Sen about 6 emails to folks who said a while back they'd like to test out a product, heard back from 3. If you filled out that deal, pls check your email, spam, whatever!

On that note: Looking for 2 Scopers to "test" a couple new baits. Lmk!

Other than that, well – we got another one:

She's (Honey) the one closer to the camera, much smaller than she looks there – Boone is 60 lbs, she's maybe 30. She's 7 months, needed to be rehomed. From show parents, normally not our deal but after the meet and greet with ol' Boone, I actually liked that she's chill compared to him. Not sure I could handle 2 Boones lol.

Wife and I weren't into the puppy grind, so 7 months old and already potty- and crate-trained worked out for us. She's a sweet little gal.

She was overfed and in a crate 5 hours a day, so we're leaning her out. She's learning our commands and how to retrieve, not into swimming yet. The training is way less intense than for a hunting dog. Actually happy I don't have to hunt 'em both.

PSA: Early spay/neuter is not a thing anymore. Has long-term health effects, which makes sense. So we have 1, maybe 2, heats in her before we go down that road. Should be interesting with an intact male!

Got her because we love animals and this life is short man. But the next one ain't! ✝️🙏

Gitcha Blaster social fix here:

That probably should be "uppercut" because Banks – who is still in college at the U of North AL – just walloped the MLF Invitationals. He floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee. He cakewalked over a field of hammers. It was kinda unprecedented.

What it looked like:

His worst finish was a 9th and he had a win too. That's Jacob Wheeler-esque stuff man. You don't see that every day. Did I mention it was his first year fishing the Invitationals? He won AOY (by 74 points!) and ROY! 🤯 And he finished 2nd at the recent Invitational Championship.

Not only that, he LIKES not having to use FFS all the time. In other words, watch out for this young TN angler, especially if he drops his boat in at your derby – which he will be doing on the Bass Pro Tour next year. Let's learn a little more about him.

1. What happened to you this year – did you get one of those Elon Musk brain chips put in like Easton Fothergill did?? 😁

> "[Laughs] I mean I definitely didn't get one of those – I really didn't know what happened to me. I started off the year kinda strong and just fished super, super confident throughout the year – after getting a good finish [at the 1st one]...carrying the momentum.

> "... just fishing with a lot of confidence. I kind of knew everywhere I went.

> "I tried to figure out the fish in the area I was in – I just tried to pick the right area that has the winning fish...."

What does that mean, pick the right area with the winning fish – does that mean an area with a bigger average size?

> "...you gotta a pick a general area where you're gonna fish. Some places you don't because they're not as big. But a lot of these places are so big, if you're going to do good – it'll hurt you more if you go to a general area 1 day and then completely move [vs] if you just dissect an area and figure the fish out....

> "If you spend all your time doing something in an area, it seems like you can do better doing that. It seemed like every place I went this year I would figure out the fish in the area I picked. I feel like I can figure out the fish wherever I go, it's just whether I pick the right area that has a little big bigger average fish."

Are you picking the area before you get there or in practice?

> "Typically before I get there I do as much research, map study and that kind of stuff. I'll have a really good general idea, basically just break down that area of the lake and kinda just go with that.

> "I was fishing with so much confidence I felt like...anywhere I was at I would figure out the fish that were around me. I felt like I wasn't messing up...not catching onto something."

2. How did college fishing prepare you for this year?

> "It definitely set me up and put me on track to have the season I had. It's the toughest field I think that there is.

> "It's the toughest team tournament out there...because it's 200+ boats in pretty much every tournament...we can use all of our electronics. So to be able to compete with those guys it kinda just told me I could definitely compete against solo guys.

> "I'd say there's no way I'd be where I'm at without college.

> "Another thing is...there's not a lot on the line. Most of the time you fish on the school's dime. You don't really have to worry about gas and that kind of stuff. You can go out there and if you want to you can just idle around the entire practice and not really fish, and just learn the lake and use it for the future and not really at the time.

> "That's what I did a lot. It allows you to look for stuff off the beaten path – because if you don't do that good in a college tournament it's not the end of the world. It's not like you're going to go broke...

> "So you can take those risks and look for that crazy kind of pattern and take a risk. It gives you the opportunity to pick up on those things and...what to look for when you take it to the next level."

3. You said in an MLF post you were tired of college tourneys and that they 'weren't that rewarding.' What did you mean by that?

> "That's kinda what I touched on. It's rewarding...it'll make you feel pretty good once you beat all those guys. But I would much rather fish any other tournament because the competition is so hard [in college].

> "The only rewarding part of it is knowing you beat some real good guys. ...you compete with those guys, work your tail off and...you don't win any money. The...MLF national Championship, it pays pretty good. I know you can make the bracket to the Bassmaster [Classic[.

> "Those are really the only 2 things you can look forward to in college fishing if you're looking for a pay day. That's where I'm coming from...where I kind of got burned out....

> "I still love college fishing. I'm still going to fish a couple this year."

[He is a senior with 2 semesters left, which he says will probably be this fall and next fall. He will fish pro this spring.]

4. Do you think college fishermen have an advantage over guys who don't go to college and fish?

> "Yeah I would say 100%, no doubt about it. It gives you that tournament exposure with how many college tournaments there are. You just go all over the place fishing tournaments. So you get to the point where it's just another tournament...you're not getting all nervous.

> "Being able to fish for free – I'm pretty sure most schools pay for gas and lodging – it makes it a lot easier.... Getting a degree, and learning how to tournament-fish, and getting the layout of things before you actually fish for big money makes it a lot easier.

> "If you can compete in college, you can compete anywhere. It's super tough to win a college tournament. It's a grind."

[He said this about the Invitationals:]

> "...day 2 with no LiveScope, I feel like I thrive in those conditions. ...mix it up a little bit, and fish for a lot of the same LiveScope fish without it. I felt like I could catch those fish better without it because I've been fishing for so long...."

5. Since you'll be fishing the Bass Pro Tour, what do you think about that format?

> "I really like it. I think it's super smart to be able to use your electronics, being able to practice with [FFS], seeing what's going around you....

> "When you can't use it at all, even in practice, it makes you feel like you're blind out there. [With FFS[ you can see stumps, you don't hit things – a lot of these lakes you've never been to or you've never been to that area. A lot of times the [map] contours aren't exactly right....

> "Being able to use it 1/3 of the day...I really like that. There will be tournaments where you really need it...fish roaming around out there and hard to target without it.

> "For me I think it will fit me really good because I like to turn it off.

> "I'm definitely fishing the BPT and the Pro Circuit – I on't know for sure if I will fish all of the Pro Circuit. If I do decide to fish both trails, all events, with college tournaments...we're used to tourneys back to back and going all over the place so it's not that big of a change for me."

[Watch out for this dude! Bassin' biz peeps: This well-spoken, polite, young saved man has openings for some sponsors. Might be someone you want to get with asap!]

Athletics is way more intense now, not all for the good in my 2c. But either way, whatever sport someone is into, usually there's a couple "can't miss" events that you have to go to if you want to do it at the college level.

I don't have much knowledge about HS bassin', but from what I know about Logan Parks' NSANE Tournament, I assume that's one of the musts if you can make it. Covered it in a Top 5 of the Week video last fall and man it sounds great.

Short version is that to give back, Logan has this deal where HS anglers come in and learn from college fishermen – paired up with 'em in a team tourney but more than that. Kinda a big bonus this year – if you can afford it! – is this:

> ...the top 2 finishers in the college division of the 2025 Logan Parks Fishing Foundation Nitro Boats NSANE Tournament presented by Abu Garcia [that's 12 words!] will each be awarded free entry into the 2026 Bassmaster Opens, selecting the division that best fits their path.

Dang! A little more:

> For Logan Parks, this mission is personal. Upon graduating college, he won the Bass Pro Shops US Open National Amateur Team Championship, a moment he describes as the financial catalyst that gave him the ability to chase his professional fishing career.

> "I'll never forget what that opportunity did for me...gave me the resources and confidence to take the leap into the next chapter of my career. Our goal is simple – we don't ever want a student angler to quit fishing because of a lack of opportunity."

Hank Weldon was involved in the 2 Opens slots deal and said:

> "It's about giving them the stage, the structure and the confidence to believe that their dreams in competitive bass fishing are within reach."

It'll be on Lake Martin, AL, Nov 14-16, and will award over $300K in cash, schollys, and prizes, including a Nitro bass tub giveaway.

Learn more at LoganParksFishingFoundation.com.

This bass recently came outta Cordell Hull, TN:

Orange so of course it was TN lol. Okay this bass was caught in a tourney a week or so before that one:

Have to assume it's the same fish, unless someone opened a neon-colored bass factory on that lake. Crazy-looking for sure. It's a...smallmouth? Just guessing.

Unconfirmed rumor is that Crispin Powley of GSM said he will camp on that lake for "however long it takes" to catch that fish and donate it to the Vols bassin' team for a mascot. 🤣 You can meet many crazy Vols fans, but maybe not one as crazy as him.

Alright anyhow – seen gold largies before, but orange??

1. AL: We lost a brother on Wedowee

Post ^ says he was in a bass boat that collided with a tri-toon at 8pm. Sounds like everyone else was okay. Please pray for all involved. Bless you bassin' brother. ✝️🙏

2. Hank Cherry gets Seviin Reels

St Croix's reel brand.

3. Bill Lowen is using FFS to find isolated cover

From BassFan ^:

> "I'm not necessarily using it to see a bass and throw at that bass. For me, it's really good at finding isolated cover, something that I didn't know was there. 90% of the time I still don't see the fish, but I can make a cast and get a bite. Instead of fighting it, I made it fit into my style."

4. Robert Gee fishing the Open EQs to get in the Classic

> ...I finished a few spots out of the 2026 Bassmaster Classic cut. I'm qualified to fish the Elites again next year, but also making the Classic is a big part of my goals.

5. Greg Hackney uses 2 sizes of tubes for smallmouths

> I've found when the fish are active, the 3.5" tube works best, but if they are finicky the [2.5"] tends to work best.

6. Get fishing tiddybits from Ben Milliken Sept 30

In AZ, Copper State Tackle, 6pm.

7. Here's the 106 anglers fishing the Bassmaster EQs

Quick count, believe there's 15 Elite pros in there, MLFers Michael Neal and Brandon Coulter, plus Russ Lane and Ryan Salzman. Shoutout to GSM's Jack "of all trades" Dice for making it – dude does so much at GSM he must be on the energy drink plan there too.

STOUT field.

8. AZ: Triple-D won the WON Lake Mead Open

Dylan Denny "Brauer" from Dewey (Kendrick? 😁) won by 2 lbs with 10 for 28.03:

> ...he fished "up the river"...flexible with his presentations to catch his fish. "I really had to just feel what the fish were doing and throw different things to catch them."

> ...key fish on Lucky Craft LV 500 lipless crankbaits, 6th Sense Curve 55 Crankbaits ripped through the grass. ...a 1/2-oz Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer in 'B Hite special' with a matching trailer.

> When things got tougher on day 2, he also mixed in a Carolina rig....

Gotta shout out Cliff "diver" Pirch who got 6th.

9. AR: Some results from DNR bass teleport study

I mean telemetry hahaha! At Millwood:

> 72% of tagged fish are using flats, 11% flats on points, 10% river channels, 6% creek channels, and only 2% on points.

> Fish are usually detected at certain vegetation types, with giant cutgrass and American lotus being the most common hangout locations.

> Most bass are homebodies – the majority stay close to where they were originally caught. But some fish are wanderers....

> We have had 13 angler recaptures so far from tournament-caught fish. 1 fish traveled at least 4 miles from the capture point to the recapture location. 

> Some fish appear to be showing a "homing instinct" – trying to return to the same area they were caught in the lake after they were released at the tournament boat ramp.

2-year study is ongoing. Not sure if any of that is new about bass, but interesting anyhow.

10. OR goes full anti-bass in rivers

> The commission voted to allow spearfishing for bass and walleye in rivers and streams that are open with no limit for the 2 species. That includes most streams statewide for bass, but not lakes and reservoirs, where there is typically a bag limit on bass. The new rules begin Jan 1, 2026.

11. Berkley goes full spectrum with the Finisher

One thing you gotta give the Berkley folks is that when they have confidence in something, they don't mess around – meaning they release a whole bunch of sizes and colors. Appears the Forward Facing Science-designed Finisher is one such bait.

It's a hard bait, no lip, designed for FFS but not only that, and on social I've seen multi-species anglers whacking the fish with 'em. They initial released the bait in sizes 5, 7 and 9, and now just went smaller (#4) and bigger (#10).

The #4 is 1.5" and 3/16-oz, and the #10 is 4" and 1 3/16-oz.

> Purpose-built for FFS, the Finisher maximizes its time in the strike zone by "hovering" and moving laterally in the water column. This unique ability allows anglers to precisely maneuver the bait based on real-time fish behavior.

All sizes are on TW.

Btw this week Berkley is announcing a bunch of new baits. Check their social for more....

12. ME: Sounds like Penobscot smallies are doing better

After a river restoration project involving dams and flows. Salmon are doing well too.

13. Michael Tucci now on Sportsman's Warehouse board

Retail investor guy.

14. WI: New state catch/release muskie recod = 56"!!

Not a bass but lookit that thing! 29" around, caught on a paddletail swimbait by guide Jeff Van Remortel:

Headline of the Day

Waterfowl hunters can prevent spread of aquatic invasive species

Dang straight! Boil them waders and spray down your dogs! 🤪

Is it riprap time yet?

Good fall-time tips from an older Bassmaster post with Terry Butcher ^:

> "I'll look for a channel swing that comes close to the bank or an old river channel that parallels the riprap. Any variation like that can become a key area."

> ...a long cast parallel to the riprap bank. "I like to position my boat right up against the bank and parallel the shore. The whole key is getting your bait to make contact with the rock."

> Butcher explains that the bass will sit several feet off the riprap bank and face the shore, looking to ambush shad that are feeding in inches of water. A well-placed cast will generate a reaction bite from bass lying in wait.

> Butcher's lure selection for riprap banks is fairly simple. Starting out, he prefers fast moving baits like buzzbaits and shallow crankbaits.

> "Most of the time you'll catch a lot more fish if they're hitting a moving bait. If I feel like there are fish in the area, or if I'm getting a lot of short strikes, I'll turn around and go back down the bank with a flipping bait."

"The wacky rig just flat-out got more bites than anything else."

- Keith Carson talkin' 'bout him and team pard Luke Clausen fishing the MLF team deal somewhere in WI. Maybe that's because Keith fishes a wacky-rigged Berkley MaxScent General in 'baby bass' about 90% of the time wherever he is? 😁

Ben Milliken caught the unofficial WY state record smallmouth this summer – weighed 6-04 but in the pic it looks at least 8! Unofficial because he released it. He said:

> "I was fishing a sand point and she followed my dropshot to the boat along with another smallie. I fished further around the point then spun around and fired a bait back to the area I saw her follow. When I picked up my slack she was already swimming off with the bait."

I like how Ben takes his game all over the place – tests himself and usually gets an A! 😁

Fishers of Men Tournament Trail

Bass Chaplain podcasts

Contact Chris Wells the Bass Chaplain

CullGear.com - Versaweb

Advanced Angler

StrayCasts crazy web show!

BassEdge Radio

Champion Jigs

Trophy Bass Co.

National Professional Anglers Assoc.