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.
Prespawn Smallmouth Tactics
That’s spring bass fishing “up here.” On the Great Lakes and the natural lakes of the North Country, shallow bass rule prespawn hunts. We could fish them deeper, but why? Can’t see them. Can’t watch them fight all the way back to the boat. Not as active off the breaks. Obviously I’m prejudiced, so I asked a few experts to help pick top prespawn tactics.
How to Prevent and Remove Line Twist, the Misery of Every Angler
Line twist is the irritating scourge of every angler, as it can impede your spin casting and waste valuable fishing time. Here’s how to deal with it.
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.
Fishing Photography Gear For Any Budget
Photography and fishing have been intrinsically linked throughout history. Anglers traveling to beautiful places have documented their surroundings and trophy catches for years. And everyone knows that bragging rights must be accompanied by photographic proof. Digital cameras have gotten faster, cheaper, and a whole lot more powerful.
Top Ice Fishing Lures You Need
In last year’s Ice Fishing Guide, In-Fisherman Editor In Chief Doug Stange picked his Top 10 Ice Lures of All Time. He focused on lures for larger predatory fish: walleyes, pike, bass, lake trout. His choices were (in no particular order of preference) the Acme Kastmaster,
Seven Lessons for Bigger Winter Pike
I was so smitten with pike that I pursued the big toothy critters with abandon throughout the winter months. That drive laid a foundation in my understanding of pike and taught me lessons that I’ve been able to refine to this day.
It helped, too, that I was able to bounce my on-the-ice observations off some of the greatest minds in the science community. Four decades later, we’re landing more and bigger pike than ever before.
Late Season Catfish
Fifty-degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the magic number for channel catfish anglers in the fall. Above 50, catch rates can be fantastic, possibly the best of the year. Below 50, success depends on a lot of variables, but catch rates can still be good.