Randy Howell
Bassmaster Classic Champion | Professional Bass Fishing Authority | Championship-Winning Crankbait Specialist | Livingston Lures Pro
Randy Howell is a Bassmaster Classic champion, professional bass angler, fishing educator, and experienced lure-development collaborator whose career spans more than three decades of professional tournament competition.
Best known for his dramatic victory at the 2014 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's Lake Guntersville, Howell has established a career built on understanding bass behavior, recognizing productive patterns, adapting to changing conditions, and developing specialized fishing presentations.
His professional accomplishments include multiple national tournament victories, 38 top-10 finishes in B.A.S.S. competition, and a career extending across both Bassmaster and Major League Fishing.
Randy Howell: Tips & Insights
Swipe or scroll sideways to explore.
-
Southern Bass Tactics with Randy Howell: When the TVA Gets Hot, the Crankbait Still Has a Job
Read article → -
How Randy Howell Builds a Deep Crankbait Game Plan
Read article → -
Randy Howell and the New Era of Bass Fishing Technology
Read article → -
Randy Howell - How to have a great fishing experience
Read article → -
Randy Howell - Lets Talk Vapor 50
Read article →
As a longtime member of the Livingston Lures professional team, Howell has helped develop, test, and refine a range of bass fishing lures, including the Howeller crankbait series and specialized jerkbaits designed for modern fishing techniques.
The relationship between Howell and Livingston Lures is particularly significant: a prototype Livingston crankbait contributed directly to his 2014 Bassmaster Classic victory, providing one of the sport's most recognizable examples of original lure development succeeding on professional bass fishing's biggest stage.
Today, Howell continues combining traditional bass fishing knowledge with modern electronics, forward-facing sonar, advanced lure presentations, and practical fishing education.
A Lifetime Dedicated to Professional Bass Fishing
Randy Howell developed his passion for bass fishing at an early age in North Carolina, where growing up around fishing and marina operations gave him extensive exposure to the sport. He began guiding and competing in fishing tournaments while still a child, developing the skills and competitive instincts that would eventually lead to a full-time professional career. Throughout more than three decades of tournament competition, Howell has developed extensive experience fishing many of America's most prominent bass fisheries. His strengths include shallow-water crankbait fishing, sight fishing, seasonal pattern development, offshore fishing, and adapting presentations to changing environmental conditions.
Based in Guntersville, Alabama, Howell has extensive firsthand experience on Lake Guntersville, one of the country's most established tournament bass fisheries. His career demonstrates the importance of versatility. While widely recognized for his expertise with crankbaits, Howell has continually expanded his technical knowledge to incorporate jerkbaits, offshore presentations, modern electronics, and forward-facing sonar.
Randy Howell Collection
Published Expertise & Supporting References
Bassmaster — Randy Howell Official Professional Profile
Official career biography documenting Howell's professional accomplishments, tournament history, fishing strengths, and continuing Bassmaster Elite Series participation.
Major League Fishing — Randy Howell Professional Profile
Professional tournament statistics, career achievements, and historical performance records.
Randy Howell — Official Professional Biography
Howell's personal biography documents his early fishing experience, professional influences, favorite techniques, and fishing background.
2014 Bassmaster Classic Champion: A Historic Comeback on Lake Guntersville
Randy Howell's defining tournament achievement came on February 23, 2014, when he captured the Bassmaster Classic championship on Alabama's Lake Guntersville. Entering the final day in 11th place, Howell faced a substantial deficit against a field of the world's leading professional bass anglers.
Rather than following his original tournament plan, he made a critical decision to change locations and fish the Spring Creek area. The decision produced one of the most memorable final-day performances in Bassmaster Classic history. Howell located a concentration of largemouth bass around a bridge and
began catching quality fish with shallow-running crankbaits.
As the fish repositioned farther from the shallow structure, Howell adjusted his presentation and switched to a prototype Livingston Lures crankbait that would become the Howeller Dream Master Classic. The change allowed him to continue targeting fish as their positioning
and preferred presentation changed.
His final-day five-bass limit weighed 29 pounds, 2 ounces, giving him a three-day total of 67 pounds, 8 ounces.
Howell won the championship by one pound, completing a historic comeback from 11th place entering the final round. The victory established a direct connection between professional fishing expertise, adapting to changing conditions, and the development of innovative fishing tackle.
Published Expertise & Official Records
Bassmaster — Howell Listened to a Voice
Official contemporary coverage documenting Howell's comeback, the 29-pound, 2-ounce final-day limit, and his use of a prototype Livingston crankbait.
Bassmaster — My Finest Hour: Howell's Last-Minute Decision Delivers Classic Win
A retrospective account documenting the weather, water conditions, strategic decisions, and lure adjustments responsible for the championship victory.
Bassmaster — Watch the 2014 Bassmaster Classic
Official Bassmaster video coverage of Howell's championship.
The Howeller: A Bassmaster Classic-Winning Crankbait
The Livingston Lures Howeller Dream Master Classic occupies a distinctive place in the history of modern crankbait fishing. During the final day of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic, Randy Howell used a
prototype Livingston crankbait to help target bass that had repositioned arounddeeper bridge structure.
The original Howeller DMC combined a compact body, wide wobbling action, and Livingston's Electronic Baitfish Sound technology. Following the championship victory, the design became the foundation for an expanded series of crankbaits offering different running depths, actions, and presentation characteristics.
For Howell, the importance of the Howeller extends beyond its connection to a major tournament victory. The series reflects his understanding that effective crankbait fishing requires matching lure depth, action, vibration, and retrieve style to the position and behavior of the fish.
Through continued product development, the Howeller platform has expanded into shallow, medium, and deep-diving configurations. These variations give anglers the ability to adapt the core crankbait presentation to different fishing situations rather than depending on a single lure.
Published Expertise & Supporting References
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Crankbait Tacklebox
Independent editorial coverage documenting Howell's involvement in Livingston's crankbait development, his fishing philosophy, and the performance characteristics of the Howeller series.
Advanced Angler — Livingston Lures Howeller DMC Squarebill: The Ultimate Hunter
Historical industry coverage detailing Howell's involvement in developing a tighter-wobbling, hunting-action version of the original Howeller design.
Livingston Lures — Howeller DMC
Official product specifications and documentation connecting the crankbait to Howell's 2014 Bassmaster Classic championship.
Randy Howell's Crankbait Fishing System: Matching the Lure to the Fish
Randy Howell's approach to crankbait fishing is built on an understanding of fish positioning, depth, lure action, and presentation efficiency. Rather than relying on a single crankbait throughout the day, Howell emphasizes selecting a lure that reaches the precise depth and structure where bass are positioned. His approach requires anglers to evaluate several factors, including water temperature, forage distribution, current, depth, seasonal movements, and the activity level of the fish.
A compact crankbait with a subtle action may be appropriate when bass are suspended or reluctant to feed. A larger crankbait with a wider wobble and stronger vibration may prove more effective when fish are aggressive or positioned around deeper structure.
Howell also emphasizes the importance of casting angles, boat positioning, retrieve speed, and maintaining contact with productive structural features. These principles are particularly important when targeting offshore
schools of bass.
A Systematic Approach to Deep Crankbait Fishing
Through his collaboration with Livingston Lures, Howell has outlined a practical system using different crankbait designs to cover specific depth ranges.
The system includes:
- Vapr 50 Deep Plus: A compact profile intended for
suspended or less aggressive bass in approximately the 10- to 15-foot
range. - Deep Impact 12: A medium-depth crankbait for
targeting bass around the middle portion of the water column. - Deep Impact 18: A deeper-running presentation
developed for fish positioned approximately 16 to 20 feet down. - Howeller Deep Plus: An oversized deep-diving
crankbait capable of reaching approximately 25 to 30 feet under suitable
fishing conditions.
The objective is to match lure size, depth, action, and presentation intensity to the behavior of the fish.
This system reflects Howell's broader fishing philosophy: consistent results require anglers to understand the conditions and choose the appropriate tools rather than repeatedly making the same presentation.
Published Expertise & Supporting References
Livingston Lures — How Randy Howell Builds a Deep Crankbait Game Plan
A technical examination of Howell's depth-based crankbait selection system, including the Vapr 50 Deep Plus, Deep Impact 12, Deep Impact 18, and Howeller Deep Plus.
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Crankbait Tacklebox
Independent published coverage examining Howell's crankbait selection and technical approach to fishing multiple depths and conditions.
Modern Bass Fishing Technology and Forward-Facing Sonar
Randy Howell has competed through several major technological developments in professional bass fishing, including the emergence of advanced GPS mapping, side-imaging sonar, high-resolution down imaging, and forward-facing sonar.
His professional experience provides an important perspective on how modern electronics can complement traditional fishing knowledge. While Howell's 2014 Bassmaster Classic victory relied on interpreting environmental conditions and reacting to fish behavior without forward-facing sonar, modern technology allows anglers to observe fish positioning and responses in real time.
Howell has incorporated forward-facing sonar into his fishing approach while continuing to emphasize traditional fundamentals such as boat positioning, accurate casting, lure control, and understanding bass behavior.
An important part of his modern approach involves using crankbaits and jerkbaits with forward-facing sonar. These presentations can be particularly useful when bass are suspended, following baitfish, or refusing slower presentations. Howell has also discussed the visibility of Livingston Lures' electronically equipped jerkbaits on forward-facing sonar systems.
According to his field observations, the internal electronic components can produce prominent sonar returns, making the lures easier to track during certain presentations. This provides another application for Livingston Lures technology beyond electronic baitfish sound. For Howell, modern electronics offer additional information, but anglers must still interpret that information and execute an appropriate presentation.
Published Expertise & Supporting References
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Jerkbait Tacklebox
Independent editorial coverage documenting Howell's collaboration with Livingston Lures on jerkbait development, including sinking presentations and forward-facing sonar applications.
Livingston Lures — Randy Howell and the New Era of Bass Fishing Technology
An extensive discussion of Howell's experiences combining traditional bass fishing techniques with forward-facing sonar and Livingston's electronic lure technology.
Livingston Lures — Randy Howell on His Tournament Success
Howell discusses applying Livingston jerkbaits and Lowrance ActiveTarget to locate and catch bass under difficult tournament conditions.
Randy Howell's Livingston Lures Product Development
Randy Howell's work with Livingston Lures extends beyond traditional product endorsement. Throughout his relationship with the company, he has collaborated on the design, field testing, modification, and refinement of crankbaits and jerkbaits intended for tournament-level bass fishing.
His development contributions are informed by firsthand experience competing on heavily pressured fisheries and encountering a broad range of fishing conditions. Howell's approach to lure development emphasizes practical performance characteristics, including running depth, action, casting performance,
strike-triggering movement, and presentation versatility.
His collaboration with Livingston's engineering and design teams has contributed to multiple crankbait and jerkbait platforms. The following products are associated with his professional development work, historical tournament success, technical instruction, and ongoing field testing.
Howeller Crankbait Family
The original Bassmaster Classic-winning crankbait platform, featuring a wide wobble and medium-diving presentation developed for targeting bass around structure.
A shallow-running variation featuring a circuit-board square bill designed to create a tighter wobble, erratic deflections, and a hunting-style action.
An expanded version of the original Howeller designed for medium-depth crankbait presentations.
A large deep-diving crankbait engineered to reach fish in the 20- to 30-foot depth range under suitable conditions.
Howeller DMC Jr.
A compact version of the Howeller platform developed for downsized crankbait presentations.
Jerkbait Development and
Forward-Facing Sonar Applications
A jerkbait used by Howell in controlled sinking presentations and forward-facing sonar applications.
A deeper-reaching jerkbait platform suited to targeting suspended bass and varying strike zones.
JerkMaster Jr.
A compact jerkbait that Howell has used during professional tournament competition, including cold-water conditions.
Howell's involvement with these jerkbait platforms includes evaluating sinking rates, hook configurations, lure visibility on sonar, and presentation control.
Additional Livingston Lures Systems Used in Howell's Instruction
Vapr 50 Deep Plus
A compact deep-running crankbait included in Howell's systematic approach to targeting suspended and less aggressive bass.
Deep Impact 12 and Deep Impact 18
Crankbaits used to target different depth zones in Howell's deep-water presentation system.
These products demonstrate his broader emphasis on selecting appropriate crankbait characteristics for specific fishing conditions.
The products listed include championship-associated designs, documented
development collaborations, and tackle used or discussed in Howell's technical
instruction. Inclusion does not imply that Howell independently invented every
product.
Beyond Tournament Results: Fishing Education and Technical Expertise
Randy Howell's professional contributions extend into fishing education, seminars, digital media, and instructional content. His teaching emphasizes techniques anglers can apply immediately,
including reading conditions, identifying productive water, selecting the appropriate lures, and adapting when bass change positions or become reluctant to feed.
Through Bassmaster instructional features, Livingston Lures educational articles, and professional media appearances, Howell shares detailed information about crankbait fishing, jerkbait presentations, electronics, tournament preparation, and competitive decision-making.
His ability to explain both traditional and modern fishing techniques gives anglers access to knowledge developed through decades of competition. Howell's educational work also provides an important link between Livingston's product development and practical fishing applications.
Rather than presenting lures as interchangeable products, his instruction explains when specific designs should be used and how anglers can improve their results through appropriate lure selection.
Published Expertise & Supporting References
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Crankbait Tacklebox
Detailed examination of Howell's crankbait selection, technical approach, and Livingston lure collaborations.
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Jerkbait Tacklebox
Independent technical coverage of sinking jerkbaits, suspended fish, and modern sonar applications.
Livingston Lures — How Randy Howell Builds a Deep Crankbait Game Plan
Educational content documenting Howell's structured approach to choosing crankbaits according to depth and fish behavior.
A Continuing Professional Bass Fishing
Career
Randy Howell's professional career continues to demonstrate hiscommitment to competitive bass fishing. After competing on the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, Howell returned to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2025 through a Legends exemption.
His return reflected a desire to continue competing within the tournament organization where he achieved his 2014 Bassmaster Classic championship. Across his professional career, Howell has recorded major tournament victories, numerous top-10 finishes, and millions of dollars in reported
tournament earnings.
His experience spans generations of professional competitors and major changes in tournament formats, fishing equipment, electronics, and strategies. This longevity provides an important foundation for his continued contributions to Livingston Lures.
The techniques and fishing equipment he evaluates are informed by ongoing competitive experience rather than solely by historical accomplishments.
Published Expertise & Official Records
Bassmaster — Elite Series Welcomes Legendary Qualifiers Pace and Howell Back
Official B.A.S.S. announcement documenting Howell's return to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2025 and summarizing his tournament career.
Bassmaster — Randy Howell Career Profile
Current official tournament biography and career statistics.
Major League Fishing — Randy Howell Professional Record
Professional career statistics and achievements from Major League Fishing.
Community Contributions and King's Home
Beyond professional bass fishing, Randy Howell has supported charitable fundraising through his longstanding involvement with King's Home. The organization serves vulnerable youth, women, and children through residential and support programs.
Howell's annual tournament boat giveaway has become a significant fundraising initiative associated with the organization. According to Major League Fishing, the fundraising program has raised more than $2.3 million in support of King's Home.
Through public appearances, fundraising efforts, and engagement with fishing audiences, Howell has used his professional platform to help support the organization's work.
Published Expertise & Supporting References
King's Home — Randy Howell Boat Giveaway
Official information about Howell's continuing tournament boat fundraising program.
Major League Fishing — Randy Howell Professional Profile
Professional profile documenting Howell's charitable fundraising contributions.
Advancing Modern Bass Fishing Through Livingston Lures
Randy Howell's relationship with Livingston Lures brings together decades of championship-level experience, original lure-development collaboration, advanced fishing techniques, and modern fishing technology.
His 2014 Bassmaster Classic victory demonstrated the importance of adapting presentations to changing fish behavior while using innovative fishing equipment developed through professional testing. His continued work with the Howeller series, jerkbait platforms, and modern electronics reflects an ongoing commitment to improving the tools and techniques available to bass anglers.
Throughout his career, Howell has demonstrated that successful bass fishing requires more than selecting a productive lure. It demands an understanding of where bass position themselves, how
environmental conditions influence their behavior, and how to present a lure effectively when an opportunity develops.
Through Livingston Lures, Howell continues connecting that professional knowledge with practical product development and educational content.
Randy Howell represents the combination of championship-proven bass fishing expertise, continuing innovation, and modern fishing technology that defines Livingston Lures' approach to developing equipment for serious bass
anglers.
Official Career Records &
Independent References
Bassmaster — Randy Howell Official Angler Profile
Official tournament biography, career statistics, fishing strengths, and professional accomplishments.
Bassmaster — Howell Listened to a Voice
Contemporary reporting of the 2014 Bassmaster Classic championship, historic comeback, and Livingston crankbait use.
Bassmaster — My Finest Hour: Howell's Last-Minute Decision Delivers Classic Win
Detailed retrospective covering the weather conditions, strategic adjustments, and lure presentations that produced his Classic victory.
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's Crankbait Tacklebox
Independent published examination of Howell's crankbait expertise and Livingston Lures collaborations.
Bassmaster — Randy Howell's
Jerkbait Tacklebox
Technical coverage of Howell's jerkbait development, sinking presentations, and forward-facing sonar applications.
Major League Fishing — Randy Howell
Additional professional statistics, tournament achievements, and community contributions.
Advanced Angler — Howeller
DMC Squarebill Development
Historical industry coverage documenting Howell's collaboration with Livingston's lure-development team.
Angling International — The US Lure Brand Where On-the-Water Meets Secret Science
Fishing-industry coverage of Livingston's development process and the involvement of experienced professional anglers, including Randy Howell.
Randy Howell — Official Website and Biography
Professional fishing history, background, fishing techniques, and sponsor relationships.
Livingston Lures — Meet Our Pros
Official Livingston Lures professional staff listing.
King's Home — Randy Howell Boat Giveaway
Official documentation of Howell's annual charitable fundraising program.
