Balog’s Bass War
Rig Or No Rig, The Cream Rises

Current Columns

• No Longer Just For Me

  Wednesday, April 16, 2014 By Miles Burghoff

  August, 2006. I was on the road to my new start – my new life. I was alone. I loved it. I continued to love my selfish lifestyle for the next 7 years. I more

• Seminars Of The Future

  Thursday, April 10, 2014 By Joe Balog

  I remember one of the first pro bass seminars I ever attended. Always eager to rub elbows with my childhood heroes, I somehow convinced my mom to drive me an hour more

• Two-Tour Pros Help the Cause

  Thursday, April 03, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Like many of you, I scour the media for any information on the big-name pros. I’m always amazed at their demonstrations of skill when fishing for big money. I more

• Back To The Future

  Sunday, March 30, 2014 By Miles Burghoff

  I want to apologize for not being as on top of this column as I normally am. It’s not that I don’t have anything to report – in fact, the exact opposite is true. I've more

• I’m Keeping Score

  Thursday, March 27, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Well, we’re off and running on all cylinders in the world of pro bass. The early tournaments brought us results surprisingly like those of recent years. One man more

• The Howeller

  Thursday, March 20, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Months prior to winning the Bassmaster Classic, Randy Howell had booked an appearance at a popular spring sales event at Bass Pro Shops. There, he assumed he would more

• What’s It Really Like to Win a Classic?

  Thursday, March 13, 2014 By Joe Balog

  As fans of bass fishing, we all know by now the major events that occurred last month at the Bassmaster Classic: the top producing patterns, the best lures, the more

• Omori Opens Up About Info

  Thursday, March 06, 2014 By Joe Balog

  It was a decade ago, possibly a little more, when I met Takahiro Omori, though he might not remember. We were both at the newly built home of Rick Clunn, nestled more

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  Rare Insight

  Thursday, February 27, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Of course, my flight’s delayed. In the middle of what seems like an endless winter through much of the North, I long to just get away from it all. Packing for more

• My Pick To Win The Classic

  Thursday, February 20, 2014

  Ladies and gentlemen, step right up. It’s the show you’ve all been waiting for. That’s right, it’s Bassmaster Classic week, and things couldn’t be better. This more

• DQs Dominated At Opener

  Thursday, February 13, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Well, our first big event of the year has come and gone. Despite a poor opening round, my pick for the winner looked pretty good after day two, as Florida ace more

• DQs Point Out Issues That Need Fixing

  Friday, February 07, 2014 By John Johnson

  There's nothing wrong with the FLW Tour rules that led more

• My Pick To Win Okeechobee

  Thursday, February 06, 2014 By Joe Balog

  This week marks the beginning of yet another season of professional bass fishing. While the Bassmaster Elite pros patiently wait to compete in the Classic or work more

• A Little Birdy Told Me

  Thursday, January 30, 2014 By Joe Balog

  “Civilian aviation authorities reported no confirmed occurrences of cell phones affecting flight safety on aircraft with on-board cellular base stations." So more

• Winning Against All Odds

  Thursday, January 23, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Traveling over Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon on a crystal-clear desert day last week reminded me of the tales I’d read of Rick Clunn winning the U.S. Open, fully more

• Accountability Is Crucial

  Thursday, January 16, 2014 By Miles Burghoff

  It’s an amazing feeling when you renounce the fear of failure and embrace the learning process of your trade – the ups and the downs. I can say with confidence more

• Bass Fishing’s True Roots

  Thursday, January 16, 2014 By Joe Balog

  Last week, I alluded to a conversation I had with Ott DeFoe recently. We ended up on the same flight after a promotional meeting at Minn Kota and, while we waited more

• Tour Expansion Part 2: It's Not That Easy

  Thursday, January 09, 2014 By Joe Balog

  The harsh reality of winter has now settled in through much of the country’s northern range. In my home state of Michigan, snow is severe, and excessively low more

• A Eureka! Moment

  Thursday, December 19, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Last week, I alluded to a predicament in pro fishing that’s influencing nearly all of the top players: Number of events, or a lack of them. My eureka moment thought more

• One Happy Angler

  Thursday, December 12, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Well, the Bassmaster Classic Wild Card event has come and gone, so it’s naturally relevant that we take a little time here to comment on the string of events. more

• Nice Guys Finish First

  Thursday, December 05, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I recently completed an article for In-Fisherman that will appear this spring in that magazine's annual Bass Guide. Most of you diehard bass geeks are sure to more

• Bass Vs. Bucks: It's No Contest

  Thursday, November 21, 2013 By Joe Balog

  As I continue to celebrate autumn’s splendor, it seems there’s very little in the headlines around the world of pro bass fishing. Terry Butcher, an Oklahoman hammer more

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  Big Things

  Wednesday, November 20, 2013 By Miles Burghoff

  Sometimes it’s the “small” things that really get you excited about what you love to do. Sometimes it’s grabbing your favorite energy drink or coffee on the way more

• Trip To South Florida Hard To Justify

  Thursday, November 14, 2013 By Joe Balog

  B.A.S.S. recently ran a press release reminding qualified anglers of the approaching sign-up date for its 2013 Wild Card tournament. The event would represent more

• Is Circuit Breaker The Next Step?

  Thursday, November 07, 2013 By Joe Balog

  While the tendency is to focus on the controversial and awe-inspiring details of professional bass fishing here on Balog’s Bass War, occasionally I overlook a more

• More Umbrella Rigs … I'm Starting To Feel Queasy

  Thursday, October 31, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Well, it’s that time of year when hunters take to the woods and bass nuts collectively give a sigh of relief at the sight of their vacant fishing hotspots. The more

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  Pay Attention To Climate Change, Before It's Too Late

  Monday, October 28, 2013

  (Editor's note: Randy Blaukat has competed on the Bassmaster or FLW Tour or both for much of the past 25-plus years. He's among the most outspoken anglers when more

• Confidence: Bass Fishing's Best Technique

  Thursday, October 24, 2013 By Joe Balog

  When the most recent copy of the FLW Outdoors magazine arrived a few days ago, I was immediately drawn to the cover story on reigning FLW Angler of the more

• Considering the Constituents

  Thursday, October 17, 2013 By Joe Balog

  As we settle into fall across much of the country, many die-hard bass fishermen climb into treestands or duck blinds and take a break from it all. For many touring more

• TTBC Doing A Lot Of Things Right

  Thursday, October 10, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Recently I attempted to compare and contrast the basic business models of FLW and B.A.S.S., and while the piece was met with a little sarcasm, I escaped with most more

• It's Dealer's Choice

  Thursday, October 03, 2013 By Joe Balog

  What’s the greatest thing about fishing? The relaxation, the challenge or the time outdoors? How about the best part about tournament bass fishing? The money and more

• Destiny Blows In The Wind

  Wednesday, September 25, 2013 By Joe Balog

  There’s been some buzz lately in my corner of the world with the recent cancellation of a competition day at the Lake Erie Bassmaster Northern Open. And while more

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  Superstars Find A Way

  Thursday, September 19, 2013 By Joe Balog

  At one time, I despised Mike Iaconelli. And, with the New Jersey screamer delivering the latest crushing blow in my quest for a recent Great Lakes title, you’d more

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  Keeping The 'Live' In Livewell

  Thursday, September 12, 2013 By Joe Balog

  This week finds me competing in the Bassmaster Open event on Lake Erie, the place where smallmouth dreams are made and bass boats are broken. Hopefully the more

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  Year Has Been Disappointing, Yet Educational

  Tuesday, September 10, 2013 By Miles Burghoff

  I’m back! Another summer working as a fishing guide in southeast Alaska is in the books and I'm ready to get back to work catching green fish and reclaiming more

• Sunny Days Predicted – No Umbrella Needed

  Thursday, September 05, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Turn out the lights, the party’s over. Last week, we saw an additional umbrella-rig ruling come to fruition in pro fishing when FLW banned the controversial more

• Considering The Stars Of The Show

  Thursday, August 29, 2013 By Joe Balog

  One of the really cool aspects of tournament bass fishing is the extent to which the top pros will go to win a tournament. I remember reading a story in which more

• FLW Crowns Its King

  Thursday, August 22, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Last week, we were greeted by one of the biggest things to happen in pro fishing each year: the Forrest Wood Cup. Without question, this is one event in which more

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  Ish Monroe, Part 2: The Busiest Man In The World

  Thursday, August 15, 2013 By Joe Balog

  It seems that everywhere you look in the world of pro fishing, Ish Monroe has a presence. Last week, we pretty much decided it had little to do with the fact that more

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  An Inside Look At Ish Monroe

  Thursday, August 08, 2013 By Joe Balog

  One of the real perks of this job is rubbing elbows with the Tour pros. While I find myself included in many competitive circles in my own right, I love hearing more

• Has Technology Gone Too Far?

  Thursday, August 01, 2013 By Joe Balog

  The big ICAST tackle industry trade show has come and gone. We’ve all reviewed the products given “best new” awards and, true to my prediction, there was a frog more

• Slimmer Schedules Blur Line On Being A True Pro

  Thursday, July 25, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Nowadays, everybody is a professional fisherman, or knows one. The phrase gets tossed around for tournament anglers at all levels, guides, charter boat operators, more

• The Cold, Hard Reality Of Life On Tour – Part 2

  Thursday, July 18, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Last week, we discussed the struggles and reality of life on tour with my buddy, second-year pro Michael Simonton. I had a chance to visit with Simonton this more

• Cold Truths: Reality Of Life On Tour

  Thursday, July 11, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Editor's note: BassFan columnist Joe Balog recently caught up with Elite Series angler Michael Simonton for a wide-ranging interview about all aspects of more

• Numbers Never Lie

  Thursday, July 04, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I just threw out all of my spinning rods. With this being the 4th of July holiday column, I thought I’d switch it up a little. I'd planned to back down on more

• Land Of 10,000 No-Cull Lakes

  Thursday, June 27, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I can remember when a DQ in pro bass fishing was a big deal. Back then, just mentioning that someone had been protested, let alone disqualified, placed a black more

• Save The Championships For The Pros

  Thursday, June 20, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Last week in bass fishing, we saw Randy Howell win the James River Northern Open, thus locking up his Classic bid for next season. I’ve always been a fan of more

• Throwing Out 4-Dollar Bills

  Thursday, June 13, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Until we finish the seasons on both the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series, we’ll wait to talk anymore about Jason Christie. Good Lord, can you believe that more

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  Tough Lessons

  Friday, June 07, 2013 By Miles Burghoff

  We all hate failure – as we very well should, in my opinion. However, I also believe that people tend to mistake learning for failure the vast majority of the more

• Alabama River Rapids Were Hazardous

  Thursday, June 06, 2013

  Well, B.A.S.S. got away with one this time, that’s for sure. Without question, most of the bass fishing community is chatting this week about the footage that more

• High Praise For St. Clair Comes As Surprise

  Thursday, May 30, 2013 By Joe Balog

  Now I know how the locals at Falcon Lake must feel. It wasn’t long ago that my boat trailer was, at times, the only one in the parking lot at a major boat more

• When Credibility Takes A Back Seat

  Thursday, May 23, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I remember one of the driving forces behind my desire to begin this blog. After a week or so of reading all about the top-producing patterns at this year's Bassmaster more

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  Wheeler Not Your Ordinary 22-Year-Old

  Thursday, May 16, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I remember hearing about a recent BFL All-American champion following up his win with a Forest Wood Cup title. At the time, Jacob Wheeler didn’t seem much like more

• All The Money In The World Won't Make You A Pro

  Thursday, May 09, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I was speaking with a friend this week, and the topic of professional tournament fishing came up (big surprise). We each know a handful of guys fishing the Elites more

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  Support Network Critical When Times Are Tough

  Thursday, May 02, 2013 By Miles Burghoff

  When I first made the move from California to Florida and settled into my travel trailer, it seemed like I was constantly battling overwhelming feelings of doubt, more

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  Fishing TV: Enough With The Plugs!

  Thursday, May 02, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I vividly remember not being able to sleep at night because I was so anxious to watch fishing on TV the next day. At the time, cable TV wasn’t for everyone, and more

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  The Art Of Winning Bass Tournaments

  Thursday, April 25, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I’ve said before that if bass tournaments had anything to do with luck, the same guys wouldn’t continue to win them over and over. Luck would spread out the results, more

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  Nothing Easy About Winning With U-Rigs

  Thursday, April 25, 2013 By Paul Elias

  I have sat back and listened and read all of the controversy over the Alabama/umbrella rigs. I have kept fairly quiet about it because I felt that most people more

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  U-Rigs Damage Pro Fishing's Credibility

  Sunday, April 21, 2013 By Randy Blaukat

  Despite the incredible emotional roller-coaster ride that comes with being a professional angler, those of us who've been able to stay in the sport and make a more

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  Umbrella Rigs: Enough Is Enough

  Sunday, April 21, 2013 By Joe Balog

  I told myself it was much too early to write any opinionated piece on the umbrella rig. After all, I just began this column 3 short weeks ago. But after a quick more

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  Rigged Tournament Fishing

  Sunday, April 21, 2013 By Miles Burghoff

  Enough is enough. Coming off a disappointing performance at the Guntersville EverStart, I was left with a feeling of regret that I didn’t join the A-Rig bandwagon more