Tournament News Powered By Lake Drive Marine
Thursday, January 08, 2026
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By David A. Rose
Missing Strikes When Fishing Topwater Baits? It Might be Your Line Choice
When I daydream about catching bass, my initial vision is of mist rising off a lake’s dead-calm surface, followed by the most primeval eruption as a big bass attacks my topwater lure.
And while that feeling of exhilaration is the very reason so many anglers love catching bass that way, there could be a major problem when it happens… the impulsive quick hookset comes so naturally that we end up pulling the lure away from the fish’s face before it’s gobbled it up. It’s happened to all of us. But it doesn’t have to be as common of an occurrence.
Three primary factors influence your topwater success once a fish has committed: your chosen line, hooksetting technique, and rod in your hand.
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Dr. Jason Halfen, The Technological Angler
Bassmaster Elite touring pro Stephen Browning
The bass pre-spawn period is a time of anticipation and transition.
Largemouth and spotted bass slide out of their deeper, thermally-stable wintering holes and begin a systematic movement toward the warming shallows, where they will binge feed in preparation for the rigors of spawning.
Along the way, tempestuous spring weather can cause bass to hit the pause button, or even find their reverse gear, delaying their progress or even causing bass to restart from scratch. Yes, we know where the bass will begin this springtime transition period, and we also know where it will end, but that in-between region, in which bass are hyper-sensitive and on the move – that’s what separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Bassmaster Elite touring pro Stephen Browning is no stranger to success in early season tournaments. The 10-time qualifier for the Bassmaster Classic has racked up an impressive number of wins by targeting cold water, pre-spawn bass, including a recent victory at the 2018 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on Ross Barnett Reservoir. With career earnings in excess of $1.3 million, Browning knows a thing or two about targeting big bass when big bucks are on the line.
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IBF Report
The Indiana Bass Federation (IBF), an organization with the purpose to assist and unite member clubs and to assist and cooperate with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in matters that are mutually beneficial, has announced it has allotted $5,000 to stock bass in Raccoon Lake this year.
With the cooperation and support of the Indiana DNR they are purchasing 1000, 8- to 12-inch largemouth bass from a Cincinnati hatchery.
IBF Conservation Director Maggie Templeton said the DNR was very helpful in recommending the best size of bass to stock and locating the best pricing. .