Vicious Fishing and Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Angler Brandon Lester earns a solid payday while using a variety of Vicious Fishing line.
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The fact that 37-year-old Vicious Fishing pro Brandon Lester was actively listening to turkeys gobble as he caught a bass during the 2025 Bassmaster Classic should tell you everything you need to know about him. He is a simple, hardworking outdoorsman to his core and that’s why he uses Vicious Fishing line. It’s fantastic line for both the common man and serious angler.
Exclusively using Vicious Fishing line, the Tennessee pro earned a seventh-place finish in the biggest bass-fishing tournament in the world. A simple man and angler, he figured he would catch some nice fish using a spinnerbait due to the windy conditions and abundance of wood cover. As it turns out, his strategy was upended by the first day of competition.
He attributes his calm, level-headed demeanor and adjustments to his growth in maturity over the years.
“Young Brandon would have spun out when I didn’t have a bite before 11am on the first day,” Lester said. “But I’ve learned over the years to take a deep breath, remember my Tennessee roots and relax. So I tied on a big shaky head and slowed down.”
The shaky head was an 1/8-ounce rig adorned with a large 5/0 Mustad hook. The line selection, Lester claims, was imperative to his success.
“Ray Roberts is known for its heavy cover and timber so confidence in your line is absolutely critical,” Lester said. “I upsized from my normal spinning-reel rig. I used 10-pound Vicious Fishing No Fade Braid with a 12-pound Vicious Fishing Pro Elite fluorocarbon leader. The bite detection was awesome and if they even breathed on it, I could feel it. Not to mention its abrasion resistance and low-stretch qualities. That line was the very least of my worries and when you’re blessed enough to fish the Classic, you need as much peace of mind as you can possibly get.”
This line combination was responsible for an 8-pound, 6-ounce catch on day two of the tournament.
“Man, it is so nice not having to worry about your line with a big bass on the line,” Lester said.
Because he was doing so well in the tournament, Lester was rushed towards a TV production crew who wanted to interview him. When asked about his well-documented success in both his career and this particular tournament, he told the producer-type people something that shows his true character.