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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

Rodman Reservoir appears safe f We are pleased to report that Rodman Reservoir appears safe from draining in the current 2025 bill, as Governor DeSantis vetoed the funding that would have led to its removal.

Two upcoming free fishing days Take someone new!

Lawmakers to Revisit Delta Conveyance Project Audit The DWR is currently estimated to be spending $1 million per day on the DCP amidst a myriad of issues including expired water rights, growing legal and environmental concerns as well as broad opposition from tribes, environmental justice groups and fishing communities.

Forums

Forum	Last Post
	What is the best bass lake in the country? by Kelly Ripa Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:47 pm
	What is the best bass lake in the country? by Kelly Ripa Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:47 pm
	ABA PTT To Return by WB Staff Tue Jul 8, 2025 10:35 am
	Humminbird problem by Whoopbass Mon Jun 16, 2025 4:36 pm
	Say hello to my little friend by Jboutfishn Wed Jun 25, 2025 9:45 am
	What is this??? by Salmon Sun Mar 2, 2025 2:26 pm
	Top Three Anglers from the California Western Wild Card B A S S Nation event by basstrophy Wed Jul 2, 2025 7:51 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
	2005 Ranger 185 VX -- $13,500 by callwakeup Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:57 pm	Tempest Plus 27 by basscattrent Wed Jul 9, 2025 6:44 pm
	Minn kota fortrex trolling motor by bassinbob Wed Jul 9, 2025 2:39 pm	Bass Cat bench Seats by Bott Mon Jul 7, 2025 11:05 am
	WB Helix Transducer by Tony M Thu Jul 10, 2025 11:50 am	Daiwa Steez AGS finesse game special by Chris Griffith Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:17 pm
	Lucky craft Sammy and other Topwater by jerrysfishing Sun Jul 6, 2025 11:08 am	Snag Proof Frogs by Smoothguy93 Fri Jun 20, 2025 3:19 pm
Kayak Classifieds	2019 Hobie Compass by dwong Thu May 15, 2025 10:50 am	Sunline Almight Braid by BassBoy3 Sun May 18, 2025 3:52 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

Daiwa Steez AGS finesse game special by Chris Griffith Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:17 pm

What is the best bass lake in the country? by Kelly Ripa Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:47 pm

2005 Ranger 185 VX -- $13,500 by callwakeup Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:57 pm

225 Mercury Optimax - Good Condition by Lewis2287 Thu Jul 10, 2025 3:29 pm

Loomis NRX+ 894C JWR by MT Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:53 pm

1998 Ranger 518 DVS/200 Merc EFI(reduced) by Freedomfmlyfish Thu Jul 10, 2025 1:08 pm

Industry Press Releases

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

Schlapper wire-to-wire win at Sabine River Wisconsin's Pat Schlapper has won the MAXAM Tire Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a four-day total of 38 pounds, 12 ounces.

Micah Jones Smashes 38.34 Pounds to Lead WON Bass California Open at Clear Lake Clear Lake is once again showing its World Class prowess.

NPFL and Fishing Chaos Form Strategic Partnership Fishing Chaos is onboard to help take the NPFL to the next level in 2025.

The Ray Scott Story" is gonna be one for the books! Ray Scott, the man who started it all with B.A.S.S. and changed the face of fishing forever!

Recent Lake Reports

California Delta By deepvbasser Launched early from Paradise, pretty breezy but tolerable. Ran down to main channel and just hit inlets and oxbows off main. First stop yielded 3 stripers 16" & 17" slow crankin' a bluegill squarebill. Continued catching on crank for the next hour, mostly 10-12"ers to 1lbers. Also picked up some fat redear sunfish and a couple of good sized crappies on the crank. Kept em for a needy family I know. When that slowed, switched to 3/8 oz Green Pumpkin/Blue/Chartreuse Jackhammer; first 3 casts hooked at least a 3lber (judging by the size of the mouth when it jumped) and then lost it at the boat ($#!+!!) No more hits after that loss and wanted to get back to crankin anyways so didn't spend any more time with it. Went to whopper plopper 90 in bone. Many hits just twitching it like a popper as well as straight retrieve parallel on top of weedlines. Also got three big blowups as soon as it hit the water, like immediately. One was 2lbs, the other two were about a pound. Nothing on senko, dropshot, or jerkbait though I didn't give those a lot of time, always went back to the bluegill pattern crank and whopper plopper. Big brother was also throwing a white horny toad on 4/0 weightless and was getting lots of action. He'd throw to open holes and they'd hit as soon as he was about to drag it onto the slop. Fun watching it. Fun day, nothing over 2lbs but hey, always fun gettin fish on the hook!

California Delta By sugarwhite Hi all, I also launched from Paradise last week, and headed north from there. Throwing top water everywhere, I landed a few dinks around whites. Headed farther north to find muddy water in the river. So decided to get to clearer water in the backs of sloughs. Did much better, landing three 3lbers in a row. And a few smaller ones on the exit of Sycamore. I fished spinnerbait on tulies heading back south in that muddy water and only managed a couple dinks. It got super windy. I had to shut it down because it wasn't fun anymore...lol "I'll be back"

From the Blogs

Delta Update and Fishing Report By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Ron Howe By Vern Westberg II

RB Bass Outdoors Angler Ron Howe talks about California Delta Bass fishing and how its shaping up for the upcoming frog derbies. #bassfishing #rbbassoutdoors #abugarcia #abugarciaforlife #daiichi #proxhooks Facebook: Ron Howe / RB Bass Outdoors Instagram: @calfisher71 / @rbbass YouTube: RB Bass Outdoors? ? ?https://www.youtube.com/@calfisher71RBBASS/videos

The post Delta Update and Fishing Report By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Ron Howe first appeared on RB Bass Fishing.