B.A.S.S. Issues Lifetime Ban to Opens Angler

Bassmaster announced this week the permanent ban of an angler for violating the Bassmaster Code of Conduct. 

According to a brief report posted to Bassmaster.com on Tuesday, the organization disqualified Yuming Gao from this week's Lake Eufaula Bassmater Open after it was determined Gao tried to track the movements of a fellow competitor "in order to gain a competitive advantage."

Bassmaster ruled Gao's infraction was a Level 4 offense. The report stated the ruling was appealed, but later upheld by a three-person appeals committee consisting of two indepedent anglers and a B.A.S.S. staff member. 

"As a result, Mr. Gao has been banned from participation in all future B.A.S.S. events, effective immediately," the report stated. 

According to the Bassmaster angler database, Gao has competed in one previous tournament – the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Bassmaster Open earlier this year. He finished 164th. It appears that Gao, who lists Waterloo, Ontario, as his hometown, has not competed in any Major League Fishing events previously. 

A video posted to the YouTube account "Yuming Gao - Chris" in late December 2025 appears to tout his attempt to pursue a fishing career. The 92-second video is entirely in Chinese, but the title translates to "At long last, Chinese footprints have appeared here" and "BASS MASTER" is mentioned toward the end of the video. 

A Google translation of the subtitles during the video is as follow: 

"What others see is a competition, but what I see is 10 years of practice. The cold wind at four in the morning, countless failures. Dreams are never a distant light. It is what happens after you persist every day. In the darkness, a glimmer of hope lit by oneself. This is not my destination. This is truly the beginning of my dream! If I could do it. Every person who fights for their dream can do it all! I am Gao Yuming. BASS MASTER. The only Chinese contestant."

---