LA CROSSE, Wis. — Anglers competing in the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Mississippi River presented by Lowrance will likely enjoy some of the best fishing the Upper Mississippi has to offer, according to Wisconsin native Grant Neubauer.
“This is the best time of year, and every year it is getting better,” said the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender competitor. “This tournament is going to be a slugfest for sure.”
Tournament days are scheduled for May 8-10, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins to be held at the Veterans Freedom Park Boat Launch each day. The Top 10% of boaters and nonboaters at the end of the tournament will punch their tickets to the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance to be held at Lake Hartwell Nov. 18-21.
Pools 7, 8 and 9 of the Mississippi River have always been great places to catch impressive numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass, but over the last several years, the bass have gotten bigger, particularly the smallmouth. During last season’s Nation Championship on the Mississippi River, Iowa’s Chris Miller landed a 7-pound, 15-ounce smallmouth, and it took 77 pounds for Wisconsin pro Nick Trim to win the four-day tournament.
Spring should be in full swing by the time anglers arrive for practice, which means the bass will be in either a prespawn feeding frenzy or hitting the beds to spawn.
“It is a big transitional time of year,” Neubauer said. “For the most part, they are either prespawn or spawning. During the last regional in [May] 2024, Nick Trim [the tournament winner] did well sight fishing. You can fish however you want to fish really.”
Each year, one of the three eligible pools stands out above the rest, but the specific pool changes each season. Neubauer believes anglers who do well will have a two-pool strategy.
“Last year, it seemed like Pool 7 was the hot pool,” he said. “Usually, Pool 8 is the most consistent, but I don’t think anyone will sit in Pool 8 all tournament and win. I see someone going between 7 and 8 or between 8 and 9 doing really well.”
While both species will factor in this tournament, Neubauer expects smallmouth to play a significant role. Smallmouth bass tend to hit the beds a little earlier than the largemouth do and tend to set up in eddies just off the main river with gravel this time of the year. Ned rigs and wacky worms often produce big stringers.
The largemouth, meanwhile, will move to backwater areas to prepare for the spawn. If they are prespawn, the most productive presentations will include ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits, while a light Texas rig will come into play when they hit the beds.
“Vegetation won’t play as big of a factor this time of year,” Neubauer added. “I think there will be a lot more fishing behind the docks, riprap and eddies in this tournament.”
The biggest X factor will be the water level. If the river stays at normal levels, the fishing will be incredible. If heavy rains cause flooding, fishing will be much tougher.
Follow along with all of the action from the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance on Bassmaster.com.
Explore La Crosse is hosting the event.