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
Wednesday, 05 January 2022 / Published in Gear Reviews

Northwoods Bass 2022 Gear List

  With open water season somewhere between 3 to 5 months out depending upon ice-out in spring, and winter boredom exceedingly settling in, I wanted to compile a list of absolutely necessary essential products that help catch more fish and should be on your upcoming shopping lists.  These are all items we fish with often,
Friday, 19 November 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – End of Year 2021

Dear 2021, I sincerely hope a season like you never comes around again in the future. You gave me headache, heartache, anger and frustration. The bad days of fishing outnumbered the good. I should never come home from the lake feeling lost and helpless. There aren’t too many positives right now. First ice is now
Friday, 19 November 2021 / Published in Gear Reviews

Top Smallmouth Bass Baits of 2021

By Andrew Ragas At the end of every season, I reveal the secret baits that caught the most fish for customers and I. 2021 was an extraordinary season for its excessive angling pressure, challenging weather and conditions, and very difficult smallmouth fishing.
Wednesday, 13 October 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report, September thru mid October, 2021

We’ve recently concluded one of the longest Indian Summers in history. As a result, September fishing was a hit or a miss. October has actually been far better in comparison. Lately, we’ve been experiencing 1 hot window per day and the rest is history.
Tuesday, 17 August 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – August 2021

Summer season has come and gone. For me personally, it was a blur, and one NOT to remember.
Thursday, 08 July 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report, June and July, 2021

Our smallmouth fishing has been a tossed salad since mid May. One day will be a 40 fish day, followed by totals of 15, 10, or 6 the next three. That’s fishing! Observing smallmouth bass behavior and how a fishery and individual specimens react positively and negatively to daily conditions is enlightening and educational. One
Sunday, 06 June 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – May and early June 2021

Having seen weather doing it all since 2020, I am certain the perfect fishing day no longer exists. Some trip days, we get highs in the 40’s that gives us a non-existent pre-spawn. The next day, temps could increase by 40 to 50 degrees as they did frequently in May, and on these disastrous heat
Thursday, 06 May 2021 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – Early May, 2021

Pics overload from opener weekend. Had a good time with family knocking out the other species first. Once bass trips start next week on Monday midday, it’ll be SMB’s for my boat and guests every day.