Best Bass Fishing Destinations and Tournament Updates for 2024

# Artificial Lure's Bass Fishing Beat

Hey there, bass fanatics! Artificial Lure here with your weekly rundown of what's happening in the world of freshwater fishing. Buckle up because things are getting spicy out there on the water.

First up, let's talk about what's brewing on the competitive circuit. The Bassmaster Classic is coming to Knoxville on the Tennessee River in just over two weeks, and this is shaping up to be a wild ride. According to Bassmaster coverage, they've changed the smallmouth size limit from eighteen inches down to fifteen inches, which is huge news. Why? Because anglers have been avoiding smallmouth like the plague when the limit was higher. Now expect to see way more quality smallmouth catches and some sneaky fishing strategies nobody's seen before. The vibe is totally different from past years too, especially since Jeff Gustofson, the two-time defending champ, isn't in the field this time. Forward-facing sonar is still legal, so the young guns are going to have a major advantage hunting for those hidden gems.

Over on the Bass Pro Tour side, things kick off next month at Lake Guntersville in Northern Alabama, which is absolute smallmouth paradise according to Major League Fishing. Guntersville has been a tournament hotspot forever, and several pros in the field have already won big events there.

Now let's talk about some seriously impressive recent catches. Kayak angler Damian Thao, a two-time world freshwater kayak gold medalist, just put Eastman Reservoir in California back on the map in a big way. According to Western Outdoor News, Thao landed a seventeen-point-four-six-pound largemouth bass, which is believed to be an unofficial lake record. What makes this wild is that Eastman had been quiet for a few years, but Thao and other local kayak anglers have been putting in serious work. Thao's been crushing it with big swimbaits, landing limits over thirty pounds consistently on recent trips. The lake has trout plants coming in the next couple weeks, so the big girls are going to be feeding heavy. That's a lake worth your attention if you're chasing trophy fish.

Speaking of trophy territory, California's Don Pedro Reservoir is absolutely going off right now. According to Western Outdoor News, largemouth and spotted bass are on an absolute rampage, chasing shad all over the main lake and coves. Walking baits like the Berkley Choppo are working killer, along with flukes, spoons, and umbrella rigs. If you want red-hot action, that's your spot.

Looking at the bigger picture, some of the absolute best lakes for bass fishing in the United States keep showing up on everyone's radar. Lake Guntersville in Alabama, Lake Okeechobee in Florida, Lake Fork in Texas, and Lake Champlain spanning New York and Vermont are all producing consistently. Clear Lake in California, Lake St. Clair in Michigan, and Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee round out the elite circuit. Each has its own personality and best seasons, so do your homework before you head out.

Here's something cool for Minnesota folks: you can now fish for bass year-round thanks to a new catch-and-release season. The traditional opener doesn't hit until May ninth, but you don't have to wait anymore.

One more thing worth mentioning—the Bassmaster Classic is heading back to Lake Hartwell in 2027, which will be the fifth time the tournament lands there. That's a record and a huge deal for the Greenville area.

Thanks so much for tuning in to Artificial Lure's Bass Fishing Beat! Come back next week for more hot tips, legendary catches, and everything you need to know about chasing bass across this beautiful country. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more content, check out Quiet Please dot A I.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI