Spring pre-spawn smallmouth patterns are solidified across so many fisheries throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes. Wherever in these regions you’re destined to fish, the smallmouth bass populations of natural lakes, rivers, and reservoirs are guaranteed to be feeding heavily at this time.  

  Legendary hockey player Wayne Gretzky once brilliantly summarized, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” You’ll never succeed unless you try. Additionally, that means you have to take action if you want dreams to become a reality.

  By Andrew Ragas Much has been studied, discussed, and written about in recent years about fall season river migrations when smallmouth travel downstream to their overwintering sites. On your river, smallmouth could be year-round residents. On my specific rivers in Wisconsin, most of their smallmouth populations are non-resident. Through personal experience and data to

By Andrew Ragas Smallmouth bass are notorious for their peculiarity and curiosities. Oftentimes, they’ll sneak up on baits merely to check them out. With similar frequency, they will completely ignore everything altogether until you decipher what’ll get their attention. While other times, they will crush almost anything in sight. Anglers who are passionate about smallmouth

By Andrew Ragas The stage is set for early fall. Big bass bonanzas are on the minds of anglers who are planning late season smallmouth trips. Upon making final arrangements and departure, a week of incoming warming weather is on the long-range forecast. Water temperatures that should be cooling into the upper 50’s for high’s

By Andrew Ragas September is a month of transition and changing of seasons. With shortening daylight and colder nights, the entire food chain reacts and acclimates to these changes. On many clear water fisheries with sand bottom composition, trophy smallmouth return the shallows where they are most comfortable in cooling waters, and roam sand beaches.

Andrew Ragas It’s early May, and we’re just a few days removed from Wisconsin’s gamefish season opener. The snow banks and memories winter left behind are yet to melt, ice-out on many northwoods lakes is only starting, and fish haven’t woken up from their winter slumber. The anticipated future forecast for the month is cold,