Mercury Pro Tactics
Ott DeFoe’s top three crankbait colors
Mercury pro Ott DeFoe subscribes to the theory that three basic colors will carry you through a full season.
Stephen Browning explains the need-to-know basics of gear ratios
Mercury pro Stephen Browning explains why you don’t want to overpower your bait with an incorrect gear ratio.
The Carolina rig is still in style, according to Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis
Mercury pro Mark Davis grabbed a Top-10 finish at Sam Rayburn thanks to the good ol’ Carolina rig.
Jonathan VanDam’s Keys to Success During Northern States’ Rapid Fall Transition
Mercury pro Jonathon VanDam heads shallow as rapid fall transition happens in the North.
PATTERN INSIDE THE PATTERN: Connell Strategized, Studied His Way to Win on Mille Lacs
Mercury pro Dustin Connell’s long-term planning was key to his victory at Mille Lacs Lake.
Kevin VanDam’s Plan for Late-Summer Largemouth in the Northern States
Both deep grass and shallow docks come into play as Mercury Pro Kevin VanDam targets summer largemouth.
ALTON JONES JR.: My Process for Breaking Down Northern Fisheries with My Electronics
Mercury pro Alton Jones Jr. breaks down how he uses his electronics to be successful in northern fisheries.
SKEET REESE: I’d Like to Put an Exclamation Point on the 2022 Season at Mille Lacs
Mercury pro Skeet Reese reflects on his past two seasons and looks to finish strong.
JOSH BERTRAND: Still Some Work to Do to End Bass Pro Tour Season on a High Note
Mercury pro Josh Bertrand discusses how he is focusing on his dock fishing, and looking forward.
Alton Jones Jr. Shares his Three Best Baits for Big Texas Bass
Watch as Mercury Pro Team angler Alton Jones Jr. gives a rundown of the baits he believes are best suited for bagging the big ‘uns on his home turf in the Lone Star State.
Pattern Inside the Pattern
Mercury pro Dustin Connell makes a savvy switch to smallmouth to win Stage Six
Scott Suggs Looking Forward to the Deep Grass Bite for Stage Six and Stage Seven
Mercury pro Scott Suggs explains why he loves fishing heavy grass in deep water, and how this will factor into the final two events of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Mark Davis Values the Angler of the Year Title
Mercury pro Mark Davis discusses his fishing goals, trials and tribulations in a Q&A session.
Mark Daniels Jr. Encourages Good Character and Ethics
Mercury pro Mark Daniels Jr. believes that fishing is about more than just being a good fisherman.
John Murray Believes in the Versatility and Effectiveness of the Drop-Shot
Mercury pro John Murray highlights the benefits of drop-shotting.
Mercury Pros Ready for a Mixed Bag at Cayuga Lake
Mercury pros Kevin VanDam and Dave Lefebre are looking forward to the variety of ways anglers can find success at Bass Pro Tour Stage Six.
Clabion Johns Thinks Outside the Box
Mercury pro Clabion Johns swears by a frog anytime water is above 50 degrees (and not just for matted vegetation).
Q&A with Alton Jones
Mercury pro Alton Jones Sr. discusses his career and trying to grow a 500-pound pumpkin.
RYAN SALZMAN: I’m Looking Forward to Fulfilling More Goals to End the 2022 Season
Mercury pro Ryan Salzman discusses the goals he had for his 2022 season.
Q&A With Chris Lane
Mercury pro Chris Lane has won more than $2.2 million in competitive bass fishing in his 19-year career, but the 2022 season is shaping up to be one of his best.
KELLY JORDON: Why I Believe in the Power of the Big Squarebill
Oversized squarebills are tools in Mercury pro Kelly Jordon’s arsenal in the summer.
Wesley Strader Says to Go Big for Sullen Postspawn Bass
Mercury pro Wesley Strader believes one of the biggest things you can do to overcome the challenge is to upsize your lures.
Pattern Inside the Pattern with Ryan Salzman
Mercury pro Ryan Salzman discusses how his dam knowledge helped him to be successful at Watts Bar.
Brandon Coulter’s Guide to Rod Length
Mercury pro Brandon Coulter shares why different rod lengths for the same technique makes a difference.
Mercury Keys to Success at Bass Pro Tour Stage Five
Mercury pros Wesley Strader, Jeremy Lawyer, and Luke Clausen discuss how they believe the fishing will shape up on Watts Bar lake.
MARK ROSE: “Ledge Fishing” Everywhere (Even in Your Local Pond)
Mercury pro Mark Rose will apply his hard-earned ledge-fishing truths to virtually any lake he fishes in early summer.
Edwin Evers: Tips For Coping with Increased Fishing Pressure
Mercury pro Edwin Evers discusses how increasing pressure on bass fisheries means you’ll have to make some adjustments to be successful.
FRED ROUMBANIS: Swimbaits and Bridges Just Make Sense on a New Lake
Mercury pro Fred Roumbanis shows us why using a swimbait close to bridges is his approach to new bodies of water.
BRADLEY ROY: A Frog is the Perfect Spawn/Postspawn Bait
Mercury pro Bradley Roy relies on frog’s diversity as bass behavior changes heading into late spring/early summer.
So Far, So Good for Bass Pro Tour Rookie Floyd as Season Enters Second Half
Bass Pro Tour rookie and Mercury pro Cole Floyd enters the final three tournaments of the season in good shape to qualify for REDCREST IV.
Browning in Bally Bet AOY Mix By Fishing His Strengths
Mercury pro Stephen Browning is a strong contender in the race for Angler of the Year, and he credits it to fishing in a way that works best for him.
What Did You Learn From Saturday’s Sight-Fishing Clinic on Lake of the Ozarks?
Mercury pros Shaw Grigsby and Brent Ehrler find success by sight-fishing the Lake of the Ozarks.
Mercury Keys to Success at Stage Four
Mercury pros Jeremy Lawyer and Andy Newcomb expect a shallow, active bite on LOZ.
CASEY ASHLEY: Some Things to Think about for Late Prespawn
Mercury pro Casey Ashley knows that time of year trumps temperature for shallow prespawn fish.
Pattern Inside the Pattern with Ott DeFoe
Mercury pro Ott DeFoe’s previous Texas experience paid off in Heavy Hitters win. Read how he approached Lake Palestine. and why it was successful.
Mercury Keys to Victory at REDCREST with Brent Ehrler and Jeff Sprague
Mercury pros Brent Ehrler and Jeff Sprague discuss the importance of adjusting to weather and water conditions.
Lawyer’s Laws for Approaching Largemouth and Spotted Bass
Mercury pro Jeremy Lawyer shares the secret to success when approaching largemouth and spotted bass.
Edwin Evers’ Five Step Process to Finding the Biggest Fish of the Year
Mercury pro Edwin Evers explains how prespawn is the best time to catch your personal best.
Matt Lee Weighs in on Stage Three Game Plan
Mercury pro and Cullman, Alabama, local Matt Lee shares what he knows about his hometown fishery, Lewis Smith Lake.
Ott DeFoe Looks for the Juice During Practice for REDCREST 2022
Mercury pro Ott DeFoe scopes out Grand Lake in search of the ideal location during the practice session for REDCREST 2022.
Dustin Connell Reflects on his 2021 REDCREST Win
With REDCREST 2022 on the horizon, Mercury pro Dustin Connell looks back at his REDCREST 2021 victory.
Three Mercury Pros Make Their Picks for REDCREST 2022
Mercury pros Tommy Biffle, Mike McClelland and Jeremy Lawyer offer their bold picks for REDCREST 2022.
Dustin Connell Found the Right Spot to Win Stage Three
Mercury pro Dustin Connell shares what went into finding that sweet spot to score the win at Stage Three of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Randy Howell’s Big-Fish Week to Remember
Mercury pro Randy Howell made Bass Pro Tour history with a 12-14 during Stage One of the Bass Pro Tour. A few days later, his son Laker also set a personal record.
Roy Hawk’s Confidence Boost in First Two Bass Pro Tour Events
Mercury pro Roy Hawk shares how his experiences at Stage One and Stage Two of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour helped boost his confidence.
A Big-Fish Week to Remember for Randy Howell and son Laker
Mercury pro Randy Howell and his son Laker each bagged some big ‘uns in February.
Lake Fork’s Double-Digit Bass: How Five Mercury Pros Caught ‘Em
Five Mercury Pro Team anglers discuss how they landed double-digit bass while competing at Stage Two of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour on Lake Fork.
Mark Daniels Jr. combined past experience with current water levels in plan for Stage Two
Mercury pro Mark Daniels Jr. recalls past success on Lake Fork and discusses how lower water levels impact Stage Two of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Bass Pro Tour Stage Two Preview from Two Locals
Lake Fork near Emory, Texas, is the site for Stage Two of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour. Jeff Sprague and Takahiro Omori consider it to be their home lake so they provided some insight on Lake Fork.
Lawyer’s First Impressions are Good After First Bass Pro Tour Event
Mercury pro Jeremy Lawyer feels good about his first time competing on the Bass Pro Tour.
Bradley Roy Wins Stage One of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour
Mercury Pro Team member Bradley Roy kicked off the 2022 Bass Pro Tour by winning Stage One on Bussey Brake Lake in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana.
Kevin VanDam’s Advice on Buying a Used Tournament Rig
Mercury pro Kevin VanDam discusses what to look for and what to consider when buying a used tournament rig.
Mercury Keys to Victory: Grinding Out the Weather in Northern Louisiana
Mercury Pro Team members Michael Neal, Mike McClelland, Josh Bertrand and David Walker discuss what they expect for Stage One of the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Taking a Look at Caney Creek with Brett Hite
Mercury pro Brett Hite scopes out Caney Creek Reservoir, the site of Stage One on the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
James Watson’s Tips and Tricks for Buzzbaits
Mercury pro James Watson shares the modifications he liked to make to buzzbait to put more fish in the boat
Ask the Anglers: Who is Your Fishing Role Model?
In this edition of Ask the Anglers, we find out who served as fishing role models for several Bass Pro Tour pros.
Birge’s Three Rules for Breaking Down a New Fishery
Follow along as Birge shares three rules for breaking down a new body of water.
Kevin VanDam’s Cranking System Carried Him to Win on Chickamauga
Mercury pro Kevin VanDam took home the Stage Four win thanks to his decades of experience and perfected crankbait system.
Follow Brett Hite’s ChatterBait Backup Plan
“Stealth” approach, swim jig come into play when conditions are tough
DeFoe’s ‘Pattern Inside the Pattern’ on the Harris Chain Carried Him to Victory
There was way more nuance to the Mercury Pro Team member’s pattern of slinging a crankbait and a jig than meets the eye.
Finessing the Tennessee River with Cody Meyer
When, why and how light line, small baits are the way to go on Tennessee River, Chickamauga
MERCURY KEYS TO VICTORY: Keeping up with Changing Conditions on the Harris Chain
Team Mercury pro Randy Howell says that locating clean water and being diverse will be important keys to his success on the Harris Chain this week.
MERCURY KEYS TO VICTORY: Deep or Shallow on Lake Chickamauga?
We caught up with Mercury pro Zack Birge for a quick update on the keys to a successful event on Lake Chickamauga.
MERCURY PRO TEAM TACTICS: Lake Travis is ‘Slam Full’ of Bass
Reports from Mercury Pro Team anglers indicate that there are plenty of willing bass, but finding the right size will be the biggest challenge.
JAMES ELAM: Lake Travis Can Produce (I Have a 9-Pounder to Prove It)
James Elam writes how he’s ready to return to Lake Travis, a place he landed a 9-2 just a few years ago
MERCURY PRO TACTICS: Making Adjustments Will be Key at Heavy Hitters
Big bass and big money are the themes this week at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Chris Lane’s Three Key Topwater Baits for Big ‘Uns in the Spring
Chris Lane shares his favorite topwater baits for big springtime bites.
LUKE CLAUSEN: No More “Fishing to Not Lose” at Sam Rayburn
Luke Clausen relied on his instincts to contend for the championship trophy on Sam Rayburn.
Mark Daniels Jr. ‘Follows the Bus’ to Springtime Bass
Mark Daniels Jr. shares his process of locating concentrations of mobile springtime bass.
Connell’s REDCREST Winning Pattern Developed Throughout the Week
Dustin Connell started the week fishing shallow, but won REDCREST on an offshore jerkbait bite.
MERCURY PRO TACTICS: “Practice” Will Continue on Day 1 at Lake Eufaula
You’ve likely heard the term “practice while I compete.” That’ll never be truer than it will this week on Lake Eufaula.
Skeet Reese’s Win at Okeechobee Made All the Sense in the World: Here’s Why
Skeet Reese’s 27-pound day on Lake Okeechobee – and his Pro Circuit win – came on a fishery that he’s fished surprisingly little.
Skeet Reese’s Tips for Wintertime A-Rig Success
“When the water is cold, they’ll crush an A-rig when they won’t hit anything else.”
Shryock Flips Out (Literally) For Florida’s Wintertime Bite
Fletcher Shryock shares his simple approach to wintertime Florida fishing.
MICHAEL NEAL: We’re Seeing a Resurgence in Metal
Blade baits and tail spinners have been hot sellers at Michael Neal’s bait shop in Dayton, Tenneesee.
DIY Pro: Customizing Jig Skirts with Gary Klein
As a 40-plus-year veteran of tournament bass fishing, Gary Klein has one of the deepest bags of gear tricks of any angler on tour.
Kevin VanDam: Accuracy is Everything in Skipping
“One thing I know is that if I can get my bait into places that other people can’t, I’m going to catch more bass.”
Ott DeFoe’s Texas Success is No Accident
Texas is a bucket-list destination for any bass angler and MLF pro Ott DeFoe has seen a lot of success there over the years.
Ehrler’s Drop-Shot Game Got a Boost in the Most Unlikely of Places
Brent Ehrler shares lessons learned on California’s Lake Perris that boosted his drop-shot game.
Jeff Sprague on the Versatility of a Swim Jig
In this Mercury Pro Team Know-How, Jeff Sprague details some features that make this bait a go-to, and how he likes to fish it.
Mike McClelland Explains Fall Crankbait Options
Mike McClelland explains that “fall” is actually three different mini-seasons, and explains which crankbaits he uses for each “season” of the fall bite.
How Watson Whacks ‘Em on Topwaters in the Fall
James Watson shares how he whacks ’em on topwater during the fall season.
OTT DEFOE: How I Catch ‘Em During the Fall Drawdowns in East Tennessee
Ott DeFoe dishes about how he catches them when fall hits his favorite east Tennessee reservoirs
Mike McClelland’s Fall Topwater Baits
Mike McClelland details why he turns to topwaters, why he downsizes his baits, and the four baits that he relies on most when the leaves start to turn.
DAVID DUDLEY: Smaller Swimbaits, Even Crappie Jigs, Help Me Get Bit in the Fall
David Dudley explains why he downsizes his swimbaits and even reaches for crappie jigs when fall rolls around.
EDWIN EVERS: Let’s Focus on Some Keys for Fall Transition
Edwin Evers is gearing up for fall fishing and sharing his keys for the seasonal transition.
Skeet Reese on How to Use the VesselView Mobile App
In this Mercury Pro Team Know-How, Skeet Reese walks you through how he uses the app to make sure his motor is competition ready.t.
Fletcher Shryock’s Turn Radius Tips for Tight Spots
Fletcher Shryock details how to use trim and turn radius to your advantage without all the forwarding and reversing.
Edwin Evers Runs Upriver for Late-Summer Success
Edwin Evers shares tips on how and where to get more bites while you’re waiting for the water temperatures to cool.
Murray on Choosing the Right Drop-Shot Weight
John Murray has been drop-shotting for nearly 20 years and knows the importance of choosing the right weight.
1 Bait, 5 Reasons: Casey Ashley’s Favorite Creature Bait Will Get You More Bites
Casey Ashley relies on the Z Craw Jr. for multiple reasons.
JEFF KRIET: Why a Tube Should be on Your List of Summertime Baits
Jeff Kriet breaks down why he likes to use a tube setup during the summer months.
Randy Howell on Prop Pitch for Hot Summers
In this Mercury Pro Team Know-How, Randy Howell offers some advice on propeller-pitch adjustments that can make some major improvements to your outboard’s responsiveness.
John Murray’s Topwater Secrets
Anyone who knows John Murray knows he loves topwater fishing. Check out some of Murray’s topwater tips and tricks in his latest Mercury Pro Team Know-How.
EDWIN EVERS: 3-in-1 Rivers
Edwin Evers divides rivers into three key area types in his latest Angler Column.
MICHAEL NEAL: Prepping for Both Smallmouth and Largemouth
Neal gears up for six weeks of tournament fishing.
BRENT CHAPMAN: Northern Fisheries are My Cure for Summertime Heat
“My solution to fishing in that heat is simple: head north.” Brent Chapman shares how he beats the heat during summer.
Klein on Speed Reeling: ‘One of my Favorite Ways of Catching Fish’
“From lines in to lines out, I guarantee nobody reeled as many yards of line as I did,” said Gary Klein of his speed-reeling tactic at Heavy Hitters.
Mercury Pro Tactics: Sturgeon Bay
BRETT HITE: Sorting Out the “New Lake” Effect
Brett Hite is experiencing “new lake” conditions on some of his most familiar local Arizona fisheries.
SKEET REESE: Revisiting Clear Lake and the California Delta
“It’s been a long time since I got to creep through some of my favorite California fishing haunts like Clear Lake.”
Mercury Know-How: Evers’ Keys to Choosing Crankbait Colors
Follow Kenney’s Keys to Locate, Catch Bass in the Grass
Kenney shares his key insights into catching bass in the grass.
MIKE MCCLELLAND: This Season, I’m Back to the Way I Like to Fish
McClelland is off to a better start in 2020 than he was in 2019.
Mercury Know-How:
Bertrand’s Keys to Choosing the Right Swim Jig
Shallow Cranking is Horton’s Spring Go-To for Both Numbers and Size
Shallow crankbaits are important tools in Tim Horton’s arsenal in the spring.
Mark Daniels, Jr. Adds “Alabama Shake” to his Swim Jig Repertoire (And so Should You)
Fishing a swim jig the Alabama way can be done any time of the year.
Tips from a Smallmouth Fanatic
Springtime is primetime for smallies according to JVD.
Mercury Pro Tactics: Lake Fork
Mercury Pro Tactics: Lake Okeechobee
Here’s what some Mercury Pro Team anglers learned that will help them during Stage Two competition on Lake Okeechobee.
VanDam’s Way: Adding Power to Your Drop-Shot Approach
Kevin VanDam knows a thing or two about what it takes to be a successful power-fishing pro.
Mercury Pro Tactics: Lake Eufaula
I Spy(bait) With My Little Eye: Aaron Martens’ Spybait Secrets
The spybait has gained popularity in recent years, but MLF pro Aaron Martens has several tips on fishing the Japanese-born bait.
KEITH POCHE: Here’s Why I’ve Made the Move to Aluminum for 2020
Keith Poche is heading into the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season with an aluminum advantage. Find out why the Mercury pro made the switch from fiberglass to an aluminum boat.
MARK DANIELS, JR: Learn How to Play My Kind of Video Games
MLF pro Mark Daniels, Jr. is an avid “video game” angler, using his electronics to his advantage. Through the years, he’s learned a few tricks that may help improve your video game fishing.
LUKE CLAUSEN: Trying to Get Back to Winning Ways
A lesson learned over the course of many years during Luke Clausen‘s professional career is that fishing is hard. Hear from the MLF pro about how he intends to tackle the 2020 season with a winning mindset.
Biffle Bug Crash Course with Tommy Biffle
McClelland’s Next Crankbait Class: Keep Crankin’ into Winter
According to MLF pro Mike McClelland, it’s not the calendar that determines when, where and how he fishes a crankbait, but the conditions that greet him when he shows up at the lake in December and January.
Follow Casey Ashley’s Advice for Cold-Water Success on Highland Lakes
Largemouth and spotted bass are the primary targets Casey Ashley is hunting for on highland lakes. During the winter months, bass tend to be heavier, really healthy, and not far from their summer haunts.
Drop-Shot 101 with Aaron Martens
MLF pro Aaron Martens – whether he wants to be or not – is known around the bass-fishing world for his mastery of the drop-shot technique.
Open Water and Squarebills: Howell Hints How to Hammer Fall Bass
Mercury pro Randy Howell gives his tips on how to catch fall bass.
Mercury Strategy Moment: Upper Mississippi River
Casey Ashley
Josh Bertrand
Tommy Biffle
Stephen Browning
Brent Chapman
Luke Clausen
Brandon Coulter
Mark Daniels, Jr.
Ott DeFoe
Boyd Duckett
Brent Ehrler
James Elam
Edwin Evers
Shin Fukae
Shaw Grigsby
Brett Hite
Timmy Horton
Randy Howell
Gary Klein
Jeff Kriet
Chris Lane
Jared Lintner
Aaron Martens
Mike McClelland
Andy Montgomery
John Murray
Britt Myers
Michael Neal
Skeet Reese
Mark Rose
Fred Roumbanis
Bradley Roy
Fletcher Shryock
Jeff Sprague
Johnathon VanDam
Kevin VanDam
Greg Vinson
James Watson
Dustin Connell
Dave Lefebre
