Masayuki Matsushita just finished up his second year on the Bassmaster Elite Series, where he qualified through the Bassmaster Opens in 2021. He also won the 2020 Bassmaster Central Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, which qualified him for the 2021 Bassmaster Classic. These are significant accomplishments, but they require a lot of sacrifice as a Japanese angler. During the tournament season, he resides in a self-built home in the bed of his Toyota Tundra....

  Many people ask how long will fishing line last? The answer is dependent on how the line is stored, but in most cases fishing line can last a very long time in storage and maintain optimum strength. The three main types of line are nylon (monofilament), fluorocarbon and braid. Nylon can be the line most impacted if not stored properly. While braid and fluorocarbon will maintain performance the longest in proper storage. There are three main suggestio...

The saying "everything is bigger in Texas" cannot be any more accurate, especially in bass fishing. Bassmaster and Texas Team Trail go to big lakes like Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend Reservoir, and Lake Fork, which are full of giant bass. The lakes are bigger, the fish are bigger, and your fishing line should be bigger as well.   What Line to use with Deep Diving Crankbaits Why is this? We talked about this topic with Sunline America pros Clark Wendlandt a...

How to Prevent a Backlash Getting a backlash can be extremely frustrating, especially when it happens during a tournament when there is no time to waste. Believe it or not, there are ways to prevent backlashes other than simply "thumbing" the spool when making a cast. The first thing you need to do to avoid a backlash from happening is dialing in your reel effectively. To learn how to do this correctly, check out this helpful video. As with anything, pr...

Using braided lines on spinning reels with fluorocarbon leaders continues to grow in popularity. The advantages of this setup include: Low stretch for better hook sets and sensitivity on long casts Easier line management Ability to have a bright-colored mainline that is easier to see for better bite detection Last much longer and can often be used effectively for over a year Many anglers don't know whether the braided lines they use sink or float. Mos...