SMALLMOUTH BASS ARTICLES

By Andrew Ragas During the dog days of summer on many north country lakes, big smallmouth bass become creatures of the night. When nighttime calls, and most anglers are asleep, the fish go nocturnal and feed.

By Andrew Ragas With pristine waters comes difficult decisions to entice big smallmouth bass. Finesse presentations aren’t required on every clear water fishery, but they greatly help with catching more fish and are a can’t-miss tactic, especially in mid summer.

By Andrew Ragas Bass anglers sometimes wonder why certain rivers of Wisconsin’s flowage belt fish best in spring and go unproductive in summer. Understanding the dynamics and little-studied stream migrations between river and reservoir smallmouth bass will help answer these questions.

By Andrew Ragas Gin clear waters greatly intimidate anglers, driving them away from some of the best smallmouth waters there are. Anglers fishing these waters usually doubt their skill, but smallmouths easily counter and often oblige, striking baits from great distance aided by bright sunlight and its Smirnoff colored water.

By Andrew Ragas It’s the weekend of Wisconsin’s gamefish season opener. As I tortuously wait for up to 24 inches of ice and slush to melt, I have nothing better to do than fantasize over the plethora of 5 pounders I am set to catch thereafter. Fishing in the north country is shifting from ice

By Andrew Ragas The wind plays a role in determining the outcome of all outdoor sports, including fishing. For smallmouth bass anglers in particular, a wind capable of warming water temperatures plays a significant role in determining early spring fish locations and feeding habits. A beneficial wind and its corresponding warming water temperatures drive feeding

By Andrew Ragas Smallmouth bass prefer sand, rocks and wood in conjunction to major depth contour. However, they can also be found using weedlines at certain times of the year. On natural lakes and reservoirs, anglers can expect to find big smallmouths in the underfished habitat of weeds.

By Andrew Ragas My compiled list of top ten smallmouth bass trips and destinations has a few things in common, which are personally important to me: The abilities to produce sustainable boatloads of trophy fish; Public access without heavy angling pressure; Minimal travel time and the fewest expenses so that it’s easier on the pocketbook;