®
I
n 2025, Andrew Loberg, formerly
of Rocklin, Calif. became
the most recent Alabama transplant from the Golden State to
set on a journey – livin’ the dream – to
compete as a Bassmaster Elite Series
pro. Loberg’s relocation to Guntersville,
helped him accumulate over $37,000 in
winnings during his debut season and
secure his place in the top-five Rookie of
the Year (ROY) standings.
The roots of his fishing prowess run deep, as he began competing in local tournaments with his father at age 11, formed a high school bass club while at Rocklin High and competed in the Chico State University bass fishing team, where he and his partners earned a top-five finish at the FLW National Championship, a Clear Lake victory at the FLW College Fishing Western Conference and a Half-Century Belt for breaking 50-pounds in a two-day Bassmaster event on the same big bass fishery.
After college, Loberg followed his passion into other competitive circuits before ultimately pursuing his Elite dream full-time. He credits the diverse California waters— from shallow flats to deep delta channels—for honing the versatility that now defines his Elite Series game.
With the final Elite Series event for 2025 in the can, Loberg was caught goin’ back to Cali where we checked in with him. Here is how his bass catchin’ convo went:
WB: How was the first year on tour.
LOBERG: It has been a rollercoaster. I had some really bad finishes and some really good ones, but at the end of the year it finished on really good note. Obviously, I’ve been around the sport a pretty long time; but fishing those tournaments is a pretty big deal. They are really good tournaments, and they do a good job of running them.
WB: Anything surprise you about the year?
LOBERG: I figured a lot of the guys would kind of dog you, but they were pretty chill – everything exceeded my expectations.
WB: How did you feel about the fisheries?
LOBERG: They were a lot different, but practicing for a tournament with only 100 boats was a lot different than say the Opens. There is definitely a different strategy. It definitely was something to get used to. It seems like it is just another tournament with 100
boats, but you don’t have a lot of the pressure on the main stuff, and you can have different strategies going on.
WB: Did your favorite California techniques translate well for you?
LOBERG: They did. Especially growing up fishing the Delta and Clear Lake – power fishing is key and being able to break down water in those big, massive lakes was definitely key in those big, massive lakes we fished. And also, finesse, fishing Shasta and Oroville, Folsom and things like that, being able to adapt and being versatile – that is what western anglers bring out East. All the success I’ve ever had, I would dedicate to fishing out West, all the anglers I grew up around – guys like Christian Ostrander – and just everybody out here will make you a better angler.
WB: How did you feel about where B.A.S.S. landed on the rules about LiveScope?
LOBERG: I really enjoy LiveScope and I hope they don’t ban it and if they do whatever, I just really like fishing tournaments. The rule on screen size at 55-inches was a good call.
Fall 2025
page 35