Andrew Ragas splits time between the Chicago area and Wisconsin's Northwoods. Based in Minocqua, WI, he specializes in trophy bass fishing and offers guided trips from May thru October. While big bass is the passion, he dabbles in multi-species as well. He may be visited online at www.northwoodsbass.com
Spring time is crappie time, and for me the first prolonged warm spell in spring signifies the arrival of the crappies in shallow water. Schools of spawning crappies will migrate from main lake areas, seeking the thickest, most luscious shallow water cover to lay eggs in protection. Wood cover, weed beds, and bulrushes are
As a true power fisherman, my favorite way to catch spring smallmouths is with a jerk bait. During spring when bass are in the pre-spawn phase, cruising the shallows and staging outside of spawning areas, this technique allows me to cover maximum amounts of water in any conditions, and allows me to elicit the
Since lakes vary so widely with depth, clarity and cover options for bass during the pre-spawn period, it’s difficult to anticipate or define exactly what bass may do under post-frontal conditions. However, if smallmouths are stacked and staging outside of spawning sites, then you’ve got a chance. The odds of catching them will be
