Throughout the spring I’ve been traveling with the Eagle Creek Tour Travel Pack 40L, a distinctive and cavernous backpack that I hoped would solve my carry-on struggles. I found it to be versatile and smartly but like anything, there were a few things I loved and a few quirks that didn’t totally work for me.

When Clifford Pirch leaves home in Arizona to compete on the Elite Series, he needs to pack everything he might need into his truck and boat. He relies on Phenix rods, and while he has a ton of them, there are four that he may use more than any others.

Alabama pro Wes Logan has worked diligently with Ark Rods to develop tools that meet his specific needs – in terms of actions, components and handle lengths. I caught up with him at Lake Hartwell to find out the ones he can’t live without.

Every athlete has that one essential item they won’t compete without — often a trusted garment that brings comfort, confidence, or maybe even a little bit of superstition. In this video, you'll hear directly from a group of pro anglers as they tell you what they can’t live without on game day.

If you’re a certified big fish hunter, detest finesse gear, or just like slinging baits that’ll tear your rotator cuff, Tackle Warehouse continues to offer tons of options. Here are some new “oversized” baits that you might want to try.

I’m pretty sure that I’ve never seen our targets chasing orange and white baitfish. I’m certainly willing to believe that some species do in some parts of the world, but we’ve yet to experience that. However, this is a popular pattern in the world of saltwater poppers.

Gerald Swindle has won more money on a buzzbait than most of us will win in a lifetime. He’s done it by being an exceptional caster and keeping his buzzbait system remarkably simple. You don’t need a lot of gear, you just need the right stuff.

Bryan New introduced us to the Hideup Coike at the Bassmaster Classic, but since then it’s been cashing checks on the Elite Series Here are some of New’s favorite rigging techniques.

I increasingly find myself reaching for two pairs from Island Optics – Mako XL and Crane . They’re two very different styles, but both are comfortable, provide great coverage and premium optical clarity at 1/3 the price of many others.

When Megabass builds rods they’re purpose-driven tools aimed at particular technique techniques. Elite Series pro Matty Wong uses the company’s Destroyer P5 sticks on tour, and here are five of his recommendations to get you started.

Oxblood is one of the hot colors for interior designers in 2025. It’s always been a popular shade for western bass anglers. It generally resembles burgundy but has less purple and more dark brown and dates back to the 17th century, when the blood of an ox was used to make dyes.

The fishing industry is full of double-entendres. If you’ve ever chuckled at someone saying “throw up on the bank,” or “my partner has a big sack,” you know what I mean. Lure designers come up with plenty of great lure colors for the immature members of our group. Here are a few favorites.

Drew Benton agreed to show us some of the tools he uses when he locks in on a giant on a bed. Each lure has a purpose in the rotation to gauge a fish’s interest and get her to bite.

I needed Mossy Oak for my very first turkey hunt. Not just any camo—specifically Mossy Oak. I was told Bottomland would help me disappear in the woods, and I wasn’t about to question the turkey hunting veterans. I wanted to blend in, feel confident, and look like I belonged out there—even if I was still figuring things out.

At the end of April I fished with Pat Schlapper at Lake Hartwell. While we were there I picked his brain about a number of topics, including swim jigs. Surprisingly, he keeps it extremely simple, including with his trailer choices.

Scott Secules is a mad scientist when it comes to bladed jigs – he constantly experimenting with components like hooks to tailor lures to specific situations. Because he lives in big bass country and he’s not affiliated with any tackle company, I trust his evaluation of trailers.

If you’re like me, you check out the “New!” tab on the Tackle Warehouse website regularly, perhaps daily, or even multiple times a day. It’s amazing how much new inventory they add every week and it keeps tackle junkies like me intrigued.

Daiwa has a lineup of high-end rods, in a huge number of actions, that come in just below $150. Their cork-handled Tatulas are what the pros use, and you can, too. We caught up with Jordan Horita at the 2025 Bassmaster Classic to get the scoop on them.

Lots of the obsessive big bass hunters are secretive and standoffish. That’s why I can’t understand how Oliver Ngy catches so many fish – he doesn’t fit that prickly mold. On the contrary, he’s always ready with a smile, willing to share information.

Tilapia aren’t just in Mexico. We’ve fished for bass around them in Texas, where they thrive in a number of private lakes we’ve visited as well as in tournament venues like Falcon and Amistad. That’s why we were excited that GSM introduced a new “Texas Tilapia” color at the Bassmaster Classic in Ft. Worth.