Small Streams, Big Bass
Thursday, 07 June 2018
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.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Five Bass Fishing Philosophies
Thursday, 01 March 2018
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.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Catch and Release Smallmouth Fishing, with Trokar Live Bait Hooks
Tuesday, 21 November 2017
I don’t promote the use of live bait fishing unless it’s done responsibly and 100% catch & release survival is assured. When nothing else works to catch fish, it’s a last resort tactic for me. But to others it’s understandably a top choice, and unbeatable in cold water periods.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Gear Reviews, Smallie Blog, Smallmouth Bass
Fall Smallmouth Bass Strategies: No Shame with the Live Bait Game
Thursday, 21 September 2017
By Andrew Ragas Bass fishing purists and elitists revile it. The professionals consider it cheating. Tournament organizers and circuits ban it, and its competitor jersey-clad fishermen laugh at it in haste. At the turn of the coldwater period, what’s an angler to do when nothing else in the tackle box works and the day is
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Bass in the Grass
Thursday, 06 July 2017
By Andrew Ragas Clustered throughout northern Wisconsin’s wilderness landscape is the upper Midwest’s most extensive collection of inland freshwater lakes. From infertile rocky oligotrophic cold water lakes, to fertile habitat mesotrophic lakes, and heavily vegetated and nutrient-rich eutrophic waters, the northwoods has a lake type for all bass fishermen and their preferred styles of angling.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Becoming a Smallmouth Cartographer
Saturday, 15 April 2017
Since youth, I’ve had a unique interest and fascination for mapping and cartography. Whether I publish articles, present a seminar, or host my guests for a day on the water, one of the many subjects I will touch upon is how smallmouth bass (and largemouths too!) relate to underwater structure and cover, and why they
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Boats and Marine, Smallmouth Bass
Spring Smallmouth Checklist
Monday, 20 March 2017
By Andrew Ragas For many bass anglers in Wisconsin, some of the best fishing of the year takes place as soon as the Wisconsin northern zone opens on the first Saturday of May. Rain or shine, the fishing will be good if you’re prepared ahead of time.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Tips for Catching More Smallmouths This Season
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
By Andrew Ragas With ice fishing coming to a close, there’s no better time to begin preparing for this year’s open water season, and evaluating bass fishing expectations. As a new season approaches, I often analyze my performance from the previous year, and review techniques and strategies that worked and didn’t work, and build upon
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass Outside of the Box Presentations
Tuesday, 08 March 2016
By Andrew Ragas Regardless of how much we know about bass fishing, and the methods we employ to catch smallmouth, the tackle industry and the world of bass fishing continues to evolve. The status quo and modern mainstream techniques rule the minds of bass anglers. As new techniques and product introductions gain momentum and popularity,
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass