Good habits for 2026
This is the time of year when a lot of people start talking about New Year’s Resolutions. I do this too, but instead of focusing on big changes, I’m choosing...
From Idaho to Florida and back
December has been quite a whirlwind for me, and it’s not even Christmas as I write this. It started with my quest for a giant sturgeon on Idaho’s Snake River,...
Bassin’, bucks and business
I try to make the best use of my offseason time and that comes down to a mix of deer hunting, business organization and fishing. I do a lot of...
Frigid December Bassmaster Classic practice
I’m working on this column in my truck, which is parked at a boat ramp in Knoxville, Tenn. It’s Monday morning, Dec. 15, and a crisp 20 degrees. I backed...
New Elite anglers are the real deal
Congratulations to the new Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers for 2026! The path to the Elites through the Elite Qualifiers Series was no easy task and brought out the best of the...
EQ profile: Russ Lane returns to the Elites
From 2006 through 2018, Prattville, Ala., homie Russ Lane had the distinction of being an Elite Series angler. He earned a payday more than 50% of the time and competed...
Dealing with rejection
Once upon a time, I just fished. Fishing meant casting and/or pitching thousands of times a day. I would use dozens of lures on all types of cover. On any...
My boat swap process
One of the biggest offseason tasks I have to coordinate every year is my boat changeover. It’s a necessary part of being a professional angler, but it’s more involved than...
My Finest Hour: Johnston employs experience for St. Lawrence victory
While Bassmaster Elite pros strive for excellence throughout each event, the right combination of variables occasionally align to create the opportunity for superlative performance. Success hinges on seizing the moment, rising to the occasion and turning in a truly memorable performance. Here’s an example from Cory Johnston.
Why I’m starting a guiding service
It’s mid-December as I write this, and I’ve just spent a fantastic 60-degree day on Lake Ouachita, my home lake, with Jeremiah Kindy. Jeremiah won the Lake Ouachita Bassmaster Open...
