Freshwater (Page 7)

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

Latest in Freshwater

A Missouri bowfisherman holds up a record grass carp.

Missouri Bowfisherman Arrows State-Record Grass Carp After Losing It the Day Before

bass lure trout

How to Catch Giant Trout on Bass Lures

Two college fishermen hold up bass at a Bassmaster tournament.

Podcast: Why Today’s College Anglers Are Tomorrow’s Bass Pros

smallmouth bugs

Smallmouth Bass

Podcast: The Secrets to Catching Bug-Drunk Smallmouths

Two men catfishing in a boat

Catfish Fishing

Missouri Man Arrested for Allegedly Shooting at Two Anglers Who Fished ‘Too Close’ to His Dock

By Alice Jones Webb

JT Thompkins was disqualified from a tournament and it cost him a shot at thousands.

Largemouth Bass

Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie Disqualified for Failing a Polygraph Test

By Derek Horner

Two fishing buddies hold up black crappies.

Crappie Fishing

West Virginia Fishing Buddies Break State Crappie Record Twice in One Morning

A kayak fisherman holds up a nice snakehead.

How to Land and Handle Snakeheads Safely and Easily in a Kayak

Two college anglers hold up bass.

The Best Bass Fishing in America Is Happening on the College Circuit

A man holding a fish on a boat

Best Crankbaits You Can Get at Bass Pro Shops

By Pete Robbins

Teen holds up large tiger trout.

Teen’s First Tiger Trout from His Home Lake Is a New Wyoming Record

By Alice Jones Webb

A kayak fisherman holds up a nice largemouth bass.

Largemouth Bass

Cannibal Bass: What a Problem at an Illinois Fish Farm Can Teach Us About Catching Bigger Largemouths

An angler with a big chinook salmon caught in Montana.

Watch: Montana Retiree Catches Pending State-Record Chinook Salmon from His Pontoon

Using Forward Facing Sonar to Locate Fish

Largemouth Bass

7 Forward Facing Sonar Tips: Settings, Mounting, and Techniques Explained

By Chad Morgenthaler

geecrack cuebomb

Largemouth Bass

How to Fish the Geecrack Cue Bomb — and Other Rubber Dice Baits

Everything you need to know to catch bass on a strolling rig

Largemouth Bass

A Complete Guide to Strolling for Bass: The Ultimate Rig for Forward-Facing Sonar

By Derek Horner

Largemouth Bass

How to Fish the Geecrack Bellows Gill: This JDM Lure Is Starting to Catch Big Bass in the U.S.

biggest crappies ever caught

Crappie Fishing

The Biggest Crappies Ever Caught

By Ken Perrotte

Man holds large channel catfish.

Catfish Fishing

West Virginia Angler Smashes State Catfish Record Using His Daughter’s Pink Kiddie Rod

By Alice Jones Webb

The best drop shot rods are sensitive and light, yet powerful enough to pull up giants

Largemouth Bass

The Best Drop Shot Rods

By Pete Robbins

Man shoots muskie in old-school photo.

Pike and Muskie Fishing

Wisconsin to Repeal Outdated Gun Law Designed to Prevent Fishermen from Shooting Muskies

how to catch suckers

Podcast: How to Catch Suckers (and Why You Should)

Forward facing sonar has changed fishing, and the next evolution is FFS specific baits and gear

Largemouth Bass

New Lures, Reels, Rods, and Lines Designed for Forward Facing Sonar

By Derek Horner

Largemouth Bass

Here’s Why Forward Facing Sonar Won’t Be Banned from Professional Bass Fishing

By Derek Horner

A spearfisherman with a chunky bluegill.

Bluegill Fishing

South Dakota Diver Spears a State-Record Bluegill

A smiling fisherman holds up a fat cutthroat trout.

‘It’s What I Live For.’ Angler Breaks Tennessee Cutthroat Record on a Fishing Trip with His Buddies

Angler holds up new Trika 6X rod on lake.

Trika 6X Collection: A Lighter, More Sensitive Carbon Weave Fishing Rod

By Derek Horner

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

The 12 Best Baitcasting Rods for Bass, Tested and Reviewed

By Pete Robbins

An angler with a big coho salmon.

Salmon and Steelhead Fishing

This Giant Coho Salmon Is a Sign the Illinois State Record Is About to Fall, Captains Say

trout fishing at night

Podcast: How to Catch Giant Trout at Night

Angler with smallmouth bass.

Fisherman Catches Trophy Smallmouth, Breaks Minnesota Catch-and-Release Record on Guided Trip

new york record bass

Largemouth Bass

Tournament Angler Catches Record-Breaking Largemouth Bass While Practice Fishing in New York

Fried fish tails one a white play.

Why You Should Eat Fried Fish Tails

A man snaps a young angler's fishing rod in half.

Watch: Irate Homeowner Confronts Boys Fishing Private Pond, Snaps Their $200 Rod

idaho tiger trout

Idaho Angler Lands Record Breaking Tiger Trout

A Humminbird and Garmin fish finder on the deck of a boat.

Largemouth Bass

MEGA Live vs LiveScope: What’s the Best Forward Facing Sonar?

By Pete Robbins

old school bass lures

Largemouth Bass

Quick Strike Podcast: 3 Old-School Bass Lures the “Cool Kids” Hate (and Why You Should Be Fishing Them Now)

Minnesota state record black crappie.

Crappie Fishing

Minnesota Angler Breaks His Own State Record With 17.5-Inch Crappie

By Natalie Krebs

Four biologists with Atlantic sturgeon

Massive 200-Plus-Pound Sturgeon Caught Just Upriver from New York City

The Best Ultralight Spinning Reels of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Bluegill Fishing

The Best Ultralight Spinning Reels of 2026, Tested and Reviewed

Georgia landowner confronts kayak fisherman.

Watch: Landowner Tells Kayaker There’s No Fishing Allowed on ‘His’ Side of the River

collage of record bass snapshots

The Biggest Bass Ever Caught

By Ken Perrotte, Dac Collins

The Wake Surfing Problem: Big Waves and Big Controversy Are Coming to a Lake Near You

By Christine Peterson

Ugly Stik makes some of the best catfish rod and reel combos

Catfish Fishing

The Best Catfish Rod and Reel Combos of 2026, Tested

By Travis Smola

no trespassing sign

Here’s What National Water Access Issues Can Teach Us About Losing Our Favorite Fishing Spots

Two Arkansas men with a paddlefish.

Arkansas Fisherman Catches New State-Record Paddlefish by Accident

Fisherman Drowns While Trying to Retrieve His Keys on a Father’s Day Trip

Fisherman Drowns While Trying to Retrieve His Keys on a Father’s Day Trip

By Natalie Krebs

Largemouth Bass

Throw Big Rat Baits to Catch Bigger Bass

By Pete Robbins

How to Catch Carp: Tips and Tactics for Beginners

7 New Bass Species Just Became Eligible for World Records, Including Florida and Alabama Bass

Dick Grzywinski, sitting in boat, holds up a large walleye

Walleye Fishing

Walleye Fishing Tips from the Experts

By Alex Robinson

A Minnesota angler with a massive pike.

Pike and Muskie Fishing

Huge Pike Caught in Boundary Waters Would Have Broken Minnesota’s State Record, Except for One Technicality

We tested the Revo Rocket.

The Best Fishing Lines for Spinning Reels of 2026

By Pete Robbins

smallmouth bass caught in a river

Smallmouth Bass

The Best Way to Catch Smallmouth Bass in Rivers: Hit Them With Topwater Lures While Wading

A finished Alberto knot, which is used to connect line to leader.

How to Tie the Alberto Knot: A Step-by-Step Guide with Photos and Video

An angler holds up a hybrid striped bass.

‘Super-Size’ Hybrid Striper Caught on a Crankbait Breaks Ohio Record

improved clinch knot

How to Tie the Improved Clinch Knot: A Step-by-Step Guide with Photos and Video

Bass pro Matty Wong with a giant bass he caught in front of a cop.

Watch: Pro Fisherman Risks a Ticket, Catches Giant Bass in Front of the Cops

An Oklahoma angler with giant flathead catfish.

Catfish Fishing

‘Holy Moly!’ Massive Flathead Caught on Trotline Is Just Shy of State Record

Watch: Fisherman Catches 7-Pound ‘Perch of His Dreams’ and Can Hardly Contain Himself

Watch: Fisherman Catches 7-Pound ‘Perch of His Dreams’ and Can Hardly Contain Himself

Angler fights paddlefish from shore; angler weighs paddlefish.

Watch: North Dakota Fisherman Snags Giant Paddlefish, Tying the State Record

A fish being cut open with lead weights inside, the lead weights used to try to cheat in a fishing tournament.

Largemouth Bass

Louisiana Man Arrested After Stuffing 2.5 Pounds of Lead Weights into Bass at Fishing Tourney

By Natalie Krebs

The new state-record white perch caught by Scott Smith in Michigan

Panfish Fishing

Michigan’s New Record White Perch Is So Big, It Was Initially Misidentified as a White Bass

A brown trout caught on a cicada fly.

Smallmouth Bass

How to Fish the 2025 Cicada Hatch