Fishing tips and short stories by Andrew Ragas. In this open-access section, we share timely and useful information. The most comprehensive bass fishing library for Wisconsin bass fishing and across the Midwest.
Uprooting Spring Crappies
Monday, 30 May 2022
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
- Published in Crappie Fishing, Short Stories and Timely Tips
Suspending Jerkbaits for Coldfront Smallmouths
Monday, 23 May 2022
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
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Spring Post-Frontal Smallmouths
Monday, 16 May 2022
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
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Sunny Days Make for the Best Smallmouth Fishing
Monday, 09 May 2022
Have you ever wondered why spring smallmouth fishing can be frustrating and challenging? On good weather days, fish are caught. On bad weather days, very little gets caught. It’s no secret that fish activity this time of year is all relative to sunlight!
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Lipless Largemouth Bass
Monday, 02 May 2022
Lipless crankbaits are one of the best solutions for conquering coldfronts and successful early spring bass fishing. With many lipless crankbaits featuring lifelike patterns and baitfish finishing, they are some of the most effective lures on the market to entice ferocious strikes.
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Springtime Excellence with Rapala X-Raps
Monday, 25 April 2022
When smallmouth bass are staging for the spawn, I consider a suspending jerkbait the ultimate lure. It’s the first thing I turn to before anything else. Smallmouths aren’t on top and they aren’t on the bottom. They want to eat as they prepare for the spawn, but the water is still pretty cold so
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallie Blog
Suspending Jerkbaits for Pre-Spawn Smallmouths
Monday, 18 April 2022
Early spring beckons jerkbaits from tackle trays on lakes all over the country. Smallmouth bass find suspending jerkbaits difficult to resist as they stage to spawn.
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Dynamic Lures J-Specs for Smallmouth Bass
Monday, 11 April 2022
The best bites for early spring smallmouths tend to occur in shallow, warming bays. But fish can also suspend and be in transit between wintering areas and spring locations. Typical of early spring, they will also concentrate along the base of breaks in deeper water leading up to shallow flats and spawning grounds that
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Backwater Basics for Largemouths
Monday, 04 April 2022
Springtime brings warming weather and water temperatures. In return, abundant schools of pre-spawn bass invade the shallows to stage for spawn. Specific lake locations that conduct heat are instrumental in scoring early season bass fishing success. The areas that warm quickest are determined by underwater structure and the lake’s geography. Typically, shallow bays located
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips