Tucker Smith has put together an outstanding 2025 season, proving himself as one of the most versatile and dominant young anglers in the sport. Competing across the Ultimate Angler Championship, Bassmaster Elite Series, and MLF Toyota Series, Smith has amassed an impressive $692,550 in earnings. His consistency and ability to excel on multiple tours and formats showcase not only his skill and adaptability but also his emergence as a major force in professional bass fishing.
Limited Release And Un-Release Of The Shredder Jr.
Missile Baits is announcing a limited and unexpected farewell to their unique soft plastic, the Shredder Jr. The bait idea was a collaboration with Fish or Die Bait Company. After an extremely small initial production run, the custom mold used to create the bait was damaged beyond repair, making this one of the rarest Missile Baits ever made. “The Shredder Jr. hit the water with amazing action and instant demand,” said John Crews, Missile Baits owner and professional angler. “Unfortunately, the mold is not functioning properly as we went into full production. Instead of scrapping it quietly, we’re making the short run of three colors available to fans who want a piece of Missile Baits history.”
Only a limited number of Shredder Jr. packs exist, and once they’re gone, they’re gone for good. Missile Baits is calling this the brand’s first-ever “Un-Release” — a short-lived drop for collectors and diehard anglers alike.
“We’re as disappointed as anyone that the Shredder Jr. won’t be joining the regular lineup,” added Crews. “But we wanted to celebrate the bait’s brief moment in the sun and give our fans a chance to fish it or keep it as a collector’s item.” The limited Shredder Jr. release will be available starting this week exclusively through select retailers and MissileBaits.com while supplies last. Check them out here.
Shuffield Claims Victory At 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open
Despite the tough fishing conditions, Spencer Shuffield rose to the occasion, capturing the WON Bass U.S. Open championship title with a two-day total of 41.19 pounds. Fishing exclusively in “The Bowl” with his Garmin Livescope, Shuffield relied on a dropshot rig featuring Z-Man Jerk Shads and a Geecrack Imo Kemuchi on an Ark Reinforcer spinning setup spooled with Yozuri line. After multiple close calls—two runner-up finishes and a third in his previous U.S. Open appearances—the full-time touring pro finally achieved his top career goal. Shuffield called the victory his greatest accomplishment, joining legends like Aaron Martens and Rick Clunn on the prestigious trophy. He earned a total of $165,000 in cash and prizes, including a Ranger Boats/Mercury package worth $85,000.
Bass Puzzle Grass Piece
A unique bladed jig concept designed to minimize snags around heavy cover, the Bass Puzzle Grass Piece is the result of years of research and development by a local angler fishing the shores of Lake Biwa. Blurring the lines between a spinnerbait and a bladed jig, a hand-cut blade is positioned over the front of the bait that allows for increased speed control, better deflections, and easy ripping through grass and vegetation. Ideal for use with or without a trailer, Grass Piece dives on the fall and retains its swimming posture when rigged with a trailer, but without one, it exhibits a horizontal shimmy on the fall and can also be burned near the surface. Grass Piece swims naturally at an upward angle so you can navigate through dense vegetation and over submerged obstacles. By rigging your trailer slightly diagonal on the hook, it swims straight without much water resistance, as the angled rigging posture brings out the lure’s full potential. Complete with 3D eyes, a custom-painted head, and a wire-tied silicone skirt, anglers can also choose to add a split ring between the wire arm bend and blade to create a unique high-pitched sound during the retrieve. Available in a variety of forage-matching color patterns, the Bass Puzzle Grass Piece boasts a heavy-gauge wire arm and a large, razor-sharp, slick-coated hook to ensure your success with heavy lines and big fish. Check out the full selection here.
In this video, professional angler Mike McClelland breaks down the importance of a solid foundation when rigging multiple electronics on the front of your boat. He highlights the BeatDown Outdoors Leveling Plate—a custom, model-specific solution that replaces your factory bow panel to create a flat, stable base for your graphs and accessories. It’s the key to a clean, secure, and professional-grade setup on the water. Check it out here.
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The inaugural Scope 100 Tournament is set to take place November 21–22 on Clarks Hill Lake, offering a fresh, high-stakes event that celebrates cutting-edge fishing technology, skill, and sportsmanship. Designed to give anglers a new and exciting competitive opportunity, the event features nearly 100% payback, with $50,000 awarded to first place and payouts extending through 20th place. Unlike traditional formats, the Scope 100 allows no restrictions on transducers or sonar setups, welcoming all technology to the competition. Full rules and registration details are available on the tournament’s website. Register here.
Major League Fishing (MLF) has announced major updates for the 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) season, marking what they call the most rewarding year in the league’s 46-year history.
Key highlights include:
Lower entry fees: $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers at qualifiers.
Higher payouts: 20% of the field will earn checks, with top prizes increasing up to 29% more for winners and 25–33% more for lower-tier payouts.
Bigger Super Tournaments: Top boater payouts now reach up to $11,450 at 200 boats, with co-anglers earning up to $5,725.
Expanded Regionals: Six events will award new Phoenix boats to both winners and send more anglers (56 total) to the All-American, a 17% increase.
Forward-facing sonar restrictions: Anglers can only use forward-facing and 360-degree sonar for three continuous hours per day to maintain fairness.
Overall, the 2026 BFL season enhances rewards while lowering costs, reinforcing its legacy as the gateway for everyday anglers to compete in professional-quality bass tournaments. Check out the full details here.
https://bestontour.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Best-On-Tour-Logo-1920-minified.png8141920Jordan Babcockhttps://bestontour.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Best-On-Tour-Logo-1920-minified-300x127.pngJordan Babcock2025-12-12 10:41:532025-12-12 10:41:53692,550 Reasons Tucker Smith Is the Real Deal (Issue 346)
