Bass angler couldn't use LiveScope, so he followed whitetail deer to find the fish instead

Kaden Buchmann used an unconventional clue to win the first Bassmaster Elite Qualifier of the season, fishing Norfork Lake in Arkansas. The 22-year-old finished the three-day event wire-to-wire with 42 pounds, 7 ounces. Forward-facing sonar was not allowed at Norfork, forcing him to search for bass where other competitors hadn’t already pushed fish around. His solution: watch shoreline for whitetail deer. Buchmann said that if deer gathered in a pocket, it likely meant fewer anglers had been there, since boats would have spooked them. He spotted more than 30 deer on Day 1—including a 9-point buck—then weighed 16-7. He repeated the approach on Day 2 and ultimately edged runner-up Cody Stahl by 1 pound, 14 ounces, earning $71,317 and an invitation to the 2027 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell.