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The most sage advice Jacob Wheeler received was from his seven-year-old daughter.

"Dad, You Don't Have to Win Today. Just Win Tomorrow."

Jacob Wheeler's daughter had the best advice of Championship Sunday eve. Here's how the REDCREST 2026 top 10 feel about scores resetting to zero.

Kurt Mazurek

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3 Hours Ago

Bass Fishing

“It’s Not the Technology”—Jacob Wheeler Pushes Back on Critics of Young Anglers

Four Species? Table Rock Has a Surprise Waiting for REDCREST Anglers

An African Fly Fishing Trip Takes Unexpected Turn and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Less Frame, Better View? Is Costa Right About This New Design?

I Didn’t Expect the Best Bass Fishing of My Trip to Happen at Disney World

Fly Fishing the Madison, Mystery Bass Baits and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

The Finesse Fishing Kit Built for Today’s Pressured Bass

Busch Light and Bass Pro Shops Release Limited-Edition Collectors Can Collab

REVEALED: Berkley Lab Series Baits Unveiled After Bassmaster Classic Leak

Fly Fishing

Tenkara rods are compact and easy to use, perfect for squeezing in some extra fishing on a road trip

The Must Have Road Trip Accessory: A Tenkara Rod

A feeling like no other.

Thank You, Taylor Sheridan—My Wife Finally Understands Why I Fly Fish After Watching 'The Madison'

A Fly Fishing Trip to Africa Took an Unexpected Turn on Safari; REVEALED: Berkley Lab Series Baits Unveiled After Bassmaster Classic Leak; The Finesse Fishing Kit Built for Today’s Pressured Bass

African Fly Fishing Takes Unexpected Turn on Safari and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

An older male lion with fiercely intense eyes.

A Fly Fishing Trip to Africa Took an Unexpected Turn on Safari

Gear Reviews

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Summer fishing essentials.

Summer Fishing Gear to Buy With Your March Madness Money

The Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show is Southern California's premier outdoors trade show

The Six Coolest Things I Saw at The 2026 Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show

YETI gear is built for the cold and ready for the catch.

YETI Has the Ultimate Gear for Your Ice Fishing Adventures

Fishpond welcomed anglers to a converted trailer full of new gear. You could come and hang out, talk with the reps, and go hands-on with gear you might want.

Inside The Fly Fishing Show: Gear, Lessons, and the First Hint of Spring

The best Valentine’s Day gifts for anglers are the ones that fit seamlessly into time spent on the water.

Valentine’s Day Gifts Anglers Actually Want

Making the short cast for the win.

Why a Fiberglass 8-Weight Might Be the Best Redfish Rod You’re Not Fishing

This collection of fishing lures are sure to be a hit with the forward facing sonar crowd.

Why These Are the Best Lures for Forward-Facing Sonar Anglers

The Rapala Busch Light Original Giant Lure will add fishing flair and originality to any cottage, office, or man cave wall.

Rapala’s Giant Busch Light Original Lure Is a Must-Have for Fishing Collectors

Destinations

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Montana's beautiful native Yellowstone Cutthroat

If "The Madison" Made You Want to Fly Fish Montana, Here’s Where to Start.

Anglers working the riverbank for African tigerfish.

A Fly Angler's Trip to the Okavango River in Africa

Why San Diego Might Be the Best Fishing Destination in America

The face of a brawler.

It’s the Stuff of Dreams. Fly Fishing and Adventure in the Wilds of Africa.

Mountain town essentials.

Why Bluegrass Is Fly Fishing’s Official Soundtrack

Capt. Troy Perez feeling optimistic for the future of Mosquito Lagoon.

After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Again?

Scott Finanger of Wild Fly with "fish on!" in Belize.

The Fish That Becomes an Obsession for Fly Anglers

Fishing in central Florida offered a reminder that timing, conditions, and local knowledge often matter more than reputation.

Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

Freshwater

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A few overlooked checks can turn your first launch of the season into a delay for everyone at the ramp.

Don’t Be “That Guy” at the Boat Ramp: The Simple Checks Most Boaters Skip

When the perch won’t cooperate, you make your own fun.

I Planned the Perfect Lake Gogebic Perch Trip—Caught Two Fish and Left Early

Warm late-winter days before ice-out can produce some of the most aggressive perch fishing of the season, as fish feed heavily in preparation for spawning.

The Best Perch Fishing of the Year Happens Right Before Ice-Out

After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Fishing Again?; Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; Svivlo Draken ONE Baitcaster Review: Is This Really a Backlash-Free Reel?

After the Seagrass Collapse, Is Mosquito Lagoon Back and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating; Burbot Ice Fishing Is Booming — From Overlooked to Late-Ice Target.

A Perfect Walleye Evening—a Limit, a Scar and a Story and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

A winter spotted bass caught on fly.

Where Do Bass Go in Winter? How to Find and Catch Them on a Fly Rod Right Now

Jon Kroll of Ashland, Wis., displays a 14-pound Lake Superior eelpout. This fish is longer than the existing state record, but came up a little short of record weight.

Burbot Ice Fishing Is Booming — From Overlooked to Late-Ice Target

The look on the rescuer’s face suggested this wasn’t his first call like this, and possibly not the first time we had met under these circumstances.

Bad at Boat Maintenance. Expert at Getting Towed.

Saltwater

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By understanding the proven baits, fish location, and tactical tips on retrieve speed, structure, and conditions, you can catch more redfish.

Proven Redfish Baits and Tips for Beginners

The ending of a very good day.

Wadeable White Sandy Flats, Crystal Clear Water, Cruising Striped Bass. A Fly Angler's Paradise in the North East

Surprise the special angler in your life with one of these fishing gear stocking stuffers.

10 Fishing Gear Stocking Stuffers for the Anglers on Your Christmas List

Utah fly fishing guide Sammy Elam dialing in on the right pattern for the Provo River.

How to Fly Fish: Pay Attention - Success Is Found in Awareness

Gunpowder released 27 blue marlin in a single day to set the new Atlantic record.

'Gunpowder' Sets New Blue Marlin Release Record Fishing Out of Marina Cap Cana

The view from my 5th floor terrace at the Sports Illustrated Resorts Marina & Villas Cap Cana.

Staying in Style: Dominican Republic's Sports Illustrated Resorts Marina & Villas Cap Cana

Marina Cap Cana is a state-of-the-art port for billfish anglers to chase their blue marlin dreams.

Inside Marina Cap Cana: The Caribbean’s Safest and Most Stunning Sportfishing Hub

A blue marlin ready for release during the 2025 Cap Cana Classic.

Inside the 2025 Cap Cana Classic: Dominican Republic’s Premier Billfish Tournament

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Dylan Nutt revealed Berkley’s unreleased Lab Series bait during the final day of the 2026 Bassmaster Classic—while a strange spiny lure trend quietly spread among the field.

The Two ‘Mystery Baits’ That Defined the 2026 Bassmaster Classic

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026; The Brutal Reality of the Bassmaster Classic; Why San Diego Might Be the Best Fishing Destination in America.

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Justin Hamner swings a Tennessee River largemouth into the boat during Day 1 of the 2026 Bassmaster Classic near Knoxville.

The Brutal Reality of the Bassmaster Classic

The Coike, spiny ball, or urchin-bait is the hottest bass lure in the country right now.

The Strange Spiny Lure Taking Over Bass Fishing in 2026

Tweaking your flipping jig will make this best-in-class bass bait more effective at catching fish.

How to Modify a Flipping Jig to Catch More Largemouth Bass

For top anglers, preparation isn’t just about rods and lures—it includes managing the elements within your control, like mosquitos.

A Bug Bite That Changed the Way I Fish

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem; How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating; The Fish That Becomes an Obsession for Fly Anglers.

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes and a Problem—and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Five miles from the truck, after dark, with a limit of walleyes — and a treble hook I didn’t plan on bringing home.

Five Miles From the Truck, With a Limit of Walleyes — and a Problem

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Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies; California Beaches, Redwoods & Big Fish on the Fly; Why My Longtime Goal to Bass Fish Okeechobee Keeps Sending Me Somewhere Else

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Teams launch at sunrise during an iKon Tailgate Tour qualifier, part of the 2026 grassroots bass tournament series offering $10,000 payouts and a championship boat prize.

Big-League Prizes. No Pros Allowed. The iKon Tailgate Tour Is Back

A jighead minnow may look simple, but subtle adjustments in casting distance, leader length, and rod action can dramatically improve landing percentage in the world of forward-facing sonar fishing.

3 Jighead Minnow Mistakes That Cost You Bass (and How to Fix Them)

Trophies line the stage as anglers compete on the ice during a midwinter fishing derby.

How to Win an Ice Fishing Derby Without Cheating

There are only pretty steelhead in the Smith River.

California Beaches, Redwoods & Big Fish on the Fly

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss; How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?; Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies.

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Taking kids ice fishing is a good way to get them interested in the outdoors. Keep them warm and entertained and your fishing trip will be a positive experience.

What I’ve Learned About Taking Kids Ice Fishing So They Want to Do It Again

Finding solitude and fun on a Utah river.

Is Fly Fishing Hard To Learn?

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Women often outfish men, which can hurt a guy's fragile ego.

5 Reasons Fishing With a Woman Will Test Your Fragile Ego

This is the day a small New England river finally revealed a reliable winter crappie pattern.

Ice Fishing River Backwaters for Slab Crappies

The Champions tournament will bring Bassmaster and MLF anglers together on neutral ground to crown a true world champion in pro bass fishing.

What the New “The Champions” Tournament Means for Pro Bass Fishing

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in Springfield, Missouri, honors anglers and industry leaders whose contributions shaped the sport’s history and legacy.

What Defines Bass Fishing Greatness?

How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?; Why Ciscoes are My Favorite Fish to Pull Through the Ice; and Why the Best Ice Fishing Is Where Other Anglers Won’t Go.

Understanding What Your Fish Finder is Actually Showing You and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Midwinter perch can often be found on deep mud flats. Use large spoons to get down quickly and attract fish from a distance.

The Muddy Midwinter Perch Pattern Most Ice Anglers Miss

In Key West, the decision not to fish shaped the experience just as much as any day on the water.

Why I Didn’t Fish Key West — And What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Big 'bows still eat in the cold.

Why the Blue Ridge Mountains Are One of the Best Winter Trout Fisheries in the U.S.

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The transducer's cone angle is important: the wider the cone angle, the more of the bottom you can see.

How Much of the Bottom Does My Fish Finder See While Ice Fishing?

A little more than an hour outside of Charlotte, NC, can get you into some good striped bass fishing on a fly rod.

I Went to Charlotte for the Food—Then I Found a Striped Bass Fly Blitz Nearby

Ciscoes form large schools, fight hard and taste great. Plus, they are willing biters all winter long.

Why Ciscoes are My Favorite Fish to Pull Through the Ice

It probably makes perfect sense that the last week of January was dominated by ice fishing stories.

Fishing Lake Superior All Winter—Despite the Risks and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Crappies are generally pretty cooperative, but even they can be finicky at times. Employ these five tips to help put more crappies on the ice.

My 5 Favorite Ice Fishing Moves to Make Crappies Bite

Fans gather for the final weigh-in of the 2025 Bassmaster Elite Series, setting the stage for a 2026 season shaped by schedule changes and new sonar limits.

What to Know About the 2026 Bassmaster Elite Season as New Sonar Limits Take Effect

If the ice is thick enough, use a snowmobile, ATV or truck to get away from the crowds and find unpressured fish. If the snow is deep and travel is difficult, you can really escape the crowds.

Why the Best Ice Fishing Is Where Other Anglers Won’t Go

Fish sometimes get diseases. This northern pike is heavily infected with neascus, which is commonly called black spot disease.

What’s Growing on My Fish—and Is It Safe to Eat?

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Classic combination. A Kabuto custom fiberglass fly rod matched with a Heritage Hardy Perfect fly reel with agate line guide.

The Fiberglass vs Graphite Debate, Here’s When I Choose a Glass Fly Rod to Fish

Running across Lake Worth Lagoon, it was hard to believe how remote the water felt for a Palm Beach-area fishery.

Fishing West Palm Beach Felt More Remote Than We Imagined

On the Lamar River, you're often sharing the water.

The Best Fly Fishing Spots in Beautiful Yellowstone National Park

The author holds a 14-pound Lake Superior lake trout caught while jigging from a small boat on a rare warm, calm January day—proof that winter sometimes rewards dedication.

Why I Fish Lake Superior for Lake Trout All Winter—Despite the Risks

The author reflects on the winning fishing lures that made a difference to his bass game success this past season.

The Bass Baits That Defined My 2025 Season

AI Fishing Day vs. a Bass Pro and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

A rare golden crappie pictured with a normally colored black crappie. A condition called xanthochromism likely gave the fish the unusual color.

Minnesota Ice Anglers Stunned by Rare Golden Crappie

Ross Reels, Coors Beer, fly fishing for trout, and snowy mountains. This has Colorado written all over it.

A New Ross × Coors Fly Reel With a Built-In Warm-Water Reality Check

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The power of fishing a glidebait!

The Glidebait Mistakes I Finally Stopped Making—and the Fish That Changed Everything

Walleyes got lockjaw? Trout bite reliably all winter and are a lot of fun to catch.

When Walleyes Won’t Bite, Trout Will

Few anglers target this fish in the winter, but they are aggressive feeders, provide great sport and are delicious when filleted properly.

The Perch and Walleye Bite Shut Down—Then This Underrated Fish Saved the Day

Evenings like this made St. Augustine feel less like a stop on our big tour and more like a place we could really settle into and enjoy.

We Left St. Augustine Thinking We’d Already Found Our Favorite Stop of the Trip

Fly fishing the Niagara River; a Florida fishing road trip; and a 5-year old bait shop owner.

Fly Fishing the Lower Niagara River Isn’t What I Thought and Other Top Stories from Fishing on SI

Fishing felt fun again.

The Resolutions That Put the Fun Back in My Fishing

Motocross and fishing may not seem connected—until you hear Malcolm Stewart’s story.

Why a Motocross Star Launching a Fishing Brand Actually Makes Perfect Sense

Mandy Hertzfeld pictured with her paintings in Colorado. Hertzfeld is a fly fishing guide and painter whose work is informed by time spent on the water.

Why Some of the Best Fishing Guides Are Also Artists

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