85% of the top 10 anglers at Stage 2 of the BPT used this bait (Issue 312)

Issue #312

PRESENTED BY: Sunline

New Speaks To SC Lawmakers

South Carolina boat owners pay some of the highest boat property taxes in the nation and Bassmaster Elite Series professional Bryan New in conjunction with the SCBFA are trying to help reduce them! Last week, State senators led by Senator Stephen Goldfinch (R-Georgetown) introduced S. 317 in the South Carolina Senate. The bill, which is similar to H. 3858 introduced in the House recently with 40 bipartisan sponsors, will provide a 50% tax cut on watercraft in the state. The bill will had its first committee hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 11, where New spoke on behalf of anglers in an attempt to persuade lawmakers to adopt the bill.

It’s Oh-Fish-Ally Unofficial

Bassmaster is bringing fans an all-new, sometimes-raw podcast with the launch of Oh-Fish-ally, Unofficial, hosted by legendary Bassmaster emcee Dave Mercer. Premiering Feb. 17 exclusively on Bassmaster.com, this fresh take on fishing talk will deliver raw, real and ridiculously entertaining conversations straight from the biggest names in the sport.

Each episode, Mercer will be joined by a rotating panel of Bassmaster pros and industry icons to tackle the hottest topics in bass fishing. Expect a rapid-fire breakdown of everything happening on and off the water, as the show pulls back the curtain and gives fans an inside look at the uncensored, behind-the-scenes conversations that happen when the cameras are off. Check out the first episode here.

Ride The Tide

Purpose-built for jig minnow rigging and pairing with forward-facing sonar, the Hog Farmer Baits Stroll Shad has been fine-tuned to create a lethal baitfish presentation. Featuring a slick un-ribbed body, the Stroll Shad is offered in a scaled-down profile that activates a lively and fish-attracting shimmy of Hog Farmer’s signature pin tail. Incorporating key body shape details that have made the Spunk Shad so effective, anglers see results in any variety of techniques. Rig the Stroll Shad as a finesse presentation on the back of any vibrating jig, spinner bait, or underspin and produce exceptional strolling action with a small jig head. Break out the Hog Farmer Baits Stroll Shad when the bite gets tough and watch it become your favorite bite-getting minnow bait when it’s time to target finicky or suspended bass. Check out the full selection here.

PRESENTED BY: Gamakatsu

Have you ever wondered how Jason Christie decides which type of spinnerbait to choose? Well now you can stop guessing after he breaks it down in his latest video. Check it out here.

PRESENTED BY: Denali

Bobby Lane

Bass Pro Tour professional Bobby Lane’s sponsors include Berkley, Abu Garcia, Phoenix Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Starbrite Solutions, Startron, NORSK Lithium, Academy Sports, Epic Tungsten, T-H Marine, frogg toggs, Costa, Guy Harvey Camp Mack, CPS Investment Advisors, Keller Mechanical and Engineering, B&Al Tires, Charleston Rubber & Gasket, Plano, Frabill, Spiderwire, and Gravely Commercial Mowers just to name a few.

Just Fish’N Open House

If you are in the Bristol, VA area make sure to swing through and check out the Just Fish’n Open House – February 27, 28, and March 1st 9am-6pm. Come out and visit with vendors, brand reps, and special Guest Randall Tharp!

PRESENTED BY: AFTCO

Lawrence Loads up on Bonus Bucks at Lake Conroe

It took Jake Lawrence exactly one try in Bass Pro Tour competition before he notched a Top 10 finish in the dynamic format that often throws even the most seasoned pros a curveball. This comes as no surprise to fishing fans following the career of this young fishing phenom who calls Paris, Tennessee home. The BPT rookie left Lake Conroe with a sixth-place finish and strong momentum to start the 2025 season. Lawrence backed up his Stage 1 finish with an impressive second-place result in the slugfest that was the Toyota Series on Pickwick Lake. These finishes allowed Lawrence to load up $4,500 of Toyota Bonus Bucks earnings ($3,000 for Lake Conroe and $1,500 on Pickwick), as he was the highest-placing angler hauling his boat with a 2021 or newer Toyota tow vehicle in both events. “This is the third Tundra I have owned, and I absolutely love this thing,” Lawrence said. “More than the added incentive of Bonus Bucks, I believe Toyota makes the safest and most comfortable vehicle on the road. I have two young children, so the safety factor means more to me than anything.” Before becoming a full-time pro, Lawrence actually competed in the amateur-only Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament in 2023 on Pickwick Lake and won the event in dominating fashion. It was plain to see then that he was a special angler, and it nearly seemed par for the course when he continued his impressive campaign on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals last year en route to qualifying for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour.

“Tournament anglers are crazy if they overlook the opportunities with Toyota Bonus Bucks,” Lawrence said. “My wife and I were talking, and I think we paid all but two or three truck payments with Bonus Bucks winnings last year. It’s a great vehicle that literally pays you to fish.” Well-known as a wizard with forward-facing sonar, Lawrence caught most of his weight at Conroe employing either a 3- or 4-inch Yamamoto Scope Shad during the one period he was allowed to use FFS each day. The other two-thirds of each competition day, Lawrence targeted hydrilla and eelgrass secondary points with a vibrating jig or ¼-ounce Rat-L-Trap. Much of the BPT field employed a similar one-two punch on Lake Conroe, but Lawrence and the rest of the Top 10 caught scoreable bass at such a blistering rate it was hard for the field to keep up. Thankfully, you don’t have to outfish Jake Lawrence to reap the rewards of Toyota’s popular fishing contingency program. Bonus Bucks is paying out on over 620 supported tournaments in 2025, rewarding anglers of all levels for towing their boat with an eligible Toyota tow vehicle. For more information or to get signed up today, visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com or shoot an email to bonusbucks@dynamicsponsorships.com

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Issue #312

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