The International Game Fish Association announced its 2026 Annual Awards recipients across six categories, honoring Dave Chermanski, Mike Brauser, Rick Weber, the International Light Tackle Tournament Association, Bob Crupi, and Hal Chittum for excellence in sport fishing, conservation, and sportsmanship.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame announced its 2026 induction class featuring Don Iovino, Pam Martin-Wells, Takahiro Omori, Rick Pierce, and Mike Whitaker. The five inductees, selected by a 30-member panel and 54 living Hall of Fame members, will be honored at the induction banquet on September 24 at Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri.

Ryan Roberts, Senior Program Manager for the National Fish Habitat Partnership at the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, received the 2025 Conservation Partner of the Year Award from Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. Roberts was honored for his leadership in fish habitat conservation and the National Fish Habitat Partnership's work across more than 1,500 conservation projects in all 50 states.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released data showing recreational boating and fishing generated $38.4 billion in 2024, driving the $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy. The National Marine Manufacturers Association highlighted that 95 percent of boats sold in the U.S. are built domestically, supporting 5.2 million American jobs.

Georgia has launched a new Black Bass Conservation specialty license plate featuring a largemouth bass design. The $45 annual plate generates revenue for black bass conservation, habitat enhancement, fisheries research, hatchery production, and education efforts through WRD Fisheries.

Alabama's Conservation Advisory Board received updates on $66 million in boating access projects, $228 million in State Parks improvements, and Deepwater Horizon settlement projects. Commissioner Chris Blankenship highlighted personnel changes, including Charlanna Skaggs's promotion to Deputy Commissioner, and proposed 2026-2027 regulation changes including fluorescent pink as approved hunting attire.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting on March 25 in Brooksville to present design plans for the Jenkins Creek Dredging and Shoreline Stabilization Project in Hernando County. The project aims to improve manatee access to warm-water habitat by removing debris and stabilizing eroding banks.

The Rigs-to-Reefs program, founded by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement in partnership with coastal states, converts decommissioned oil and gas platforms into artificial reefs to protect marine habitats and support fisheries. Over 600 platforms have been successfully converted, with Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi leading implementation efforts. The Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act aims to expand the program's efficiency.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources partnered with a landowner on the upper Duchesne River to create a habitat restoration project that protects farm infrastructure while improving fish habitat. Using instream structures, native vegetation replanting, and erosion-resistant design, the project funded by the Blue Ribbon Fisheries program and Utah Habitat Council achieved win-win outcomes for both the landowner and the river ecosystem.

The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show returns to historic City Dock April 24-26, featuring new and brokerage sailboats, education programs including First Sail Workshop and Cruisers University, and free seminars by BoatU.S. The event welcomes all experience levels and highlights charter opportunities for those interested in sailing without ownership.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) hosts its annual free Outdoor Expo March 28-29 at Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix, featuring over 120 exhibitors, live wildlife ambassadors, fishing activities, shooting sports, and prize drawings from Marsupial Gear, No Excuse Hunting and Outdoors, and Umarex USA.

St. Croix Rods and SEVIIN Reels will showcase their latest products at booth #4511 during the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo in Knoxville. Two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion Hank Cherry, pro-staffers, and influencers Blake Miller and Maggie Jo Carsello will meet fans, with giveaways including GXR CRUSH Combos and St. Croix hats.

Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour anglers Alton Jones Sr. and Alton Jones Jr. visited Woodway Elementary School in Waco, Texas, engaging nearly 90 fourth-grade students with lessons on perseverance, conservation, and water safety. The program partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and featured park ranger Michael Champagne discussing responsible outdoor recreation and the Every Kid Outdoors initiative.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries invites anglers to a virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. via GoToWebinar to discuss Pequest Trout Hatchery operations, 2026 trout stocking allocations, fishing regulation changes, and related topics.

A $1 million federal investment will support engineering and design work for fish passage solutions at McKay Creek Reservoir Dam, with funding secured by Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden. The project, a collaboration between ODFW, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Bureau of Reclamation, aims to reconnect over 100 miles of historic salmon and steelhead habitat.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is requesting bass anglers and tournament organizers to submit results to the Louisiana Annual Tournament Report and Information Project (LATRIP), a voluntary program that collects data to improve fisheries management and enhance bass fishing opportunities across Louisiana.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) will release hatchery-grown Southern flounder into South Carolina estuaries on March 13, 2026, marking the first time and culminating four years of research. The event at Murrells Inlet Boat Launch will feature SCDNR Director Dr. Tom Mullikin, Deputy Director Blaik Keppler, and legislative partners celebrating this historic marine conservation milestone.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will maintain a three-walleye harvest limit on Mille Lacs Lake for the 2026 open water season beginning May 9, with fish measuring 17 inches or greater required. The state's harvest allocation is set at 105,300 pounds, reflecting a slight decline in the adult walleye population observed in fall assessments.

The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission announced the 2026 private recreational and state charter Red Snapper season will begin May 1, 2026, with a daily bag limit of four fish per person. LDWF Secretary Tyler Bosworth highlighted the success of the LA Creel active management program, which enabled 200 days of fishing last year.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced the recreational coastal bottomfish fishery season opens March 14 across four marine areas. The daily possession sub-bag limit of five canary rockfish remains unchanged, with regulations for vermilion, copper, quillback and yelloweye rockfish also unchanged for 2026.

More than 2,000 anglers participated in the catch-and-keep trout season opening at Montauk State Park, where the Missouri Department of Conservation stocked 7,500 rainbow trout. MDC Fisheries Section Chief Bruce Drecktrah highlighted the significance of opening day, while honored guests James and Jean Morton, longtime park neighbors with deep family roots dating to 1926, fired the starter gun.

MDWFP invites anglers 15 and younger to free youth fishing rodeos across Mississippi. Events feature well-stocked catfish ponds, educational activities, and instruction from Fisheries Technical staff, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science biologists, and volunteer anglers. Contact Sherry Hazelwood or Ryan Jones at (601) 432-2208 for details.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife will release more than 80,000 rainbow trout at 93 locations beginning March 11, including six new sites across the state. Trout stocking events run through May with special youth-only fishing opportunities at select locations, and anglers should note the daily limit is five rainbow trout per angler.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds anglers that paddlefish snagging season begins March 15 at Lake of the Ozarks, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, and Table Rock Lake through April 30. MDC is tagging paddlefish for monitoring and offering rewards for tagged fish reports, with daily limits of two paddlefish and a 32-inch minimum length requirement.

Darren Nunley caught a 15.75-pound largemouth bass on Nickajack Lake using a Z-Man/EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer, pending DNA testing for Tennessee state record certification. Guide Hensley Powell directed Nunley to the spot where the fish, which had never been caught in 15 years, was landed on a single cast.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis released data showing the outdoor recreation industry generated $1.3 trillion in 2024, marking the largest outdoor recreation economy in history. The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable hosted a briefing featuring remarks from Glenn Hughes, highlighting that fishing and boating topped contributors for the twelfth consecutive year.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association and Marine Retailers Association of the Americas released Ipsos research identifying six distinct boater segments and 35 million high-potential new buyers. The study provides manufacturers, dealers and Discover Boating with data-backed insights on consumer decision-making and actionable strategies for sustainable market growth.

Garmin unveiled a 360-degree scanning sonar system with the motorized Spy Pole, enabling anglers to view fish and underwater structure in 2D and 3D from every direction around their boat. The GT360UHD transducer integrates with LiveScope live sonar and compatible Garmin chartplotters, with pricing starting at $2,999.98.

G. Loomis announces an expanded IMX-PRO BASS Bottom Contact lineup now featuring 25 technique-focused models with nine new additions. The redesigned rods utilize high-modulus graphite construction, Fuji Alconite guides, and custom CI4+ reel seats for enhanced sensitivity and performance in bottom-oriented bass fishing techniques.

The Rick Clunn Collection, features 11 tournament-tested lures endorsed by four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn. The collection incorporates proprietary EBS™ Technology that electronically replicates distressed baitfish sounds, enhancing strike rates across all skill levels.

Whitewater Fishing launches the Horizon Lightweight Jogger, a technical evolution of its best-selling Luswea Jogger designed for spring and summer fishing. Featuring active-cooling poly/spandex double-weave fabric and zero-bunch engineering, the jogger offers comfort and utility for high-output anglers, priced at $79.99.

A portion of the Gallatin River near Big Sky will close to boating from March 9 through May 18 while the U.S. Forest Service replaces Markley Bridge. The closure affects boating between Upper Deer Creek and Portal Creek boat launches, though wade angling and walk-in use will continue outside the immediate construction area.

The National Fish Habitat Board appointed Connor Bevan of the American Sportfishing Association and Kellie Ralston of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust as new members, while re-electing Gene Gilliland of B.A.S.S. to a third term during its January 2026 meeting in Missouri.

Brunswick Boat Group announced Brad Zoelle's appointment as President of Boston Whaler, succeeding Lenn Scholz. Zoelle brings extensive leadership experience from Mercury Marine and Sea Ray, while Jerry Newton was named Vice President of Operations for Boston Whaler.

DAIWA USA unveils its 2026 flagship collection at the Pacific Coast Sportfishing Show, featuring new products including the RYOGA 150, Seaborg 500J, SALTIGA 30000P, and Procyon Inshore SW rods. The collection emphasizes power and precision with exclusive show incentives for attendees.

GAME & FISH TV, powered by Outdoor Sportsman Group, launches "Fish Fry Fridays" in March featuring Ultimate Match Fishing, JT Kenny's Florida Bass, Zona's Awesome Fishing Show, The VanDam Experience, and The Hunt for Monster Bass. The FAST channel is available on Prime Video, VIZIO, Fire TV, Plex, Samsung TV Plus, and other platforms.

Pro Alec Morrison won the Toyota Series event on the Kissimmee Chain with 90 pounds, 14 ounces, setting MLF history records and winning by over 15 pounds. Morrison used forward-facing sonar and the Megabass Vision 110 SR jerkbait to target prespawn and postspawn bass, earning $40,500 for his first victory since 2023.

The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour in Knoxville features new regulations and a healthy fishery. Local pro Sam Hanggi predicts a winning weight around 17 pounds daily, while Elite Series pro Bryan Schmitt expects even heavier weights and potential mega-bags due to recent sightings of 10-pound fish.

Kevin VanDam will serve as both coach and competitor for Team USA at the 20th Bass Fishing World Championship at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas on October 1-3, 2026. VanDam will compete alongside Jacob Wheeler, Dustin Connell, Ott DeFoe, Drew Gill, and Scott Martin as the team pursues its second consecutive World Championship victory to advance bass fishing toward Olympic recognition.

Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Sciences, led by Chelsea Black, PhD, conducted an experiment demonstrating that satellite tags can transmit signals from inside a shark's stomach. The study was prompted by unusual tracking data from a tagged red drum named Swim Shady, suggesting the fish may have been consumed by a large predator.

It looks awkward. Almost crude. A hard bait with a single spinner bolted to its tail, churning the surface with an insistent plop-plop-plop that seems more likely to scare fish than catch them.

And yet, today’s crop of tail-prop topwaters are on a roll.

From the River2Sea Whopper Plopper to the Berkley Choppo, PRADCO Spin-N-Image, and a growing list of imitators, “plopping” baits have become a staple wherever largemouth bass swim. They are simple to fish, easy to understand, and surprisingly effective.

The irony is that none of this is new.

Long before modern bass tournaments, GPS mapping, or forward-facing sonar, anglers were catching fish on noisy surface lures that churned water and announced their presence from half a cove away. One of the best known was the Mud Puppy, a wooden pike lure from the early 1900s that relied on vibration and surface commotion rather than subtlety. Another was the legendary Arbogast Jitterbug, whose wide cupped lip produced a steady, hypnotic gurgle that has fooled bass for generations.

What today’s tail-prop baits represent isn’t a revolution so much as a rediscovery.

The modern era began in 2008, when famed big-fish angler Larry Dahlberg collaborated with Simon Chan of River2Sea to create the original Whopper Plopper. Dahlberg wanted a lure that could be retrieved quickly, stayed upright, and produced a consistent, mechanical sound that bass could track from a distance.

Tournament anglers quickly figured out what he had built.

The Whopper Plopper functions like a surface crankbait—a topwater you could burn across flats, over points, and along banks without the pauses and finesse required by traditional walkers and poppers. You throw it out and reel it back. The tail rotates. The bait runs straight, and the sound never changes.

Bass love it, even though they shouldn’t.

One reason is efficiency. Tail-prop baits excel at covering water, especially in the 1- to 6-foot zone where bass spend much of their active feeding time from spring through fall. They shine along riprap, shallow bars, stump rows, seawalls and tapering points. Around schooling baitfish, they can also be effective over surprisingly deep water, drawing fish up from below.

Another reason is hookup ratio. Compared to slower topwaters—like poppers, prop baits, or walking lures—bass tend to miss ploppers less often. The steady retrieve keeps the bait moving forward, and the fish typically eat it from behind or below rather than swiping sideways at a stationary target.

And then there’s the sound.

That relentless plopping doesn’t just call fish—it seems to irritate them. Many strikes feel less like feeding responses and more like aggression, the bass equivalent of slamming a door.

Berkley’s Choppo refined the concept with a durable, flexible tail designed to start spinning at slower speeds. Savage Gear added hyper-realistic body designs with its Smash Tail, pushing the category toward a “match-the-hatch” aesthetic with lifelike scales, fins, and baitfish profiles.

Chasebait took a different path with the Drunken Mullet, a segmented hard-body lure paired with an offset double-prop tail that creates a slightly different cadence and added sonic complexity. With a wide range of colorways aimed at both freshwater and saltwater anglers, it blurred the line between bass lure and inshore plug. (Redfish reportedly love these things, though I’ve not tried them yet.)

Other interpretations have been even more conceptual. Booyah’s ToadRunner Frog is essentially a hollow-body frog with a tail prop bolted on, designed to churn water in open pockets and along edges. River2Sea itself now sells a retrofit kit that allows anglers to add a prop tail to standard hollow-body frogs, creating hybrid lures that combine weedless design with surface commotion.

There are limits. Tail-prop baits are not at home in thick surface vegetation, where their exposed hooks and rotating tail foul easily. But anywhere else—open water, sparse grass, wood, rock—they can be devastating.

They also fit modern fishing styles. Anglers today often prefer lures that are easy to fish efficiently, especially when covering unfamiliar water. A plopper doesn’t require rhythm, timing, or finesse. It rewards long casts and steady retrieves. It lets anglers fish fast without giving up the thrill of a surface strike.

Few things in fishing match the spectacle of a bass detonating on a topwater lure. Sometimes the strike is explosive, with fish going airborne in a spray of water. Other times it’s subtle—a quiet gulp, a swirl, a disappearing bait. Either way, you see it happen. You feel it instantly.

In that sense, the resurgence of tail-prop baits isn’t just about effectiveness. It’s about fun.

More than a century after the Mud Puppy churned northern waters, the same basic idea is once again fooling bass at the highest levels of the sport. Loud. Simple. Fast. And easy enough for even us weekend warriors to master.

– Frank Sargeant
Frankmako1@gmail.com