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BassFan Opinion

BassFan Opinions are opinion pieces written about issues of the day by all BassFans, including pro anglers and other major players in the sport, weekend warriors and the BassFan staff. If you'd like to submit an idea or column for consideration, please click here.

Current Columns

  • Wheeler Not Your Ordinary 22-Year-Old

    Wheeler Not Your Ordinary 22-Year-Old

    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

    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

  • Support Network Critical When Times Are Tough

    Support Network Critical When Times Are Tough

    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

  • Fishing TV: Enough With The Plugs!

    Fishing TV: Enough With The Plugs!

    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

  • The Art Of Winning Bass Tournaments

    The Art Of Winning Bass Tournaments

    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

  • Nothing Easy About Winning With U-Rigs

    Nothing Easy About Winning With U-Rigs

    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

  • U-Rigs Damage Pro Fishing's Credibility

    U-Rigs Damage Pro Fishing's Credibility

    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

  • Umbrella Rigs: Enough Is Enough

    Umbrella Rigs: Enough Is Enough

    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

  • Rigged Tournament Fishing

    Rigged Tournament Fishing

    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

  • Weighing In On Not Weighing In

    Weighing In On Not Weighing In

    By Miles Burghoff

    When I started writing this column for BassFan, I made a promise to always report the good as well as the not-so-good about my journey toward becoming a professional more

  • A Decent Start, But Things Could've Gone Better

    A Decent Start, But Things Could've Gone Better

    By Miles Burghoff

    Well, the 2013 season is under way, and although it's only a little past the midway point of January, I've already put two tournaments astern – a Gator Division more

  • New Home, New Deals Heighten Anticipation For '13

    New Home, New Deals Heighten Anticipation For '13

    By Miles Burghoff

    Well, I can honestly say I'm very satisfied with how things have developed lately. It's been almost 2 weeks since I dropped my trailer off at my dad’s RV resort more

  • End Of Oakley Circuit Brought Fun, Profit

    End Of Oakley Circuit Brought Fun, Profit

    By Miles Burghoff

    Well, it looks like my annual “winter depression” has just begun. This portion of the year where I tend to sulk a bit is pretty common for me after I finish fishing more

  • Boat Trouble Results In Fortuitous BFL Entry

    Boat Trouble Results In Fortuitous BFL Entry

    By Miles Burghoff

    For the last couple weeks I have been on the road, just enjoying my new school-free life and fishing multiple tournaments throughout the south. So far I have more

  • Next Chapter Filled With Excitement, Uncertainty, Optimism

    Next Chapter Filled With Excitement, Uncertainty, Optimism

    By Miles Burghoff

    The other day I was lying down in my small plywood cabin after a long day guiding at the Baranof Wilderness Lodge in Alaska, where I've been since early August. more

  • Segregation Leaves Fishing Far Behind Golf

    Segregation Leaves Fishing Far Behind Golf

    By John Johnson

    At the same time the Forrest Wood Cup was playing out last week at Georgia's Lake Lanier, a big-time golf tournament was taking place about 350 miles east at Kiawah more

  • Hectic Summer Causes Too-Long Hiatus From Fishing

    Hectic Summer Causes Too-Long Hiatus From Fishing

    By Miles Burghoff

    Man, what an intense summer. I wish I could say that it has been crazy because of tournaments, but as embarrassing as it is to admit, I have only fished a total more

  • End Of A Grueling 2-Week Odyssey

    End Of A Grueling 2-Week Odyssey

    By Miles Burghoff

    Well, I've now had more than a week to rest after my intense 2-week tournament schedule that included the BFL All-American on the Potomac River, the Oakley KVD more

  • Wrong-Box Issue Has Disastrous Potential

    Wrong-Box Issue Has Disastrous Potential

    By John Johnson

    The debate about the relative merits of co-anglers competing in professional events will rage on for as long as this sport exists. Is it better to be all-inclusive more

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