Catch More Bass — Bass Fishing Podcast

Most anglers can have a great day. The harder skill is avoiding the days when nothing works. Ryan Lachniet breaks down the decision-making system he uses to catch bass consistently—how he chooses dependable water, avoids high-risk patterns, adjusts when fish won’t commit, and uses LiveScope to make better decisions instead of simply chasing dots.
Ryan’s approach is surprisingly conservative for a young pro: find the best version of the safe option, secure dependable bites, then take calculated shots at bigger fish. He also explains why he’d often rather have LiveScope throughout practice than during the tournament itself.
What you’ll learn:• How to find the “best of the safe options” instead of gambling on one winning spot• When to use LiveScope early and when to save it for bigger bites• Why forward-facing sonar may be more valuable in practice than tournament hours• How to tell whether a Scope pattern will still work when you turn the screen off• Why crowded community holes can be the smartest bailout when fishing gets tough• What to change when bass follow a lure but refuse to bite• Why Ryan changes baits before worrying about color• How to decide between pattern fishing and staying in the best area
Guest: Ryan Lachniet — MLF Pro Circuit rookie with five straight top-25 finishes at the time of recording; second in Angler of the Year points.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
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Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Big bass often see a jig without ever committing to it. Bradley Hallman breaks down the Little Brown Jig system he refined over decades—the exact bait, tackle, casting targets, and patient retrieve that catch fish other anglers leave behind.
This is more than simply downsizing a jig. Hallman explains how head design, weight, skirt density, line size, casting accuracy, and the final 30–60-second pause work together as one complete system.
What you’ll learn:• Why 5/16 ounce is his primary choice in 7–8 feet of water and shallower• When to step up to a 7/16-ounce jig for deeper water or heavier line• Why he wants a ball head, 60-degree line tie, stout hook, and sparse skirt• His 6-foot-10 casting-rod setup and when to use 10-, 15-, or 20-pound fluorocarbon• How he pairs a brown jig with a green-pumpkin Zoom Speed Craw• Trailer-color changes for stained, dirty, and clear water• Where to cast around docks, shade lines, gravel, rock, brush, and channel swings• How “squatting” a jig for 30–60 seconds triggers the biggest fish to finally eat
Guest: Bradley Hallman... Two-time tour winner; longtime national tour pro; flippin' and jig specialist.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Why can you be surrounded by bass and still struggle to get a bite? Cal Lane explains how rigid expectations about season, location, current, water level, and fishing pressure can keep anglers committed to a pattern that no longer exists.
Recorded before his breakthrough Pro Circuit win at Lake Champlain, this conversation reveals the decision-making system behind Cal’s run of top finishes. Through real tournament examples, he explains how he determines whether to stay shallow, move offshore, trust LiveScope, fish current, or abandon the bite he expected.
What you’ll learn:• How to recognize when you’re forcing the wrong bass pattern• When to leave visible fish, productive practice water, or a confidence spot• How cold fronts, floodwater, current, and pressure reposition bass• When to choose shallow power fishing over offshore electronics• How Cal uses ChatterBaits, swim jigs, buzzbaits, a 10XD, and an Alabama rig• Why persistence catches fish but stubbornness can ruin a trip• How to eliminate dead water without fishing randomly• What to trust when the bass stop doing what they “should” do
Guest: Cal Lane — Pro Circuit winner and consistent top 10 finisher known for adapting between shallow power fishing and offshore techniques.
 
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Which new LiveScope transducer should you buy—and could choosing the wrong one cost you bass? Alton Jones Jr. shares three days of on-water testing with the Garmin LVS42HD and LVS44, including where each transducer shines, what changes from the LVS34, and which model makes the most sense for most bass anglers.
You’ll also learn how Alton uses Perspective Mode, screen size, gain and filtering, multiple-transducer setups, and the Garmin Spy Pole to see more fish and make more efficient casts. Then he breaks down the Free Rig system he uses when pressured bass ignore minnows, drop shots, jigs, and other common presentations.
What you’ll learn:• Why the LVS44 is the better all-around choice for most bass anglers• Where the LVS42HD’s close-range detail and target separation matter most• How far each transducer can clearly show fish, bait, timber, and bottom cover• Why Perspective Mode helps identify fish and locate overlooked structure• Gain, ghost reject, noise reject, and screen-size adjustments that improve visibility• The best one-, two-, and three-transducer LiveScope configurations• How the Garmin Spy Pole improves boat and transducer control in wind and current• The Free Rig setup: 3/8-ounce weight, 17–20-pound line, total-slack fall, and alternate casting angles
Guest: Alton Jones Jr. — Bass Pro Tour champion with more than $1.5 million in career earnings; one of the sport’s most accomplished forward-facing sonar anglers.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

A bass lure can still catch fish and no longer be the best option for the job.
Tournament pro and Core Tackle co-founder Matt Stefan breaks down which proven baits still deserve a place in your boat, which techniques are losing ground to better alternatives, and the new baits and rigs pros are trying to keep quiet.
We cover the rise of urchin-style baits, why movement and fall often matter more than lure shape, and Matt’s current buy, hold, or sell rating on Ned rigs, shaky heads, drop shots, tubes, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, crankbaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, topwaters, and more.
Matt also explains how he evaluates new techniques, why some old-school baits are making a comeback, and how Core Tackle designs specialized hooks and rigs to make existing presentations more efficient.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Fish a Ned rig with less guesswork and more bottom contact. Brian Latimer breaks down the simple setup, retrieve, and location rules that help this subtle bait catch numbers—and why most anglers make it harder than it needs to be.
This is a complete Ned rig clinic covering jigheads, plastics, weights, colors, line, leader length, hooksets, seasonal patterns, and the places where the technique works best.
What you’ll learn:• Why simple, low-action plastics often outperform baits covered in appendages• When to use a 1/5-ounce head and when to lighten up to 1/10 ounce• Why Brian prefers a light-wire Finesse ShroomZ over heavier and EWG-style hooks• How 10-pound braid with a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader reduces break-offs• The bottom-contact and slack-line retrieve detail most anglers miss• Why “nothing banks,” bridges, current, steep points, and deep winter fish fit the Ned rig• How to tightline, fish vertically, and let current move the bait• Why a numbers bait can still produce tournament-quality bass
Guest: Brian Latimer — Professional tournament angler, Lake Seminole FLW Tour winner, fishing educator, and founder of Straight Up Fishing.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

What is the best way to catch bass in the middle of summer when the lake is hot, crowded, and full of boat traffic?
In this episode of Catch More Bass, Bass Pro Jeremy Lawyer breaks down the summer bass bite most anglers miss because they quit too early, fish the wrong window, or try to grind through the worst part of the day. Jeremy has spent years fishing Lake of the Ozarks and other crowded, dock-covered lakes, and he shares how he approaches summer fishing when the heat, jet skis, wake boats, and fishing pressure make the lake feel almost impossible.
We talk night fishing for bass, why a different class of fish can bite after dark, how dock lights and moon phase change the bite, and which baits Jeremy trusts most at night, including spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jigs, big worms, chatterbaits, and squarebills.
Then we get into early morning fishing, summer current, boat traffic, crowded lake strategy, and how to pick better docks instead of wasting time on dead ones. Jeremy also explains why bass often live behind docks, how wind and shade position fish, and why the first cast on a dock or brush pile can be the one that matters most.
If you’re trying to catch more bass in summer heat, beat crowded lakes, fish better at night, or understand where bass go when boat traffic gets bad, this episode gives you a practical summer game plan from one of the best dock fishermen in the country.
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Most anglers can catch a few bass. The harder part is adding the one big fish that changes the day.
Justin Lucas breaks down how he uses a CullShad-style harness swimbait to create bonus big-bass opportunities without throwing a giant bait all day. This is the practical system: when the window opens, where to make the first cast, how to trigger followers, and when to put it back down before it burns you.
What you’ll learn:• Why this bait is a “window bait,” not an all-day swimbait grind• The best timing: 50-degree prespawn water, February–May, fall, clouds, wind, shade, and pre-front conditions• Why Justin throws it first on prime points, docks, riprap, and high-percentage targets• His CullShad setup: 5- and 6-inch sizes, 20 lb fluorocarbon, 7’6” heavy rod, slower reel, quad hook, and 1/16 oz nail weight• The retrieve that triggers big followers: slow and steady with 3–4 quick reel pops per cast• How high to run the bait so bass feed up instead of spooking• When bumps and followers mean “put it down” instead of forcing it• How Justin decides when to grind, change baits, or leave an area completely
Guest: Justin Lucas — Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year; multi-tour winner; 50+ Top 10s; one of the most consistent pros in modern bass fishing.
 
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3

Bass fishing has changed fast. Spencer Shuffield breaks down what still gets bit in 2026, why pressured bass follow more and commit less, and how to catch them whether you’re using LiveScope or putting it down and power fishing.
This is not just a forward-facing sonar episode. Spencer explains how fish have learned baits like jerkbaits, A-rigs, drop shots, jighead minnows, and Koike-style baits — and how that has changed the way he fishes ChatterBaits, jigs, spinnerbaits, grass lines, brush, and shallow targets.
What you’ll learn:• Why bass follow baits but won’t commit like they used to• How great baits burn out after fish see them enough• What jighead minnows, drop shots, jerkbaits, A-rigs, and Koike-style baits have in common• Why baits that stay above fish trigger more reaction bites• How Spencer uses Scope to find better targets, not just chase dots• When traditional power fishing can still beat the electronics game• How small bait changes can make pressured bass react again
Guest: Spencer Shuffield — Major League Fishing pro; 2022 TITLE champion; 2025 WON Bass U.S. Open champion; multiple BPT Top 10s and one of the best modern Scope anglers in bass fishing.
 
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3
 

We’re all guilty of defaulting to our favorite bait, even when there’s probably a better option. Justin Atkins breaks down how one of the most versatile pros in bass fishing decides when each lure actually deserves to be tied on.
This is a lure-by-lure decision tree for real fishing situations — shallow cover, grass, clear water, muddy water, current, offshore schools, forward-facing sonar, pressured fish, and more.
What you’ll learn:• When a spinnerbait beats a ChatterBait, swim jig, or crankbait• Why Justin always wants plastic on a spinnerbait instead of relying on a trailer hook• When a bladed jig is the better landing-percentage bait• Why a swim jig shines around shallow grass, clear water, and quiet targets• When to pick a Fritzside, lipless, squarebill, or deep crankbait• How Justin chooses between a jig, Texas rig, wacky rig, Neko, and drop shot• Why a power worm is still his first choice around offshore schools• How he picks between a jerkbait, minnow, and nail-weighted Hit Worm with forward-facing sonar
Guest: Justin Atkins — Bassmaster Elite Series pro; Forrest Wood Cup champion; Bassmaster Open winner; one of the most versatile bait decision-makers on tour.
 
Watch the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLJHIrTVplvfzK7I8FEog0BXmrt83Yc3T 
Save 10% on MillerTech lithium batteries and all other products: https://tinyurl.com/MillerTech10off 
Follow Catch More Bass—new episodes every Monday at 2 PM CT.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catch-more-bass/id1842586566Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QGQyLEtWoErDF6vD7igy3