Welcome back to another episode of the Take It to the Bank Podcast! In this insightful and entertaining episode, host Ben Ballou sits down with legendary pro bass angler James Niggemeyer to dive deep into Texas bass fishing in the month of May—especially on the famed Lake Fork. Known for his humble attitude, deep faith, and one of the most unique names in the sport, James shares not only his fishing knowledge but also his inspiring personal story, from his rise in the Elite Series to his unwavering faith through life's toughest moments.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

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• How to find and fish the shad spawn across Texas lakes
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• Why Lake Fork in May is both magical and challenging for bass anglers
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• Proven tactics for fishing post-spawn bass, including frogs, swim jigs, Carolina rigs, and speed worms
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• How James breaks down standing timber and offshore structure
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• The real story behind James's social media fame and how his name became a talking point
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• How faith and fishing intersect in his life and career
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• Keys to fish care during tournaments and maximizing survival on warm spring days
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Bonus Content:

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• Deep dive into Birch Creek on Lake Fork, including map breakdowns and strategic locations
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• Setup recommendations: rods, reels, line, baits, and favorite colors
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• Why color selection may not be as complex as many think
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• Navigating the transition from shallow to offshore fishing during May
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• Top community holes and patterns working right now on Lake Fork
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Whether you're a tournament angler looking to refine your strategy or just a bass fishing fan who loves learning from the best, this episode is packed with actionable advice, heart, and humor. Don’t miss it.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro with James Niggemeyer

2:00 – The story behind the name and social media explosion

6:00 – James on faith, fishing, and life challenges

11:00 – Early years, Elite Series memories, and guiding in Texas

17:00 – Boater-on-boater drawdown stories from back in the day

23:00 – Shad spawn: locations, timing, and techniques

34:00 – Lake Fork in May: top patterns and baits

46:00 – Birch Creek map breakdown and how to fish it

55:00 – Offshore structure and southern Lake Fork strategy

59:00 – Gear setups: frogs, squarebills, Carolina rigs, and more

1:11:00 – How to approach standing timber confidently

Subscribe for more deep-dive conversations with top anglers, fishing strategies, and all things competitive bass fishing.

Keywords:

Texas bass fishing, Lake Fork, May bass fishing, shad spawn, James Niggemeyer, Take it to the Bank podcast, Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF, post-spawn bass, frog fishing, swim jig setup, Carolina rig, fishing tackle setup, standing timber bass, how to fish Lake Fork, bass tournament strategy, Christian anglers, bass fishing podcast

Welcome back to Take It to the Bank Podcast. In this episode, we sit down with BPT and MLF champion Jeremy Lawyer to talk everything April bass fishing. From targeting fish in all phases of the spawn to key strategies for navigating rapidly changing spring conditions, this conversation is packed with practical tips for serious anglers.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• An absolutely wild story about Drew Boggs and a Dremel tool that you’ve got to hear to believe

• The latest patterns on Grand Lake, Table Rock and Lake of the Ozarks

• Why fish positioning changes daily in April and how to stay ahead of them

• Jeremy’s go to sight fishing baits and techniques, including the underrated chicken rig

• The pros and cons of wacky rigs, trick worms, tubes and more when bed fishing pressured lakes

• How to choose the best bank lines, water color and spawning zones on highland reservoirs

• How Jeremy breaks down lake sections to target pre spawn, spawning and post spawn fish all in the same day

• Tips for reading bass behavior and knowing when to walk away from a stubborn bed fish

• His favorite line, hook and rod setups for finesse fishing and flipping

• The one fish that still haunts him years later and what it cost him

Whether you're fishing a tournament, preparing for a trip to Lake of the Ozarks or just trying to understand spring bass behavior better, this is the episode to study. Jeremy’s advice is based on decades of experience and delivers real world knowledge any angler can apply right now.

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for more pro angler interviews, bass fishing strategy, and behind the scenes stories from the water. Take It to the Bank Podcast is your go to source for seasonal breakdowns, gear tips and fishing insights straight from the pros.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all major streaming platforms.

Keywords

Bass fishing April

Lake of the Ozarks bass fishing

Jeremy Lawyer fishing

bed fishing tips

spawning bass strategies

fishing podcast

wacky rig setup

spring bass fishing

MLF pro angler

Take It to the Bank Podcast

chicken rig fishing

pre spawn bass

post spawn bass

highland reservoir fishing

bass sight fishing

Ozarks fishing spring

Jake Lawrence’s the hottest name in professional bass fishing right now 🔥 — straight off a Top 5 finish at MLF Redcrest, Jake Lawrence joins Take It to the Bank with Ben Ballou to talk all things April bass fishing, forward-facing sonar mastery, and one unforgettable moment live on national TV... (yes, THAT cast 😳)

Whether you're chasing spawning smallmouth on Kentucky Lake, targeting pre/post-spawn largemouth on the Tennessee River, or just trying to figure out how to stay locked in during this wild spring transition, this episode is PACKED with game-changing knowledge.

🚀 Topics include:

✅ April bass fishing tips for Kentucky Lake, Pickwick & Guntersville

✅ Smallmouth vs largemouth spring behavior: where to find them

✅ What makes April the most dynamic fishing month

✅ Jake's go-to baits: swimbaits, jerkbaits, traps, minnow rigs & more

✅ The bait fish will never get used to: jighead minnow breakdown

✅ Masterclass in electronics: forward-facing sonar + perspective mode

✅ Why zero-degree mounts and cone angles REALLY matter

✅ The fish that bit while Jake was... well, you’ll just have to listen

elcome to a deep dive into April bass fishing in Florida with none other than Randall Tharp, the "Honey Badger" himself! In this full episode of Take It to the Bank, Ben Ballou and Randall Tharp break down everything you need to know about spring bass fishing, fry guarders, shad spawns, and how to catch big bass in Florida during one of the best months of the year to be on the water.

From Kissimmee grass and hydrilla to shell bars and shad spawns, this episode covers:

✅ Why April is prime time to fish in Florida

✅ Best techniques for fry guarders and post-spawn bass

✅ Randall’s favorite baits: swim jigs, topwater, prop baits & more

✅ How to find shell bars and brush piles on the Harris Chain

✅ Electronics tips: side imaging, forward-facing sonar, and live scope

✅ Epic stories from Randall’s tournament career – including his FLW Cup win

💥 Whether you’re fishing Okeechobee, Harris Chain, St. Johns River, or anywhere in the Sunshine State, this episode is packed with Florida bass fishing tips to help you catch more fish this spring.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brian New joins host Ben Ballou to break down everything happening on the water in April. From herring and shad spawns to bed fishing strategy, this episode is packed with timely tips for lakes like Lake Murray, Clarks Hill, Hartwell, and more.

Topics covered include:

Finding spawning bass in dead-end pockets and transition areas

How to fish the herring spawn effectively

Key differences between herring and shad spawns

Top 5–6 baits to throw in April and why

How sun angle, shadow, and stealth impact your bed fishing

Using LiveScope (forward and perspective) to find spawning fish

Tournament stories and tactics with legends like Brian Thrift

Whether you're fishing in the Carolinas, Georgia, or anywhere with springtime bass, this episode will help you dial in your game for April.

Keywords: bass fishing podcast, April bass fishing tips, herring spawn fishing, bed fishing, Lake Murray bass, Clarks Hill tips, LiveScope spawning bass, Brian New podcast, spring bass lures

Elite Series pro Robert Gee joins host Ben Ballou for a masterclass on bed fishing in April. After a wild ride at his first Bassmaster Classic, Rob dives deep into what makes Highland reservoir fishing so unique this time of year. From Dale Hollow to Norris Lake, Rob explains exactly how to locate spawning largemouth and smallmouth bass, what baits to throw, how to work them, and how to get pressured fish to bite when they don't want to.

You’ll hear:

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• Rob’s full behind-the-scenes Classic recap
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• How he breaks down a new lake in April
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• Favorite sight fishing setups, baits, and colors
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• Smallmouth vs largemouth bed fishing strategies
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• The role of marinas, pea gravel, and clear water
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• How to use a glide bait as a powerful search tool
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• Tips for long-distance targeting and boat positioning
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• Why taking pictures and marking beds is key to success
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• And why Highland reservoirs shine in spring
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If you fish Dale Hollow, Norris, Center Hill, Cherokee, or any Highland reservoir in April, this episode is loaded with info you can take to the bank.

In this episode, I run my mouth about how I got to where I am, who got me here, and why you should listen!

In this episode, Ben Ballou and Brent Anderson dive deep into fishing on the Tennessee River, focusing on techniques, conditions, and strategies for success in March. They discuss the unique characteristics of the river, the importance of current, and how to adapt to changing conditions. Brent shares his experiences and insights on the best baits and locations for catching fish, as well as the impact of technology like LiveScope on modern fishing. In this conversation, Brent Anderson shares his extensive knowledge of fishing in the Tennessee River during March. He discusses fish behavior, effective fishing techniques, and high percentage areas to target. The conversation also covers spawning patterns, navigation safety, and essential tackle stores for anglers. Brent provides insights into tournament expectations and the current state of fishing in various lakes, emphasizing the importance of adapting techniques to changing conditions.

takeaways

• The Tennessee River offers unique fishing opportunities in March.
• Current plays a crucial role in fish behavior and location.
• Understanding the river's structure is key to successful fishing.
• Using technology like LiveScope can enhance fishing strategies.
• Different baits are effective at different times of the year.
• Fish behavior changes with the seasons and water conditions.
• Secondary patterns can be just as effective as primary ones.
• Fishing in creeks can yield good results under certain conditions.
• Moderate current is ideal for fishing success.
• Identifying key locations can lead to better catch rates. Fish tend to stage in bins during March.
• High percentage areas are crucial for consistent catches.
• Spawning often occurs deeper in the main river.
• Navigating the Tennessee River requires caution and good mapping.
• Bare gravel areas can be productive fishing spots.
• Using the right baits is essential for success.
• Marking waypoints is important for future fishing trips.
• Safety gear like a boat leash is highly recommended.
• Fishing pressure can affect catch rates significantly.
• Understanding fish behavior is key to successful fishing.