Diary of an Outdoor Writer Virgin

Catching a fish is catching a fish. But when your fishing buddy falls out of the boat doing it, now that's a story. I'm an outdoor writer that writes about your father putting his arm across your shoulder, what you saw in the campfire smoke — the legend, not the hunt

Return of a champion

He may have been away for two years, but he was never far away, and now that he's returning to BASS competition for the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series, Mark Davis admits he's not only excited but also looking forward to the challenges he faces.

Classic XXXVII Feb. 23-25, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. It's been in Boyd Duckett's mind to join the BASSMASTER Elite Series Tour for some time and this was to be the year he pulled the trigger, but first he had to attend to more important things.

Elite Destinations: Lake Amistad

This will be the third consecutive year the pros will compete on the Rio Grande reservoir in the Battle on the Border. Easily one of the premier bass fisheries in the nation, Amistad has become a favorite stop on the Elite circuit. Last season, rookie Derek Remitz won with a total of 111 pounds, 7 ounces, and three other pros broke the 100-pound mark, helping to emphasize what a remarkable fishery Amistad is.

Elite Destinations: Harris Chain of Lakes

The 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series begins on one of central Florida's most challenging waterways, the Harris Chain of Lakes, which actually consists of nine separate bodies of water. The pros, however, generally fish only six of them: Lake Harris and Little Lake Harris, Eustis, Griffin, Yale and Dora.

Elite Destinations: Kissimmee Chain

The storied waters of the Kissimmee Chain, which include lakes Tohopekaliga, Cypress, Hatchineha and Kissimmee, as well as the Kissimmee River itself, have produced some of the most historic catches in BASS history. Included are Dean Rojas' single-day record catch of 45-2 and Rick Clunn's second consecutive Classic win.

OPTIMA Batteries Joins BASS as Sponsor

OPTIMA Batteries, The Ultimate Power Source, and BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, announced Tuesday that Milwaukee, Wis.,-based OPTIMA has joined BASS as a supporting sponsor of the organization and its prestigious tournament structure.

Déjà vu All Over Again

It should have surprised no one when North Carolina's Jeff Coble claimed his second championship in three years at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship operated by American Bass Anglers at Clarks Hill Lake on the Georgia-South Carolina border.

B.A.S.S. Membership Swag

Join B.A.S.S

Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear.