Catch More Bass — Bass Fishing Podcast

Why do some bass bite, get hooked, and still never make it to the boat? Cody Stahl breaks down the overlooked tackle decisions that affect everything from getting a bait through the strike zone to keeping a big fish pinned.Fresh off a record 22-pound Bassmaster Open winning margin without forward-facing sonar, Cody brings an unusual perspective: he’s a tournament pro, fishing-rod designer, and former soft-plastic mold designer. He explains the details most anglers never think about—and why the “best” rod, hook, or material depends entirely on how you’re fishing.What you’ll learn:• Why Cody used a 3/4-ounce lipless crankbait on a 7'5" extra-heavy, extra-fast rod in Florida grass• Why 20-pound fluorocarbon gave him advantages over braid with treble hooks• The difference between rod power, action, modulus, and spring-back speed• Why higher-modulus graphite can be better for jerkbaits but worse for some crankbaits• How he chooses rods for ChatterBaits, frogs, jighead minnows, wacky rigs, and bottom-contact baits• When to use an EWG versus straight-shank hook—and when to change your hookset around cover• Why round-bend and EWG treble hooks can serve completely different purposes• What a lure designer notices about swimbait tails, plastic hardness, seams, and actionGuest: Cody Stahl — Bassmaster Open winner; record 22-pound winning margin; tournament pro; fishing-rod designer and former soft-plastic mold designer.Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Most anglers can have a great day. The harder skill is avoiding the days when nothing works. Ryan Lachniet breaks down the decision-making system he uses to catch bass consistently—how he chooses dependable water, avoids high-risk patterns, adjusts when fish won’t commit, and uses LiveScope to make better decisions instead of simply chasing dots. Ryan’s approach is surprisingly conservative for a young pro: find the best version of the safe option, secure dependable bites, then take calculated shots at bigger fish. He also explains why he’d often rather have LiveScope throughout practice than during the tournament itself. What you’ll learn: • How to find the “best of the safe options” instead of gambling on one winning spot • When to use LiveScope early and when to save it for bigger bites • Why forward-facing sonar may be more valuable in practice than tournament hours • How to tell whether a Scope pattern will still work when you turn the screen off • Why crowded community holes can be the smartest bailout when fishing gets tough • What to change when bass follow a lure but refuse to bite • Why Ryan changes baits before worrying about color • How to decide between pattern fishing and staying in the best area Guest: Ryan Lachniet — MLF Pro Circuit rookie with five straight top-25 finishes at the time of recording; second in Angler of the Year points. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Why can you be surrounded by bass and still struggle to get a bite? Cal Lane explains how rigid expectations about season, location, current, water level, and fishing pressure can keep anglers committed to a pattern that no longer exists. Recorded before his breakthrough Pro Circuit win at Lake Champlain, this conversation reveals the decision-making system behind Cal’s run of top finishes. Through real tournament examples, he explains how he determines whether to stay shallow, move offshore, trust LiveScope, fish current, or abandon the bite he expected. What you’ll learn: • How to recognize when you’re forcing the wrong bass pattern • When to leave visible fish, productive practice water, or a confidence spot • How cold fronts, floodwater, current, and pressure reposition bass • When to choose shallow power fishing over offshore electronics • How Cal uses ChatterBaits, swim jigs, buzzbaits, a 10XD, and an Alabama rig • Why persistence catches fish but stubbornness can ruin a trip • How to eliminate dead water without fishing randomly • What to trust when the bass stop doing what they “should” do Guest: Cal Lane — Pro Circuit winner and consistent top 10 finisher known for adapting between shallow power fishing and offshore techniques. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

A bass lure can still catch fish and no longer be the best option for the job. Tournament pro and Core Tackle co-founder Matt Stefan breaks down which proven baits still deserve a place in your boat, which techniques are losing ground to better alternatives, and the new baits and rigs pros are trying to keep quiet. We cover the rise of urchin-style baits, why movement and fall often matter more than lure shape, and Matt’s current buy, hold, or sell rating on Ned rigs, shaky heads, drop shots, tubes, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, topwaters, and more. Matt also explains how he evaluates new techniques, why some old-school baits are making a comeback, and how Core Tackle designs specialized hooks and rigs to make existing presentations more efficient. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

What is the best way to catch bass in the middle of summer when the lake is hot, crowded, and full of boat traffic? In this episode of Catch More Bass, Bass Pro Jeremy Lawyer breaks down the summer bass bite most anglers miss because they quit too early, fish the wrong window, or try to grind through the worst part of the day. Jeremy has spent years fishing Lake of the Ozarks and other crowded, dock-covered lakes, and he shares how he approaches summer fishing when the heat, jet skis, wake boats, and fishing pressure make the lake feel almost impossible. We talk night fishing for bass, why a different class of fish can bite after dark, how dock lights and moon phase change the bite, and which baits Jeremy trusts most at night, including spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, big worms, chatterbaits, and squarebills. Then we get into early morning fishing, summer current, boat traffic, crowded lake strategy, and how to pick better docks instead of wasting time on dead ones. Jeremy also explains why bass often live behind docks, how wind and shade position fish, and why the first cast on a dock or brush pile can be the one that matters most. If you’re trying to catch more bass in summer heat, beat crowded lakes, fish better at night, or understand where bass go when boat traffic gets bad, this episode gives you a practical summer game plan from one of the best dock fishermen in the country. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Bass fishing has changed fast. Spencer Shuffield breaks down what still gets bit in 2026, why pressured bass follow more and commit less, and how to catch them whether you’re using LiveScope or putting it down and power fishing. This is not just a forward-facing sonar episode. Spencer explains how fish have learned baits like jerkbaits, A-rigs, drop shots, jighead minnows, and Koike-style baits — and how that has changed the way he fishes ChatterBaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, grass lines, brush, and shallow targets. What you’ll learn: • Why bass follow baits but won’t commit like they used to • How great baits burn out after fish see them enough • What jighead minnows, drop shots, jerkbaits, A-rigs, and Koike-style baits have in common • Why baits that stay above fish trigger more reaction bites • How Spencer uses Scope to find better targets, not just chase dots • When traditional power fishing can still beat the electronics game • How small bait changes can make pressured bass react again Guest: Spencer Shuffield — Major League Fishing pro; 2022 TITLE champion; 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open champion; multiple BPT Top 10s and one of the best modern Scope anglers in bass fishing. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

If you’ve ever found offshore bass but couldn’t get them to bite, Mark Rose breaks down what you’re probably missing. This is a deep-cranking and ledge-fishing clinic from one of the best to ever do it — how he fires offshore schools, chooses between crankbaits and other ledge baits, and adjusts when the fish won’t commit. What you’ll learn: • Why a deep crankbait triggers offshore schools when slower baits won’t • How Mark fishes a Strike King 6XD from 6–20+ feet, including long-lining • When to use a 10XD for bigger forage, deeper fish, bluegill, crappie, or gizzard shad eaters • Retrieve changes that matter: speed cranking, snapping, pausing, grinding, and coming over the fish • Mark’s crankbait setup: 12 lb fluorocarbon, 15 lb for bigger baits, EWG trebles, and double split rings • Color rules for offshore cranking, including citrus, sexy shad, chartreuse/blue, clear-water shad, and root beer during the bluegill spawn • When to put the crankbait down and switch to hair jigs, football jigs, Carolina rigs, spoons, worms, shaky heads, swimbaits, or scroungers • How current, wind, grass, natural lakes, and forward-facing sonar change the offshore game Guest: Mark Rose — 2018 FLW Tour Angler of the Year; 8 tour-level wins; more than $3 million in career earnings; one of the most respected offshore ledge and deep-cranking anglers in bass fishing. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Seeing fish on LiveScope is not the edge anymore. Drew Gill breaks down why so many anglers can see bass on the screen but still struggle to make them bite — and what the best scopers are doing differently now. Drew walks through his first nine pro events of the season, including two wins, and pulls out the real lessons from each one: how he found the right fish, when Scope helped, when shallow fishing won, what he missed, and why the modern forward-facing sonar game keeps changing. What you’ll learn: • Why LiveScope success is less about settings now and more about fish selection • How Drew identifies which fish are bass, which are active, and which are worth chasing • Why suspended fish are getting harder to catch on pressured lakes • When to use Scope around the bank, bed fish, fry guarders, and shallow cover • What changed at Guntersville, Harris Chain, Hartwell, Santee, Whitney/Waco, Wheeler, O.H. Ivie/Brownwood, Kentucky Lake, and REDCREST • How Alabama rigs, minnows, Neko rigs, drop shots, ChatterBaits, crankbaits, and fuzzy baits fit into Drew’s system • Drew’s take on Coike-style fuzzy baits, dice baits, and whether they have staying power • Why shallow fishing is still alive — and when not using Scope can be the better call Guest: Drew Gill — two-time pro winner already this season; widely regarded as one of the best LiveScope anglers in bass fishing; elite at breaking down bass behavior, bait response, and forward-facing sonar decision-making. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Dean Rojas, pro bass fishing’s king of frog fishing, breaks down the system he built over decades of dialing in the technique. This is a full frog fishing masterclass: where to throw it, why anglers miss fish, when to use walking vs popping frogs, and how to choose the right setup and colors. What you’ll learn: • The biggest frog fishing mistakes that cost anglers bites and landed fish • Why so many bass miss a frog — and how bait design, hooks, rod, reel, and braid fix it • When a walking frog beats a popping frog around grass, docks, seawalls, pads, and open targets • Why Dean built the SPRO Bronzeye Frog around hookup ratio and body collapse • How to choose frog colors for clear water, muddy water, shad, bluegill, and visibility • The best frog fishing weather, water temperature windows, and seasonal timing • Why the best frog spots are often missed by anglers who only think “mats and grass” • Dean’s frog rod, reel, braid, hook-angle, cadence, and hookset system Guest: Dean Rojas — 5 major-tour wins; over $3 million in career earnings; 63 Top 10s; set the all-time B.A.S.S. single-day five-fish record with 45 pounds, 2 ounces; designer of the SPRO Bronzeye Frog. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

May bass fishing is wide open—and that’s exactly why so many anglers get it wrong. Bass can be shallow, deep, spawning, postspawn, chasing shad, or already sliding into early summer spots, sometimes all in the same day. In this episode, I break down the 5 best baits for May bass fishing and when each one shines so you can stop guessing and start fishing what the lake is giving you. We cover topwater for low-light shad spawn and shallow feeders, a Texas-rig ribbon tail worm for shallow cover or deeper structure, a bladed jig around floating docks, a jig for the first big postspawn females moving deep, and deep-diving crankbaits to trigger aggressive offshore schools. I also finish with a bonus May tip: this is one of the best months of the year to fish your strengths, because there’s usually a window where your confidence bait can shine. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/z7hZHSVl694 Follow Catch More Bass — new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3 Follow Tom: IG @TomRedingtonFishing

This might be the best swim jig trailer nobody uses. In this episode, I break down why pairing a swim jig with a big Texas-rig worm gave me a different profile, better hookup power, and more quality bites around shallow spring cover. What you’ll learn: • Why a big worm trailer gives a swim jig a different look than the standard trailers most anglers throw • How this setup keeps the hookup power and weedlessness of a swim jig while fixing the missed-fish problem of a swimming worm • Why bigger profile baits can get more attention from better bass in spring grass, brush, and shallow cover • When this combo shines best for targeting bigger fish around spawning areas and territorial bass • When a more traditional swim jig trailer is still the better choice, especially around shad-focused fish • How I retrieve it through grass, over cover, and along subtle depth changes • The rod, reel, and line setup I like for fishing this bait effectively all day In the full breakdown, I also cover why this trailer choice seems to draw bigger bites, how I compare it to fishing a big worm on a Texas rig, and the exact situations where I keep going back to it when I want a different look without giving up control or hookup ratio. Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n325MXeEy5I Follow Catch More Bass — new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3 Follow Tom: IG @TomRedingtonFishing

Bass Fishing Tips: A lot of anglers quit throwing good baits because the trends changed, not because the fish stopped eating them. In this episode, Stetson Blaylock breaks down the old-school lures that still matter, the exact bite windows where they shine, and why so many fishermen give up on them too early. What you’ll learn: • Why some “forgotten” baits still outfish newer trends in specific situations • How Stetson used a Booyah Hard Knocker lipless crankbait at Guntersville with a slower 6.6:1 reel and 15 lb Tatsu • When a hollow-body swimbait like the Young Money Minnow is better than more modern swimbait options • Why subtle action mattered with cold water, dying shad, and grass in the back of the creek • When spinnerbaits, Texas rigs, lizards, and flipping tubes still play • Why confidence baits and knowing exact scenarios matter more than chasing every new lure Guest: Stetson Blaylock — Bassmaster Elite pro, multiple time winner, and one of the best in the game at making old-school and modern techniques work together. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Bass fishing tips: If you’ve ever found bass, caught a few, and still knew you left fish behind, this episode is for you. Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis breaks down the missed edge in modern bass fishing: not always finding more fish, but slowing down enough to make the fish you found actually bite. What you’ll learn: • Why you should fish slow only after you know fish are there • The biggest mistake anglers make when the bite gets tough • How slow Mark really means on a Carolina rig and Texas rig • Why “drag it and sit on it” gets more fish to commit • When a Texas rig shines vs. when a Carolina rig is the better tool • How bottom composition, wind, and water clarity change Carolina rig setup • Why profile and angle can matter more than color • Why pressured fish often need dead-sticking and more soak time Guest: Mark Davis — Bass Fishing Hall of Famer; 1995 Bassmaster Classic champion; three-time Angler of the Year; one of the best worm fishermen of all time. Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT. Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3