Image courtesy of Major League Fishing
Meet Cliff Pace, Mississippi’s Master Angler
If you’re not big into fishing, you probably haven’t heard of Cliff Pace. Pace is an undeniably genius bass angler, but he’s equally renowned for his technical expertise, deep love of the sport, and humble demeanor. Hailing from the waterways of Mississippi, Pace’s fishing techniques reflect a lifelong obsession with mastering his craft.
Raised in Petal, Mississippi where he still resides, Cliff Pace’s young adulthood was influenced by his father. Though he tragically passed away when Pace was only 18, Pace’s father introduced him to fishing. Right away, Pace was hooked.
But it wasn’t just the exhilarating feeling of reeling in a fish or the quiet solitude of a lake at dawn that captured Pace’s heart. He developed an appreciation for the subtle nuances of fishing, saying, “Fishing and fishing lures became obsessions of mine at a very early age. The sport itself has always been very appealing to me because it’s a process that is never the same from one day to the next. It is an ongoing puzzle, always shifting and changing, and I love the challenge of figuring it out.”
Pace’s approach on the water is deliberate and analytical. Unlike other “fad fishermen,” Pace’s understated but relentless pursuit of bettering the sport has made him a staple in competitive fishing. Achieving success during the Bassmaster Elite Series and winning the 2013 Bassmaster Classic championship, Pace has been competitively fishing for decades. Though quiet, his skills speak volumes. “Cliff is not in this for fame or fortune, but to be remembered as a legend,” said fellow angler Gary Klein.
Though evidently naturally gifted, Pace credits his success with knowing his weaknesses. To be a great angler, Pace, says, “you’ve got to find your weaknesses and attack those weaknesses. You’ve got to step outside your comfort zone.” Refusing to coast on past success, Pace instead advocates for lifelong practice.
For those interested, you can incorporate a little piece of Pace’s mastery into your own tackle box. His brand, Black Label Tackle, stands out for its handcrafted balsa crankbaits designed to mimic the natural movements of forage fish with exceptional realism. Much like Pace’s approach to fishing, his crankbaits are understated classics. Despite other anglers flocking to soft plastics, Pace spends hours meticulously perfecting his balsa crankbaits. “People ask me, ‘Man, are you going to quit making crankbaits?’” Pace recounted, “There’s nothing in me that has any intention to stop making crankbaits. It’s something I really enjoy doing.” But, if you’re a strict devotee of soft ballistics, you can check out his CP Craw, a lure designed for versatility in pitching, swimming, or as a buzzbait trailer.
In 2025, Pace made a highly anticipated return to the Bassmaster Elite Series via a Legends invitation. His return to the sport– after spending years working almost exclusively on Black Label– reflects his ongoing love for competitive fishing and his evergreen ability to apply his refined techniques against a new generation of anglers.
A Mississippi legend, Pace has garnered hard-won wisdom from years on the water. Though he’s dipping his toe back into competitive fishing for the first time in a while, Pace’s fans and fellow anglers are nothing but confident in his future success. As Pace perfectly put it, “We will never have perfect days on the water, and we’ll never build the perfect crankbait, but we will spend a lifetime striving to accomplish both.”
