fineshes at the 2025 Bassmaster Elite on Lake Tenkiller.

Top 3 Lures That Won the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Tournament on Lake Tenkiller

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Learn how to install the Humminbird XPLORE 9 on an Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro kayak without drilling. Step-by-step DIY guide + full video.

DIY Install: Humminbird XPLORE 9 on Old Town Sportsman 120 PDL Pro (No Drilling!)

Even in close quarters, the ability to cast far will serve you well.

How to Cast a Fly Rod Farther

You may already have three of the best finesse bass lures ever made.

3 Classic Finesse Bass Baits That Still Catch Bass Today

Releasing an Arctic char in the rain.

The Morning Hatch - Tiger Fish!, a 52-Pound Freshwater Striped Bass, and “How To” for Saltwater Fly Fishing

The Case for Jacob Wheeler as the Best Bass Tournament Angler Ever, Legal Complaints Filed Against ABA, and Seth Feider and John Cox Talk Fishing.

The Starting Spot: The Best Bass Angler Ever, ABA Lawsuit, and Feider and Cox Q&A

Mike Iaconelli’s Persistent Injury Benches Him for Tenkiller, Good News from the Bass Hall of Fame, and More Good News from Major League Fishing.

The Starting Spot: Ike Sits One Out, Bass Hall of Fame Supports Conservation, and MLF Supports Habitat

You'll find plenty of subsurface eaters.

Fly Fishing Lessons: Tight Line Nymphing - Tips & Techniques

Get Expert Tips to Catch Bass in the Wind, Invasive Bass Threaten North Carolina, and Best Places for Giant Bass.

The Starting Spot: Catch Bass in the Wind, Invasive Bass Threaten NC, and Hotspots for Monster Bass

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Check out the Dave Mercer podcast with Dakota Ebare, Bass’ Memory and Learning Capacities, and Bernie Schultz Looks Back on a Long Successful Career.

The Starting Spot: Ebare Unloads, Bass Memories, and Bernie Schultz Remembers

Small streams call for short leaders.

How to Build Your Own Tapered Trout Leader

In this edition of The Starting Spot Daily Bass Fishing Headlines, check out the Details of Jacob Wheeler’s Ninth (yes, ninth) BPT win, the Best Ways to Catch Bass Around Bluegill Beds, and the Great Kevin VanDam Shares Shallow Summer Power Fishing Secrets.

The Starting Spot: It’s Wheeler’s World, Bream Bed Bassin’ Now, and Power Fishing with KVD

A fly angler having second thoughts about posing for a photo.

The Morning Hatch – Jungle Tarpon on a SUP, Why Nymphs, Fixing Common Fly Fishing Mistakes

From trolling spinners for weed walleye, to swinging streamers for big browns, to frog fishing for summer bass, these stories captured our Sports Illustrated fishing reader’s attention on Fishing on SI this past week.

Top 3 Fishing Stories of the Week: Spinners for Weed Walleye, Brown Trout on Streamers, and Slop Frog Bassin’

There are lots of places to have a successful day of fishing from the shore without a boat.

Top 10 Best Places to Fish Without a Boat: Bank, Pier & Ice Fishing Tips

Furry fishing companions.

What Makes a Great Fishing Dog?

Sometimes unhooking fish is easy. Other times you may need a pliers or other special tools or techniques to remove the hook.

How to Unhook Fish Safely: Tips for Catch and Release Success

	
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