Author: bassnomad

Longtime writer/photographer/show host in the world of fishing, hunting and the great outdoors.

Blogs by bassnomadSep 1, 201812:06 am

Justin Lucas, Josh Bertrand battle for AOY

The battle for AOY: Bertrand or Lucas?

Uncategorized by bassnomadJul 7, 20186:47 pm

If it seems like we’ve known Bradley Roy since he was a child, that’s because it’s mostly true: Roy started fishing the Opens when he was 18, and became the youngest Elite qualifier in history shortly thereafter. Now at the ripe old age of 27, Roy is the man to beat. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Brent Chapman finds himself in the thick of the AOY race for the first time since he won that award in 2012, and he can thank an off-season adjustment for this year’s success: “I simplified everything I do. It’s really made a difference in my day-to-day success.” BASS photo by Seigo Saito.

I think we can all stop feeling sorry for Casey Ashley when he complains (good-naturedly) about his dislike of smallmouth. Ashley is fresh off a second-place finish on Lake Oahe, and he finished in the Top 10 the last time the Elites fished the St. Lawrence River in 2017. That said, watch out for Ashley if he heads into the AOY Championship on Lake Chatuge within 15 points of the lead, he’ll be right at home in that Blue Ridge Mountains fishery. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Josh Bertrand has been the most consistent Elite pro in 2018: he’s finished in the Top 50 at every event, with two Top 10s. Expect Bertrand to make a surge inside the Top 6 at the St. Lawrence event: he’s finished 8th, 11th and 16th the three times the Elites have fished there. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Justin Lucas will be the first to admit that he entered the 2018 season with a chip on his shoulder after a dramatically sub-par season in 2017. Mission accomplished: Lucas is the hottest angler on the roster heading into the Chesapeake Bay event, notching three Top 12s in a row. Photo by Joel Shangle.

It seems impossible to get away from this guy: Ott DeFoe is having a great season by any measure, but he’s just a few ounces shy of an EXTRAORDINARY season. The Tennessee pro has finished 13th – just out of the Championship Sunday cut – three times this year. He’s been slightly inconsistent on the St. Lawrence, finishing third there in 2014, but then slipping to 78th and 99th in 2015 and 2017. Photo by Joel Shangle.

The quietest AOY race: who will claim the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series crown?

Is it just me, or is this the quietest Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year race in history? Here we are just two events away from the 2018 AOY Championship, and there’s nary a […]

Photos by bassnomadFeb 20, 20188:35 pm

Bass Nomad: our 2018 clients

It’s an extreme honor and pleasure to work with these fine companies in 2018.

Photos by bassnomadSep 7, 20178:14 pm

Oakely Howell wonders “How did that fish not eat my dad?” as Livingston pro Randy Howell bags up a giant on Day 3. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Gene Larew pro Tommy Biffle loaded up a behemoth on Day 2. Photo by Joel Shangle.

King Leonidas returned to Sparta. Rather, Daiwa pro Seth Feider returned to Mille Lacs. With 26-2. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Tackle Warehouse pro Jared Lintner tucked behind two Mille Lacs tubs. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Simms pro James Elam averaged 4.5 pounds a smallmouth … and finished fifth! Photo by Joel Shangle.

Livingston pro Hank Cherry, just another toad. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Megabass pro Chris Zaldain wrestled 26-1 of Mille Lacs smallies into his Day 2 bag. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Rigid Industries pro Brandon Palaniuk: “How do I get 22 pounds of smallmouth into a 20-pound bag?” Photo by Joel Shangle.

Bass Mafia pro Greg Hackney piled up a personal-best 23-5 on Day 1.

Mercury pro Greg Hackney called this 6-pounder “Ol’ Big”. Right so, because she was ol’ and she was BIG. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Quicksilver Marine pro Jacob Powroznik loads up 23-4 on Day 2. Photo by Joel Shangle.

#tbt to the time in Mille Lacs …

… when the dinosaurs came to town. With the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year Championship – and high-noon shootout between Brandon Palaniuk and Jason Christie – bearing down on us next week […]

Uncategorized by bassnomadAug 24, 20174:04 pm

In pursuit of AOY: Behind the numbers

By Joel Shangle ST. CLAIR SHORES, Michigan – Brandon Palaniuk was Boat No. 1 yesterday morning on Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series regular-season finale on Detroit’s Lake St. Clair. As he motored out […]

Uncategorized by bassnomadMay 25, 20172:53 am

Larry Nixon Mississipi River Day 1 fish — Yamamoto pro Larry Nixon bagged up another Top 10 finish at the FLW Tour event on the Mississippi River. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Ode to “The General” …

Uncategorized by bassnomadMay 25, 201712:01 am

1. They call Livingston pro Andy Morgan “The GOAT” for a reason. This is the last guy I ever want to fish against, and the first guy’s house I’m going to in a zombie apocalypse. Photo by Joel Shangle.

2. YUM pro Jason Christie is also my starting shooting guard in any game of pickup 3-on-3. Photo by Joel Shangle.

3. Does it seem like BPS pro Ott Defoe has been around forever?!? Well, he hasn’t. He’s just been so damned good in the six years he’s fished the Elite Series that it just seems like it: Top 20 50% of his tournaments! Photo by Joel Shangle.

4. Talk to Fitzgerald Rods pro Bryan Thrift before a tournament and you’ll swear he won’t catch a single fish. And then he’ll beat you 99 days out of 100. Photo by Joel Shangle.

5. I can tell that the rest of the Elite Series field is nervous that Rigid pro Brandon Palaniuk has matured into a consistent Top 10 guy. He’s always had the ability to win tournaments, but now you throw in AOY-level consistency? Yeah, no thanks, I don’t want any part of a head-to-head with BP. Photo by Joel Shangle.

6. Is Enigma pro Aaron Martens having a down year? Well, yes, especially by his standards. But out of this list of nine, I’ll wager that Aaron is the guy THEY would least like to have to beat head-to-head. Photo by Joel Shangle.

7. Nicest guy you’ll ever meet, ol’ Ark Rods pro Randall Tharp … and then mention the word “compete” or “contest” or “game” and the Honey Badger comes out. The only way I’m ever facing off against Tharp is if it’s a drop-shot-only contest on Lake Washington, and Tharp is blindfolded. Photo by Joel Shangle.

8. You know when somebody just HAS it?!? You can’t even identify it, but you can tell that whatever IT is, they have it, and you don’t. Carhartt pro Jordan Lee owns “IT”. This guy is going to be a terror for the Elite Field for years to come. Photo by Joel Shangle.

9. Unless you’ve been on a boat with Quantum pro Kevin Vandam, you can’t begin to understand just what a machine he is. Not in a robotic way, but in an “I’m going to beat the daylights out of you” way. Photo by Joel Shangle.

The Nomad 9: Who would we least like to face in a head-to-head fish off?

SEATTLE – The latest Bassfan.com World Rankings are out, and it’s no stretch that Jacob Wheeler is the new No. 1. He rankles a fair number of his competitors with his scouting/practice habits, but when […]

Uncategorized by bassnomadMar 13, 20171:22 am

Classic rewind: Getting into Randy Howell’s head on Grand Lake

As we make our final preparations to head to Houston for the 2017 Bassmaster Classic, I can’t help but think back to the 2016 Classic on Grand Lake – my first! – and the psychology […]

Uncategorized by bassnomadMar 13, 20171:07 am

Shaw Grigsby Sabine River Day 3 3 — Simms pro Shaw Grigsby chats about the Bassmaster Classic experience prepares to compete in his 16th Classic. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Shaw’s Classic experience: our Q&A with Florida’s favorite mustachioed bass angler

Uncategorized by bassnomadMar 13, 201712:51 am

Livingston pro Jacob Powroznik’s breath says it on on a frigid Lake Cherokee morning. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Family pride: Alton Jones and Alton Jr. made their first Top 50 together at Cherokee. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Academy Sports pro Jacob Wheeler went 2-for-2 in his Elite Series career by winning the Cherokee trophy. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Gene Larew pro Jacob Wheeler found the right size smallies on Cherokee. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Looks like we’re back in Florida: Costa pro Casey Ashley heads out onto Okeechobee. Photo by Joel Shangle.

The bag that won it for Timmy Horton: Day 2, Horton brought some monsters to the party. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Livingston pro Randy Howell showed off a pair of Lake O. beauties. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Daiwa pro Andy Montgomery in the thick of it with some big fish. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Spiderwire pro Bobby Lane’s big Day 1 fish had his marshall’s attention. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Simms pro Brett Hite with an in-your-face giant from Day 1. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Bass Pro Shops pro Timmy Horton tried to absorb the fact that he had won. Photo by Joel Shangle.

Timmy Horton is thumbs up with his fifth Elite Serie strophy. Photo by Joel Shangle.

2017 Elite Series first-lap observations: Wheeler chills, Horton hangs on

For a season that started off so ice-cold (literally, it was below freezing at Cherokee Lake), things have heated up pretty quickly on the 2017 Bassmaster Elite Series. Faced with an inordinately early start to […]

Photos by bassnomadJan 1, 201711:12 pm

Bass Nomad’s favorite moment: Rick, River and Skeet

Our friends at Bassmaster.com were gracious enough to include us recently in their “My favorite moment” series. The 2016 Elite Series season was memorable in many ways, but nothing was as powerful to us as […]

Uncategorized by bassnomadDec 20, 20167:21 pm

Cody Meyer’s record spot: it was only a matter of time

By Joel Shangle Bass Nomad Media AUBURN, Calif. – … and who, exactly, was surprised last week when Simms pro Cody Meyer yarded a potential-world-record 10.80-pound spotted bass out of the chilly waters of New […]