FLW Bass Fishing Podcast

Montevallo teammates Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow earned the win in the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Columbia PFG on Wheeler Lake in dominating fashion, totalling nearly 65 pounds in three days of competition. We caught up with the champs to recap the tournament and dig into their collegiate fishing experience. 

In this episode, Jacob Walker breaks down the differences between more expensive baits and budget baits when it comes to jerkbaits, stickworms and vibrating jigs. The Fishing Department Manager for Mark's Outdoors, Walker has tons of experience in tackle sales and in high-level competition on the water. 

Sitting third in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year standings on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals,Dustin Smith is coming off a near win in Stop 2 Presented by Suzuki Marine at Lake Hartwell. We dove into the details of his finish, plus Smith's fishing philosophy and why he's on the Invitationals this season. 

Dylan Quilatan just wrapped up an incredible week of fishing on the Harris Chain, winning a Phoenix Bass Fishing League event and then winning the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event days later. At just 17 years old, Quilatan is headed to fish collegiately soon, and he's already set records in minor league fishing. 

This winter, Dylan Nutt has dominated on the Tennessee River, winning two Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats events on Pickwick and Chickamauga and leading Fishing Clash angler of the Year for the Central Division. Of course, he's also done it all while still in school at the University of North Alabama, going to class and fishing collegiately as well.

By some measures, 2024 was a breakout season for Cal Lane on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. In this episode, Lane talks about the season that was and looks ahead to an exciting season to come, with some rules tweaks he likes and some interesting sponsorship changes.

Hayden Marbut had a fantastic season on the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, starting things off with a win in the winter and becoming the youngest to win the Toyota Series Championship this fall. Listen in to catch up on the season that was, and get a breakdown of Marbut's plans for a busy 2025, which will include REDCREST and the full Tackle Warehouse Invitationals season.

Colby Miller had a truly superlative 2024 fishing season, winning multiple major events in Texas and finishing third in points in the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. As a result, the young Louisianan qualified for the Bass Pro Tour, and he'll be taking on a myriad of new challenges in 2025. Listen in for a rundown of his success, a key sponsor announcement and more.

Andrew Nordbye put together a stellar season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, missing the cut only twice and earning a win at Kentucky Lake. The Alabama pro stopped by to talk through the year that was, as well as look ahead to a 2025 season with new rules to play by and a lot of opportunity.

One of the most exciting rookies on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals in 2024, Brody Campbell took on a massive season of fishing after quitting his job and selling his house. So, with the season in the rearview, we caught up with the young pro for an update on the year, his prospects and his expectations for 2025.

Drew Gill and Marshall Robinson stop by the show to break down their Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches win in full detail. One of the highlights of the fall, the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops was a big success, and the two young anglers capped the season off in style, with a blowout win in Florida over very stiff competition.

After a great regular season and a fourth-place finish in the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake, Austin Swindle is taking his talents to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals in 2025. Always a threat in Alabama, Swindle breaks down his patterns from Wheeler and talks through a few other topics.

The Toyota Series Championship Presented by Bass Boat Technologies on Wheeler Lake was a great tournament, and one of the highlights was Keith Poche's incredible Day 2 when he landed 27 pounds to rocket into the lead. Poche stopped by to talk about it and a few other burning topics. 

The first event of the revamped General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops saw Matt Becker and Spencer Shuffield earn the win in the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota event out of Erie, Pennsylvania. Listen to the pros break down the week of team fishing and give their impressions of the new-look format that saw them take on the competition on Presque Isle Bay and Lake Chautauqua.

Kyle Cortiana swings by the show for an in-depth breakdown of his win in the  Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division event on Lake Champlain. Coming while the lake was fishing great and in an extreme state of flux, Cortiana's victory represents an interesting chapter in Champlain lore.

This week on the show, Jaden Parrish stops by to talk about his season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and how he got the bass fishing bug. After finishing 31st in the points in 2023, Parrish fished his way to a fourth-place finish in 2024 and a Bass Pro Tour invite.  

Nearing the end of a spectacular season, Fishing Clash Angler of the Year leader Jake Lawrence stops by the show for an in-depth interview. Topics include what went wrong at Kentucky Lake, what he learned in his first foray north, and a lot more.

A standout rookie on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Marshall Hughes is winding up a great season that has him on the cusp of Bass Pro Tour qualification. On the show, Hughes dives into his background and some of the reasons he thinks he's seen so much success fishing nationally this year.

At just 20 years old, Hayden Marbut beat out the 260-boat field in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats on Lake Guntersville for his first win with MLF. The highly decorated Auburn University angler stopped by the show to break down the win and talk about his game and the current state of bass fishing.

Drew Gill has got off to a blistering start to the 2024 season, with success at every level he's fished and a win in the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals opener on Sam Rayburn. Joining the show, for the usual in-depth insight he provides, Gill talks about Rayburn, LiveScope, the next wave of youth and a lot more. 

Jessie Mizell knocked out the win in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division opener on Lake Okeechobee and joined the show to break it all down. For baits, he used a Rapala X-Rap Prop, a Gambler Popping Frog, a Z-Man/Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer and a worm. 

Matt Becker hopped on the show for a breakdown of his early success in the Bass Pro Tour event on Toledo Bend. Plus, the reigning Fishing Clash Angler of the Year talked about some of the new technology on his boat and a few other offseason topics. 

Braylon Eggerding and Lucas Washburn of Adrian College stop by the show to break down their win at the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship. Get to know the winners, and what it feels like to catch an 11-pounder on the final day of competition. Fishing in Kissimmee, the team used a Zoom UltraVibe Speed Worm in Junebug with a 1/16-ounce weight, a Lucky Craft LV RTO 200 and a golden shiner-colored Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer with a Gambler Little EZ trailer in green pumpkin.

For this episode of the podcast, we took a step back to look at one of the most interesting events of 2023: The Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American on Lake Hartwell. Winner Emil Wagner broke things down, and a range of other anglers talked about their strategies, in-tournament decisions and all sorts of juicy specifics.3:22 – Emil WagnerKey baits: custom-painted Sebile Magic Swimmer, a Zoom Super Fluke and a 6th Sense Catwalk36:11 – Matt O'Connell Key baits: Yamamoto D Shad, CAST The "OG".1:11:50 – Jesse WigginsKey bait: Jackall Riser Bait.1:44:58 – Anthony Johnson Key baits: Zoom Super Fluke, Sebile Magic Swimmer. 

In this episode, we catch up with Jacob Walker, an Alabama angler that figures to be in the mix for Polaris Rookie of the Year and maybe more on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. Walker chats about the season ahead, his decision process when choosing where to fish, and a little about his job at a tackle shop. 

Outside of Emil Wagner, pretty much nobody had a better season at the lower levels of MLF competition than Brody Campbell. The Ohio angler took down a Toyota Series win on Chickamauga and made the Top 10 nine times in 23 events, oftentimes fishing with limited or no practice. Tune in to get the scoop on one of the hottest young guns going and a top Polaris Rookie of the Year candidate on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

Shaw Grigsby, John Cox, Ron Nelson and Keith Carson dive deep into the topic of bed fishing. Four of the best and most experienced in the game when it comes to catching spawning bass, our panel of experts remembered some old tournaments and spilled some serious knowledge for sight fishing season.

For this episode of the podcast, we took a step back to look at one of the most interesting events of the year: the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals event on Clarks Hill. Winner Dakota Ebare broke things down, and a range of other anglers talked about their strategies, in-tournament decisions and all sorts of juicy specifics.2:46 – Dakota EbareKey baits: vibrating jig, Strike King Rage Bug, Strike King Ocho, 3/16-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Shakey Head.36:59 – Marty and Marshall RobinsonKey baits: Zoom Super Fluke.55:30 – Sean AndersonKey baits: BOOYAH Blade and Lunker Lure Hawg Caller spinnerbaits.1:15:00 – Matt BeckerKey baits: ¼-ounce Damiki rig with a 3-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm and a 3-inch Damiki Armor Shad, 5-inch Yamamoto Senko, secret Megabass jerkbait, Bill Lewis MR-6, Megabass Magdraft.1:42:30 – Spencer ShuffieldKey baits: green gizzard Yo-Zuri 3DB Series Jerkbait SP Deep 110, Yo-Zuri 3DB Series Jerkbait SP 110, shaky head and wacky-rigged Zoom Trick Worm (watermelon candy with the tail dyed chartreuse).2:22:38 – Connor CuninghamKey baits: Crock-O-Gator Zapper Flipping Jig with a homemade trailer, homemade spinnerbait. 

Brad Jelinek joins the show to discuss his 2023 season and what lies ahead in 2024. Along the way, Jelinek talks about fishing jerkbaits and umbrella rigs, his particular electronics setup and how he transitioned from being a standout baseball player to a standout angler. 

After finishing 11th on the Pro Circuit in 2022 and 12th on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals in 2023, Justin Cooper finally secured a Bass Pro Tour invite. In 2024, he'll start his BPT career on his home lake – Toledo Bend. Cooper stops by the show to get into it all, plus talk about LiveScope and some of the highs and lows of the tournament season.

After four years on the FLW Tour and the Pro Circuit, Tyler Woolcott called it quits at the end of 2022 and spent 2023 building out his guide business in Florida. We got into his reasoning for the career move and went in-depth on the types of guiding he does and the challenges of the guiding scene in Florida. You can book Woolcott at FloridaBigFishAdventures.com for a variety of saltwater and bass fishing trips.

With a record-setting Toyota Series win and a Northern Division Angler of the Year title to his credit, Alec Morrison's 2023 was the definition of a breakout season. It was a big year for Morrison, who started guiding in Florida and fishing outside of his home range in New York more than ever. In this episode of the podcast, we get into it all and get the backstory of one of the most promising young anglers in the game.

Ben McCann took on the Northern Division of the Toyota Series in 2023 and succeded, tying by points for the Angler of the Year title and qualifying for the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. We dig into what sent a Florida boy north, and how things shook out for the aspiring pro.

We get the lowdown on the  Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms from winner Chad Mrazek. In the show, the young Texas pro goes deep on his early career, how he caught them on Table Rock and even announces his title sponsor for 2024.

With the last two Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals wrapped up on Lake Norman and Lake of the Ozarks, the champs stopped by the show to break things down. Picking up the win on Norman, Christopher Wilder used an umbrella rig with Keitech Swing Impact FAT and Jenko Booty Shaker swimbaits. Getting it done in the Ozarks, Brumnett fished a jig with a Strike King Rage Craw and a Biggs Custom Baits Denali.  

Kyle Grover earned the win last week in the WON Bass U.S. Open last week at Lake Mojave with a three-day total of 56.75 pounds. For Western anglers, the U.S. Open is a career-defining tournament and one that Grover has wanted to win his whole life. On the show, Grover breaks down the win, how it felt, and his chances of getting a Roboworm color named after him. 

With two Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals wrapped up on Dale Hollow and Lake Eufaula, the champs stopped by the show to break things down. Winning in the hills and hollows of Tennesse, Evan Eldred knocked out big limits throwing a Damiki rig with a Megabass Okashira Jig Head and a Strike King Baby Z Too. Down on the Alabama and Georgia border, Paul Marks slung a Picasso Fantasy Football Jig with a Zoom Z Craw offshore to win by more than 4 pounds.

Last week, the first two Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals wrapped up, qualifying the top six boaters and Strike King co-anglers for the All-American. Winning the Potomac River event, Jason Barnes came back from ninth place on the final day. Winning at Eufaula, Cody Carl caught all his fish off one dock in a miraculous turn of events. 

Moving to Missouri from California for his rookie season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Cody Spetz had a big year. We break down the highlights and lowlights, plus touch on some other aspects of the transition.

Christian Greico breaks down his win in the Toyota Series Northern Division event on the Potomac River. Additionally, he goes in-depth on his flipping and punching philosophies and tackle, recaps the tournament season and talks about tournament rules.Greico's punching setupPrototype 13 Fishing Muse Black II HD13 Fishing Concept A265-pound Suffix 832 braid Epic Tungsten weights BKK Heavy Cover hookGoogan Baits Bandito bugGoogan Baits Nuke Punch

Steve Sammons and Lawrence Dorsey join the show to cover a recently published study about Alabama bass and the negative impact they can have on smallmouth and largemouth fisheries. First noticed in the Carolinas and Georgia, the spread of Alabama bass outside their native range could threaten a lot of fisheries we hold dear.Alabama Bass Alter Reservoir Black Bass Species Assemblages When Introduced Outside Their Native Range

Jake Lawrence joins the show for a breakdown of his win at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake. Lawrence had the second-largest winning margin in BFL history, and the win was part of an extremely good season for the Tennessee angler. In the show, Lawrence breaks down his pattern and dives into some other aspects of modern fishing and his future.Check out the winning bait

Coming off his second Angler of the Year title, Ron Nelson covers the season that was. Topics include his attitude, fishing straight fluoro on a spinning rod, practicing without information and more.

Keith Carson swings by for a wide-ranging interview. In the show, Carson talks through a great season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, his current reading list, high school math and his thoughts on modern technology in bass fishing.

This week's show features Drew Gill, who is just coming off a very successful rookie season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. Part of a cohort of extremely good young anglers, Gill talks strategy, forward-facing sonar, collegiate fishing and a lot more in this episode.

Matt Becker finished the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season off in style, with a win at Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Suzuki on Saginaw Bay and the Bally Bet Angler of the Year title. In this one, Becker dives into the tournament, the nitty gritty of his smallmouth setup, the goby spawn and of course the broader picture as well.

We check in with standout Tackle Warehouse Invitationals pro Marshall Robinson after a wildly successful rookie season. Listen in for a full breakdown of what it took to win the Polaris Rookie of the Year title, his take on some key moments and what to expect next from the young pro.

Nearing the end of his first season on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Travis Harriman has had an up-and-down year. To start, he bombed at Okeechobee, before almost beating Dakota Ebare at Clarks Hill. One of the best in the field when it comes to random drawings, Harriman has had a busy few years and has interesting experiences mapping for Lowrance, fishing the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American and more.

Winning the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats event on Lake Champlain with 59 pounds, 11 ounces, Brett Carnright put on a spawning smallmouth clinic. In this episode of the MLF Bass Fishing Podcast, Carnright goes in-depth on his strategy and the meaning of the win.

With a lot of tournament action recently in the rearview and coming up, Marty Stone stops by to cover it all. Within, Marty and Jody talk through the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, fish landing percentages, the points races on the Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Cayuga and a lot more.

Missouri pro Mike McClelland has been involved in a lot of bait design over the years, working on baits like the popular SPRO McStick and SPRO RkCrawler as well as soft plastics like the Big Bite Baits Battle Bug. So, he stopped by to go in-depth on the design process, some specific characteristics of each bait, and also talk about what makes a good lure designer.