Spring Bass Fishing Peak: Best Lakes and Tournaments Happening Now Across America

You know what I can really go for right now?

Literally anything that comes in a McDonald's carton,

wrapper, or bag, or a McDonald's cup.

Yes, any of those items you do it.

We've got your cravings covered.

Now, stop in for the flaky filet of fish,

the crispy snack wrap, or a large fries for just $2.99.

Limited time only, price and participation may vary,

cannot be combined with any other offer.

Ba-da-ba-ba-ba-ba.

Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitz.

I'm the host of Big Technology podcast,

a long time reporter and an on-air contributor to CNBC.

And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out

how artificial intelligence is changing the business world

and our lives.

So each week on Big Technology,

I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech

and outsiders trying to influence it.

Asking where this is all going,

they come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon,

and plenty more.

So if you want to be smart with your wallet,

your career choices, and meetings with your colleagues,

and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast

wherever you get your podcasts.

Number five, bass fishing boom.

Spring is here, and the fish are hungry.

Hey there, bass anglers.

Artificial lore here, and let me tell you,

if you've been itching to get out on the water,

this is your moment.

Spring is absolutely exploding across the country right now,

and the bass are in full spawn mode,

which means they're aggressive, territorial,

and ready to crush whatever you throw at them.

Let's start out west, where things are heating up big time.

According to Arizona State Parks,

spring bass fishing is reaching peak conditions

in places like Alamo Lake and Lake Havasu.

The warming water temperatures are pushing bass

into shallow areas near shore,

where they're building nests and getting defensive.

This is exactly the kind of aggressive fishing

we live for.

The territorial spawners are hammering artificial baits

left and right, and for anyone looking

to get into bass fishing,

Arizona right now is basically paradise.

Just remember to practice catch and release during the spawn

so these fish can protect their eggs.

Down in Arkansas, things are getting wild too.

According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission,

Derek's Lake just announced itself

as the state's top tournament fishing destination

for 2025 and for good reason.

During just five tournaments last year,

the average winning weight was nearly 21 pounds.

That's the kind of consistent quality fishing

that makes a lake worth the drive.

Lake Beaver and Lake Awachita are still holding strong as well

with plenty of big bass moving through the system.

Speaking of big bass, Georgia just saw

an absolute monster land on the scales.

According to field and stream,

professional guide Silas Turner

caught a record-breaking 31-pound,

14-ounce-long-nose-gar on Lake Black Shear

while targeting spawning largemouth bass.

Turner hooked this thing on a half-ounce jig meant for bass,

and it took in 20 minutes of pure battle

before he could wrestle it onto the deck.

This thing dethroned a previous record from 2022

and proves that spring surprises aren't always what you expect.

Now, if you want to see the absolute best bass anglers

in the world do their thing, pay attention.

According to the sporting news and the Bassmaster organization,

the 2026 Bassmaster Classic is happening this weekend

in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The tournament kicks off on the Tennessee River

with live coverage starting Saturday morning at 8 a.m.

on Bassmaster.com, then moving to Fox

from noon to 3 p.m.

The weigh-ins happen at Food City Center

and the best part, it's free to watch.

This is the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing

and 50 of the nation's top anglers are competing for glory

on Fort Loudon and Teleko Lakes.

Over in Kentucky, anglers are finding that pre-spawn bass

are responding beautifully to crankbaits

along gravel points and chunk rock shorelines.

Kentucky Lakes' endless structure

is producing consistent action right now,

especially with suspending jerkbaits

and deep runner crankbaits in crawfish and Tennessee Shad patterns.

The bottom line is this,

spraying is peak time for bass fishing across the country.

Whether you're flinging topwater lures in Arizona,

chunking crankbaits on Kentucky Lake

or heading to Arkansas to hunt trophy large mouths,

the conditions are dialed in and the fish are fiend hard.

Get out there and make it happen.

Thanks so much for tuning in to this week's Bass Fishing Report.

Come back next week for more fresh intel

on what's biting and where.

This has been a quiet please production.

For more content, check out quietplease.ai.

Every day the world gets a little weirder

and a lot more awesome.

Cool stuff daily takes a look at everything

from mining in space to the latest in the fight against cancer

to how AI is basically changing everything.

It's all the cool stuff you didn't know you needed to know.

Join us for cool stuff daily

as we take a quick look at science, tech

and the wait what stories that make you sound way smarter at dinner.

Subscribe to cool stuff daily now

because the future is happening fast

and it's way too fun to miss.