Balog's Bass War
The Last Great Mustache

Current Columns

• Check It at the Door

  Thursday, July 24, 2025

  After a little time off from my work here at Bassfan, I’m back. Truthfully, there was a question if I’d return at all – the media business being what it is more

• Write This Down

  Thursday, June 26, 2025

  For quite some time, bass fishermen thought they had it all figured out. A more serious group of anglers couldn’t be found, assuring that the principles of our more

• Dog-Eared Pages

  Thursday, June 19, 2025 By Joe Balog

  There was a time when my fingers seemed permanently covered in ink from the Bass Pro Shops catalog. While “Bass Pro” was never short on mailings, winter season more

• Closing In On The King

  Thursday, June 12, 2025 By Joe Balog

  In 2005, ESPN held a celebratory discussion to determine the best bass fisherman of all time. The Greatest Angler Debate, as it was called, included several industry more

• Pick One Or The Other

  Thursday, June 5, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Speculation abounds over a potential rule adjustment regarding forward-facing sonar (FFS) on the Bassmaster Elite Series. Pundits, podcasters and YouTube heroes more

• Whatcha Watching?

  Thursday, May 29, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Dissatisfied with a two-month pause in his tournament schedule, Greg Hackney wanted to fish more. “I’m like, why? We don’t have a true season that way.” His more

• Grab A Chair For Dumbo

  Thursday, May 22, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Heavy Hitters is here, as the Bass Pro Tour's best settle the score on Smith Mountain Lake. A champion will be decided today. Smith Mountain wasn’t on my radar more

• 4,200 Hours In

  Thursday, May 15, 2025

  It’s a beautiful time of year for bass fishing. All across North America, spring is in full swing, bringing opportunities from North Carolina to Newfoundland. more

• Running On Lithiums

  Thursday, May 8, 2025 By Joe Balog

  A chip and a chair. That’s the old saying in poker; that anyone can win once the cards are dealt. But it’s never applied to bass fishing. In bass fishing, it’s more

• Small Steps for Man

  Thursday, May 1, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Innovations in bass fishing tackle are always around us, though we take many for granted. I’m always amazed by how fast things progress. Over the course of one more

• A Situation Well In Hand

  Wednesday, April 23, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Tournament bass fishermen are tough critics. When it comes to the daily operations of a tournament trail, it seems many anglers feel they could do it better. Running more

• Evidently, It’s Tribal

  Thursday, April 17, 2025 By Joe Balog

  The subject of forward-facing sonar (FFS) has dominated the bass fishing debate stage, leaving guys like me scratching our heads. Try as I may, I’ve struggled more

• One Of Three

  Thursday, April 10, 2025 By Joe Balog

  REDCREST was a record-breaker, according to all the stats compiled by Major League Fishing. Four thousand pounds of bass were weighed over four days. Broadcast more

• The Shoe-In

  Thursday, April 3, 2025 By Joe Balog

  This week, we welcome the annual REDCREST tournament – MLF’s championship event – awarding $300,000 and a lifetime of accolades to the winner. Fifty of the biggest more

• Shining Star On A Gloomy Night

  Thursday, March 27, 2025 By Joe Balog

  With another Bassmaster Classic in the books, it’s time to dissect the strategy and technique used to win the big show. This year’s victor was 22-year-old Easton more

• Evolving Expertise

  Thursday, March 20, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Just when we have it all figured out, we don’t. For some time, most anglers thought they knew quite a bit about bass. We’d all been successful at catching more

• Dealer’s Choice

  Thursday, March 13, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Last week’s pro tour events demonstrated drastic differences between the leagues. Soon, everyone will have a favorite, at least for a while. While Drew Gill more

• No Facts, Only Interpretations

  Thursday, March 6, 2025

  Recent disqualifications on the Bassmaster Elite Series have me wondering whether the penalties match the crimes. Let’s dig in. Matt Herren was first. A DQ more

• Governed By Yesteryear

  Thursday, February 27, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Fishing for spawning bass has always been a hot topic. Once somewhat taboo, targeting bass on the bed is generally accepted in today’s tournament bass fishing more

• Last Of The Hardcore Troubadours

  Thursday, February 20, 2025 By Joe Balog

  With the sun committed to the day ahead, the water brightened, revealing the mysteries beneath. John Cox was again looking for fish. He’d watched the day more

• Net Your Own

  Thursday, February 13, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Here on the Bass War, we’re always considering the future of competitive bass fishing. It’s easy to get caught up in high-impact topics: catch and release, rule more

• Never Say Never

  Thursday, February 6, 2025 By Joe Balog

  With the big changes in the sport of tournament bass fishing, some participants are contemplating where they fit in. More so, how they’ll survive. Competitive more

• Why, thank you, Jack

  Thursday, January 30, 2025 By Joe Balog

  The professional tournament trails kick off this week, with the Bass Pro Tour hitting Lake Conroe for the season opener. This venue has some great bass fishing more

• My Way Or The Highway

  Thursday, January 23, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Drew Gregory is the most successful tournament angler in the history of kayak bass fishing. Thanks to a recent win, Gregory now possesses more champion’s trophies more

• Alive-Well

  Thursday, January 16, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Livewell care and keeping bass alive have always been special subjects with me. In today’s catch-and-release debate, fueled by recent studies confirming many tournament-caught more

• Co-Dependent?

  Thursday, January 9, 2025 By Joe Balog

  Back from the holiday break, we turn our attention to pro bass fishing’s latest stories. Big news came while we were away, as B.A.S.S. announced the demise of more