Reel in the Biggest Bass Catches Across the US: Artificial Lure's Weekly Roundup

Hey there, anglers, this is Artificial Lure keeping you in the know about everything bass fishing across the United States. Whether you pitch soft plastics off the bow or thread a streamer through a riffle, the last week had something for everyone, and you’re not going to want to miss these highlights. Let’s kick it off with killer catches. At the Bassmaster High School National Championship, young gun Trent Allen landed an 8.80-pound largemouth at Clarks Hill Lake, a record-setter for that legendary Georgia reservoir. The buzz around that beast had both tournament pros and local bank fishers talking, and it backs up what locals have grumbled for years: Clarks Hill might be the southeast’s sleeper bass factory. According to Coastal Angler Magazine, that’s the biggest bass the high school circuit’s weighed at Clarks Hill, and Trent’s smile matched the fish’s size. Meanwhile out in Florida, anglers are still talking about the recent six-pounder pulled out of the southern part of the state. Coastal Angler & The Angler Magazine just spotlighted the catch, which, although not a state record, shows that Florida’s still hot for trophy largemouth in the dog days of summer. Word is the big ones are biting early and late, with midday best spent staying cool and prepping your gear for the evening feed. Now, if you want hot spots, the tournament trail marks the way. The National Professional Fishing League announced their 2025 stops, with a wild run of qualifying events. Santee Cooper in South Carolina kicks things off, and if you’ve never seen a line-busting largemouth from that swampy wonderland, you’re missing out. St. Lawrence River, up in New York, is back on the list this July—this place is just legend for smallmouth. According to the Bassmaster weigh-in archives, recent events provided bags loaded with four and five-pound bronzebacks. If you’re looking for a road trip, those northern waters are peaking, thanks to cooler flows and healthy baitfish. Speaking of smallmouth, the Ridgway Reservoir Smallmouth Bass Classic is underway in Colorado. It’s a unique scene out there; the state wants anglers to catch as many smallmouth as possible since they’re invasive in those parts, and they’re awarding up to $20,000 for participant catches through August 10. Not only do you get a shot at a slab-sided smallie, but you help local fisheries at the same time. You just show up, fish, and drop your catch at the weigh-in freezer—pretty low key, totally Colorado. On the fly fishing front, Virginia’s Shenandoah River usually brings solid smallmouth action. Murray's Fly Shop just updated that rain made things murky this week, with levels slowly coming back down, and they expect wading and floating for smallies to be prime soon. If you like topwater eats and boulder-jumping, keep an eye on those flows—the comeback is always epic after a summer flush. And if you just want more bass culture, get ready for college anglers to take the stage. Watauga Lake in Tennessee wi This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.