Best on Tour Breakdown

Jason Christie took home $25,000 at the highest paying bass tournament in history. We caught up with him to talk about what it was like inside the inaugural WBE The Champions event, the BASS vs. MLF dynamic, and what this tournament could mean for the future of professional bass fishing.Plus, Jason breaks down the finesse spinnerbait that helped him earn that $25K payday, including the exact bait, color, trailer, rod, reel, and line he used at Old Hickory.A few things we get into:- What it was really like behind the scenes at The Champions- The atmosphere between BASS and MLF anglers- His thoughts on resetting weights for the final day- Why he thinks events like this are important for the future of bass fishing- The $25,000 finesse spinnerbait setup- Why he doesn't use a trailer hook for largemouth- Whether he thinks the Champions can become an annual eventJason also shares some candid thoughts on pay-per-view, angler compensation, and why he believes the fishing industry needs to start working together to make the sport better.Products mentioned:Booyah Covert Finesse Colorado Oklahoma Spinnerbait 👉 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Booyah_Covert_Finesse_Colorado_Oklahoma_Spinnerbait/descpage-BCOK.html?from=BOTYUM Covert Trailer 👉 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yum_Covert_Trailer/descpage-YCTT.html?from=BOTSPRO Jason Christie Elite MG Casting Reel 👉 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/SPRO_Jason_Christie_Elite_MG_Casting_Reels/descpage-JCELM.html?from=BOTFalcon Cara Casting Rod 👉 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Falcon_Cara_Casting_Rods/descpage-FCNC.html?from=BOTSunline Shooter Fluoro 👉 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Sunline_Shooter_Fluorocarbon/descpage-SNSH.html?from=BOTSign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass

Gerald Swindle got an inside look at WBE The Champions.As a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, Gerald joined MLF commentators JT Kenney and Chad McKee in the broadcast booth for the first-ever $3.25M bass tournament. He saw the event from the production side, got a closer look at how MLF anglers approach competition, and experienced the atmosphere of an event that brought two sides of professional bass fishing together.We talk about what surprised him, the differences between Bassmaster and MLF, why he thinks Bassmaster could learn something from the WBE's decision to hide the leaderboard, and what the event could mean for the future of the sport.Plus, Gerald shares stories from the commentary booth, his thoughts on the Stars vs. Stripes matchup, and why this event felt like a genuine celebration of professional bass fishing.Subscribe to Best On Tour for more behind-the-scenes professional bass fishing content!Sign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass

Ron Nelson finished 6th at the WBE The Champions tournament, the most lucrative bass fishing tournament in history, taking home $75,000. His story might be one of the most interesting from the entire event.For three days, Ron shared the same productive water with eventual $1.25 million winner Matt Robertson. The two competitors agreed to fish alongside each other, but when things got interesting on Championship Day, Ron made a decision that says a lot about sportsmanship, competition, and character.We sat down with Ron to get the behind-the-scenes story of what happened, how the agreement came together, and whether he has regrets about how he handled the situation.Plus, Ron shares his thoughts on The Champions tournament format, the pressure of fishing for life-changing money, and what it takes to compete when so much is on the line.Subscribe to Best On Tour for more behind-the-scenes professional bass fishing content!Sign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass

The Bassmaster Elite Series field is changing. Why does the system work this way, who won’t be back in 2027, and how difficult is it to earn another shot?Jordan Babcock sits down with Bassmaster commentator Ronnie Moore to break down Elite Series requalification, the anglers who won't return in 2027, and how career Angler of the Year averages determine who stays and who goes.Plus, could Bassmaster bring back a legend through the Legends Exemption? Do you have to be a “scoper” to survive in today’s Elite Series? Will a woman ever qualify for the Elites? And what options do anglers have when their time on the tour comes to an end?

How did we get to the point where a coin flip is deciding which Bassmaster Elite Series events will allow forward-facing sonar?In this conversation, Jordan sits down with John Crews to go behind the scenes of how Bassmaster and the Elite Series anglers arrived at the 50/50 forward-facing sonar format and ultimately, why a coin flip became the solution.We talk about what the anglers actually wanted, why Bassmaster decided against a full Livescope ban, and the challenges of creating a system that anglers, sponsors, electronics companies and host cities could all live with.We also get into the politics of building the Elite Series schedule, how host cities influence where the tour goes, why some great fisheries never make the schedule, and what John would change if he were the one calling the shots.Plus, we break down the results of the coin flip for the 2027 Elite Series schedule, what the scope/no-scope schedule means for some of the biggest fisheries, and where John thinks the 2028 no-scope Bassmaster Classic could be headed.Chapters:00:00 How did we get here?01:15 Why Bassmaster went 50/50 with FFS02:54 The 2025 angler survey05:01 Why not just ban forward-facing sonar?06:06 How the coin flip came about07:30 Breaking down the 2027 coin flip results10:51 If John Crews ran the Elite Series12:36 Lakes John wants the Elites to go to 16:47 Could coin flips still decide the rules in 10 years?18:45 Are people are starting to understand the coin flip?John's 2027 coin flip reaction video referenced 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgCbIaqwOTUSign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass

👇 Links & Timestamps👇0:20 Buzz - 2026 Elite Series Highlights: AOY, ROY, New Records, Century Belts, and moreAOY post 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DcrUjeAtBYa/ROY post 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/Dctc2wzRqNx/Evan Küng post 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DcteKGkRFAW/Century belt post 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcyi78lxDuA/Back-to-back BASS AOY blog 👉 https://bestontour.net/blog/complete-list-of-every-bassmaster-aoy/#back-to-backBassmaster stats 👉 https://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/15:18 Banter - Reviewing Bassmaster pundit picks: Predicting each rookie’sbest Elite finish in 2026Bassmaster article referenced 👉 https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/news/predicting-each-rookies-best-elite-finish-in-2026/29:59 Baits - Hideup Coike ShrimpGet some 👉 https://realdealtackle.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=coike+shrimp&sca_ref=10514177.lonIbY6kZ5hdLE&sca_source=botbd_ep21 Article shown 👉 https://www.bassmaster.com/elite/slideshow/top-lures-of-st-lawrence-elite-2026/37:31 Business - How international conflicts affect the fishing tackle industryArticle shown 👉 https://angling-international.com/2026/08/10/ukraine-targets-top-russian-online-tackle-seller/41:55 Bonus - 2027 MLF Bass Pro Tour cuts & additionsArticle shown 👉 https://majorleaguefishing.com/press-releases/major-league-fishing-announces-2027-bass-pro-tour-roster/Sign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbassThe Best on Tour Breakdown is the behind the scenes briefing on the buzz, banter, baits, and business of bass fishing.

👇 Links & Timestamps👇0:28 Buzz - Bassmaster's Top 10 Bass Lakes in the United StatesGraphic shown 👉 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1625214549050858&set=pb.100046869864358.-2207520000Bassmaster's list 👉 https://www.bassmaster.com/best-bass-lakes/slideshow/top-10-best-bass-lakes-of-2026/7:03 Banter - What's the next big thing (that's NOT an urchin)? Full video 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqefowGnbG013:57 Baits - Missile Baits Magic WormGet some 👉 https://realdealtackle.com/products/missile-baits-magic-worm-14-pack?sca_ref=10514177.lonIbY6kZ5hdLE&sca_source=botbd_ep2019:37 Business - Rapala issues a positive profit warningArticle shown 👉 https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/inside-information-rapala-vmc-corporation-184000789.html24:15 Bonus - Jeremy Lawyer & Terry Scroggins crappie fishingVideo shown 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDb8VOU7IwUSign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbassThe Best on Tour Breakdown is the behind the scenes briefing on the buzz, banter, baits, and business of bass fishing.

This is the finale of our ICAST 2026 series, where we present highlights from all four interviews we did and add additional context and commentary. Watch/listen to the full interviews for more, and please let us know your feedback on this series! Thanks for watching or listening. 👇 Links & Timestamps👇1:13 Influencer - Hilary MartinFull interview 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8QsvEEccTI8:53 Pro Angler - Josh BertrandFull interview 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af6mxp1pKTQ17:16 Brand Owner - John CrewsFull interview 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cksKizjjGyQ24:55 Sales Rep - Carl CarsonFull interview 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlDvl-_SrZcSign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netWhat is ICAST really like behind the scenes? In our new Best On Tour ICAST 2026 video series, we take you inside the biggest event in the fishing industry through the eyes of the people who actually live it. From pro anglers and brand owners to sales reps and influencers, this series pulls back the curtain on what really happens at ICAST, and how the industry actually works!Follow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbassThe Best on Tour Breakdown is the behind the scenes briefing on the buzz, banter, baits, and business of bass fishing.

What does a fishing industry sales rep actually do at ICAST?In this episode of our Best On Tour ICAST series, we sit down with industry veteran Carl Carson to break down the side of ICAST most people never see.From months of preparation and booth setup to nonstop meetings and relationship-building, Carl shares what it really takes to represent brands and drive business at the biggest trade show in fishing.We also dive into how ICAST has evolved over the years from catalog sales and surprise product launches to today’s fast-moving world of social media, influencers, and early releases.In this episode:• What a sales rep actually does at ICAST• The insane prep before the show even opens• How brands sell products months (or years) in advance• Why some reps never even see the show floor• Where real business and deals actually happen• How social media changed product launches forever• The biggest trends shaping the fishing industryThis is just 1 of our interviews for our ICAST 2026 series. We’re talking to some of the most influential people in fishing to bring you real insight from inside ICAST.👉 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss the next episode!Sign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass

What does it actually take to succeed at ICAST as a fishing brand?In this episode of our Best On Tour ICAST series, we sit down with Missile Baits owner and Elite Series pro John Crews to break down the real business behind one of the biggest trade shows in the fishing industry.From year-round preparation to last-minute chaos, John shares what it takes to launch new products, build relationships, and turn ICAST into real sales, not just exposure!We also dive into how fishing brands succeed (or fail) at ICAST, what some companies get wrong, and how the game has evolved with influencers, content, and modern marketing.If you’ve ever wondered how baits actually go from concept to sell-out success… this is an inside look!In this episode:• How much planning really goes into ICAST• The stress of launching new products• Why some companies fail at trade shows• How Missile Baits approaches sales vs marketing• The evolution of product launches in the fishing industry• Building long-term relationships in the business• Advice for anglers trying to break into the industryThis is just 1 of our interviews for our ICAST 2026 series. We’re talking to some of the most influential people in fishing to bring you real insight from inside ICAST.👉 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss the next episode!Sign up for our FREE newsletter 👉 https://bestontour.netFollow Best on Tour:https://www.facebook.com/BestOnTourBasshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/botinsidershttps://www.instagram.com/bestontourbasshttps://www.tiktok.com/@bestontourbass