I learned about the Stormr Strykr neoprene cold weather suit at what was then the coldest Bassmaster Classic to date. In the decade since then, it has made me a much more enthusiastic cold weather fisherman.

We have 20 people headed to Panama and our first-timers are a bit nervous about what clothing to bring. We’ll be on a remote island, exposed to the elements for eight or nine hours a day, and no one wants to be uncomfortable. This video shows exactly what I’m packing.

My 2024 fishing travel highlight took place in Panama when we got into multiple schools of tuna and I caught them on bass tackle. We’re headed back in January, and while that’s not ultra-prime tuna popping time, I’m hoping that I can use some of that same gear for not just tuna, but also inshore species.

Most of you who fish for bass are probably trying to imitate shad, perch, bluegills or crawfish with your lures but I sincerely doubt that any of you think that your local bass feed on tarpon or Murray Cod. Nevertheless, some of our premier manufacturers have come up with lures like these nine odd patterns

I claim not to be a tackle junkie. However, the longer I continue to fish, the more I realize how much specific baits can make a difference. I’m truly catching on to why we have a garage full of baits. Here are 5 that made a difference in 2024.

When I first got into bass fishing, Tequila Sunrise was a standard color. Multiple manufacturers still make soft plastics in their respective versions of Tequila Sunrise, but they’ve also extended the tequila brand to various other categories of lures like jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

The 80s-reminiscent styling of the Costa Del Mar Grand Catalinas may not be for everyone, but with the gold mirror lenses I found them to be a solid all-around performer that I reached for repeatedly.

There is nothing worse than waking up early in the morning to fish and not knowing what to wear. Packing for a fishing trip is equally difficult: What do I take? What if it gets dirty? What if I don’t like it once we get there? I continue to refine my “must take” items to include a stack of clothes that go with me on nearly every trip.

I enjoy a lot of seafood, but I draw the line at oysters, clams and mussels. Some people find them to be tasty, and others are convinced that oysters are an aphrodisiac, but to me they seem like wads of phlegm. Nevertheless I’m not going to rain on your parade if they’re your jam. Also, an oyster-colored lure is sometimes great.

OK, the headline was a little clickbaity, and it’s something we’ll never be able to answer anyway, but oddly enough there are plenty of lure manufacturers who produce baits with “snot” in the name. Here are some of the winners we “picked.”

You may want to get the bass angler in your life a new 20’ boat, the latest in electronics, or a coveted one-of-a-kind glidebait, but if you’re on a budget, that’s probably not feasible. Nevertheless, if you have $20 to spend, you can get them something they’ll really like.

I still believe that in many cases the best gift you can give a loved one or acquaintance is an experience, but even trips require some sort of gear. Here are some of the options that we either own or would like to receive ourselves.

Do you have a bunch of money? Do you have a bass angler in your life who deserves something (or several somethings) really nice? Well, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of pricey items that will show someone you’ve been thinking about them and that you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is.

Back in the day, when I fished in winter I coveted the snowmobile suits and motorcycle helmets the older guys owned, but now I can stay every bit as warm with gear that’s faster-drying, more comfortable and lighter, allowing me to stay more mobile and to fish longer.

The Yeti One Gallon Water Jug is an amazing piece of technology that is worth the price. It’ll prevent you from getting dehydrated and stand up to any abuse you can dish out — and it comes in great colors.

Elite Series pro Matty Wong has learned to rely heavily on spinning tackle. The most bubbafied bassers often seek a “one size fits all” approach to buying finesse rods. That’s a mistake. You need rods for both moving baits and bottom contact, sometimes in a variety of powers.

During the 2024 season, Brandon Palaniuk cashed a check during a tough tournament on Alabama’s Smith Lake using a lure that’s not yet widely available in the United States – the Megabass Makippa. Here’s his treatise on how and where he fishes it.

I gravitated to the Bajio Paila sunglasses for a few reasons: First, I’d really enjoyed the Bajios that I’d tried before. Second, they were ORANGE, which is my favorite color and while I have lots of black and tortoise frames, I didn’t have anything in orange. Finally, after reading reviews I suspected that they’d fit my head really well.

Like many bassheads, I first became aware of the Roboworm color known as “Morning Dawn” during the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Lanier. Since then the color has become a staple in clear water situations, especially but not exclusively when spotted bass are in play.

When most bass anglers first encounter the Megabass Dark Sleeper, they assume that it’s either a swimbait or a jig. For two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Kenta Kimura, it’s something different altogether: One of the best squarebill replacements he’s ever found.