The 2nd Annual Costa Bass Derby brought out 235 boats to Grand Lake for a weekend celebrating Costa Sunglasses and freshwater conservation. Team Freddie Stopp and Rickey Hicks took home the win — and a $20,000 payday — with a 20.93 lb bag, catching their fish on a topwater up shallow and a jig out deep. As part of Costa’s Compete+Conserve initiative, a $1,000 donation was made in their name to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. This year marked the event’s first partnership with SCHEELS as the retail sponsor, adding to the excitement. With pros Jason Christie and Casey Ashley on hand — and Casey even performing a few songs at registration — it was nothing but good vibes all around. Check out the full results from the event here.
2026 NPAA Conference
The NPAA is excited to announce that registration is now open for their 2026 conference in Bloomington, MN. The keynote speaker for the event will be Bassmaster Elite Series professional John Crews. Attendees can expect to learn from some of the top industry professionals and have a great opportunity to network and make new contacts. Learn more about the upcoming event here.
Martin, O’Connell Disqualified From BFL Regional
Boaters Aspen Martin of White, Georgia, and Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, have been disqualified from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Fishing League (BFL) Regional tournament held Oct. 10-11 on Lake Murray. The disqualification stems from a protest alleging the anglers violated BFL Rule No. 10, which states, in part, that contestants may not use mobile communication devices to communicate with anyone about locating or catching fish on tournament waters during tournament hours. More details available here.
Queen Tackle Ghost Tungsten Jig Heads
Designed to help anglers increase catches on the most pressured waters, the Queen Tackle Ghost Tungsten Jig Head is the result of an epic collaboration between two highly innovative companies in bass fishing, Queen Tackle and Mustad. Built using Mustad’s proprietary Ultra Nor Forging process to increase hook density, the Ghost Tungsten Heads are backed by the stoutest thin wire hook that boasts a 20% thinner wire diameter than the competition. Featuring a non-reflective matte black head, the oxidation eliminates reflected light waves and cancels out reflections while the high-density 97% pure tungsten construction ensures sonar waves are echoed for the best forward-facing readings. Finished with Mustad’s TitanX coating for rapid hook penetration, the Queen Tackle Ghost Tungsten Jig Heads deliver a high-density construction and eliminate light reflections to create a compact jighead that practically disappears underwater, like a GHOST!
In this episode of BTL, Matt is joined by Jordan Babcock from Best On Tour to break down the 2025 Best On Tour Awards. They discuss how the awards came together, the top categories and finalists, and how you can vote for your favorites. Check it out here.
New Section: Press Pass! Get insider fishing news before it hits the mainstream—right here in Best on Tour.
(Want to include your company’s press releases here? Reach out to info@bestontour.net)
With approximately one month remaining in the fall semester, the Association of Collegiate Anglers updates the standings to the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. 30 points qualifying events have been contested so far this season. The latest points update includes results from the MLF College Series tournament at Lake Hartwell, as well as numerous local and regional events. Carson-Newman University holds on to the top spot, expanding its lead by 2,200 points. Both 2nd ranked University of Montevallo and 3rd ranked University of North Alabama did not compete in the MLF College Series event but did manage to remain in their respective spots near the top of college fishing’s only all-encompassing National Rankings system.
Top ranked Carson-Newman placed two teams in the Top 15 at Lake Hartwell. Hayden Burnett & Hunter Owens placed 7th, and Walker Larue & Joe Vaulton took 15th. Those two finishes earned Carson-Newman 2,300 points. In the previous points update, Carson-Newman led 2nd ranked Montevallo by a mere 35 points. That lead has now grown to 2,235 points, as Montevallo did not compete in the latest major college tournament.
Here is a look at teams that made significant moves up in the Top 25 for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia in the latest rankings:
4) Wabash Valley College – Previously Ranked 5th
5) Lander University – Previously Ranked 10th
8) Auburn University – Previously Ranked 12th
9) Bethel University – Previously ranked 13th
17) Emmanuel University – Previously ranked 23rd
19) Murray State University – Previously Ranked 25th
20) Catawba Valley Community College – Previously Ranked 24th
Emmanuel University, who moved up six places, earned the most points of any team to compete at Lake Hartwell. Logan Fisher & John Michael Ortman finished in 2nd, and Stephen Brooks & Xander Patton took 3rd. The two Top 3 finishes earned Emmanuel University 2,470 points.
PRESENTED BY: Denali
Open Water Swim Jig Mold
When it comes to open-water fishing, finesse matters – and the newOpen Water Swim Jig Mold fills a gap that’s been missing for many anglers. This jig is purpose-built for clean water – and open water scenarios where braided line maybe isn’t the best fit. The mold was engineered around theVictory 10115 30° Bend Hook – a lighter-wire 30 degree hook that still delivers serious holding power due to its O’Shaughnessy bend. Paired with fluorocarbon, it gives you a confident hookset and great landing ratio without overpowering your setup. Its narrow head shape slices through grass, tracks perfectly balanced with smaller trailers, and gives you flexibility to fine-tune your action. Whether you’re fishing sparse wood, grass flats, or rock, this jig holds its own.
It’s time to make your voice heard in the 2025 Best On Tour Awards! After collecting your nominations, we’ve narrowed it down to the top three in each category—and now it’s your turn to decide the winners. Cast your votes for your favorites (you don’t have to vote in every category), and you’ll be entered to win a $200 prize package! Don’t wait—vote now and help celebrate the best in bass fishing! Cast your vote here.
Episode 3 Of Best On Tour Breakdown
In this episode of The Best on Tour Breakdown, the crew dives into the latest buzz, banter, baits, and business shaping the bass fishing world. They kick things off discussing “no-info” rules across pro bass organizations, then react to a wild viral clip of a bass jumping straight into an angler’s boat. The featured bait this week is the new Z-Man Swag LT Swimbait, followed by a breakdown of recent changes to entry fees and payout structures across major tours. To wrap up, the team talks about holding Bassmaster pundits accountable for their predictions. Check it out here.
What’s at the top of your Black Friday fishing wish list?
