Bassmaster May 2026

Pake South is on a tear. There’s no other way to describe it. In 2025, he earned two Top 10 finishes in Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender, along with two Top 10s at Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops, landing him a spot on the 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. This year, South has continued his rise, starting with a record-setting victory at the Open on Sam Rayburn. On the final day at Rayburn, he landed the mammoth 10-pound, 15-ounce urchin-eating bass you see here to boost his winning total to 96 pounds, 15 ounces — the highest three-day winning weight in Bassmaster history. He followed up by winning again at the Open on Lake Eufaula, all while sitting coolly in second place in the…

“YOU SEE THAT stand of cypress trees over there?” asked Davy Hite as we idled through the safety lane of South Carolina’s Lake Marion. I had been sharing a boat with the Bass Fishing Hall of Famer for an upcoming “Day on the Lake” piece, and by that point, I had already learned plenty about Santee Cooper Lakes. Still, when Hite points at something, you pay attention. I nodded. “That island is where many people believe Francis Marion [for whom the lake was named] was based when he masterminded the hit-and-run attacks on the British army during the Revolutionary War.” Today, that “island” is little more than a stand of flooded cypress trees. But Hite encouraged me to picture it as it once was — dry ground, dense cover, a…

Last year, you picked up your second blue trophy after a tough 2024. How did you make such a dramatic rebound? I just felt like I got lost with chasing forward-facing sonar (FFS) and trying to figure out how to do that. Instead of fishing the way I’ve always fished, I lost myself. That’s the best way to put it. For the past several years, I was hung up trying to learn it and felt like every time I put my boat in the water I needed to be learning how to use it. When the (2025) season started, I told my wife that I was going to fish the way I have done my whole career. I wasn’t going to worry about FFS unless I needed to use it.…

5 Cinco De Mayo. This margarita-infused holiday is actually a celebration of Mexican forces over the French, and it’s a product of California. These days, it’s the perfect chance to celebrate Mexican-American culture around the United States. 10 Mother’s Day. A better- not-miss holiday that deserves a reminder on your smartphone. Make reservations or order flowers early, or else. 12 International Nurses Day. Show appreciation for the healthcare workers devoted to keeping the world alive. 16 National Barbecue Day. Fire up the smoker and spend the day in the backyard with friends. 28 World Hunger Day. Make a contribution to your local food bank.…

April 30-May 2 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender, Lake Norman, N.C. 3 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Kerr Reservoir, Okla. 3 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, Kerr Reservoir, Okla. 7-10 Bassmaster Elite, Lake Murray, S.C. 8-10 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Lowrance, Mississippi River, Wis. 14-17 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite, Santee Cooper Lakes, S.C. 20-22 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open presented by Battery Tender, Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley, Tenn. 29-30 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, James River, Va. 30-31 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Santee Cooper Lakes, S.C.…

Explore downtown Columbia with a pep in your step from Curiosity Coffee Bar. Visit the Columbia Museum of Art to see real-life works from Monet, or visit the South Carolina State Museum to explore a 4D theater and four floors of history, science and art en route to the 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray. After weigh-in, celebrate beneath the stage lights of Tin Roof or beside the taps at Hunter-Gatherer Brewery. 50,000 Approximate acreage of Lake Murray 93-15 Patrick Walters’ winning weight at the 2024 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Murray…