BassFan Opinion

BassFan Opinions are opinion pieces written about issues of the day by all BassFans, including pro anglers and other major players in the sport, weekend warriors and the BassFan staff. If you'd like to submit an idea or column for consideration, please click here.

Balog’s Bass War
Old Favorites

Thursday, May 2, 2024 By Joe Balog

A buddy opened a new tackle shop down the street, and my visit was overdue. I always liked his style. His previous store was a mix of hardcore bass items and old nostalgia. You could go in there and find Ballistic Bruiser D-Bombs, but it was more

Competitive Fix Is Hard To Get In December
Thursday, December 15, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
Man, am I bored! I find December to be one of the slowest months of the year. All regular-season tournaments have been over since September and all regional more
Trailer Life Has Helped Focus
Monday, November 21, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
"Get me outta this thing!" I can tell you one thing, there have been many a time I have cried out something along those lines, frustrated by the tight more
They Build Dreams
Friday, October 21, 2011 By BassFan Editor-In-Chief Jon Storm
In this day in age, it's a pleasure and a privilege to witness things being built. It's an honor to watch skilled tradesmen and women, with their own two hands, more
The Graph Of Life
Thursday, October 6, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
Lately I have been comfortable with the way things are going. If my progress as a competitor was represented in a graph, I feel that it would show that I am performing more
Mercy Means Trouble In Competitive Fishing
Thursday, September 29, 2011 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
Not many words in the English language are stronger than "merciless." Two of its definitions are "showing no mercy or compassion toward somebody more
Make Classic An All-Elite Event
Friday, September 16, 2011 By Steve Chaconas
(Capt. Steve Chaconas has been covering pro bass fishing for 20 years. Currently he writes for BoatUS Angler, Woods & Waters USA, The Sportsman's Magazine and more

Time To Regroup Again
Thursday, August 11, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
As I'm writing this column, I'm sitting in an Alaska Airlines 737 somewhere between Sitka and Seattle. Before taking off I rooted around in my Cabela’s Guidewear more

Window Of Opportunity
Wednesday, June 1, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
To win at every level is a goal all competitive anglers would love to accomplish. What makes that feat so challenging is that some levels have smaller windows more

It's Crunch-Time
Thursday, May 26, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
It seemed to end like all the other spring semesters. I put fishing aside for a while, just long enough to at least give myself a fighting chance to pass my finals. more

Reasons For Optimism Are Always Present
Monday, April 25, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
"Dude, what is wrong with you?” It was a question I repeated in my head about as many times as I had fingered through the laminated aerial photographs more

A Butt In Every Back Seat Is Vital
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
I'll always be very hesitant to advocate that the Bassmaster Elite Series go back to the co-angler format, for the simple reason that professional bass fishing more

A Bittersweet Classic
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
If I told you I had a blast at last month’s Bassmaster Classic in New Orleans, it would be an understatement. If I were to tell you that last month’s Classic more

Thrift Unassuming Everywhere But On The Water
Friday, March 11, 2011 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
There's been quite a bit of discussion about Bryan Thrift the angler this past week after his ascension to the top slot in the BassFan more

Rooting Against VanDam Can Be Fun (Sort Of)
Monday, February 28, 2011 By BassFan Managing Editor John Johnson
If you're inclined to root against Kevin VanDam as he piles up one major title after another and offers up more and more evidence that he's the greatest competitive more

Classic A Time Of Pure Excitement
Monday, February 7, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
It’s that time of the year again. It’s that time when the sluggish pulse of the professional bass fishing world gets its annual jump-start. It’s time for more

BU Lesson: Hard Work, Passion Rule Out
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 By Miles Burghoff
When you list the key qualities of a true champion in the sport of professional bass angling, as in any other sport, mental toughness is bound to be at the top more