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🐟 A Tennessee bass that was "too big to jump," a gar caught by accident, and more.

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Author

Brian Nagele
March 11, 2026

Spring is creeping in, and the fishing world is delivering. We've got a brand new guide on the site and a handful of record catches that have been lighting up the fishing community this week.

New on Fishmasters: Euro Nymphing for Beginners

If you've been curious about euro nymphing but not sure where to start, we put together a complete beginner's guide covering gear, setup, and the adjustments that actually put more trout in the net. It's one of the most effective techniques in freshwater fishing, and it's more accessible than most people think.

Euro Nymphing for Beginners: Gear, Setup, and How to Catch More Trout

    If you've spent any time on trout streams in the last decade, you've probably seen someone Euro nymphing, maybe without even knowing it. The angler wading in close, rod held high, no indicator, watching a thin piece of colored monofilament with laser focus. That's Euro nymphing, and once you understand what it's actually doing, you'll realize why so many fly fishers are making it their go-to method. I've been fly fishing for over 20 years, and Euro nymphing genuinely changed how I think about reading water and presenting a fly.

Tennessee has a new state record largemouth. On February 28, angler Darren Nunley pulled a 15.75-pound largemouth from Nickajack Lake while fishing with guide Hensley Powell. The fish was so big it couldn't jump during the fight. Nunley caught it on a Z-Man JackHammer ChatterBait in green pumpkin, thrown over a hydrilla flat in about four feet of water. The catch is pending final certification by the TWRA, but it's expected to top the previous 15.2-pound record set in 2015. Read More

A Georgia guide accidentally caught a state record gar. Silas Turner was targeting bass on Lake Blackshear on March 5 when his sonar picked up a big fish in 17 feet of water. He threw a bass jig at it. What came up was a 31-pound, 14-ounce longnose gar that is now the certified Georgia state record, topping the previous mark of 31 pounds, 2 ounces. Read More

California keeps producing monster bass. Tournament kayak angler Damian Thao of Fresno caught a 14.73-pound largemouth from Eastman Lake on February 28. Here's the kicker: that wasn't even his biggest bass from the same lake in the past two weeks. He had caught and released an 18.75-pounder just two weeks earlier. California's pre-spawn bite is real right now. Read More

An 84-pound blue catfish out of Lake Guntersville, Alabama. Forrest Winters landed the massive blue cat during a January trip on the Tennessee River reservoir. His father caught a 70-pounder earlier the same day. Lake Guntersville continues to remind everyone why it's in a class of its own for trophy catfish. Read More

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One More Cast T-Shirt

We've all been there: the sun's setting, the cooler's empty, and you've got a choice to make. Do you pack it in, or do you chase the magic of "One More Cast"? This t-shirt is for the angler who lives for that moment. With its unique skeleton graphic, this shirt proves that the spirit of the catch never dies. This soft

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Tight lines,
Brian

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About Us

At Fishmasters, we live for the tug on the line, the splash of the catch, and the stories told around the campfire. Whether you're casting off a backcountry dock, chasing trophies offshore, or just getting your feet wet, we're your go-to source for fishing tips, gear guides, and destination deep-dives. We blend real-world know-how with a passion for the great outdoors—because fishing isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. Let’s make every cast count.