MORE THAN JUST A CATCH

Fishing gives me a different kind of time outdoors.

Some days everything comes together and the fish are biting. Other days, nothing seems to work.

Either way, I enjoy the challenge, the quiet, the time on the water and the fact that there is always something new to learn.

That’s what keeps me coming back.

A man fishing from a boat on a river during sunset, with a forested shoreline in the background and the sky partly cloudy.
A man fishing from a boat on a river during sunset, with a forested shoreline in the background and the sky partly cloudy.
A man fishing from a boat at sunset with a large bass jump out of the water, holding a fishing lure in its mouth, with the words 'BASS' and the tagline 'Big bites. Bigger stories.' at the bottom.
A man holding a large catfish during sunset by a lake with boats in the background, with the text 'CATCHFISH Big pull. Hard fights.' at the bottom.
A person fishing at sunset on a boat with a large fish jumping out of the water, capturing a moment of successful fishing.
A person holding a large fish over water at sunset with a person fishing in a boat in the background.
A boat on an orange-lit lake at sunset with a person on board wearing a 'RANGER BOATS' jacket, surrounded by other boats, with a wooded shoreline and a tower with a banner reading 'BASS' in the background.

BASS

THE FISH THAT KEEPS ME THINKING

Bass fishing is probably where I spend the most time trying to work things out.

Some days you find the right pattern and everything seems to click. Other days, you can change lures, move spots and try everything you know and still struggle to get a bite.

That unpredictability is what keeps it interesting.

With weekly competitions and a bigger tournament at Lake of the Ozarks coming up, bass fishing has also become a way for me to test myself and keep learning.

EVERY BITE FEELS EARNED.

A man fishing on a boat at sunset, catching a large bass, with the water splashing as the fish jumps out of the water, and the text 'BASS' with the slogan 'Big bites. Bigger stories' at the bottom.
A person fishing on a boat at sunset with a fish caught, large text saying 'BASS' and a tagline 'Big bites. Bigger stories.'

CATFISH

A DIFFERENT KIND OF FIGHT

Catfish bring something completely different.

They’re strong, unpredictable and when you hook into a good one, you know about it.

I enjoy the variety of fishing for different species, and catfish are a reminder that every kind of fishing has its own challenge, its own techniques and its own stories.

Sometimes that’s exactly what keeps fishing interesting — you never really stop learning.

DIFFERENT FISH. DIFFERENT CHALLENGE.
SAME LOVE OF THE WATER.

A man holding a large catfish during sunset by a lake with boats in the background. The image has a grunge effect with text that reads "CATCH FISH" and the tagline "Big pull. Hard fights."
A person holds a large catfish over a body of water at sunset, with boats in the background. The scene features a sunset sky with orange hues and the text 'CATFISH Big pull. Hard fights.'

CRAPPIE

SIMPLE FISHING. GOOD DAYS.

Crappie fishing is one of those things that can turn into a really enjoyable day without needing to overcomplicate it.

They can still make you work for them, but when you find them, the action can be fast and a lot of fun.

It’s the kind of fishing that’s great for spending time on the water, relaxing a little and still having the chance to come home with a good catch.

GOOD FISHING DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE COMPLICATED.

A person fishing on a boat at sunset, with a large crappie fish jumping out of the water in the foreground.
A man fishing at sunset on a lake, with a large bass jumping out of the water and a fishing lure in its mouth. The scene has a warm, orange glow and the text overlay reads 'CRAPPIE, Good days. Honest fishing.'

WALLEYE - A NEW FAVORITE

Walleye is a newer catch for me, but it didn’t take long for it to make an impression.

I’ve really enjoyed learning how to target them, working out where they’re holding and figuring out what they want on the day. That challenge is a big part of the fun for me.

And there’s another reason walleye has moved up the list pretty quickly — it’s now probably my favorite fish to eat.

There’s something satisfying about catching a fish, taking it home and turning it into a really good meal. For me, that’s one of the best parts of fishing.

NEW WATER. NEW CHALLENGE. NEW FAVORITE.

A person holding a freshly caught fish over the water during sunset, with another individual fishing from a boat in the background.
A person holding a large fish, freshly caught, at sunset over a body of water, with a person fishing in the background and a boat on the water.

KEEP YOUR BAIT CHOICE SIMPLE

One of the biggest things I’d tell someone about fishing is not to overcomplicate their bait choice.

Use lures you know and have confidence in, but always be willing to learn more about the lake and the colors the fish are responding to.

A lot of the time, simple setups work best. Things like a Texas rig, a wacky rig, or even a basic plastic crappie jig can be really effective. The key is often not finding some fancy new lure — it’s figuring out which color the fish want that day.

Talking to people who fish the lake regularly can help too. If they’ve been having success with certain colors, that can give you a good starting point instead of guessing.

Most of the time, you’ll find that the fish are really only responding to a small handful of colors.

KEEP IT SIMPLE. LEARN THE WATER. FIND THE COLOR.

Rusty metal sign with the text 'FISHING TIP #1' in large beige capital letters.
Man fishing from a boat during sunset on a calm lake.
A lake at sunset with multiple boats and people fishing or boating, and a person in a Ranger boat in the foreground.
A lake at sunset with multiple boats and people fishing or boating, and a person in a Ranger boat in the foreground.
A boat race on Lake of the Ozarks at sunset with multiple boats and a person in the foreground wearing a jacket with the logo 'Ranger Boats'. The scene features a calm lake, silhouetted trees, and a vibrant sky with the sun setting.
A boat race on Lake of the Ozarks at sunset with multiple boats and a person in the foreground wearing a jacket with the logo 'Ranger Boats'. The scene features a calm lake, silhouetted trees, and a vibrant sky with the sun setting.

MORE THAN THE SCORE

Fishing tournaments have added a completely different side to being on the water for me.

I’ve been entering a competition most weeks, and I’ve had some really good days along with some frustrating ones where the fish just haven’t cooperated.

What’s made it even better is that I’ve been able to share some of those days with my wife and my son. Having them out there with me turns the tournaments into more than just a result on a board — they become days we get to spend together, compete, laugh, learn and make memories.

Every tournament teaches me something. Sometimes it’s about the water or the fish. Sometimes it’s about patience, decision-making, or knowing when to change what you’re doing.

You can have a great result one week and a dry day the next, so there’s always another reason to keep learning and come back better.

And now there’s a bigger challenge ahead, with the Big Bass Bash tournament coming up at Lake of the Ozarks. And this year it’s the 20th Anniversary.

I’m looking forward to seeing how everything I’ve learned from the weekly competitions holds up when the pressure is a little higher.

THE RESULT MATTERS. THE TIME TOGETHER MATTERS MORE.

LAKE OF THE OZARKS
BIG BASS BASH TOURNAMENT COUNTDOWN
00 DAYS
00 HOURS
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00 SECONDS
A vintage-style metal sign with a black background and beige border that reads 'Watch the Action' in bold capital letters, with decorative antlers above and below the text.