Rivers and Flowages for Spring Smallmouths
Monday, 08 May 2023
Each spring, I preach fishing waters that warm fastest. To catch potentially the most active fish, and to tap into premier smallmouth fisheries whose populations are further and deeper established into the spawning season, I always fish and guide on the larger river systems and their flowages to begin the season.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Microwaves
Monday, 01 May 2023
Last May (May 15, 2022) on one of northern Wisconsin’s largest inland lakes, my customers and I launched to chilly 45-degree water temperatures. Cold water be damned, we weren’t going to let it prevent us a good day. Despite the lake’s cold water, what we had working in our favor soon after was sunshine
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Top Spring Smallmouth Patterns and Tactics
Monday, 01 May 2023
Ice melt is ongoing as we speak. Some lakes such as mid-size lakes, flowages, and river systems are open and ready to go, while the largest waterbodies will be opening within the coming few days. Undoubtedly, the best few weeks of the year are now here.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Making Magic with Finesse
Monday, 01 May 2023
Finesse fishing for smallmouths has ignited angler interest. More anglers are turning to long spinning rod and high-capacity reel set-ups for achieving long casts with light line presentations.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
River Smallmouths with Z-Man’s Chatterbait WillowVibe
Thursday, 13 April 2023
Faux summer this week has the fish woken up and hungry. A few of you saw my post from last night on my Facebook page. Here’s a recap of yesterday’s great outing.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Gear Reviews, Smallmouth Bass
LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!
Monday, 10 April 2023
After ice-out, smallmouth undertake structural migrations from wintering sites to their staging locations, utilizing the lake’s contours and breaklines as their trail in order to reach these temporary destinations. Where they stage and hold until water temperature becomes ideal for invading the shallows will often be situated within a close range from their spawning
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouths the Northwoods Way
Saturday, 01 April 2023
“Andrew, what’s your favorite lure of all-time for catching smallmouths?” my readers and customers most frequently ask.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Starting Lineup for Spring Smallmouths
Saturday, 01 April 2023
Across many northern waters, smallmouth activity begins immediately after ice-out. Where catch and release-only regulations are implemented in Michigan and Wisconsin, it’s now possible to target smallmouths in spring while other gamefish species remain closed, the Great Lakes fisheries might not yet be ready, and other states and provinces aren’t yet open.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Rippin’ Rap Smallmouths
Saturday, 01 April 2023
Winter relents. Spring creeps in. Ice has finished melting, and we have open water once again. At this time, smallmouths are schooling together and stacked; programmed to undergo structural migrations to where they will stage and set-up in preparation for their spawn which could be several weeks away. This process begins well before ice-out,
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
