Details

Published: 31 January 2025

BASS Report

New for 2025, B.A.S.S. has announced a companion circuit to the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft. The Bassmaster College Kayak Series will offer college anglers the opportunity to punch their ticket to the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft over the course of three tournaments to be held concurrently with Kayak Series events.

The College Kayak events will be held Feb. 1-2 at Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla., April 26-27 at Dale Hollow Reservoir in Byrdstown, Tenn., and Sept. 27-28 at Toledo Bend Reservoir in Hemphill, Texas.

College Kayak Series anglers must register and pay entry fees for each regular-season Bassmaster Kayak Series event they compete in. The highest-placing College Kayak Series angler will be named winner of the College Kayak Series event and receive a trophy in addition to winning a berth to the 2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship. College Kayak Series anglers will still be competing against the regular Kayak Series field, and it is possible for a College Kayak Series angler to win both the standard Kayak Series event alongside winning the College Kayak Series event.

Registration Links:

Kissimmee Chain of Lakes: tourneyx.com/leaderboard/standings/hash-2-25-kissimmee-chain-bassmaster-kayak-series

Dale Hollow Reservoir: tourneyx.com/leaderboard/standings/hash-3-25-dale-hollow-bassmaster-kayak-series

Toledo Bend Reservoir: tourneyx.com/leaderboard/standings/hash-6-25-toledo-bend-bassmaster-kayak-series

2025 Bassmaster College Kayak Series Schedule

• February 1-2, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Kissimmee, Fla.
• April 26-27, Dale Hollow Reservoir, Byrdstown, Tenn.
• September 27-28, Toledo Bend Reservoir, Hemphill, Texas

Details

Published: 30 January 2025

AFTCO Report

The deadline for applying for AFTCO/B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation Grant Program is set for March 31.

The Grant Program provides financial support for stocking bass, habitat enhancements, and ensuring that bass are properly cared for and returned to lakes and rivers in the best possible condition for future generations to enjoy. These efforts are coordinated locally with the aid of B.A.S.S Nation chapters, governmental fishery management agencies, local businesses, and the valuable support of volunteers and youth organizations contributing their time and labor to the cause.

The Conservation Grant Program was created in 2018 to help provide funds to approved freshwater bass conservation projects proposed by B.A.S.S. Nation clubs. To date, AFTCO’s total contribution to this program has exceeded $152,000 in grants. This partnership with B.A.S.S. Nation Conservation has actively contributed to the shared goals of AFTCO and B.A.S.S., fostering community and youth-oriented conservation projects that positively impact local fisheries.

To submit a proposal, visit https://www.aftco.com/pages/bass-conservation-grant.

Proposals will be judged by a panel that includes representatives from B.A.S.S. and AFTCO. Please direct any questions to Gene Gilliland at ggilliland@bassmaster.com

Details

Published: 14 January 2025

Seaguar Report

For years, the pound test markings on a box and spool of fishing line were the first things anglers paid attention to when spooling up a new reel.

The one issue with that practice is that the diameters vary widely from brand to brand, and some newer generations of line are highly specialized and even thinner. Thus, the true test of a line is the actual measured diameters of each size and line type.

In Japan, bass anglers focus more on line diameter and how it affects lure performance out of necessity when fishing pressured waters. Seaguar recently imported three exclusive lines that were previously only available in the Japanese domestic market (JDM), and are offering them in the United States to help anglers get more bites from finicky fish. The three new lines are:

• R18 main line fluorocarbon
• Grand Max fluorocarbon leader material, a favorite in Japan since 1999
• The micro-thin PE-X8 braid

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