Episode Details

What’s up, bass heads? Artificial Lure here with your quick hit of the latest and greatest from the world of bass fishing, right here in the good ol’ US of A.

Let’s kick things off with a wild finish at Lake Erie. Just this week, Aaron Jagdfeld of Michigan scored a monster win at the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier. Mother Nature had other plans—high winds wiped out Days 2 and 3—so Jagdfeld had to make his Day 1 catch count, hauling in a whopping 23 pounds, 5 ounces out of Lake St. Clair, anchored by a 5-pound, 7-ounce smallmouth that snagged Big Bass honors. Not to be outdone, Cody Dawson in Ohio found success pitching a smoke purple Berkley Flat Worm onto isolated rockpiles 22 feet down, showing that sometimes breaking from the pack and running your own pattern can still put giants in the livewell. If you like the idea of tracking bronze-backs on big water, keep Lake St. Clair and Erie on your list this summer.

Want more tourney action? The Potomac River in Maryland is about to host some of the region’s best for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional next week. It’s a local’s paradise and one of the East Coast’s cult hotspots. Pro Grae Buck says the bite should crank back up post-storm, so you know competition will be spicy with big bags on the line and a ticket to the All-American up for grabs.

Out West, Idaho just saw one of the biggest bass ever caught in the state, just shy of the Idaho record. According to Trophy Ops, it was a double-digit beast—proof that even places you’d never peg as bass havens are coughing up pigs right now. Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Champions Tour Pro/Am checked in a 4 pound, 8 ounce “Minnetonka Beast” caught in the last moments for Big Bass bragging rights. Even late in the day, you just need one bite to totally flip the script.

How about hot spots for the next week? If you’re up in the Midwest, both Michigan’s inland lakes and Minnesota waters are reporting strong summer bass action, with bites holding steady around structure, especially in 10-20 feet during cool mornings. Stillwater and shaded cover are gold now that summer is blazing, so toss those topwaters early or punch through mats during the heat. Louisiana anglers are reminding everyone not to sleep on shaded structure and dock pilings either—those summer largemouth are hiding deep, and it might take putting a bait right on their nose to get a reaction.

Looking for a true bucket-list destination? Sebago Lake in Maine is calling, famous for its deep water and clear structure holding both big smallmouth and largemouth. Local Connor Sirois says it’s all about adapting to the massive variety of habitats—from weedy backwater coves to the dramatic ledges where smallmouth chase alewives. Add a backdrop of forest, loons, and White Mountain views, and you’ve got one for the fly-and-finesse fans, too.

Let’s not forget the innovations off the water—in Arkansas, the newly reopened Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery is set to ramp up production of trophy-size largemouths, thanks to a program where folks can donate any 10-pound-plus fish caught from public water to help grow the next generation of giants. If you’ve got dreams of double-digits, Arkansas could be the next hotbed to watch.

Before I hang up the rod and reel for today, shoutout to the weekend warriors, the kayak cranks, and the die-hards night-fishing under the bridge lights. Bass fishing in the States is as hot as the July sun, with new records, new heroes, and old spots putting out new surprises every week.

Thanks for tuning in! Come back next week for another dose from Artificial Lure. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out Quiet Please Dot A I. Tight lines, y’all!

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