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News

Wheeler Signature Sweepstakes! 1 grand prize winner will win the signed giant lure PLUS a kit of Wheeler’s signature baits, including new 2026 products! Five Runner-Ups

2025 P-Line EndurX 8 Carrier Zero Fade Braid An extremely high strength to diameter ratio, virtually no stretch and a silky-smooth surface giving it great castability. Anglers can expect a braided line that has unparalleled color retention and a lifetime guarantee against fading.

Rain Gear Thoughts I have a set of Simms challenger uninsulated that works good but not warm enough….

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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

Spring 2025 Hi All, It looks like spring is on the horizon and we will soon be on our way to a new spawn! It was exciting to see some of the big bass that already have been caught in the early waves such as the double-digit on the cover with WesternBass mag contributor John Liechty and also the teener that has been making its way through social media pages caught by Gary Collins Jr. at Clear Lake. It is so good to see that the big ones like that are still out there! I hope to see even more as the season goes on. It looks like all the tournament organizations are off to a good start with participation and catches. I am hoping that the local lakes figure out a plan regarding Golden Mussels to allow us all to use there facilities this year. I am anxious Sites reservoir turns into the next bass fishing destination soon, like we discussed in the last issue of the magazine, When thinking about your fishing needs, please keep in mind the advertisers that help keep this magazine and website available to you. I would like to express my own appreciation for another year of support from the WesternBass advertisers and welcome our newest advertiser, joining us in 2025 – G-Ratt Baits. As always, tight lines! Wayne

Winter 2025 Hi All, Welcome to the start of a new fishing season! I’m sorry to see the exit of the longtime MLF (Formerly FLW) Western Division; but very happy to see the new opportunities that have opened for western tournament anglers such as Angler’s Press Pro Teams and Future Pro Tour Top 75 as well as others such as the BAM Super 60 and the expanding Kayak events of the events. I’m also proud to spearhead Fisherman’s Warehouse support of fish conservation as the Conservation Sponsor of the BAM Tournament Trail Live Release Boat. You can read more about that in the feature article in this issue. We have some new exciting things coming down the pike. The first issue of the year is always a great place to feature some of the new gear that typically debuts at ICAST in the late summer and has begun to store shelves by winter. We hope you enjoy some of the new products highlighted in this issue, that we saw at the annual sportfishing tradeshow and are looking forward to trying out on the water. I would like to close by wishing all of you Merry Christmas, a great Happy New Year and a personal best for the upcoming season. Tight Lines,And of course, tight lines! Wayne

Features

California's largest reservoir in decades get boost Planned for 70 miles northwest of Sacramento, the proposed Sites Reservoir won the bulk of the funding because plans to expand the Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County fell through, freeing up money in the state’s 2014 water bond.

Clear Lake: Current cyanotoxin results from sampling conducted on August 6, 2025

CDFW wildlife officers were on coastal patrol The night of Aug. 1 when, at around 11 p.m., they spotted lights and suspicious activity

Forums

Forum	Last Post
	California's largest reservoir in decades get boost by jiggin4bass Thu Aug 28, 2025 7:39 pm
	California's largest reservoir in decades get boost by jiggin4bass Thu Aug 28, 2025 7:39 pm
	Bam Don Pedro lodging and Chicken Ranch Casino Resort by kmah Wed Aug 27, 2025 8:51 pm
	sonar repair around the Delta by Whoopbass Thu Aug 28, 2025 6:33 pm
	Say hello to my little friend by Jboutfishn Wed Jun 25, 2025 9:45 am
	Large Swimbait Storage? by RJB Fri Aug 8, 2025 2:37 pm
	Pua Yang wins another tournament with Yak a Bass Gamblers at Lake Tulloch by basstrophy Fri Aug 15, 2025 4:39 pm
	Striper fly fishing by Swimbaitspence Wed Jul 2, 2025 6:41 pm

Classifieds & Latest Posts sponsored by Fisherman's Warehouse

Classifieds	Last Post	Last Post
	2007 Champion 200 elite by GarrettD Thu Aug 28, 2025 8:58 pm	Affordable Lithiims Li Time by Basscat1972 Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:15 am
	sold by Mitch Fri Aug 15, 2025 12:02 pm	Labrador puppies by Letsinger Sun Aug 17, 2025 10:05 am
	WTB a Lowrance FS or Ti2 Unit by Lewis2287 Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:17 pm	Lews Custom Pros TLC 2000 by unclesam321 Thu Aug 28, 2025 1:35 pm
	Lucky Craft LVR D 30 RT by jerrysfishing Sun Aug 24, 2025 10:47 am	SNAG PROOF POPPIN PHATTIE FROGS by RMANZO Thu Jul 24, 2025 1:03 pm
Kayak Classifieds	Feel Free Moken 12.5 V2 W/Upgrades $1k by Ranger11 Sat Aug 23, 2025 5:42 pm	Sunline Almight Braid by BassBoy3 Tue Jul 29, 2025 8:57 pm
	Clear Lake vacation rentals by Bellaancour Tue Jun 3, 2025 3:44 pm	2023 Palomino Truck Camper CabOver by Jashs9 Fri Jun 20, 2025 1:24 pm

Recent Forum Posts

WTB a Lowrance FS or Ti2 Unit by Lewis2287 Thu Aug 28, 2025 9:17 pm

2007 Champion 200 elite by GarrettD Thu Aug 28, 2025 8:58 pm

2010 Ranger 178VS Excellent Cond by Gonefishing916 Thu Aug 28, 2025 8:57 pm

Trump is weak by monte300 Thu Aug 28, 2025 8:33 pm

California's largest reservoir in decades get boost by jiggin4bass Thu Aug 28, 2025 7:39 pm

Wait! What am I going to do on Wednesdays? WWN TOC.. FIRE. by JL Thu Aug 28, 2025 7:26 pm

Industry Press Releases

DVL Update Aug 2025 DVL Update

Unveiled: Revolutionary SCORETRACKER® Live Platform at ICAST 2025 In a game-changing move for the sport of bass fishing, BUBBA®, a leader in smart fishing gear and mobile technology, has partnered with Major League Fishing® (MLF) to bring SCORETRACKER® LIVE—a fully integrated, real-time tournament platform—to everyday anglers, clubs, schools, and organizers via the BUBBA app, beginning Spring 2026.

EGO Fishing’s Tackle Box Sling Pack FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Maximizing Every Inch EGO Fishing’s Tackle Box Sling Pack consolidates, carries, and easily throws over your shoulder

NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Boosting Sonar Visibility Mad Scientist Tackle’s new LS Snipin’ Jig developed to generate the maximum sonar return and fish appeal

Big kicker anchors comeback win for Marler After a storm-delayed start, the 2025 NPFL Stop Four ended with fireworks. Texas pro Chad Marlor stole the show on Finale Friday with a clutch 17-pound, 11-ounce bag, anchored by a jaw-dropping 8-1 largemouth

Recent Lake Reports

California Delta By TIDALBass Had a bunch of recent August guide trips so wanted to post some updates. I have been focusing on Franks and spots out west lately with clients. If the wind isn't blowing too hard and the tide is up or coming in we are catching fish in Franks Tract on chatter baits, drop shots and topwater. Focus on current movement areas to catch a bunch of fish. Quality (4+lb fish) have been stingy, but 1.5-2.5lb fish in big numbers is possible. Super fun with clients new to fishing since I've been taking a bunch of kids lately. The bite out west is a low-tide deal. You have to get comfortable fishing thick grass flats and current based weed edges to be successful. The quality is definitely better on this bite, but we catch less numbers. Also you have to get used to fishing in the wind since it always seems to blow this time of year out west. Frog, punch and drop shot. Good luck.

California Delta By deepvbasser Launched early at Paradise; ran to an old spot haven't fished in 2 seasons so it was like a new spot. Started on tule points and cuts. Hooked up several 1 & 2 lbers with bluegill squarebill, bronco bug, and t-rigged stick worm. Also a few on dropshot. Ran to one of our usual flats hoping for topwater but only managed a single blowup; threw bronco bug and t-rig senko and picked up a few more 1 lbers. Ran back to starting spot and worked down a rock wall throwing squarebill and plastics. I changed to a red craw squarebill and was fortunate to hook up a nice one...7 lbs even; he had the whole squarebill (1.5) in his mouth. Ran back up Disappointment but managed only a couple more bites; decided to quit early at 10:30.

From the Blogs

Pro X Punch Hooks By Ron Howe

Designed in collaboration with Bass Master Classic Champion, Randy Howell, the?Pro X Punchin Hook?is built using super high carbon steel wire to provide unmatched strength and power for removing fish from heavy cover. Built to securely hold your favorite soft plastic flipping baits firmly in place, these premium hooks feature a dual shank barbed […]

The post Pro X Punch Hooks first appeared on RB Bass Fishing.