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
Friday, 06 July 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass

Mysteries of the Deep: Schooling on Cisco Smallmouth

By Andrew Ragas Lakes are the lifeblood of the northwoods. From the expansive Great Lakes to the inland lakes throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and Northwestern Ontario, a large percentage of our lakes surface acreage and water columns from top to bottom have gone unexplored.
Thursday, 07 June 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass

Small Streams, Big Bass

By Andrew Ragas We fish our flowing waters by wading, kayaking, bank fishing or floating them with small craft. At some point in our angling careers, we likely cut our teeth on fishing small rivers and streams due to their availability, affordability, aesthetics, and convenience to fish.
northwoods bass
Thursday, 07 June 2018 / Published in Fishing Reports

Northwoods Bass Fishing Report – May and Early June, 2018

Hi all! Sorry for the delay in publishing the first official report of the 2018 season. Too much fishing, work, and a 1-week vacation to Florida in between has resulted in very little available writing time for me. I have lots of information, stories, and incredible fish pictures to share from the month of May
Tuesday, 17 April 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Largemouth Bass

Swim Jigs, Northwoods Style

By Andrew Ragas Bass fishing can become as technical and complicated as we make it. Often times, anglers become too fixated on unnecessary extras rather than focusing on the presentation and strategy at hand. Like some of our fishing strategies, jig fishing can become a complicated matter due to the wide variety of jig head
Monday, 12 March 2018 / Published in Smallie Blog

Wisconsin Spring Conservation Congress 2018 – Help Save The Bass Fisheries!

On Monday, April 09, 2018, the Wisconsin Conservation Congress its hosting its annual spring hearings held in each Wisconsin county. This year a few proposals are hitting the advisory board concerning our state’s great bass fishing. These proposals could severely degrade fishing and a number of bass fisheries. Please attend your nearest location and cast
Monday, 12 March 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Largemouth Bass

My Favorite Early-season Fishing Outings

By Andrew Ragas I am biased but blessed. I get to fish and guide in relative bass fishing obscurity for half the year. Having spent nearly all 31 years of my life up to this point fishing the waters around Minocqua, WI, there is no better bass fishing destination for catch and release only fishing,
northwoods bass fishing adventures
Thursday, 01 March 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass

Five Bass Fishing Philosophies

By Andrew Ragas Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters that encompasses knowledge, values, and reason. I don’t believe Pythagoras was a fisherman himself, but his thoughtful teachings are still being applied to scholars of all subjects, including fishing.
northwoods bass fishing adventures
Monday, 12 February 2018 / Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallie Blog

Overlooked Bass Fishing Routines for 2018

By Andrew Ragas Routines are described as detailed courses of action to be followed regularly. In a bass fishing sense, when preparing for your season of fishing, a systemic method of preparation will make you a more efficient fisherman. Over time, it will become second nature to you, and repeated annually.