July 4, 2026 - West Virginia Outdoors – [ENCORE] From Lake Erie: The Best Smallmouth Fishing Day of Chris Lawrence's Life

Chris Lawrence broadcasts an entire episode live from the deck of Ed Powell's bass boat on Lake Erie near Buffalo, New York, during a Memorial Day weekend pre-spawn smallmouth trip. After enduring miserable 48-degree, windy, rain-soaked conditions on day one, the pair land an extraordinary haul on day two, boating over 50 smallmouth with five fish topping four pounds, including a 4-pound, 11-ounce standout — what Lawrence calls the best day of fishing in his life. Powell, who is pre-fishing the stretch ahead of a Bassmaster Open in August, walks through his drop shot technique on vertical seawalls, braided line setup, and the role of forward-facing LiveScope sonar, discussing both its advantages and the ongoing debate over whether it makes competitive fishing too easy. The conversation also touches on Powell's season on the Bassmaster Opens circuit, including a top-10 finish at Lake Norman, and the Tour de Coal float trip on the Coal River back home in West Virginia.