Freshwater(Page 5)

The top freshwater fishing destinations and tips for catching bass, panfish, walleyes, muskies, and more.

Latest in Freshwater

The best baitcasting rods for bass allow you to present lures and set the hook

Gear

The Best Fishing Lines for Bass of 2025 The Best Fishing Lines for Bass of 2025

By Pete Robbins

portrait of walleye angler Dick Grzywinski

Lessons from the Griz, the Last Great Fishing Legend of the North Lessons from the Griz, the Last Great Fishing Legend of the North

By Alex Robinson

An x-ray image of a crappie with ball bearings in its gut.

Investigation Reveals Kansas Record Crappie Was Stuffed with Ball Bearings Investigation Reveals Kansas Record Crappie Was Stuffed with Ball Bearings

A white crappie caught in Kansas.

“I Caught That Fish Legally and Honestly.” Kansas Officials Seize State-Record Crappie, Strike It From Record Books “I Caught That Fish Legally and Honestly.” Kansas Officials Seize State-Record Crappie, Strike It From Record Books

A fisherman holds up a fat rainbow trout caught from a creek in Maryland.

Fat Rainbow Trout Caught from Historic Creek Shatters Maryland State Record Fat Rainbow Trout Caught from Historic Creek Shatters Maryland State Record

A white crappie caught in Kansas.

Kansas Angler Catches New State-Record Crappie Kansas Angler Catches New State-Record Crappie

The best trout spinning reels help you fight these hard charging fish and present tiny lures.

Gear

The Best Trout Spinning Reels of 2025 The Best Trout Spinning Reels of 2025

By Kevin Hughes

A kayak angler holds up a state-record crappie caught in Colorado.

Kayak Fisherman Breaks Colorado Crappie Record Using Forward-Facing Sonar Kayak Fisherman Breaks Colorado Crappie Record Using Forward-Facing Sonar

A hand-tied Clouser Minnow in a vise.

How to Tie the Clouser Minnow, Step by Step How to Tie the Clouser Minnow, Step by Step

missouri record yellow perch throw line

Fisherman Tells Wife He’s Going Out to Catch a Record, Then Catches State-Record Perch Fisherman Tells Wife He’s Going Out to Catch a Record, Then Catches State-Record Perch

smallmouth bass

How Fish Create “Countries” in River Systems How Fish Create “Countries” in River Systems

throwing a cast net

How to Throw a Cast Net How to Throw a Cast Net

west virginia blue cat record fourth consecutive year

West Virginia Blue Catfish Record Broken for the Fourth Year in a Row West Virginia Blue Catfish Record Broken for the Fourth Year in a Row

are fish record stories captivating

Are Record Fish Stories as Captivating as They Used to Be? Are Record Fish Stories as Captivating as They Used to Be?

fisherman holding up a walleye

The Best Walleye Ice Fishing Lures of 2025 The Best Walleye Ice Fishing Lures of 2025

By Ross Robertson

The author tested the best telescopic rods on his home lake.

Gear

The Best Telescopic Fishing Rods The Best Telescopic Fishing Rods

By Pete Robbins

big lake trout in water

Winter Fishing: The 3 Hottest Bites When the Weather Gets Cold Winter Fishing: The 3 Hottest Bites When the Weather Gets Cold

british boy world record worthy wels catfish

Catfish Fishing

British Boy Catches Monster Wels Catfish Nearly Twice His Size British Boy Catches Monster Wels Catfish Nearly Twice His Size

pickerel fishing

How to Catch Pickerel in Winter How to Catch Pickerel in Winter

easy fishing gear

Baits, Lures, & Flies

Easy Fishing Gear Hacks Easy Fishing Gear Hacks

snake river dams underwater salmon

Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon Breach or Die: It’s Time to Free the Lower Snake River and Save Idaho’s Wild Salmon

A man in a greenshirt and waders fly fishes in a shady river.

This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways This Bill Would Digitize Mapping Data for America’s Waterways

By Andrew McKean

Why Walleye Are a Problem in Idaho Why Walleye Are a Problem in Idaho

A woman holding a large fish

Gear

Best Ice Fishing Lures for Panfish of 2025 Best Ice Fishing Lures for Panfish of 2025

By Nicole Stone

Two noodlers wrestle a giant flathead catfish.

The Complete Guide to Noodling Catfish The Complete Guide to Noodling Catfish

By Natalie Krebs

costa sunglasses

Gear

What Are Polarized Sunglasses? What Are Polarized Sunglasses?

By Pete Robbins

A USMC soldier trout fishing in Korea.

Fishing for Trout and Taking Fire in Korea, From the Archives Fishing for Trout and Taking Fire in Korea, From the Archives

By Elwayne Carter

details mysterious idaho bass record

Details Behind a Mysterious Idaho Bass Record Finally Come to Light Details Behind a Mysterious Idaho Bass Record Finally Come to Light

south dakota walleye record

This Walleye Just Broke South Dakota’s 23-Year-Old State Record This Walleye Just Broke South Dakota’s 23-Year-Old State Record

grayling fishing reopens michigan

Grayling Fishing Returns to Michigan After a Nearly 100-Year Absence Grayling Fishing Returns to Michigan After a Nearly 100-Year Absence

idaho record steelhead

Idaho Fly Fisherman Lands New State-Record Steelhead Idaho Fly Fisherman Lands New State-Record Steelhead

idaho coho record

Fisherman Breaks Idaho Coho Salmon Record by a Hair Fisherman Breaks Idaho Coho Salmon Record by a Hair

video killer whale chinook

Watch: Killer Whales Try to Steal Angler’s Salmon Watch: Killer Whales Try to Steal Angler’s Salmon

video storm drain walleye

Watch: Fisherman Drops a Walleye Down a Storm Drain While Taking Photos, Then Catches It Again Watch: Fisherman Drops a Walleye Down a Storm Drain While Taking Photos, Then Catches It Again

kayak angler paddles through rapids

Hell or High Water: Chasing Smallmouth Bass on the New River Hell or High Water: Chasing Smallmouth Bass on the New River

Photographs by Nick Kelley, Story by Natalie Krebs

video cannibalistic bass

Watch: Kayak Angler Finds a Big Bass Choking on a Smaller One Watch: Kayak Angler Finds a Big Bass Choking on a Smaller One

fly fisherman wearing waders and holding rod and walking stick poses at shallow, rocky edge of river

The Godfather of Montana’s Bighorn River The Godfather of Montana’s Bighorn River

By John B. Snow

leucistic catfish nebraska 2

Angler Catches Giant Leucistic Catfish and His Personal Best Flathead on the Same Night Angler Catches Giant Leucistic Catfish and His Personal Best Flathead on the Same Night

Netting a trophy fish requires the correct gear and approach

How to Correctly Net Trophy Fish How to Correctly Net Trophy Fish

delaware blue catfish record

Delaware Angler Catches State Record Blue Catfish from Nanticoke River Delaware Angler Catches State Record Blue Catfish from Nanticoke River

redwood fly fishing 5

Fly Fishing: A Complete Guide to the Most Fun and Frustrating Way to Catch Fish Fly Fishing: A Complete Guide to the Most Fun and Frustrating Way to Catch Fish

ontario pike tournament cheating scandal

Tournament Anglers Accused of Trimming Their Pike in Yet Another Cheating Scandal Tournament Anglers Accused of Trimming Their Pike in Yet Another Cheating Scandal

smallmouth bass

These 3 Classic Jerkbaits Are Still the Best for Bass and Trout These 3 Classic Jerkbaits Are Still the Best for Bass and Trout

Angler poses with bass and jerkbait.

Gear

The Best Jerkbait Rods of 2025 The Best Jerkbait Rods of 2025

By Pete Robbins

best fly rods for bass

Gear

The Best Fly Rods for Bass, Tested and Reviewed The Best Fly Rods for Bass, Tested and Reviewed

texas gator gar world record

Nearly 300-Pound Alligator Gar Caught in Texas Should Break the World Record Nearly 300-Pound Alligator Gar Caught in Texas Should Break the World Record

oklahoma silver carp record

Bowfisherman Who Holds Texas Silver Carp Record Just Broke Oklahoma’s Record, Too Bowfisherman Who Holds Texas Silver Carp Record Just Broke Oklahoma’s Record, Too

Trotliner holding a flathead catfish on his lap

The Master Catfish Trotliners of the White River The Master Catfish Trotliners of the White River

Photographs by Rory Doyle, Story by Natalie Krebs

minnesota coho record

Minnesota Angler Breaks 53-Year-Old Coho Salmon Record on His First Trip to Lake Superior Minnesota Angler Breaks 53-Year-Old Coho Salmon Record on His First Trip to Lake Superior

gamefish as bait

6 Fishing Rules That Are Most Commonly Broken 6 Fishing Rules That Are Most Commonly Broken

A sheepshead with its human-like teeth is notoriously difficult to hook.

The 5 Hardest Fish to Hook The 5 Hardest Fish to Hook

A 14 year old from Minnesota caught a wallet, and returned it to its owner.

Teen Angler Catches Wallet Containing $2,000, Returns It to Owner Teen Angler Catches Wallet Containing $2,000, Returns It to Owner

fishing next to a croc

Watch: Australian Fisherman Wades Right Next to a Large Crocodile Watch: Australian Fisherman Wades Right Next to a Large Crocodile

how to cook trout over fire feature

How to Cook Trout Outside How to Cook Trout Outside

A 2 stroke vs 4 stroke outboard motor comparison.

Gear

2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke Engine: Which Outboard Is Better for You? 2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke Engine: Which Outboard Is Better for You?

shark found on idaho river

Salmon Shark Found Along River in Idaho Was Planted as a Prank, Officials Conclude Salmon Shark Found Along River in Idaho Was Planted as a Prank, Officials Conclude

biggest payday catfish tournament history

Twin Brothers Net the Biggest Payday in Catfish Tournament History Twin Brothers Net the Biggest Payday in Catfish Tournament History

A woman is holding a giant catfish.

Gear

The Best Catfish Rods of 2025 The Best Catfish Rods of 2025

By Alan Clemons

mt trout declines dead brown 1

Trout Numbers Are Crashing in Montana, and No One Is Sure Why Trout Numbers Are Crashing in Montana, and No One Is Sure Why

walleye stuffing cheater new york

Another Walleye-Stuffing Cheater Caught at a Fishing Tournament in New York Another Walleye-Stuffing Cheater Caught at a Fishing Tournament in New York

12-Year-Old Sets New Kentucky Bowfishing Record with Giant Bighead Carp

12-Year-Old Sets New Kentucky Bowfishing Record with Giant Bighead Carp 12-Year-Old Sets New Kentucky Bowfishing Record with Giant Bighead Carp

big pile of colorful crankbaits laid out on metallic background

The Secret World of Custom Balsa Crankbaits The Secret World of Custom Balsa Crankbaits

By Pete Robbins

west virginia angler breaks own record

West Virginia Angler Breaks His Own Catfish Record 1 Year After Setting It West Virginia Angler Breaks His Own Catfish Record 1 Year After Setting It

oregon angler shoots at boaters

Shotgun-Wielding Angler Arrested for Allegedly Shooting at Boaters and a Police Drone Shotgun-Wielding Angler Arrested for Allegedly Shooting at Boaters and a Police Drone