Fishing Bass During the Transition From Summer to Fall
There is one thing you must keep in mind concerning "Season Change". It doesn't always mean that there will be a hungry bass next to every log, under every boathouse, hiding in every weed bed, or suspended off every creek channel point.
Fishing Smallmouth on Light Line
Scan the Internet for light-line smallmouth tactics and we see players shying away from the cutting edge like coyotes from a fire. Most want us to believe 8- and 10-pound lines are light. One tried to convince me 30-pound braid with a 10-pound leader is “light.”
Rigging Soft Bass Baits Correctly
Balance is the goal when tipping bass fishing jigs with trailers. A trailer can’t be overbearing or the package rolls out of control. Hook-sets become problematic. Few anglers would look at a jighead in the nose of a 7-inch soft swimbait and think it looks right.
Ice Fishing for Smallmouth
On a broad expanse of Great Lakes ice, wind snapped the sides of our shelters like flags left out in a hurricane. A thick layer of clouds dimmed midday to create a late-evening atmosphere. But over the din of flapping tents came the constant hoot-and-holler of fishermen hooking up. First to my left, then my right, and suddenly my Thorne Brothers Professional doubled over.
Drop Shot Smallmouth
Drop-shotting smallmouth bass has come of age, no longer a niche finesse fad, but a mainstream tactic as critical as crankbait mastery or flippin’ in many situations. Even dedicated power fishermen acknowledge the facts and always have a spinning rod or two on board.
Crayfish - The Key to Locating Bass, Walleye or Pike
A great way to locate fish in midsummer is to find crayfish. Just about every kind of fish likes to chew on crayfish, especially young crayfish before they get too big and their outside skeleton gets too hard. Bass, walleye, pike and even big panfish like to munch down crayfish.
Shake, Rattle, and Roll for Summer Smallmouth Bass
I’m a life-long smallmouth addict! I’ve had opportunities to sample some of the best fisheries across the U.S. Yet the thrill of chasing these special fish isn’t diminished when I can’t cast a line on world-class water. If I must work a little harder to catch fish, it makes the reward that much sweeter.