Three Keys to Becoming a Better Wake Sports Driver

Awareness, communication and sensitivity to what’s best for the skier/rider are three crucial areas to improve upon to become a better wake sports driver. Your goal is to adopt a towing mindset that promotes success, fun and safety. 
 

First Bass of the Day May Be Your Most Important Fish

Yamaha Pro Drew Cook Offers Tips For Finding Bass in May
 
Drew Cook had fished South Carolina’s famous Santee Cooper Lakes, Marion and Moultrie, only once previously several years ago, but in a recent Bassmaster^® Elite Series tournament there, the Yamaha Pro led the event from start to finish, winning with a total of 105 pounds, 5 ounces. In winning, he followed the very same advice he offers everyone when describing how to locate bass on an unfamiliar lake.
 

Fishing with Helm Master® EX

Installment 2: Techniques for Working Structure & Shorelines

As we approached the abandoned lighthouse that stands on a manmade rockpile along the western edge of the thoroughfare leading into New York Harbor, our boat was lifted by a large swell. Solid eight footers broke on the rocks creating a profusion of white water that cascaded around the back side and down the jetty rocks that, in bygone days, protected the lightkeeper’s boat. The conditions were ideal for striped bass and bluefish to use to their advantage when hunting. The closer we got, the more excited we became about casting into the swirling maelstrom because we knew the fish would be there.
 

Four Great Midwest Boating Destinations

For those who wonder how Midwesterners put up with the region’s long winters…experience a Midwestern summer and you’ll understand. 

Summer in the Midwest is unlike anywhere else, with beautiful waters and with few exceptions, some of the best boating and fishing anywhere. If you want to experience some of the best boating in the Midwest, here are four stand-out destinations.
 

Yamaha Pro Bobby Lane Won’t Forget Last Few Minutes of REDCREST Championship

Week-long Tournament Decided On Lane’s Very Last Fish

Bobby Lane loves bass fishing more than most, but he’ll be the first to admit the final two minutes and 12 seconds of the recent Redcrest Major League Fishing^® Championship. on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake were among the most difficult he’s ever had to endure. The Yamaha Pro had to wait that long hoping no one else caught a bass that would steal his greatest career victory.

Spring Florida Gulf of Mexico Getaway

To get a jump on your upcoming boating season, trailer on down to Florida.
 
Boaters who live up north know winter can drag on forever and even when the air temperature finally gets spring-like, the water is still really cold. The best way to snap out of the winter blues is a road trip to somewhere warm where you can jump in the water and celebrate the new boating season in style.
 

Spring into the Boating Season

Spring is here bringing with it warmer, longer days and more opportunities to get out on the water. For boaters in cooler climates, the arrival of spring means it’s time to get busy prepping their boats for the first official splash of the season.
 

This is Why We Fish

Yamaha Pro Anglers, ClemsonLIFE Students Make Memories on the Water
 
The 2022 Bassmaster Classic^® in Greenville, S.C. was one for the books for the Yamaha Pro team. Though Jason Christie was the one to raise the championship trophy at the end of the tournament, three Yamaha pros took home a different kind of rewarding experience from the hectic Classic week.
 

Boating Safety Checklist

As boating season kicks into full swing and lakes begin to thaw, it’s time to discuss steps I recommend taking in order to enjoy safe days on the water. Whether you’re using your boat every weekend or prepping to take it out of winter storage, a boating safety checklist is a must. Not only will it allow for maximum time on the water, but it also contributes to making waterways safe. 
 

Christie Throws Out Past History In Winning Hartwell Classic

Yamaha Pro Fishes All New Water Despite Runner-up Finish in 2018
 
The recent 2022 Bassmaster Classic^® on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell may be remembered as much for what winner Jason Christie did not do as it will be for what the Yamaha Pro did do, and it started on his first practice day. “My very first impression when getting on the lake was that the water was not nearly as dirty and off-colored as I expected it to be,” Christie explains. “It was much clearer than I thought it would be."
 

Marine Industry Careers: The Teacher

Lucy Berg was in her early 20s and had enlisted in the United States Air Force. She chose a job working on heavy equipment and vehicles. Despite the fact that she scored well in the aptitude test, the male peers in charge of the shop didn’t make it easy for her to fit in.
 

Fishing with Helm Master® EX

Slow Trolling Live Bait Simplified
 
One of the most common techniques for catching fish in both fresh and saltwater is trolling. Whether you’re fishing for walleye on a midwestern lake or marlin far offshore, trolling can provide the most consistent return in hookups and landings during your time on the water. Trolling allows an angler to cover more water while presenting multiple baits and is applicable to a wide variety of species. You can troll using lures, live bait, rigged dead bait or some combination. While the basic concept of using the boat to pull your offerings remains constant, the tackle and how the boat should be set up and used may vary. 
 

Name That Boat!

Naming a boat is easy, inexpensive and makes it unique
 
Every boat should have a name that reflects an owner’s personality. It could be a nod to the breadwinner’s profession, an inside joke, or a tribute to a special person in the owner’s life. A named boat is a personal statement that brings life to the most special, inanimate thing you own. 
 

Yamaha Pros Have ‘Wait And See’ Plans As Bassmaster Classic Draws Near

Weather Conditions Will Dictate Strategies For Wes Logan and Caleb Sumrall
 
The first tournament Yamaha Pro Caleb Sumrall fished on massive 56,000-acre Lake Hartwell completely changed his life. Now, fellow Yamaha Pro Wes Logan hopes the first tournament he fishes on Hartwell will change his life, as well. The two Elite Series anglers are among the 55 qualifiers for the 2022 Bassmaster Classic^® that will take place on the South Carolina impoundment March 4-6. A total of 16 Yamaha-sponsored fishermen will be part of the star-studded field, each hoping to take home the $300,000 winner’s prize as well as sponsor bonuses and contingency awards, certainly enough to change any angler’s life.
 

Back to Basics: Boating Terms

Definitions, Descriptions and Terms for the Recreational Boater

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with a veteran boater or a boat salesperson, nodding your head knowingly as they spoke, without having a clue what they’re talking about? Nautical jargon fills the air during boat show season and, if you are relatively new to boating, it can be like trying to understand a foreign language.

Teasing Bluewater Brawlers

Successful offshore trolling techniques for outboard powered boats 
 
As more center console boat owners take up the challenge of fishing offshore for billfish and tuna, the introduction of innovative new gear and boat rigging methods help their cause tremendously. Consistent success trolling for pelagics requires the use of intricate teasers systems. However, trying to match the spread of large sportfishing yachts has been a problem for center consoles - until now. New developments are putting outboard-powered boats on par with the battlewagons.
 

Veteran Pros Try To ‘Move On’ After Having A Bad Tournament

Yamaha Pro Jason Christie has collected three victories in the Bassmaster^® Elite Series through years of competition, including a memorable win during the 2021 season on the Sabine River.  Still, with all his success, he has certain tournament days he’d really like to forget. So does fellow Yamaha Pro Scott Canterbury, winner of the coveted B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year title in 2019 as well as two Forrest Wood Cup championships during a stellar career on the FLW™ Tour.
 

Yamaha Veterans Anxious For 2022 Elite Competition to Begin

Menendez Starting 31st Pro Season; Iaconelli Returning After MLF Absence
 
Yamaha Pros Mark Menendez, Michael Iaconelli, and Brandon Palaniuk, all highly-decorated Bassmaster^® Elite Series competitors, each agree the 2022 Elite season will be one of the most competitive they’ve ever experienced – and that’s why they’re so anxious for the tournament year to begin.
 

Blending Their Different Worlds, Zaldain and Rickard Win Redfish Cup

Freshwater and Saltwater Pros Meet To Combine Their Experiences in Unique Event
One is a seasoned bass tournament angler who has qualified for seven Bassmaster Classics^® but had never before specifically targeted redfish as his quarry. The other is a licensed saltwater charter captain who never fishes for bass.
 

Weakfish Comeback

Anglers are seeing more of this popular gamefish in Mid-Atlantic waters. Are the stocks finally improving? 
 
“One of my fondest memories as a kid growing up on Staten Island involved a weakfish,” Captain Frank Crescitelli recalled. He made the comment while we were standing on the bow of his 24-foot Yamaha-powered Blue Wave bayboat casting into the pristine waters of Little Egg Harbor, not far from his house in Beach Haven, New Jersey. We were using small plastic tail jigs and very light spinning tackle, swinging them in the current as they sunk into a deep hole where two channels converge. And we were catching, you guessed it, weakfish. 
 

Thanksgiving on a Boat

For something different this year, try holding your Thanksgiving feast aboard your boat to create new memories afloat.
 
Sometimes it’s easy to fall into a rut during the holidays. For many, Thanksgiving means having the same food in the same place every single year. This time around, get creative and hold a feast on the water. One thing’s for certain, you can be sure no one will forget it.
 

Bass Fishing Hall Of Fame Recognizes Yamaha Pro’s Many Accomplishments

Jay Yelas Has Three Angler of the Year Titles, Bassmaster Classic Win in 34-year Career
 
In the more than three decades since he graduated from Oregon State University, Jay Yelas has never worked a day in his chosen field of study, Resource Recreation Management.  Instead, just weeks after receiving his diploma, the Yamaha Pro competed in his first major national bass fishing tournament, and he’s been a fulltime professional bass angler ever since.
 

DIY - Winterize Your Yamaha Four-Cylinder Outboard

Yamaha offers a popular line of four-cylinder four-stroke outboards that are used in a wide range of single and twin installation applications, in both fresh and saltwater, all over the world. From pontoons to center consoles, bass boats to work skiffs and even water taxis, they are great performers and real workhorses. The most popular are the F90, F115 and F150 models, and many are used in climates where they are taken out of service for the winter months. 
 
While there’s definitely merit in having your outboard winterized by a certified Yamaha dealer, the process is simple enough for owners to do themselves when armed with the right tools, products, and a bit of proper education.

“Life-Changing Moments” Take Yamaha Pro Darold Gleason From Pond Fishing to Bassmaster Elites

Following Long List of Toledo Bend Guides into Pro Ranks
 
Whenever Darold Gleason has a few quiet moments to reflect on his career as a professional fisherman, his thoughts always return to a five-pound largemouth he caught when he was seven years old.  It was the Yamaha Pro’s first-ever bass, and it hit a bream he’d just hooked on a live cricket he was fishing under a cork.

Failure, Gumption, Determination, Passion

Krista Miller proves women can become successful charter captains, too!
 Captain Krista Miller runs a successful charter business, Island Charters, off St. George Island in the Florida panhandle. The quiet area is a highlight of the state’s “Forgotten Coast” and a peaceful retreat for many families year-round. Krista stays busy booking up to two charters a day for over 10 captains (including herself). Her path to success was not easy, but the lessons she learned along the way gave her the motivation she has today. 
 

Planning to Camp this Fall? Consider Camping on your Boat!

Fall is in the air and with cooler weather on the horizon, many plan to take in the beautiful scenery while camping. A great alternative to the traditional campground is camping on your boat. It’s safe, inexpensive, fun and promises build memories that will last a lifetime.

Versatile Topwater “Poppers” Work Well for Fall Fishing

Yamaha Pro Bobby Lane Believes These Lures Will Catch Bass Anywhere Right Now
 
Among his peers in professional tournament competition, Bobby Lane is best known for his skill using spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs, but when water begins cooling in the autumn, the Yamaha Pro often changes to a topwater popping plug. Usually considered a summertime lure, Lane actually keeps a popper tied on throughout the fall months.
 

The Quest for the Ring-Atlantic City

This July, NFL^® Hall of Fame Coach Jimmy Johnson brought his popular Quest for the Ring^® Billfish Tournament Series North to the New Jersey resort town Atlantic City, and with it the opportunity for many tournament teams that have not experienced that level of competition and excitement to get in on the action. 
 

Iaconelli Checks Pro Kayak Win Off of His Bucket List

Yamaha Pro’s Victory Comes In Final Minute of Competition
Michael Iaconelli has won a Bassmaster Classic^®, an Angler of the Year title, and too many other bass fishing events at every level of the sport to list, but the Yamaha Pro recently added still another title that really has him excited. After three years of trying, he won his first professional kayak bass tournament, and he did it in pure Iaconelli style, catching the winning fish in the final minute of competition.
 

Technician Profile: Jami Miller, Yamaha Marine’s First Female Master Tech

Jami Miller has a long, distinguished career in the marine industry. A 36-year employee of Pine Knot Marine Center in Big Bear Lake, Calif., Jami not only has extensive service experience, she also has the credentials to prove her expertise. After years of hands-on training and hours of time dedicated to refining her craft, she became Yamaha Marine’s first female Master Technician in 2008. Her well-earned Master Tech title helped give her a solid and successful career in the marine industry.

Yamaha Presents the 20th Manhattan Cup

For the third time in the past four years, Yamaha proudly sponsored a very special fishing tournament – The Manhattan Cup.

“Our initial involvement as a supporting sponsor in 2018 gave us the opportunity to learn more about the event and the volunteers who make it happen,” said Martin Peters, Yamaha’s Sr. Manager of Government Relations, Communications and Dealer Education. “We were impressed and made the decision to take on the role of presenting sponsor in 2019 and again in 2021.” 

“Stars Have to Align Perfectly” to Make Bassmaster ® Century Club

Long before he became a fulltime professional bass tournament angler, Patrick Walters created his own bucket list of goals, including joining the Bassmaster^® Century Club. That meant weighing in 100 pounds or more of bass during a four-day Bassmaster ^® Elite tournament.

Scott Martin ‘Starting Over’ After 20 Years of Professional Fishing

Even though his professional fishing career began in 2000, Scott Martin describes his 2021 season as a “new beginning,” and now after his third Bassmaster^® Elite Series tournament, the Yamaha Pro has two goals.  He wants to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, and he wants to win the Bassmaster Classic^®.
 

Safety Gear Review & Maintenance

For most of the country boating is in the deep freeze or at least curtailed due to winter weather, but we are all looking forward to warmer weather and the upcoming boating and fishing season, and that means this is a great time to review your boat’s safety gear, something that should be done on a regular basis. Yamaha always recommends safe and responsible boating practices, stressing the importance of having adequate safety equipment onboard and maintaining it in good working condition. With that in mind, let’s review the U.S. Coast Guard required safety gear for recreational vessels and what to look for to make sure it is in shape for the upcoming season.
 

Australian Angler Carl Jocumsen Fulfilling His American Fishing Dream

The record book shows the 2019 Bassmaster^® Elite Series tournament at Lake Tenkiller lasted four days, but for Australian angler Carl Jocumsen, who won that season-ending event, the tournament really lasted nine years. The Yamaha Pro had been in America that long struggling to fulfill his dream of having a professional fishing career in the United States.
 

Fishing with Helm Master EX

If saltwater fishing is your passion, you and your boat could have a new indispensable fishing tool—Helm Master^® EX. It can make your fishing more precise, more productive, even less strenuous, and you can only get it with Yamaha Outboards. 
 

Wendlandt Thankful But Humbled After Winning Fourth AOY Title

A week after Clark Wendlandt had won his fourth Angler of the Year title, his first in the Bassmaster^® Elite Series after winning three with the FLW^® pro tour, the Yamaha Pro still had difficulty putting the experience into words.

Upgrade Your Electronics to Catch More Fish

Today’s marine electronics give anglers the tools needed to skip the lengthy search for fish and proceed directly to the fun part: catching them!

If you’re one of those people who don’t replace anything until it breaks and this also includes your fishfinder/GPS, there’s a good chance you have been left behind during the most amazing periods of advancement in marine electronics history. The biggest quantum leap occurred in 2009 when CHIRP technology migrated from the military to recreational fishing. Previously, sonar signals from fishfinders were a single-frequency, short-duration pulse sent out and returned that sometimes created an uncertain image on the screen… especially on the bottom. Is that a rock or a big fish? Higher in the column, the separation was such it was sometimes hard to distinguish between weeds and fish, and between big and small fish. The older units required experienced eyes to know what they were seeing.

Research, Pre-Planning Help This Pro Find Summer Bass

We recently caught up with the now 35-year-old Chris “Zaldangerous” Zaldain and asked him if he still uses the same methods to plan ahead. Chris stated, “This article highlights a scenario that happens frequently on tour, no matter which lake. I still study the lakes as much as I can prior to fishing them.” 

For second-year Bassmaster^® Elite tournament angler Chris Zaldain, finding bass on lakes he’s never fished before involves a lot more than casting his favorite lure and hoping it lands in front of a hungry fish. The Yamaha Pro actually starts “fishing” a new tournament lake with hours of Internet research and map study weeks before he ever arrives at the water’s edge, a strategy especially important during the summer months when bass may be shallow, deep, or anywhere in between. 

"The grass is always greener, but what you don’t know is that grass may be fake. Even though it’s greener, doesn’t mean it’s real.”

“The grass is always greener, but what you don’t know is that grass may be fake. Even though it’s greener, doesn’t mean it’s real.”
 
That’s one of my favorite quotes these days. There are lots of people out there wishing for different situations right now. Wishing to get out of the house, to travel, to stop homeschooling, to find a new job, to eat at a restaurant, to hang out with friends, to visit loved ones who are ill - even wishing for a break from very long hours caring for others who are sick and need attention. Our situations are all different and so many are dealing with great loss. It’s really hard to pull any positive thoughts out of the most devastating situations, but maybe one of the lessons we can take from this is to have a better appreciation for what is real.
 

Coast Guard Safety Inspections

Are you ready to pass a Coast Guard safety inspection? Coast Guard policy requires safety inspections as a method of outreach to the boating public to impress upon them the importance of carrying the necessary safety equipment in case of an emergency. When your boat is properly equipped, you can enjoy your time on the water even more with the peace of mind that you and your passengers are safe. These preventative inspections can happen at anytime so it’s important to make sure you are always ready. As these hard-working men and women of the Coast Guard put their lives on the line when called on to make hazardous rescues at sea, boaters need to prepare for and respect these inspections so that they are completed quickly and efficiently.

Everyone Should Promote Conservation

When you’ve been in the fishing business as long as I have, you tend to reflect on the “good days” and “special catches,” and not as much about opportunities for others to have those memorable days on the water.

It's a Matter of Timing

During seminars, I am often asked how long I stay on a spot trying to catch bass before I give up and move to some other location.

Command Link Digital Gauges Keep You Informed

A lot of the new flats and bay boats on the market come with Yamaha Command Link^® Digital Gauges as standard equipment...

Y-COP Shuts Down Outboard Thieves

If you haven’t heard about Yamaha Customer Outboard Protection or Y-COP, then you really need to read this blog.

Make Motor Flushing Part of Your Daily Routine

May is the top tarpon month in the Florida Keys, which means I’m on the water just about every day. I leave home in the dark and it’s usually dark when I get back home, so by this time of the month I’m running on autopilot.

Helm Master’s Digital Steering Makes Boating And Fishing Easier

When people talk about Yamaha’s Helm Master Digital Integrated Boat Control System, they seem to focus on joystick control, but Helm Master isn’t just a joystick; it’s digital steering that is by far the best you’ll ever experience.

Power Tilt and Trim Maintenance Makes a Difference

It’s easy to overlook the importance of the tilt and trim unit on your Yamaha outboard motor, but it’s one of the most essential components for getting the best performance out of your boat and motor.