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Spring 2023 Spring 2023 Hi All, As we kick off 2023, it is already the beginning of an exciting season! The big rains, while not perfect for all have resulted in water levels in our fisheries that we so desperately needed and should make for some awesome fishing this year. And, as we’ve seen there have already been some big, big bass, like the double-digit caught by our cover angler on this issue – Alex Niapas. Also making history was the APEX Pro Tour championship winner Luke Johns for his victory at Folsom Lake. Congratulations to both! Looking ahead on the national scene we are only days away from the REDCREST and the Bassmaster Classic events. I always look forward to seeing who comes out on top in the highest levels of fishing across the U.S. As for the best in the West, we are closing in on the debut of the Western Bass Shootout right here on the California Delta and what an event that will be! We can’t wait to see you there! Once again, on behalf of WesternBass, I want to thank all of the site’s advertisers and ask that all of you help support those that help support us and allow us to bring you the WesternBass site and magazine. Thank you! Wayne
Winter 2023
Winter 2023 Hi All, The 2022 year is quickly coming to an end, and the winter bite will be here shortly. Clear Lake in December is often a time we see some big ones, and I hope this year is no different! As we wrap up this edition of the mag, WesternBass is ramping up for the January 2023 ISE show, and we are very excited to host the bass casting tank again! It is always a great event and fun to see some of the newest industry innovations, hang out with old friends and make new ones. Stop by and say hi! As 2022 draws to a close, we would like to thank all of our site sponsors that continue to bring the WesternBass site and Magazine to all of our readers. New site advertisers are Missile Baits and Strike King (Lews) reels. Please support these wonderful companies! Wishing for some California rain to bring up the lake levels and kick off the new tournament season next month! Can’t wait to see the 2023 winner’s stories unfold. I hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year with giant Bass in the future! Wayne
Fall 2022
Fall 2022 Hi All, It looks like another tournament season is quickly coming to an end and we are about to launch into year- end championships. It is always exciting to see who comes out on top at the TOCs. Good luck to those of you that have qualified. As the year draws to a close, we would like to thank all of our site sponsors that continue to bring the WesternBass site and magazine to all of our readers. One of our title sponsors Fisherman’s Warehouse has expanded tackle offerings this year and added a new SALE section to the online store. Many of the new releases from ICAST will be available soon at the Fisherman’s Warehouse retail stores as well as online. We have featured the newest in innovation from our sponsors on the site recently and ask you all to take a look at what’s coming down the line. fishermanswarehouse.com Before I sign off for this issue, I want to pay my regards to one of the first superstars of the sport of bass fishing – Dee Thomas. I’ve known Dee since the ‘70s and am proud to feature him on the cover one last time in a tribute to his legendary life, career, and contributions to our sport. Wayne

Forums

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Main Forums
valley backlashers by pd Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:00 pm
Fishing
Delta Closures San Joaquin County by kb Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:27 pm
Tournaments
valley backlashers by pd Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:00 pm
Electronics Product Forum
Active Target/No source????? by M A J Mon Mar 20, 2023 3:47 pm
Photos
STRIPER ON TOPWATER by BiggieSmall Mon Nov 7, 2022 9:07 am
Swim Baits
Kayaks and Kick Boats
2 kayakers drowned at Lake Pleasant by WB Staff Fri Mar 10, 2023 12:00 am
Stripers

Classifieds

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Boats - Motors - Trailers Marine Accessories
New Minnkota 4-Bank Precision Charger by kmah Wed Mar 22, 2023 2:22 pm
Electric Motors
Trade ghost for ghost by Skplastik Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:11 pm
Miscellaneous
Bravo 26p by kcchang Wed Mar 22, 2023 9:04 am
Electronics
Humminbird Helix 9SI GEN4 CHO by TAP25 Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:35 pm
Rods & Reels
Dobyns Rods by sacslim Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:12 pm
Hard Baits Soft Baits
WANTED-WCZ Citizens by ethan.b.lee@gmail.com Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:08 pm
Kayak Classifieds Terminal Tackle
Lodging & Property Tow Vehicles
Stock Chevy wheels by Bret118 Mon Mar 13, 2023 2:50 pm

Recent Forum

Humminbird Helix 9SI GEN4 CHO by TAP25 Wed Mar 22, 2023 5:35 pm
Dobyns Rods by sacslim Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:12 pm
valley backlashers by pd Wed Mar 22, 2023 4:00 pm
High end St Croix rods for sale by bcaskey40 Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:58 pm
Dual Pro PS3 3 Bank on Board Charger by CTanner Wed Mar 22, 2023 3:53 pm

Industry Press Releases

Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River
Conditions right for exciting Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River Knoxville, Tenn., will host the 2023 Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 24-26.
2022 High Outboard Sales Continued
2022 High Outboard Sales Continued Demand for outboard engines remained steady in 2022 as unit sales surpassed 300,000 for the third consecutive year, reaching 305,900 units.
2023 Boat inventory levels have been on a steady incline
2023 Boat inventory levels have been on a steady incline Generally, dealers are concerned about selling the boats they have in inventory, either on the lot or on order but unsold.
2023 Partnership for Huk and Childress Racing
2023 Partnership for Huk and Childress Racing NASCAR Cup veteran Austin Dillon will drive the No. 3 Huk Performance Chevrolet at select races in 2023.
Bassmaster Kayak Series championship to be decided on Chickamauga
Bassmaster Kayak Series championship to be decided on Chickamauga Tennessee's Chickamauga Lake will host the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship p

Lake Reports

Casitas Lake
Casitas Lake By by Kelly Ripa » Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:14 pm 31" inches in downtown Ojai.....Pretty impressive amount of water has come down in the canyon that is diverted to Casitas Lake. It makes me wonder how much fell in the March Miracle in years past. I lived here then but don't remember the specifics that filled both Cachuma and Casitas in 10 days. I had 7 1/4" just the other day so I took a trip to Casitas to check it out. I think I'll work on my garden full time until they get the marina together. zero docks to tie to once you launch as they have bathrooms and boats tied up willie nilly and the main courtesy dock was in two pieces and not connected to the bank. From what I observed on that day. Nothing is being done to give us any kind of quality to the launch ramp and it's use. They have covered their hienies by saying you boat and launch at your own risk. Just driving down the usually submerged 70 years old pothole filled excuse for a road is going to break my bunks. I don't have my old champ with shocks on the trailer and I suppose some environmentalist would have a fit if one load of gravel was used to make the task less punishing to boats and trailers in the potholes of that road. I could not get anything official but it looks like another 5 feet on top of the 20 from three weeks ago. I'm all for a March Miracle as we aren't even at 50% now. The good news is technically the submerged island is now an island again. Rip
McClure Lake
McClure Lake By by basstrophy » Mon Feb 27, 2023 8:39 pm Slay Nations season opener at Lake McClure saw 40 anglers brave the chilly windy conditions. The air temperature was in the high 30’s to low 40’s with overcast skies, the water temperature ranged from 47 to 48 degrees, wind was calm early but blew from 10 to 15 mph later in the day. Lake McClure was stingy for most, but Max Lee found the right combination for an incredible 86.25”, besting second place by 1.5”. In Max Lee’s own words, "Going into this event I had no expectations; this was my first time on McClure Lake along with no practice. I have practiced on Pine Flat Lake which is also a highland reservoir with spotted bass. I had previously patterned the lake and gained confidence on a 3.3 fat impact swimbait with a 3/16th ball headed jig. On tournament day, the original game plan was to make the run into temperance arm. However, after realizing that fishing started as soon as we launched. I decided to fish around the boat ramp, I started in the back of a cove and found no success. I had previously done my map study and knew of high spots and points on the island south of the launch area. I figured with the water being slightly stained and the wind blowing, there was going to be some kind of bladed lure bite. I had confidence in a ball-headed Keitech, so I thought why not throw an A-rig with multiple swimmers. Upon reviewing my footage, I realized there were a few key things to trigger a bite. Crawling the rig as close to the bottom as possible, Fishing in less than 20 feet of water, casting into the wind and bringing the rig in with the wind. My first bite came on the wind protected side of a chunk rock point. The next bite came on a wind-blown chunk rock wall, I had gotten hung up and went to pop my rig loose and he ate it as I was reeling up. I continued to cover water and ran around the entire island for no more bites. My next bite was 100 yards North of the first bite on a slow tapering rock point that had a hard clay transition. That was the big fish of the day. I continued down the stretch of bank until I got to the area where I had gotten my 2nd bite of the day. With no bites I decided to double back and fish into the wind on the main lake side of the island. My 4th bite came on the northern point of the Island. I made the cast to shore on a boulder and was bit before it made it to the bottom. I fished into the wind 300 yards for no bites and was running out of boulders to cast at. I decided to make a run straight across the lake to a creek runoff area. I made one cast on the boulders on the shoreline and got my 5th bite. I would like to thank my friends and family for the support and encouragement they gave me. Along with the fellow anglers that I fish with and compete against. I appreciate and love the amount of passion and commitment my fellow peers and mentors have for fishing." Damian Thao came in second place with 84.75”. Thao started the morning off with a spinnerbait fish with in the first 5 cast of the day. He fished shallow all day long in the 5-to-10-foot range. He caught fish on a drop-shot Robo worm 6” straight tail Oxblood that attributed a few good keepers. The key to his better fish were secondary points with flats that had grass. He used his Garmin Panoptix to find the fish moving shallow and would cast to them. He rotated a few key locations and was able to catch bigger fish in the afternoon. Damian thanked his sponsors Wild West Bass Trail, Garmin, Power Pole, Duo Realis, LA Custom Jigs, TM Custom Lures, P-Line, 1st. Gen Fishing, and Kayak City. Thao displayed his appreciation to Dave Nunes with Slay Nation for putting on this event. David Morris, one of the greatest people one can meet, finished in 3rd place with 80.50”. Morris caught all his fish on a wacky rigged 297 Senko in the 5” size. He went upriver and fished 7-to-15 feet deep on rocks catching 12 fish throughout the day. Morris thanked his wonderful wife for all her support in making his fishing possible.

From the Blogs

RB Bass Outdoors Angler Talks About The Pro X Dropshot Hooks By TTI-Blakemore
RB Bass Outdoors Angler Talks About The Pro X Dropshot Hooks By TTI-Blakemore By

In this video RB Bass Outdoors angler Ron Howe talks about the Pro X Dropshot Hooks by TTI-BLAKEMORE. With spring making its way here dropshotting and also Texas rigging baits are an effective way to keep baits in fishes nesting areas and increase your chances of catching fish. The Pro X dropshot hook is a […]

The post RB Bass Outdoors Angler Talks About The Pro X Dropshot Hooks By TTI-Blakemore first appeared on RB Bass Fishing.