BAM Podcast: Lake Shasta Breakdown with Alex Niapas & Randy Pierson

BAM Podcast Episode Summary

In this special episode, we break down the BAM Trail Pro-Am at Lake Shasta with none other than tournament champion Alex Niapas and runner-up Randy Pierson—the man who weighed in both the biggest stringer and the biggest bass of the event!

January 30, 2025 | 01:06:31 | Episode 83

Episode Notes

Alex and Randy take a deep dive into their winning strategies, sharing exactly where they found bass, what lures produced big bites, and how they adapted to changing conditions on Lake Shasta. Both anglers weighed in impressive 18+ pound bags, with Randy setting the bar with a massive 7.04-pound Spotted Bass—the biggest of the tournament!

Tune in for an information-packed breakdown from two of the top finishers, filled with tips, techniques, and insights that can help you improve your game on Shasta and beyond. Don’t miss this episode!

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BAM Podcasts bring you expert insights from top anglers, covering tournament breakdowns, fishing techniques, gear reviews, and industry trends—all designed to help you become a better angler. Subscribe now and stay ahead of the competition!

Lake Shasta Delivers Big Bags & Big Bass!

The BAM Trail Pro-Am at Lake Shasta was nothing short of spectacular, with big stringers, big bass, and a battle at the top between two elite anglers. In this episode of the BAM Podcast, we sit down with tournament champion Alex Niapas and runner-up Randy Pierson, who put on a clinic at Shasta.

Both anglers weighed in massive 18+ pound bags, showcasing their ability to find and capitalize on the right bites when it mattered most. And let’s not forget Randy Pierson’s 7.04-pound Spotted Bass, which claimed the title of Biggest Bass of the Tournament!

If you’re an angler looking to unlock the secrets of catching big fish on Shasta, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

How They Cracked the Code at Lake Shasta

Niapas and Pierson break down their entire game plan, detailing how they located fish, adjusted to conditions, and executed their strategies to land at the top of the leaderboard.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

Where the Winning Fish Were Holding – Learn how they identified high-percentage areas and adjusted to bass movement.
Lure Selection & Tactics – Find out exactly what baits and techniques produced tournament-winning results.
Weather & Water Conditions – How they adapted to changing factors like wind, water clarity, and temperature.
How to Target Big Spotted Bass – Randy Pierson’s insights into finding and landing giant spotted bass, including his 7.04-pound tournament beast.
Adjustments Throughout the Tournament – The decisions that led to back-to-back 18+ pound limits.

Big Bags & Bigger Lessons: Insights from the Top Two Anglers

Both anglers provide practical, no-nonsense advice on how to fish Lake Shasta, making this episode valuable for weekend warriors and tournament competitors alike.

“Lake Shasta is a special place,” says Alex Niapas. “Understanding how these fish move based on the conditions is key. We put the puzzle together at the right time, and it paid off.”

Randy Pierson, who brought in the biggest bass of the event, shares his insight:
“Catching that 7-pounder was a moment I won’t forget. The fish were positioned in a way that a lot of guys overlooked. If you’re fishing Shasta, you need to pay attention to these little details.”

Listen & Learn – Don’t Miss This Episode!

If you’re serious about improving your fishing skills—especially on deep, clear lakes like Shasta—this episode is a must-listen. Whether you’re competing in tournaments or just want to land your biggest bass yet, these pros break it all down in a way that any angler can apply.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe to BAM Podcasts for more expert fishing breakdowns, tournament insights, and cutting-edge techniques. Stay ahead of the competition!

Bass Angler Magazine’s Wired4bass is a bi-monthly podcast series is available free on Simple Cast,  iTunes, Spotify, Google Play and Amazon. Stay tuned as we discuss the latest in bass fishing, lure trends, ways to catch fish, tournament wins and things of interest to bass anglers.

BASS ANGLER MAGAZINE (BAM), a veteran owned quarterly print and digital magazine, designed, and printed in the U.S.A. Covering largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, Bass Angler was created specifically to help you become a better, more informed bass fisherman. As the industry’s most informative bass fishing magazine, we provide you in-depth exclusive new features with the world’s top anglers.

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