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Fall 2025 Fall 2025 Fall marks the close of another exciting tournament season and brings with it the much-anticipated Tournament of Champions events. It’s hard to believe how fast the year has flown by! This season may have spared us the chaos of recent years—no COVID shutdowns, supply chain nightmares, or extreme water levels—but it brought a new challenge for California anglers: Golden Mussel restrictions and launch closures. These invasive species continue to disrupt fisheries across the state, with recent restrictions at Diamond Valley Lake (DVL) underscoring the ongoing impact. That said, there was a silver lining for Delta and Clear Lake anglers: the introduction of the Golden Mussel Region by Randy Pringle at Best Bass Tournaments (BBT). His forward-thinking solution allowed for localized, single-area launch team opens at venues affected by broader closures. We appreciate the continued innovation and commitment to the sport—thank you, Randy. On a more exciting note, shipments of new gear from ICAST 2025 have already begun arriving! It’s always a thrill to see what’s coming next, and you can check out many of the latest product releases from online at Fisherman’s Warehouse—our WesternBass advertisers are rolling out some serious game-changers. Tight Lines
Summer 2025
Summer 2025 Hi All, Topwater, six-hour tournaments in California, and ICAST – it all screams summer and while we are used to an FLW or MLF Western Division tournament circuit stop on the California Delta this time of year, for 2025 it was missing. Fortunately, Mark Lassagne and the BAM Trail stepped in and brought those of us that call the tidal water of the West an event. I would like to congratulate Ish Monroe on his win at the Pro/Am event! Quite an accomplishment! Ish has been one of longtime WesternBass supporters and well as one of the Fisherman’s Warehouse pro staff (a WesternBass title sponsor), so it was great to hear that the Fisherman’s Warehouse exclusive color Missile Baits D Bomb in Rotten Tomato played such a big factor in his win! While summer kicks off and we get ready to head to ICAST, we once again ask that the WesternBass readers support the advertisers that allow us to bring this digital mag as well as the site to you for free! We appreciate them and you! Tight Lines Wayne
Spring 2025
Spring 2025 Hi All, It looks like spring is on the horizon and we will soon be on our way to a new spawn! It was exciting to see some of the big bass that already have been caught in the early waves such as the double-digit on the cover with WesternBass mag contributor John Liechty and also the teener that has been making its way through social media pages caught by Gary Collins Jr. at Clear Lake. It is so good to see that the big ones like that are still out there! I hope to see even more as the season goes on. It looks like all the tournament organizations are off to a good start with participation and catches. I am hoping that the local lakes figure out a plan regarding Golden Mussels to allow us all to use there facilities this year. I am anxious Sites reservoir turns into the next bass fishing destination soon, like we discussed in the last issue of the magazine, When thinking about your fishing needs, please keep in mind the advertisers that help keep this magazine and website available to you. I would like to express my own appreciation for another year of support from the WesternBass advertisers and welcome our newest advertiser, joining us in 2025 – G-Ratt Baits. As always, tight lines! Wayne

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Striper fly fishing by Swimbaitspence Wed Jul 2, 2025 6:41 pm

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Recent Forum

Trump got his claw in the oil by monte300 Thu Dec 11, 2025 12:12 pm
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Industry Press Releases

101 anglers set to compete on 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series
101 anglers set to compete on 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series Coming off the heels of a record-breaking 2025 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series season that awarded 11 century belts, saw four-first time champions (two of which were members of the 2025 rookie class) and garnered over 183 million social media impressions, B.A.S.S. has announced the 101-angler field for an exciting 2026 Elite Series season.
MLF Announces 2026 Forward-Facing Sonar Restrictions Across All Circuits
MLF Announces 2026 Forward-Facing Sonar Restrictions Across All Circuits MLF announces new 2026 forward facing sonar restrictions across all circuits aiming to balance technology with traditional skills for more dynamic competition
NPFL 2026 Full Roster Released
NPFL 2026 Full Roster Released NPFL confirms its biggest 2026 field yet with 130 anglers but leaves room for select applicants See the full list and how to join
Spencer Shuffield Claims Victory at 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open
Spencer Shuffield Claims Victory at 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open The calm conditions were in stark contrast to Monday’s opening round where gusty winds covered Lake Mohave and even stronger winds that forced the cancellation of the second day of the championship.
Sean Coffey Takes Day One Lead of 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open
Sean Coffey Takes Day One Lead of 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open Along with the wind, the temperatures began to cool with overnight lows in the mid 60’s and highs in the upper 80’s.

Lake Reports

California Delta
California Delta By The striper bite has been all over the place the last few weeks. There are quick little windows where they chew, then hours of scattered bites and followers that won’t commit. The whole Delta feels like it’s in transition. Temps up and down, and water clarity changing every day. The fish are definitely around, but the more reliable groups are sitting where there’s good water movement, clean edges, and bait that isn’t stacked too heavy. Some spots have so much bait that the stripers don’t even bother. The west side has been the most consistent, mostly because the tide pull is stronger and the deeper current lanes keep flushing food right to them but even out there it’s not easy. The central and west Delta are loaded with bait clusters, but you’re only getting bit where those schools thin out or move off the main mass. Depthwise, the fish are sliding up and down all day. On slack tide they’re glued to the bottom, even in 20 to 35 feet or sitting in little dips and breaks. When the tide starts moving, they’ll lift into that 8 to 14 ft zone, and on a good outgoing push they’ll slide shallow onto ledges and flats to ambush. Water clarity is running 2 to 4 feet in a lot of the bigger channels. The clearer the water, the deeper and moodier they get. If you can find that lightly stained water with some flow pushing through, not blown out, the bite usually perks up.
Clear Lake
Clear Lake By Report: Clear Lake Fishing Report Nov 15 Fishing at Clear Lake showed strong weight potential, with productive windows developing later in the day. Fish responded to deeper cranking and minnow presentations, with changing weather patterns influencing activity levels throughout the event. Best Techniques & Baits Deep-diving crankbaits were a key producer, with anglers using 6XD-style plugs in shad, craw, and bluegill patterns. These baits were effective in reaching depths of 22 to 24 feet, paired with fluorocarbon line to maintain depth and sensitivity. Minnow presentations were also productive, fished on light braid-to-fluorocarbon setups to target fish suspended or roaming offshore. Adjustments in head weight and bait size played a major role in increasing accuracy and triggering bigger bites. Jerkbaits contributed when conditions allowed for precise casts, and lighter heads helped anglers maintain the ideal fall and action needed to connect with quality fish. Weather & Conditions Weather swings influenced feeding periods, with anglers noting improved action after midday and stronger results during unstable weather. Slick-off conditions demanded more accurate presentations, while incoming rain was expected to activate bigger fish. Fog delays and shifting wind patterns also affected timing and positioning, pushing anglers to adapt throughout the day. Tournament Spotlight – BAM Super 60 Pro Tour 1st – Mason McAbee — 27+ lbs (Day One & Day Two totals) 2nd – Luke Johns — 23 keepers over two days

From the Blogs

Yamamoto Baits Tournament Day! Windy, angry water, will we get the right ones? Part 4 By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Clear Lake Fishing TV
Yamamoto Baits Tournament Day! Windy, angry water, will we get the right ones? Part 4 By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Clear Lake Fishing TV By

It’s TIME! The Yamamoto Baits Only team tournament is a go, and my RB BASS Outdoors buddy Vern and I are going to make up a team together. This is video #4 of a series that will cover the prefishing, preparation, meetings and event. Let’s go fishin’! Check out RB Bass Outdoors at?https://rbbassfishing.net/ – we’ve […]

The post Yamamoto Baits Tournament Day! Windy, angry water, will we get the right ones? Part 4 By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Clear Lake Fishing TV first appeared on RB Bass Fishing.