
Mark Lassagne
In his own words
Highlights
I’ve had a top-10 finish and cashed a check on most every lake across the West Coast, in multiple circuits. In 2016 I was the Bassmaster Federation State Champion, and I previously won the Black Bass World Championship for Team USA. I’ve qualified four times for the WWBT Pro/Am Championship, four times for the West Coast Bass Classic, seven times for the MLF Championship, three times for the BFL Regional, four times for the B.A.S.S. Federation Regional, as well as the MLF Tackle Warehouse and Bassmaster series, and numerous team championships.
Behind the Angler
After a tour in the Marines, I owned and operated an auto repair shop. When the bass bug bit me I created a fishing calendar to highlight the tournament schedule and results, which over the years evolved into Bass Angler Magazine, a nationwide bass fishing publication. As a youth I had fished perhaps a half dozen times, and never for bass. We just weren’t an outdoor fishing family. I caught my first bass at 30-years-old with the help of Gunnery Sergeant Will Kohler, and I instantly fell in love with the sport. Five years later I jumped into fishing tournaments as a non-boater, followed way too soon by moving to the pointy end of the boat.
In the Boat
My favorite technique is standing on the trolling motor and covering water with a crankbait or a chatterbait, followed closely by punching with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog and a River2Sea Trash Bomb. My go-to setup for punching is a 7-foot, 11-inch Okuma TCS extra-heavy rod. My compartments are loaded with A-rigs, River2Sea squarebills, Z-Man JackHammer chatterbaits, and shakyheads for the lakes. When targeting the California Delta, I carry additional flipping and punching gear, chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, River2Sea frogs, and wacky-rigged 6- to 7-inch Yamamoto Senkos. I’ll also have on hand Phenix Hydra 65LB 8X braid and Gamakatsu hooks. My rod locker is full of quality Okuma rods and reels.
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