The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inducted five new members: Don Iovino, Pam Martin-Wells, Takahiro Omori, Rick Pierce, and Mike Whitaker. Bill Dance received the Ray Murski Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony raised over $150,000 for the Hall's exhibit, scholarship, and conservation programs.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Coast Guard personnel rescued a father and son from Lake St. Clair after they became stranded when a line tangled their propeller. DNR Conservation Officers Kris Kiel and Brad Silorey and Coast Guard crews located the boaters 3 miles offshore and transported them to shore, where both were hospitalized for hypothermia.

West Marine has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reducing its debt by over $265m and securing $10m in exit financing. The Fort Lauderdale-based retailer will continue operating approximately 100 retail locations, its online platform, and West Marine Pro business serving marine professionals.

Brunswick Corporation announced senior leadership appointments including Will Sangster as Executive Vice President and President of Navico Group, Karly Yuds as Senior Vice President and President of Business Acceleration, and Marco Bracalente as Chief Technology Officer, effective January 1, 2027, following CEO and Board Chair transitions.

Wildlife Forever announces the 2026-27 Art of Conservation Bird Art Contest and Fish Art Contest, open to K-12 students worldwide with support from Title Sponsor Bass Pro Shops. The free programs inspire youth to connect with nature through art, writing, and science, with deadlines of November 30, 2026 for Bird Art and February 28, 2027 for Fish Art.

B.A.S.S. announced the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series will continue its 50/50 live sonar format in 2027, with a coin flip determining technology rules for each tournament. For the first time, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic will also be included in the Coin Flip Show, with consecutive Classics showcasing both competition styles.

Ott DeFoe and Drew Gill are positioned as strong contenders for the Black Bass World Championship at Lake Hamilton in Arkansas, October 1-3. Team USA will defend its 2025 gold medal against 22 other nations, with additional American pairings including Kevin VanDam/Dustin Connell and Scott Martin/Dakota Ebare.

The Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana completed its 70th artificial reef deployment in Garden Island Bay with support from Shell, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Building Conservation Trust, Natrx, Danos, and White Water Contractors. The REEF Louisiana program continues restoring habitat for redfish and speckled trout along Louisiana's coast.

The Missouri Department of Conservation completed construction at Schell-Osage Conservation Area, marking the end of the 20-year Golden Anniversary Wetland Initiative in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. The area reopens Oct. 3 with a dedication ceremony Oct. 14, featuring improved water management infrastructure, new fishing jetties, and enhanced waterfowl habitat.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission began removing approximately 31 acres of floating tussock from Lake Weir in Marion County on September 25, 2026. The project will improve aquatic habitat, support native plant growth, and enhance navigation near the Weir Canal, with completion expected by December 18, 2026.

Registration is now open for the International Fly Tying Symposium's 2.5-hour classes held Nov. 20-22 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Director Chuck Furimsky announced classes cost $92.80 each, featuring instructors like Barry Ord Clarke, Cheoch Pierce, and Steve Maldonado teaching various fly tying techniques.

The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) 2026 Global Online Auction is live through October 4, featuring fishing trips across 15+ countries, gear from YETI, Costa, Shimano, PENN, Hardy, and other partners, with all proceeds supporting IGFA's conservation and youth education initiatives.

NOAA Fisheries approved South Carolina's revised Exempted Fishing Permit, allowing a 14-day recreational red snapper season in federal waters from October 9-22. Anglers must obtain a free permit through Go Outdoors SC and use the VESL app to report harvest data. The limit is one fish per person per day with a 20-inch minimum size.

South Carolina's 2026-2027 recreational shellfish harvest season opens October 1, 2026, and runs through May 15, 2027. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services manages public and state shellfish grounds, with harvesters required to obtain a Saltwater Recreational Fishing License and follow daily limits of two bushels of oysters and one-half bushel of clams.

NOAA Fisheries approved the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's revised Exempted Fishing Permit for a 14-day recreational Atlantic red snapper season running October 9-22, 2026, in state and federal waters with a one red snapper per person bag limit.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has closed a small portion of Hatchery Cove on Lake Champlain from October 1 through November 30 to protect landlocked Atlantic salmon migrating to spawn in Hatchery Brook. Fish biologist Bernie Pientka stated the closure aims to reduce fishing pressure that disrupts salmon passage while maintaining access to the popular fishing spot.

The White House released a $30 billion product list for potential tariff reductions through the U.S.-China Board of Trade. Fishing industry products including fish hooks, fishing line, and fishing casts or leaders are included on the U.S. import list, though specific reduction rates and effective dates remain unannounced.

Berkley introduces the PowerVibe Max, a new saltwater vibe bait featuring aggressive vibration, a heavy-duty top hook, and weed guard design for versatile inshore and offshore fishing. Available in three sizes with multiple color options starting at $13.99.

Cashion Rods released the CR6c, the first carbon fiber fishing rod blank finished in Cerakote ceramic coating. Developed and produced in-house at Cashion's Sanford, North Carolina facility, the CR6c pairs Cerakote with the company's Energy Dispersion Jacket to provide superior protection while maintaining the rod's sensitivity and performance.

Berkley introduces the limited-edition Swamp Lord Terror Pack featuring three Halloween-inspired designs: Jack-O-Lantern, White Skull, and Zombie Frog. The hollow-body frogs maintain proven performance with ultra-soft collapsible bodies and Fusion19 hooks, available now for $29.99.

Whitewater Fishing's upgraded TORQUE 7.4V Heated Vest is now in stock and shipping to dealers. The vest features a 7.4V platform with two additional lower-back heating elements, three adjustable heat settings, 80g Sorona® Aura insulation, and is priced at $229.99.

Daiwa launches the RS 500, an ultra-compact spinning reel priced at $34.99, featuring a machined aluminum spool, rigid aluminum handle arm, and infinite anti-reverse system designed for panfish and trout fishing. Field Marketing Manager Chris Martin highlights the reel's durable construction and smooth 3BB+1RB drivetrain as ideal for budget-conscious anglers.

Lowe Boats, a Brunswick Corporation brand, unveiled the all-new Crosswater Series in 18-foot and 20-foot models designed as a versatile crossover platform for coastal and inland fishing, family recreation, and cruising. The aluminum boats feature rugged construction, fishing amenities like rod storage and livewells, and family-friendly features including aft jump seats and optional T-tops.

THAW has launched its Rechargeable Heated Beanie, featuring strategically positioned heating elements, three adjustable heat settings up to 113°F, and a removable 100-lumen LED light with multiple modes. The beanie provides up to 6 hours of heat, includes a water-resistant battery pocket, and is machine-washable with USB-C rechargeability at an MSRP of $69.99.

Z-Man® launches Sinking ElaZtech®, a new superplastic formula now shipping in Kingpin™ Stickworm and Stuntman™ Soft Jerkbait profiles. The denser material maintains 10X Tough durability while improving casting distance and enabling new fishing applications, with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Seth Feider endorsing the innovation.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will close Kings Bluff Access on Oct. 12 through early November for boat ramp repairs. The public is encouraged to use Bagnell Dam Access to reach the Osage River during construction.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking qualified applicants for an ocean and inland recreational fishing position on the Restoration and Enhancement Program Board. Interested individuals must apply by October 16, 2026. Board members meet two to four times yearly to review project funding applications and serve four-year terms appointed by the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Ryan J. Brown, Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, was elected president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies during its 116th Annual Meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Brown succeeds Paul Johansen and brings extensive leadership experience in natural resource management and conservation.

St. Croix Rod of Park Falls, Wisconsin is releasing 1,200 limited-edition Casting for Recovery Triumph rods in Survivor Pink starting October 1, with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit's healing retreats for women with breast cancer. St. Croix will donate $50,000 upon selling all rods.

Harris Boats, a Brunswick Corporation brand, launches the Twin-Engine Summit Series for Crowne and Grand Mariner 260 models featuring Mercury Marine engines from 300-500 horsepower. The series includes Mercury Marine Joystick Piloting and Simrad NSX ULTRAWIDE display, built on Harris Boats' RPM Technology for enhanced ride quality and maneuverability.

Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel are offering a nationwide free preview from September 28 through October 31, providing approximately 10 million households complimentary access to hunting, fishing, and outdoor programming featuring personalities like Michael Waddell, Jim Shockey, Bill Dance, and Steven Rinella through major cable and satellite providers including DISH, SLING, and Armstrong.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks euthanized 14 black bears near Bozeman after investigators found them food-conditioned and habituated to human presence due to supplemental feeding at a residence. One cub was taken to FWP's Montana WILD facility for possible zoo placement. The agency emphasizes that state law prohibits feeding game animals and urges residents to secure attractants.

Northeast Alabama’s Lake Guntersville has become one of the great tournament lakes in the country, and there’s good reason. It produces tons of quality largemouths, and at 69,000 acres it’s large enough to spread out a tournament field. Plus it’s located in the heart of the bass tournament homeland.

The tournament business has also become an important part of the local economy, supporting tackle shops, boat dealers, marinas, restaurants, lodging businesses and guides.

That’s why the unusual number of dead bass found around the Brown’s Creek area after last weekend’s Major League Fishing college and high-school tournaments were so disturbing. A local guide reported counting more than 100 dead fish, and local TV picked up the story, resulting in widespread public angst. The dead fish were right beside the Highway 69 causeway, so a whole lot of people saw the floaters.

MLF subsequently acknowledged that tournament fish were among those that died, called the number unacceptable and said it would review its procedures and take steps to prevent a repeat.

The uncomfortable part is that this can happen even when everybody involved is trying to do the right thing. Bass tournaments helped turn catch-and-release into standard practice among serious anglers, and tournament organizations have spent years improving livewells, oxygen systems, weigh-in procedures and release boats. Most tournament fishermen take good care of their fish because they understand that the future of their sport depends on healthy bass populations.

Research has documented delayed some mortality in tournament-caught largemouth bass for decades. Fish that appear perfectly healthy when released can die later from the accumulated effects of capture, handling, confinement and transport. Studies have also found that mortality increases as water temperatures rise, which makes the problem particularly important on Southern reservoirs during the warmer months.

The traditional tournament routine can put a remarkable amount of stress on a fish. A bass caught early in the morning may spend six or eight hours in a livewell, often with four other fish, while the boat moves from one end of a big reservoir to another. At the end of the day, the boat heads for the weigh-in, the fish are transferred into bags, carried to the scales, weighed and photographed, then hauled back to the release point. A fish caught in deep water may have additional problems associated with the rapid change in pressure as it is brought to the surface.

The fact that the fish swims away at the end doesn't tell us what happens over the next few hours or days. Studies of tournament mortality have found that some of the deaths occur after the fish have been released, which means a tournament director can look at a hundred fish swimming away from the release boat and still have no idea how many will be alive a week later. Some extended studies have shown about 9 to 10 percent mortality—not huge, but not zero, either.

That matters most with the bass tournament anglers are trying hardest to catch. A four-, five- or six-pound largemouth is a fish that has survived years in the lake, found enough food to grow large and avoided predators, disease, drought, floods and thousands of hooks. Those big bass are a significant part of what makes Guntersville valuable as a fishing destination, and they are not easily replaced.

The usual response is that Alabama law allows an angler to keep bass within the legal daily limit. That's true, but it misses the point. Very few serious bass anglers go to Guntersville to put five big largemouths on a cleaning table. The modern bass-fishing culture has deliberately moved toward releasing the biggest fish, and tournament fishing has been a major part of that change.

If we are going to call the practice catch and release, the objective ought to be keeping the fish alive after the release.

Major League Fishing’s premiere competition level has already demonstrated a practical alternative. Its catch-weigh-release system weighs the fish in the boat and returns it immediately, eliminating hours of livewell confinement, the run to the weigh-in and the handling involved in getting the fish across a central stage. BUBBA's electronic scales and SCORETRACKER LIVE allow weights to be transmitted from individual boats to the tournament leaderboard, making the system practical on a scale that wasn't possible a generation ago.

But there’s an obvious problem with that system: somebody has to make sure the reported fish and weight are legitimate. MLF solves that in its professional events by putting an official in each boat. That’s impossible in smaller tournaments, but there are other possibilities, including cameras, electronic records and independent verification. It is a problem that can be solved with tournament rules and technology.

Fish mortality is harder to solve after the fish has been hauled across the lake and released.

Stocking Won’t Solve the Problem

Another proposal that has surfaced in the Guntersville discussion is charging large tournaments a fee and using the money to restock the reservoir. That sounds reasonable until you look at what stocking actually accomplishes in a large reservoir that already has a healthy bass population.

Alabama fisheries biologists have repeatedly pointed out that stocking largemouth bass into waters with adequate natural reproduction generally does not produce more bass for anglers. A reservoir has a finite supply of food and suitable habitat, and young bass already produced naturally are competing for those resources. Most of the hundreds of thousands of young bass produced every year die before reaching catchable size. Adding hatchery fingerlings doesn't create more food or habitat for them. And hatchery fish are dumb, easy food for crappies, gar and other bass. Studies have shown that almost none survive to adulthood.

That leaves tournament organizers with some choices that are considerably more useful than writing a check for replacement fish. Traditional weigh-ins could be limited when water temperatures reach levels known to increase mortality. Large tournaments could be required to use better oxygenation and fish-care equipment. Tournament fields could be reduced when the number of boats becomes excessive, or large events could use several weigh-in locations so fish aren't transported long distances. Most simply, tournaments could move to immediate catch-weigh-release whenever conditions make conventional livewell-and-weigh-in procedures especially risky.

None of that requires eliminating tournaments from Guntersville. Nobody who understands the local economy wants to do that, and nobody who enjoys competitive bass fishing wants to see the sport disappear. Tournament fishing brings a tremendous amount of money into the region, and the people who fish these events are among the lake's most visible advocates.

What it does require is recognizing that the tournament model that worked when fields were smaller, boats were slower and electronics were primitive may not be the best model for a modern fishery. Today a tournament can put hundreds of boats on the water, all equipped with technology that makes finding and catching bass much more efficient. And thousands of YouTube videos have made all of us better at catching fish. The pressure on the fishery has changed, and fish-handling practices need to change with it.

Hopefully the Guntersville fish kill will be taken as a warning rather than an excuse to attack tournament fishing. MLF has acknowledged the problem and says it will make changes, and that’s hopefully where the discussion ought to go. The tournament industry has already demonstrated that it can change the way bass are caught, scored and released; there is no reason it can't continue improving the way those fish are handled.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor, The Water Wire