Fishing

B.A.S.S. announced the 2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series nine-event schedule, featuring stops at Lake Okeechobee, Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Lake Hartwell for the Bassmaster Classic, Sabine River, Lake Fork, Lake Seminole, and northern destinations. The schedule tests angler versatility across diverse fisheries from Florida largemouth waters to northern smallmouth destinations.

Lake Thunderbird, covering over 5,000 acres near Norman, offers excellent fall fishing opportunities for largemouth bass, white bass, crappie, and catfish. The cooler water temperatures and aggressive feeding patterns make it an ideal time to visit this publicly accessible lake.

September brings large redfish moving to deep water to spawn around Texas jetties and coastal passes, with peak numbers in October. The catch-and-release record of 60.5" is held by Wendy Covey. Size limits are 20"-28", with tagging requirements for oversized fish.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is sponsoring a free fishing day for women on September 26 at Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon. No license or daily tag fee is required, and volunteers plus the Bennett Spring Fly Tying Group will provide assistance and live fly-tying demonstrations throughout the day.

Jeff "Kolo" Kolodzinski, known as Marathon Man, returns to the water this week for a 24-hour fishing marathon at Camp Dallas in Spring Bay, Illinois, targeting 2,500 fish to honor America's 250th year. The event, now partnering with Fishing Chaos for a national challenge, supports military families and first responders through the nonprofit Camp Dallas.

The Missouri Department of Conservation invites the public to a pond-to-plate fishing event on September 17 at McKay Park Lake in Jefferson City. Participants ages 15 and older will fish for carp, then learn to clean and cook their catch, with all gear provided.

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife's R3 Fishing Program offers free beginner fishing workshops covering fish biology, equipment setup, safety, casting, and regulations. Three workshops are scheduled: First Catch Center Family Fishing Workshop on September 13 at Hackettstown State Fish Hatchery, and two "Let's Go Fishing!" sessions on September 23 at Echo Lake and October 7 at Willingboro Lakes County Park.

Tyler Harmon of Ravenswood, West Virginia set a state record by catching a 72.75-pound blue catfish on the Ohio River on August 29. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources certified the new weight record, which was caught using cut bait on 40-pound test line.

Franklin County offers diverse fall fishing opportunities for Redfish, Speckled Trout, and other species. The Apalachicola Artificial Reef Association and Tallahassee's Organization for Artificial Reefs received $60,000 grants each from FWC for new reef deployments scheduled for summer 2027, including a memorial structure dedicated to Gregg Stanton.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife invites licensed anglers to mentor up to four unlicensed adults aged 15+ during Free Mentored Fishing Weekend, September 5-7. Commissioner Jason Batchelder encourages experienced anglers to share their passion and help newcomers discover the sport.

NOAA Fisheries Southeast invites recreational anglers to a virtual discussion on September 2 about fishing's future in the Southeast U.S. Regional Administrator Andy Strelcheck will lead remarks on regulations, data collection, and maximizing fishing opportunities while conserving species.

21-year-old Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Illinois caught the heaviest single-day bag of smallmouth bass in Bassmaster history with 30-11 and became the youngest-ever Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year at the 2026 Elite finale on St. Lawrence River.

NOAA Fisheries invites the recreational fishing community to a virtual discussion on September 2 featuring Southeast Regional Administrator Andy Strelcheck. The event will address fishing regulations, data collection, and conservation efforts in the Southeast U.S.

U.S. Saltwater Kayak Fishing Team Captain Robert Field shares universal saltwater fishing techniques including diving hard baits like Rapala's X-Rap family, topwater poppers such as the X-Rap Magnum Xplode and Skitter Pop, vertical jigging with Kensaki Jig and Slide Dancer, and bucktail jigs for catching diverse saltwater species worldwide.

Chris A. Germano of St. Simons Island, Georgia, caught a record-setting Almaco Jack weighing 42 pounds, 15.36 ounces on April 4, 2026, at offshore artificial reef R4. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Coastal Resources Division certified the catch, surpassing the previous state record by more than 15 pounds.

Jeff "Kolo" Kolodzinski, known as Marathon Man, returns to Camp Dallas in Spring Bay, Illinois for a 24-hour fishing marathon September 4-5, targeting 2,500 fish to honor America's 250th year. The event partners with Fishing Chaos to expand into a National Fishing Challenge, with anglers nationwide competing throughout September.

Rick Clunn shares his summer bass fishing strategy focusing on shallow creek and river systems rather than suspended fish. Using Livingston Lures crankbaits with EBS™ Technology, anglers can target resident bass through deflection-based presentations in areas with cooler water, current, and spring influence.

Capt. John Keizer of Salt Patrol targets Chinook and coho salmon from offshore to the Columbia River using downriggers with Seaguar Smackdown braid, Penn Fathom reels, and Prolite rods. He employs lighted flashers at depths near 200 feet and beach trolling techniques with Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish to intercept migrating salmon.

The North Dakota Game and Fish Department reminds anglers to follow state regulations during late-summer fishing season, including immediately releasing caught fish except for brief measurement or photography. The Department urges anglers to keep fish caught from depths greater than 25 feet due to barotrauma risks.

As water temperatures cool in fall, walleye behavior shifts dramatically—fish move shallow, feed more aggressively throughout the day, and pursue larger baits. The article covers seasonal pattern changes, feeding windows, and techniques including using EGO's S2 Slider net and soft-sided bait cooler for successful fall walleye fishing.