Freshwater (Page 7)

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

Latest in Freshwater

angler holding bowfin

Fishing for Dinosaurs: Why the Ancient Bowfin Has a New Cult of Followers

A Utah fisherman with a giant tiger trout.

Utah Fisherman Follows Grandpa’s Advice, Catches State-Record Tiger Trout Through the Ice

The aftermath of a boat wreck at a bass fishing tournament in Florida.

Watch: Pro Bass Anglers ‘Could Have Been Killed’ in Crash While Speeding Back to Weigh-In

Crappie Fishing

Catch Spring Crappies from Shore

Here’s How Justin Hamner Won the Bassmaster Classic with Forward-Facing Sonar and a Jerkbait

Largemouth Bass

Here’s How Justin Hamner Won the Bassmaster Classic with Forward-Facing Sonar and a Jerkbait

Angler with a giant striper-white bass hybrid.

Watch: Giant Hybrid Bass Caught on Fly Could Set a New World Record

A Missouri angler with a bighead carp.

Missouri Man Catches Likely World-Record Carp, Turns It into Fertilizer

A West Virginia angler holds up the new state-record bowfin.

College Student Catches State-Record Bowfin on Her Second Cast of the Day

An alligator caught by an angler in Tennessee.

Tennessee Teen Catches Gator on a Swimbait, Stuns Game Warden

angler standing on bank holds huge largemouth bass up toward camera

California Dreaming: How Nintendo Led Oliver Ngy to Big-Bass Superstardom

A group of anglers hold up the world-record paddlefish.

Guide Who Puts First-Time Angler on World-Record Paddlefish Says It’s a ‘Dream Come True’

the best premium buzzbait

The 6 Best Buzzbaits of 2026

By Pete Robbins

A Wisconsin angler with a golden bowfin.

Bowfisherman Harvests Uber-Rare Golden Bowfin in Wisconsin

The best crappie fishing lines being tested on the water.

Crappie Fishing

The Best Fishing Lines for Crappie of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

By Cory Schmidt

kody king idaho record tiger trout

State-Record Tiger Trout Disqualified Because Angler Didn’t Have a Fishing License

A young angler holds up a huge Texas largemouth.

Largemouth Bass

11-Year-Old Lands 13-Pound Bass, Makes Texas History

Lynn Bumgardner with his record yellow perch.

Tennessee Fisherman Catches Kentucky State-Record Perch

We tested the best spincast reels.

The Best Spincast Reels of 2026

By Travis Smola

An angler holds up a smallmouth bass in a parking lot.

Smallmouth Bass

Huge Smallmouth Bass Caught in Indiana Should Break 32-Year-Old State Record

Trout Fishing Tips: How to Catch Trout

A woman in a jacket holding a giany musky on the water

Pike and Muskie Fishing

The Best Musky Lures of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

By Kristine Fischer

A fisherman wearing 3D goggles holds up a bass.

Watch: YouTuber Syncs Apple Vision Pro with LiveScope

fishing lodge feud 3

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

This Happened to Us: We Got in a Full-Blown Feud with a Rival Fishing Lodge

Fischer hoists bass

Breaking Bass: Kristine Fischer’s Rise to Kayak-Fishing Fame

Angler releases giant king salmon in Argentina.

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

Watch: ‘Absolute Beast’ of a King Salmon Proves Why the Next World Record Will Come from Argentina

A teenager kneels with a fat tiger trout held in his hands, an dholds the fish by his tailgate.

West Virginia Teen Lands New State-Record Tiger Trout That Barely Fit in the Net

augmented reality glasses

A Bassmaster Pro Is Using Augmented Reality Glasses for LiveScoping

By Pete Robbins

ice fishing crappie

Crappie Fishing

Crappie Barotrauma Controversy: Are All Crappies Caught in Deep Water Destined to Die?

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

The Best Fishing Lines for Bass of 2026

By Pete Robbins

portrait of walleye angler Dick Grzywinski

Walleye Fishing

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.

Crappie Fishing

Investigation Reveals Kansas Record Crappie Was Stuffed with Ball Bearings

A white crappie caught in Kansas.

Panfish Fishing

“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

A white crappie caught in Kansas.

Crappie Fishing

Kansas Angler Catches New State-Record Crappie

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

The Best Trout Spinning Reels of 2026

By Kevin Hughes

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

Crappie Fishing

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

throwing a cast net

How to Throw a Cast Net

fisherman holding up a walleye

Walleye Fishing

The Best Walleye Ice Fishing Lures of 2026

By Ross Robertson

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

The Best Telescopic Fishing Rods

By Pete Robbins

big lake trout in water

Catfish Fishing

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

pickerel fishing

How to Catch Pickerel in Winter

easy fishing gear

Easy Fishing Gear Hacks

snake river dams underwater salmon

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

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

Walleye Fishing

Why Walleye Are a Problem in Idaho

A woman holding a large fish

Panfish Fishing

Best Ice Fishing Lures for Panfish of 2026

By Nicole Stone

Two noodlers wrestle a giant flathead catfish.

Catfish Fishing

The Complete Guide to Noodling Catfish

By Natalie Krebs

grayling fishing reopens michigan

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

idaho record steelhead

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

Idaho Fly Fisherman Lands New State-Record Steelhead

kayak angler paddles through rapids

Smallmouth Bass

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

Photographs by Nick Kelley, Story by Natalie Krebs

Netting a trophy fish requires the correct gear and approach

Catfish Fishing

How to Correctly Net Trophy Fish

redwood fly fishing 5

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

smallmouth bass

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

Angler poses with bass and jerkbait.

Largemouth Bass

The Best Jerkbait Rods of 2026

By Pete Robbins

best fly rods for bass

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

gamefish as bait

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

how to cook trout over fire feature

How to Cook Trout Outside

A 2 stroke vs 4 stroke outboard motor comparison.

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

A woman is holding a giant catfish.

Catfish Fishing

The Best Catfish Rods of 2026

By Alan Clemons

big pile of colorful crankbaits laid out on metallic background

The Secret World of Custom Balsa Crankbaits

By Pete Robbins

An angler holds a walleye caught from an ice fishing hole.

Walleye Fishing

10 Early Ice Fishing Walleye Tactics That Will Put You on the Bite

By Brian Bashore