Basswest vs. Bassmasters magazine???

[toadhunter]

How many of you subscribe to basswest? Is it comparable to bassmasters mag? Is it better? Thx

TH

[Mark Langner]

IMO....Basswest is superior. They cover water and techniques we use out here in the west and is a superior product. I feel that the Bassmaster magazine articles weigh heavy on east coast fishing techniques, east coast bodies of water, and an east coast tournament trail.

While I have enjoyed bassmaster mag in the past..I've always felt I had to read the articles with a grain of salt and figure out how much of what is written can be adapted to our water out here in the west.

Again...IMO

-Mark

[Dave A]

No comparison, BassWest is a far superior magazine, if and when it shows up in the mail.

[Lugnut]

I would have to agree, Basswest is a far superior magazine. They have some time issues, but I would rather wait for my Basswest then subscribe to Bassmaster.

[ttb31183]

If you live in the west, or want to know western techniques than no question basswest. As we have talked about before, they never show up on time, but it is worth it. I bought a "2 year subscription" about 3 years ago but I am still recieving magazines since they are so late in getting them out.

[Whoopbass]

Basswest has alot of swimbait info and pretty pictures.

My Bassmaster subscription ended about a year ago but when I was getting it I liked it more. Its geared more towards tournament fisherman.

Basswest arrives so late that you can't use any of the tactics you read about. You have to wait the following year.
I won't be renewing Basswest.

[mark poulson]

I concur. Basswest is for us, Bassmaster is for them.

[RogerB]

Yes, I subscribe to BassWest and tolerate its lateness because it is an excellent publication with very useful content on bass fishing methods. It is especially relevant to us West Coast anglers.

I've subscribed to BassMaster since 1971 (and bought the 18 earlier issues of the magazine starting with the first, so my collection is complete!) and credit it with a major part of my education in bass fishing. For many years, it was virtually the only magazine devoted completely to bass fishing.

While I was in the Army (for 27 years), I fished for bass in Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, and I didn't find the fishing for bass in those states all that much different from what we do here on the West Coast. The popular and proven techiques are used out here just like they are on the East Coast and in the Mid-West....so I find the content of the Bassmaster to be quite relevant, usable and valuable (my experience is that a bass is a bass is a bass...).

During its early years, the focus of BassMaster was very much on East Coast and Mid-West methods and waters, but for the last couple of decades, I believe BassMaster has done a very credible job of acknowledging and covering West Coast fishing methods, anglers, and waters, like techniques developed out here for the deep, clear lakes, such as split-shotting; our early-adoption of Japan's drop-shotting for those same waters; and techniques like Dee's flippin', Bill Murphy's stitching, Bobby Garland's Gitzit, the Westy Worm, and the use of swimbaits like the A.C. plug, Castaic Trout, and Mission Fish, all of which have been described in BassMaster.

There's no question that BASS and its approach to tournaments has changed markedly since being taken over by ESPN, but I haven't seen that reflected yet in the content of BassMaster. Unless or until ESPN/BASS changes the editorial staff of BassMaster, its focus and/or content, I'm not ready to throw the baby (the magazine) out with the bath water (cancelling membership to protest ESPN/BASS's short-changing of the West Coast with its tourney trail). I don't fish tournaments so that short-changing isn't relevant to me. I imagine there are a lot of other bass anglers on the West Coast like me who don't fish tournaments and who appreciate the content in BassMaster. I'm not inclined to punish the editorial staff of BassMaster over the misdeeds of the ESPN/BASS management of the B.A.S.S. tournament schedule, or to go without the content of the magazine from which I have learned so much for the last 35 years.

Another large part of my bass fishing education has come from the In Fisherman magazine, to which I've subscribed since its inception even though there's typically only one article in each issue devoted to bass fishing. That one article is usually so leading-edge and/or so comprehensive that I feel it's worth the price of a subscription.

I also subscribe to Bassin' magazine and enjoy its articles which are focused more on weekend anglers like myself rather than tournament fishing. Still, it derives some of its content from the experiences of tournament anglers and frames it for use by weekend anglers.

And, I subscribe to Inside Line magazine which contains a wealth of useful information about bass fishing techniques, lures, and tackle (not just Yamamoto products). Its stable of writers includes some of our own from this site like Andy Cuccia (Cooch) and Dean Sault (NaCl) so its content is very relevant to our West Coast fishing.

Bottom line: There are many choices for enriching your knowledge of bass fishing. The cost of subscriptions is small compared to our usual investments in tackle, lures, boats, motors, electronics, gadgets, etc., so why limit yourself to one publication?
Your best source of information is your own time on the water and the experience you gain from that, but reading articles in magazines and on web-sites like this is a great way to tap into the experience and knowledge others have gained from their time on the water.

Here's to tight lines and good articles...

[Steve]

I dont know, a bass is a bass, doesnt matter where it lives, it still acts the same and eats the same. It just might position itself differently in different types of environments.

With that said, BassWest is awesome, BASS is good. However, theres alot of junk in BASS that I dont care for, such as Homer.

Now, Fishing Facts is a great one, as is In-Fisherman. Those mags are for the thinkers and the analysts.

[Bill K]

Concur with all above. Stick with basswest (sometimes slow on monthly delievery, but it will come) or Inside Line. Both much better
mags. Bill K

[Max]

Basswest, when it arrives, is a gem. Great articles! The In-side Line is another great read and I especially enjoy the ariticles from our locals (Cooch).

Bassmaster? A slick publication but the substance isn't always there. After I thumb through it (and all the special offers are littering my living room floor), I'm almost always disappointed. Their insistance on keeping "Homer" always baffles me. I understand satire, but "Homer" is just plain STUPID!!

Bottom line is I look at Bassmaster as entertainment, Basswest and In-side Line as information. If I'm dumping a subscription (and the jury is still out on that), "Homer" ends up desecrating someone else's cat box.

[ash]

IMO....Basswest is superior. They cover water and techniques we use out here in the west and is a superior product. I feel that the Bassmaster magazine articles weigh heavy on east coast fishing techniques, east coast bodies of water, and an east coast tournament trail.

While I have enjoyed bassmaster mag in the past..I've always felt I had to read the articles with a grain of salt and figure out how much of what is written can be adapted to our water out here in the west.

Again...IMO

-Mark

I agree, it is appropo to what our situations are, it reads to us better and is not a big infomercial for one or two companies.

Far superior!

[toadhunter]

I appreciate all of your responses. I will have to check out BassWest for myself, and I will. I do sub-scribe to Inside Line(yamamoto) and I really like the insight it provides. Especially from our local boys on this site.



Thanks again!

[Makostoy13]

Bass West is much better for subject matter for the Western Angler, but 3 issues a year is a definite drawback for reading material. Its much better when its got great articles, yet a 3 year subscription will last many years. 7 or 8 per yr. is what is promised but not what I have seen. Not a real complaint, just do not look forward to one every month or even every other month.

[Jim Conlow Sr.]

*NM*

[Guest]

I know even before I became involved with Basswest I was always excited to read every page when it arrived, unlike a few of the other magazines I still get! The credit all belongs to Jon Storm and Mark Mendez worked hard at getting it to where it is.

The current staff and I are working hard to keep it there and even continue its progress. Mark Mendez really doesn't cut any corners in putting this magazine together, we use the top of the line publisher, paper stock and never hold back on the small things that cost a lot when you are printing 40,000 magazines. Every page is full color and we have some great writers... (Terry Battisti, Pete Robbins and more.) I have a few new writers coming on board from out here in the west to give us some new insights on different aspects in fishing. We are also pushing to get the magazine out more on-time... Its getting better... but, '06 will be our first 7 issue year in quite a while... Mark's got the whip out and he's gonna make sure it happens! None-the-less... every subscription is for 7 issue and not a calendar year.. so you will all get your money's worth!

We also get lots of help from many of you with ideas for stories.... feedback and more. Thanks for that too!

Here's a little on what to expect in your mailbox any day now!

If you wanna be surprised when you get it stop reading here ------------------------------------------------------------

A great shot of Mike Long is on the Cover with another Huge bass!
Feature articles include:
Uncensored with Gary Klein (Day 1 of the '05 Classic)
Bassin' in your Backyard (City Lakes, Golf Course and Farm Ponds)
Murphy's Law II - Nets, Measuring board and Chemicals
Part II of 20 Feet of Difference (The difference between being a pro and an AM)
Spreader Riggin'
On Assignment Clear Lake
Angler's Choice Section
Kirk Rasmussen: He Can't even Spell Disability
Director Spotlight: Danny Peluso
TOC Results and Photos

The current issue has been making its way west via US Media Mail slowly.

Believe it or not we have the magazine overnighted for the Bass-A-thon more than 3 weeks ago! The rest went out Media-Mail pretty much on the same day...

We have had reports from the midwest and East that the magazines have been arriving currently... Soon it should be in our mailboxes out here on the west coast any day!

As for the January February issue.. its more than 50% done and due to ship the first week in January! Its may be the best magazine in the last couple years... I am excited about it and I am sure we will all get some good information out of many of the feature pieces in it!

Thanks again...

[EastCoastLurker]

I received it yesterday (on the East Coast) and it is the best issue yet....well done, Tom.

[RogerB]

Received it yesterday in Monterey, CA, Tom.
Another great issue, jam-packed with great articles and photos.
You all are doing a super job with the magazine...keep up the fine work! It's definitely worth waiting for!
...RogerB

[Guest]

Thanks for the kind words Roger... The next issue will be here soon too! I just had an epic day on the water with Mike Iaconelli, Ish Monroe, Matt Newman, Shaun Bailey and Dave Holubek.... I don't wanna give up too much, but I can say this... It's good stuff!

[Guest]

Thanks... but, its not just me... I just do the little stuff... The good stuff is all done by our great writers and the Graphics Guru Jess.... I'd match that guy with any graphics artist! That Mark Mendez guy does his part too and lik I mentioned before.... He doesn't cut any corners in producing this Magazine!

Thanks again!

[Guest]

Without the willingness of the pro's to give up their secrets and tips and techniques again the magazine wouldn't be worth the paper its on! So thanks to all those guys as well!