BassFan Opinion

BassFan Opinions are opinion pieces written about issues of the day by all BassFans, including pro anglers and other major players in the sport, weekend warriors and the BassFan staff. If you'd like to submit an idea or column for consideration, please click here.

Balog’s Bass War
Dream Teams

Thursday, October 31, 2024 By Joe Balog

After a slow start, the Team Series cranked up the heat as we watched two of the best competitors in the sport combine for the win. Jeff Sprague – possibly the most consistent professional angler this decade – teamed up with superstar Bryan more

Courting Potential Sponsors Is Exciting, Stressful
Thursday, December 2, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
One of the most exciting aspects of working to become a professional angler is the process of courting a new potential sponsor. This process can also be very stressful more
Poor Execution, But Decent Results
Tuesday, November 9, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
One of my main focuses at the beginning of any tournament season is doing well enough to make it to the next level, such as gaining berths to regional and national more
Savik Pays Price For Mass Confusion
Thursday, November 4, 2010 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
As a sports journalist for nearly a quarter-century, I've covered all kinds of events in all sorts of venues. I honestly can't remember one that was surrounded more
Rules Must Confront Challenges Of New Technology
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 By Al Lindner
Since time immemorial, there have always been some folks who live by the spirit of the law, and others who live strictly by the letter. From the very onset of more
The Power Of Doubt
Wednesday, September 22, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
Do I really have what it takes to win tournaments? That was a question I'd ask myself over and over after I'd get an opportunity to win and things just wouldn't more
Upon The Cliff
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 By BassFan Editor-In-Chief Jon Storm
There's only one way to look at all the news of the past few weeks: The next era of the sport is about to begin. FLW Outdoors president and CEO Charlie Evans more
Highs And Lows During A Fun 2-Week Stretch
Friday, August 6, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
This May was a busy month for me. For starters I was finishing up finals at the beginning of the month, then I fished the final 1-day BFL on Lake Okeechobee, more
Worst-Case Scenario Becomes Reality
Friday, July 23, 2010 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
I'm a competition junkie, and I'll compete at just about anything as long as I think the playing field is level. I don't mind going up against people who I know more
Some Stuff That's Worked For Me
Monday, July 12, 2010 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
ICAST takes place in Las Vegas this week and soon all the gear talk will be about stuff that's unveiled there. Before that occurs, I want to give props to some more
Sacrifice Necessary For Long-Term Success
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
The feeling of deja vu hit me the instant I stepped off the plane as the cold, crisp air filled my lungs and the chilled rain hit my sandaled feet. Once again more
FLW Moves In Opposite Direction
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 By BassFan Editor-In-Chief Jon Storm
Don't think for a minute that the recent FLW Tour expansion wasn't a shock to many in the industry. Sure, nearly everyone was keyed up this week to hear about more
Closures Can, Will Happen
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 By Steve Chaconas
(Capt. Steve Chaconas has been covering pro bass fishing for 20 years. Currently he writes for BoatUS Angler, Woods & Waters USA, The Sportsman's Magazine and more

Making Do At The Big O
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
It was 11 p.m. and I was loading the Expedition with all my tournament gear. I 'd just gotten home from a late-night shift at Red Lobster when I decided that I more

An Impossible Cast: An Important Record
Wednesday, April 28, 2010 By BassFan Editor-In-Chief Jon Storm
I continue to be impressed with material coming out of the Whitefish Press. This small publishing house sort of reminds me of Miramax Films in its early days, more

Tale Of Two Tournaments – Good Decisions And Bad
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
After getting home from the Bassmaster Classic, I quickly got back into fishing tournaments myself. The following is a rundown of two events: my first ever FLW more

Day With Howell Was Enlightening If Not Exciting
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
Saturday, Feb. 20, 4:05 a.m. Riiiiiiing......Riiiiiing......Riii– "Uhhh, hello? Yeah, I’m on my way down right now," I fibbed. The night more

Classic Experience Was Chock-Full Of Highlights
Friday, February 26, 2010 By Miles Burghoff
It's the dream of every bass angler out there to fish in the Bassmaster Classic. The Classic is by far the largest fishing tournament in the world in terms of more

Valuable Information With Some Entertainment Mixed In
Thursday, January 28, 2010 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
Entertaining. Enlightening. Educational. There might even be a few more "E" words that could be used to describe a session of The more

No-Info Rules Serve Valuable Purpose
Monday, January 25, 2010 By Bo Crawford
(Editor's note: BassFan Bo Crawford lives in Alabaster, Ala. and is host of The Armchair Anglers podcast, which can found on iTunes or at more

Big Medicine
Thursday, January 21, 2010 By Rob Newell
(Editor's note: Rob Newell is a longtime freelance outdoor writer who covers freshwater and saltwater fishing. BassFans likely recognize him best for his massive, more

Major Tours Must Start Capitalizing On Opportunities
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 By Randy Blaukat
(Editor's note: Randy Blaukat competed on the Bassmaster Tour for 20 years and the FLW Tour for 13, fishing more than 300 tournaments with BASS and FLW Outdoors more

A Deafening Silence
Monday, January 4, 2010 By BassFan Editor-in-Chief Jon Storm
If you're watching the web, or BassFan, for information about the Genmar bankruptcy auction to be held this Thursday, you've likely noticed the barren and parched more