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Winter 2026 Winter 2026 Hi All, I’d like to begin this issue by congratulating Anglers Marine on their longevity and continued impact on the Western bass community. Their dedication to anglers, tournaments, and the growth of our sport has made them a cornerstone of the region. We are happy to host them on the cover as we step into a new year of fishing. As we go to press, the 2026 season is just about to launch, and tournament anglers across the West are already preparing for another busy schedule. New gear, fresh patterns, and early-season opportunities will shape the months ahead. Whether you compete or simply enjoy time on the water, this season brings plenty to look forward to. January also brings the International Sportsmen’s Exposition back to Cal Expo, a key kickoff event for the year. It’s a great place to learn, connect, and see the latest products in person. The WesternBass title sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse will be onsite with super show specials and always a shopper’s favorite, the NO SALES TAX deal. Be sure to visit the Westerbass Fish Tank there’s always giant fish to see! Please enjoy this issue with a highlight of some of the new gear for the new year and as always we encourage you to support the sponsors who support you. Their commitment helps keep the WesternBass website, magazine and forums and socials strong and our fishing community growing. Tight Lines, Wayne
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

Forums

Forum Last Post
Main Forums
Tournaments at Russos Marina by madgaffer Mon Dec 22, 2025 6:51 am
Fishing
Tournaments at Russos Marina by madgaffer Mon Dec 22, 2025 6:51 am
Tournaments
Electronics Product Forum
HDS 12 - No Bearing on Waypoints by Aschie Thu Oct 23, 2025 11:25 am
Photos
Swim Baits
Kayaks and Kick Boats
Stripers
Striper fly fishing by Swimbaitspence Wed Jul 2, 2025 6:41 pm

Classifieds

ClassifiedsLast PostClassifiedsLast Post
Boats - Motors - Trailers
2006 BassCat Pantera Classic 19,500 by georgebb5 Sun Dec 21, 2025 7:14 pm
Marine Accessories
4Sale Batteries/Charger by NoLimitFishing Sun Dec 21, 2025 12:06 pm
Electric Motors
Lowrance Ghost trolling motor by cmm2178 Fri Dec 19, 2025 12:50 pm
Miscellaneous
Electronics Rods & Reels
WTB: stradic ci4 spool by EastbayJay Sun Dec 21, 2025 9:10 pm
Hard Baits
HINKLE TROUT PAINTED BY PIZZ by Scorpio66 Wed Dec 17, 2025 8:51 pm
Soft Baits
Kayak Classifieds Terminal Tackle
selling my EGO S2 clear rubber net by chevy5099 Wed Dec 3, 2025 4:41 pm
Lodging & Property
Clear Lake vacation rentals by adamcera Mon Sep 29, 2025 2:27 pm
Tow Vehicles
Wanted to buy mid size pickup by Dfowler Wed Oct 15, 2025 7:11 pm

Recent Forum

What sitting president holds rallies? by JVGondal Mon Dec 22, 2025 10:25 am
Tournaments at Russos Marina by madgaffer Mon Dec 22, 2025 6:51 am

Industry Press Releases

2025 Collegiate Bass Fishing Series
2025 Collegiate Bass Fishing Series In the latest mid-season rankings review for theSchool of the Year presented by Abu Garcia, the ACA highlights teams ranked 6-15.
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.

Lake Reports

California Delta
California Delta By It seems like the December fishing on the California Delta has slowed into a winter grind as water temperatures settle into the low to mid-50s. Bass are present but far less aggressive, with many fish pulling off the shallowest grass and setting up along edges, transitions, and nearby deeper water. The bite has been inconsistent, and most fish are coming on slower, finesse-oriented presentations rather than reaction baits. Striped bass activity has remained mixed but more steady in the western Delta, with schoolies providing action witht the tide. Larger fish have been less predictable, and timing around current and bait movement has been critical.
McClure Lake
McClure Lake By Lake McClure Fishing Report By Bearded Bassin’ – from CBL Stop #3 (Lake McClure) 2025 @BeardedBassin (Watch on YouTube) Lake McClure lived up to its reputation for producing numbers of fish but very little size, as anglers battled a tough bite during CBL Stop #3. A foggy morning and calm conditions gave way to wind later in the day, but despite decent-looking weather and active fish on electronics, most bass were extremely finicky. Limits were possible, but every bite had to be earned, and upgrading proved difficult throughout the day. Fish were present and often visible on sonar, but many followed baits, short-struck, or dropped them before committing. Anglers found themselves grinding in small areas for long stretches of time just to fill out a five-fish limit. Techniques Finesse presentations dominated the day, with dropshots and straight-tail worms accounting for the majority of landed fish. Larger-profile baits and swimbaits were mixed in to try and eliminate smaller fish, but most strikes still came from undersized bass. Reaction baits produced only limited success, though a brief uptick occurred once the wind picked up later in the day. A rocky point holding a small school of fish was the key area, with anglers repeatedly drifting the same spot to generate bites. Most productive depths ranged from 15–25 feet, with fish holding tight to the bottom and biting lightly. Numerous short strikes led to missed fish, prompting the use of a stinger hook on dropshot and darter-head setups, which helped improve hookup ratios.

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.