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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

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Main Forums
17.6 bass San Deigo by jiggin4bass Wed Feb 4, 2026 11:02 am
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17.6 bass San Deigo by jiggin4bass Wed Feb 4, 2026 11:02 am
Tournaments
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Humminbird 9 , hub , bbt gimbal by Whoopbass Sat Jan 10, 2026 6:34 pm
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Tweener Alert 11.17 by WB Staff Sun Feb 1, 2026 10:09 am
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Striper fly fishing by Swimbaitspence Wed Jul 2, 2025 6:41 pm

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Humminbird hub n network cables by bvang916 Tue Feb 3, 2026 4:31 pm
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Recent Forum

It�s too bad by monte300 Wed Feb 4, 2026 12:47 pm
17.6 bass San Deigo by jiggin4bass Wed Feb 4, 2026 11:02 am
Looking at you MAGA by JL Wed Feb 4, 2026 10:31 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

Don Pedro Lake
Don Pedro Lake By Don Pedro Fishing Report Jan 20 and 30 With Fisherman's Warehouse pro John Myers Late-week conditions in the Don Pedro area leaned classic winter. Thursday, January 29, 2026 brought a cool morning near 38°F with an afternoon high around 62°F. Friday, January 30, 2026 warmed slightly, starting near 42°F and topping out around 67°F. Fishing Thursday and Friday, John Myer focused on deep water and subtle structure, adjusting locations rather than techniques to stay on active fish. His two-day trip to Don Pedro Reservoir revealed a clear pattern that rewarded patience, bottom contact, and an extremely slow presentation. On Thursday, the most productive water was found in the back of a creek arm. Fishing depths ranged from approximately 40- to 50-feet, where largemouth bass were the primary catch. John caught seven fish total that day, including three bass that weighed over three pounds. He also spent time fishing main-lake areas and points, where he caught some spotted bass, although those fish were smaller in size compared to the largemouth in the creek. The most effective approach on the first day involved casting into deeper water and dragging the bait uphill along the bottom. The retrieve speed was critical, as the bait needed to be moved extremely slowly to generate bites. Fish were caught on both a Dry Creek tube and a Keitech jig using this method. The tube was rigged with a 1/4-ounce weight for consistent contact with the bottom. The Keitech jig paired with a Yamamoto Cowboy trailer using the larger profile. Most of the fish came from maintaining bottom contact and resisting the urge to move the bait quickly. Based on the size and number of fish caught on Thursday, John estimated that his best five fish would have weighed between 13- and 14-pounds. On Friday, John again began fishing in the back of the creek and had early success using the jig. As the day progressed, he moved out to deeper water in the 50-feett range but was unable to generate bites in that zone. Instead of staying in unproductive water, he adjusted by targeting island tops and similar structure. Using the same presentation of casting into deeper water and dragging the bait uphill, he began catching fish consistently again. On Friday, the tube became the most productive bait, producing several fish in succession. By the end of the day, his fishing partner estimated that John caught approximately 16 fish compared to two for the partner. The difference was attributed to weight selection, as the lighter 1/8-ounce tube head used by the partner did not maintain bottom contact effectively. The 1/4-ounce tube allowed the bait to tick the bottom rather than swim above it. Although the number of bites increased on Friday, the average size of the fish was smaller. John estimated his best five fish that day would have weighed closer to 12-pounds. He also noted that the fish were positioned shallower compared to the previous day, while the deeper fifty-foot water remained largely unproductive. Line selection played an important role in detecting subtle bites. On spinning gear, John used 10-pound P-Line Tactical No-Fade braid with an 8-pound P-Line Tactical leader. On baitcasting gear, he used 14-pound P-Line Tactical line while fishing the jig. Throughout the trip, John used forward-facing sonar and observed a number of fish that appeared to be crappie. He indicated that he plans to target those fish on a future trip.
San Vicente Lake
San Vicente Lake By Report: Lake San Vicente Fishing Report Fishing at Lake San Vicente proved challengingwith only a handful of anglers able to consistently catch fish. A three-fish limit was in place, and while some anglers found success early, tough conditions made filling limits difficult for many participants. Successful anglers focused on fishing uphill along points and structure. Most productive fish were caught by anglers who positioned themselves shallow and casted into deeper water, slowly dragging their baits uphill. Other anglers targeted fish holding around twenty-five feet of water, which also produced quality bites when presentations were slowed down. Best Techniques & Baits Drop-shot rigs were the most productive presentation during this outing. Fish were caught by dragging drop-shot baits uphill from deeper water while maintaining a slow and controlled retrieve. Robo Worm-style soft plastics were especially effective when fished methodically along points. Neko rigs also produced consistent results, particularly when targeting fish holding around the twenty-five-foot depth range. Slim stick-style baits worked slowly on the Neko rig helped trigger bites under tough conditions. Fishing Conditions Fishing was challenging overall, with bites coming slowly and requiring patience. Many anglers struggled to catch their limits, and only a limited number of keepers were landed throughout the day. Slower presentations and precise depth control were critical to generating bites, especially as activity decreased later in the morning. Top 3 1. Brandon Cabrales 50.00” 2. Jeannette Graunke 47.50” 3. Shane LemMon 47.25”

From the Blogs

Folsom Lake Fishing Report By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Brian Mackinnon
Folsom Lake Fishing Report By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Brian Mackinnon By

Folsom Lake Fishing Report Water Temp: mornings 48 degrees – afternoon 50 degrees Wind: light breeze Fishing on points, rock piles and ledges. Catching fish on a wide variety of baits but strolling a minnow has been a go to. See what all information RB Bass Outdoors angler Brian Mackinnon shares to help make your […]

The post Folsom Lake Fishing Report By RB Bass Outdoors Angler Brian Mackinnon first appeared on RB Bass Fishing.