Power Cranking Smallmouth Bass
Monday, 27 June 2022
The ideal smallmouth bass crankbait is a smaller, compact, realistic, and noisy representation of bottom-scurrying prey. In this case, it’s their favorite, the crayfish. In mid June as smallmouths conclude their spawn, crayfish also awaken. Power cranking with a shallow diving crankbait will score big numbers of feisty, hungry post-spawn fish that are cruising
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
Sunlight and Smallmouths
Monday, 06 June 2022
This short quickly details the the spring transition from pre-spawn to spawn, so you can further understand locations and how to best approach them.
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips
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