Drought and Drawdown Smallmouths
Monday, 23 October 2023
Drought and drawdown-plagued waterways present obstacles to finding and catching fish. Welcome to 2023 on the Wisconsin River system. Whether due to drought or it’s the annual fall drawdown, many anglers fishing rivers and reservoirs for smallmouth are challenged by these situations.
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Swimbaits You Need This Fall
Monday, 16 October 2023
During fall’s entirety, paddletails and swimbaits dominate. When this bite peaks, the boat goes through 2 or more packages of tails per day.
- Published in Gear Reviews, Smallmouth Bass
Finesse Football Jigs for Fall
Monday, 09 October 2023
I stumbled onto this fish catcher back in 2019 while perusing some smallmouth bass fishing pages on Facebook. As a football jig enthusiast and hoarder, I am glad I checked out a new product that I found works so well on our crayfish infested northwoods lakes.
- Published in Gear Reviews, Smallmouth Bass
Multi-Tasking Fall Smallmouths
Sunday, 01 October 2023
Winter is looming. Smallmouth bass know it and also prepare for it. By early October, water temperatures have fallen below 60 throughout much of their northern range, and fall turnover is in the process of completion. Shorter daylight in conjunction with plummeting water temps and completion of turnover will influence smallmouths to congregate heavily
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
LIVE! Nude Minnows
Sunday, 01 October 2023
“It’s cheating!” most proclaim. “They’re too expensive!” some even complain. “Whatever puts them in the boat!” I exclaim. Disallowed in tournaments. Too expensive for a dozen to purchase from bait shops. Messy and a burden to maintain and keep alive. These are just a few excuses for not wanting live minnows, and I get
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Why You Need to Fish Flats in Early Fall
Monday, 18 September 2023
Beginning in early September, we drift shallow flats and beach shorelines. While most boats are still positioned around deep weedlines and offshore structure, we concentrate on the sand flats and inside weedlines of shorelines. The fishing improves with each passing day, and gets really good by late month. We zig and zag with the
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
September is My Favorite Smallmouth Month
Monday, 11 September 2023
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.
- Published in Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Tips for More Fall Smallmouth
Friday, 01 September 2023
Most smallmouth die-hards have September and October blocked off on their calendars as the best time to catch giants. Meanwhile, a select few do the same for November until waters freeze over, if the weather and fishery allow. From the world-renown Great Lakes fisheries to the inland waters across the north country, smallmouths are
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Starting Lineup for Fall Smallmouths
Friday, 01 September 2023
As water temperatures gradually cool, the lakes eventually turn over. Smallmouths slide deeper to the point of wintering, and the tackle box closes. As these events simultaneously occur, my boat’s tackle selection lessens each week – and the majority of gear and tackle I’ve carried up to this point will no longer be needed.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
