EPISODE · Jan 10, 2026 · 4 MIN
Bassmaster Elite Series Heats Up: Top Anglers Chasing 100-Pound Bags
from Bass Fishing Daily · host Inception Point AI
Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, sliding out of the rod locker with your weekly bass fix. Let’s start with big news on the tournament front, because where the pros are whacking ’em, the rest of us usually aren’t far behind. WesternBass reports that the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series is about to kick off after a 2025 season that cranked out a record 11 century belts – that’s 100-pound-plus four‑day bags, which tells you U.S. bass fishing is in a seriously healthy place. They’ve also announced 101 anglers for the 2026 Elite field, so expect even more pressure on the classic big-bass venues across the country. Out West, WesternBass’ latest lake reports say Shasta Lake in California is quietly turning into a largemouth sleeper this winter. Shasta is usually a spotted-bass playground, but right now some legit largemouth are sliding shallow onto subtle flats under 10 feet, and guys are still getting explosive eats on big topwater baits in the afternoon. For the fly crowd, that screams giant deer-hair divers and big-head poppers walked slow over that skinny water while the sun’s dropping. The California Delta, on the other hand, has gone full winter grind. WesternBass notes water temps in the low to mid‑50s, with bass pulling off the super-shallow grass and stacking along edges and transitions. Finesse is getting it done there – think slow presentations around current and depth changes. If you’re a fly angler, that’s your signal to swap the big bugs for neutrally buoyant streamers and craw patterns crawled painfully slow on a sinking line. Back east, Major League Fishing is setting the stage at Dale Hollow Lake on the Kentucky‑Tennessee line. MLF points out this is the same reservoir that produced the all‑time world record smallmouth – an 11‑pound, 15‑ounce freak of nature back in 1955 – and they’re expecting “big weights” from both smallmouth and largemouth when the Bass Pro Tour hits it. In a recent Phoenix Bass Fishing League event, MLF reports Matt Becker sacked 22 pounds, 12 ounces of largemouth on Dale Hollow by staying way off his fish, using forward‑facing sonar and targeting creek mouths where bass were staging before the spawn. If you’re a fly angler, that pattern translates nicely into long casts with full‑sink lines and neutrally buoyant baitfish flies tracked through those same staging lanes. If you’re more of a grassroots person, the Victoria Advocate just profiled the 3 C’s Bass Club in Texas, which is kicking off its 2026 season with a mix of competition and community work. That’s classic bass‑club culture: jackpot tournaments, local lakes, and just enough bragging rights to make someone buy the post‑weigh‑in tacos. Perfect scene if you want to slip in with a 7‑weight and show the gear guys what a well‑placed streamer can do. Kayak and fly curious? Kayak Bass Fishing just highlighted Long Island Kayak Bass Fishing, a club working the greater New York metro area from plastic boats. That style of fishing lines up beautifull This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
What this episode covers
Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, sliding out of the rod locker with your weekly bass fix. Let’s start with big news on the tournament front, because where the pros are whacking ’em, the rest of us usually aren’t far behind. WesternBass reports that the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series is about to kick off after a 2025 season that cranked out a record 11 century belts – that’s 100-pound-plus four‑day bags, which tells you U.S. bass fishing is in a seriously healthy place. They’ve also announced 101 anglers for the 2026 Elite field, so expect even more pressure on the classic big-bass venues across the country. Out West, WesternBass’ latest lake reports say Shasta Lake in California is quietly turning into a largemouth sleeper this winter. Shasta is usually a spotted-bass playground, but right now some legit largemouth are sliding shallow onto subtle flats under 10 feet, and guys are still getting explosive eats on big topwater baits in the afternoon. For the fly crowd, that screams giant deer-hair divers and big-head poppers walked slow over that skinny water while the sun’s dropping. The California Delta, on the other hand, has gone full winter grind. WesternBass notes water temps in the low to mid‑50s, with bass pulling off the super-shallow grass and stacking along edges and transitions. Finesse is getting it done there – think slow presentations around current and depth changes. If you’re a fly angler, that’s your signal to swap the big bugs for neutrally buoyant streamers and craw patterns crawled painfully slow on a sinking line. Back east, Major League Fishing is setting the stage at Dale Hollow Lake on the Kentucky‑Tennessee line. MLF points out this is the same reservoir that produced the all‑time world record smallmouth – an 11‑pound, 15‑ounce freak of nature back in 1955 – and they’re expecting “big weights” from both smallmouth and largemouth when the Bass Pro Tour hits it. In a recent Phoenix Bass Fishing League event, MLF reports Matt Becker sacked 22 pounds, 12 ounces of largemouth on Dale Hollow by staying way off his fish, using forward‑facing sonar and targeting creek mouths where bass were staging before the spawn. If you’re a fly angler, that pattern translates nicely into long casts with full‑sink lines and neutrally buoyant baitfish flies tracked through those same staging lanes. If you’re more of a grassroots person, the Victoria Advocate just profiled the 3 C’s Bass Club in Texas, which is kicking off its 2026 season with a mix of competition and community work. That’s classic bass‑club culture: jackpot tournaments, local lakes, and just enough bragging rights to make someone buy the post‑weigh‑in tacos. Perfect scene if you want to slip in with a 7‑weight and show the gear guys what a well‑placed streamer can do. Kayak and fly curious? Kayak Bass Fishing just highlighted Long Island Kayak Bass Fishing, a club working the greater New York metro area from plastic boats. That style of fishing lines up beautifull This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
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Bassmaster Elite Series Heats Up: Top Anglers Chasing 100-Pound Bags
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