Seaguar on the Water

Fall is a season of change: green leaves turn brilliant shades of amber and crimson, resident waterfowl feel primal urges to gather in large numbers and fly south, and many outdoor enthusiasts contemplate trading their boat seats for deer stands.

The Bassmaster Elite circuit visited two powerhouse northern fisheries, the St. Lawrence River and then Lake Champlain, during a remarkable two-week march across New York state this July. Competitors battled strong winds and heavy seas in pursuit of monster smallmouth and elusive largemouth, with the goal of hoisting impressive blue trophies and enormous cardboard checks over their heads.

At its core, fishing is a people business. If fishing is to thrive – particularly when faced with significant headwinds – we need to recognize and support those who put a rod in someone else’s hands for the first time, or teach them the intricacies of a difficult presentation, or provide a voice for their needs or those of our shared resources.

Throughout the world, across the country, and even within your state, innovative anglers develop unique presentations and perfect creative refinements to help them catch more fish. Many of the advances to the art and science of fishing originate with professional anglers, as success within the fiery cauldron of competition often requires out-of-the-box thinking to transfer wary, pressured bass from lake to livewell. 

Across the bass fishing universe, there is no more common piece of equipment stowed in rod lockers and strapped to casting decks than the baitcasting combo. Indeed, baitcasting gear is nearly synonymous with the pursuit of bass, due in large part to baitcasting tackle’s applicability to power fishing — characterized by long casts and ultra-fast retrieves — as well as its unmatched aptitude for extracting cantankerous fish from nearly impenetrable cover.