Published articles by Andrew Ragas. The most comprehensive bass fishing library for Wisconsin bass fishing and across the Midwest.
Spring Smallmouth Hot Spots
Wednesday, 01 May 2024
Usually by late April, another spring season has arrived – for me, anyways. The cabin gets opened for the year, I pick-up my boat from winter storage, and scramble to make preparations to fish within the next day or two. It’s the most exciting time of the year!
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
River Smallmouths Early and Late
Monday, 22 April 2024
My region’s river systems provide some of the best and most exciting smallmouth fishing early and late in the year. This year (2024), will remain to be seen, as we are in a major drought right now.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Location-Driven Largemouths
Monday, 15 April 2024
In my region, the spring season is short and condensed, lasting from ice-out through spawn. Its duration varies each year, as it relates to both.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Largemouth Bass, Short Stories and Timely Tips
The Spring Playbook for Largemouths
Monday, 01 April 2024
Spring offers early season largemouth opportunities and a bevy of shallow water action. Largemouths awaken quickly from their winter dormancies to feed heavily in preparation for their impending spawn. At fisheries they’ve been dialed in, their whereabouts and behavioral tendencies can be predictable. April and May will be the best two months to try
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Largemouth Bass
Conquering Cold Water Smallmouths
Monday, 01 April 2024
Cold weather and water temperatures affect anglers more mentally than physically. Cold affects smallmouths too, but not as drastically as it does to humans. Isn’t it funny how smallmouths are heartier than people?
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Early Season Backwaters and Ditches
Monday, 18 March 2024
From shallow sloughs and oxbows winding off of major river systems, to the slop-choked bays and flood plains of lowland flowages, and the ditches and small creeks inletting into drainage lakes, backwaters offer unreachable populations of big largemouths that are least pursued.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Largemouth Bass, Short Stories and Timely Tips
Ice Out Smallmouths on Northern Lakes
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Most years, I strive to be the first angler on the water targeting smallmouths at ice out. Doing this well before everyone else has become a unique fishing experience. While catching smallmouths from 39 to 42-degree water temperature is not an easy task across every Northwoods lake, results can be achieved if you are
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
When to Camp For Bites
Monday, 11 March 2024
In the past, some fishing partners have given me grief for fishing too slow and methodical. There is a reason for this madness, which has been developed over several years of patterning big bass and understanding their locations as it relates to season, feeding times, and behavior on many of the specific waters I
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips
Things I’ve Dismissed in the Past and Wished I Hadn’t
Thursday, 07 March 2024
I don’t live with any regrets, but I do wish I had a different perspective and opinion of some fishing related concepts and products long before I was convinced on them.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Gear Reviews