we set down with Nick LeBlanc an up and coming angler with lots of promise. we talk his first bass master open, techniques, and his future endeavors!

This week on the Timberline Bass Podcast, I sit down with Ben Burmeister, a guy who has experienced the fishing industry from just about every angle.

Ben is the owner of Cast Again Tackle, runs the Wolf River Bass Club, and has spent time behind the camera covering professional tournament fishing for both Head2Head Fishing and the National Professional Fishing League (NPFL). We also catch up with Ben after his trip to ICAST 2026 and get his perspective on what caught his attention, where the tackle industry is headed, and what anglers should actually be excited about.

We dive into what it takes to build and grow a tackle company, the challenges of developing products anglers can trust, and what Ben has learned from being around tournament anglers both locally and at the professional level.

Cast Again Tackle itself has an interesting Wisconsin success story. The company began in 2020, moved into manufacturing its own tackle in 2022, later acquired Crooked Creek Tackle and its Salty Tube lineup, and continued expanding with the acquisition of Dem Jigs. Today, Cast Again offers everything from tubes and tube heads to Ned heads, jigs, weights, hooks and more, with many products made right here in Wisconsin. (Cast Again Tackle⁠)

In This Episode

• How Ben got started in the fishing industry
• The story behind Cast Again Tackle
• Building and growing a Wisconsin tackle company
• Product development and what makes a lure worth bringing to market
• Running the Wolf River Bass Club
• Ben’s experiences filming professional tournament fishing
• What happens behind the scenes at an NPFL event
• Lessons learned from watching professional anglers up close
• ICAST 2026 and the products and trends that stood out
• Where Ben sees the fishing and tackle industries heading
• The Wisconsin bass fishing scene and the anglers coming out of the North

Check Out Cast Again Tackle

Support Ben and check out Cast Again’s lineup of Wisconsin-made fishing tackle:

Cast Again Tackle — Official Website⁠

sorry folks made a mistake in the last episode, and wanted to do right by Schlapper.

with all the research I could do Pat Schlepper is the only pro angler from wi to win a top level event it WI

For decades, professional bass fishing has been viewed as a Southern man’s game. Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and the Carolinas have produced generations of legendary anglers—but lately, more and more fishermen from Wisconsin and the North are proving they belong on the national stage.

So we decided to ask the question: Has Wisconsin earned its place in big-time bass fishing?

On this episode of the Timberline Bass Podcast, we sit down with bass fishing historian Ken Duke to look at Wisconsin’s place in the history of competitive bass fishing and the growing influence of northern anglers on the sport.

We dig into the Wisconsin anglers who helped pave the way, the recent influx of talent making the jump to national competition, and how the numbers stack up against the traditional bass-fishing powerhouses of the South.

We also compare the northern and southern tournament angler: What advantages does growing up on Wisconsin’s natural lakes, rivers and smallmouth fisheries create? Where do northern anglers struggle when they head south? What does a Southern angler have to learn when they come north? And has modern technology started leveling the regional playing field?

Most importantly, we put the question to one of the sport’s foremost historians:

Is Wisconsin simply producing a good generation of anglers—or has the Badger State officially earned a seat at the table in American tournament bass fishing?

It’s history, statistics, regional pride, and plenty of bass-fishing debate with Ken Duke on the Timberline Bass Podcast.

What does it really take to break down a lake and figure out where the bass are?

In this episode of the Timberline Bass Podcast, Dalton sits down with Kurt Scheer to dive deep into the process of breaking down a lake, identifying productive areas, and putting together a pattern. From studying maps and structure to understanding depth, cover, water conditions, weather, and seasonal movements, this conversation is all about learning how to make sense of a lake before — and during — a day on the water.

Kurt and Dalton talk through the thought process behind finding fish instead of simply fishing spots, how to eliminate unproductive water, and how to recognize when a pattern is developing. Whether you’re a tournament angler trying to put together a winning game plan or someone just looking to become a better bass fisherman, there are plenty of ideas you can take to the water.

Grab a map, fire up the electronics, and get ready to break down a lake!

In this episode of the Timberline Bass Podcast, we sit down with John Myhre for a great conversation about fishing, the outdoors, and the experiences that keep us coming back to the water.

John shares stories, insights, and lessons learned along the way—covering the highs, challenges, and passion behind the sport. Whether you’re a serious tournament angler or just love chasing the next bite, this episode has something for you.

Fish more. Talk bass. Chase the next bite.

in this episode we go in depth on shaky head worms and I give the shakes head the attention it deserves unlike the episode I trialed in my garage

Go behind the scenes with Craig from the Central Wisconsin Bass Anglers as we talk tournament fishing, Wisconsin bass lakes, and everything it takes to run a successful tournament trail.

From Craig’s own journey into competitive fishing to the history and growth of the CWBA, this episode pulls back the curtain on the work anglers rarely see—season planning, permits, tournament mornings, weigh-ins, rules, weather calls, fish care, and the challenges of keeping every event fair and fun.

We also talk conservation, welcoming new tournament anglers, the future of grassroots bass fishing in Wisconsin, and why the CWBA continues to be a place where competition and community go hand in hand.

Whether you fish tournaments every weekend or have been thinking about entering your first one, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Matt Stefan joins the Timberline Bass Podcast for an in-depth conversation covering everything from the grind of the Bassmaster Opens to the mindset it takes to compete at the highest level. Matt shares the highs, the lows, and the mental battles that every tournament angler faces throughout a long season.

We also dive into the story behind Core Tackle, discussing what separates a truly effective lure from another bait on the shelf. Matt explains the design process, why solving real problems for anglers is the foundation of every product, and how ideas evolve from time on the water into tackle that helps people catch more fish.

Whether you’re chasing bass on the weekend or competing in tournaments, this episode is packed with insights on tournament strategy, mental toughness, lure design, innovation, and what it takes to stay competitive in today’s bass fishing world.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into building a successful career in professional fishing—or designing tackle that actually makes a difference—you won’t want to miss this conversation with one of the sport’s most respected anglers.

Be sure to like, subscribe, and share the episode if you enjoy it, and let us know what topic or guest you’d like to hear next on the Timberline Bass Podcast.

a quick deep dive into the shaky head worm while I was working out in the garage