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Most Recent Articles
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Fly Fishing: A Powerful Tool for Environmental Education and Digital Detox for Young People
Disconnecting from electronics. It’s more valuable today then every before. As a child, I heard “you’re rotting your brain with that TV!” more than once. Just imagine the horror parents would have felt if we’d been able to go back in time and warn them about what was on the horizon. I’m always looking for…
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Rowboat Bass Fishing for Big Fat Hidden Largemouth
Good morning brothers. I’ve been gone for a bit – traveling (and fishing) with family, writing for a few new outlets, and just being blessed overall with some awesome new opportunities… but very busy. It’s time to get back into reviewing notes and fishing techniques that have worked well this year, and here’s an awesome…
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Be a FLEXIBLE Fisherman… It Pays Off! (Bass Fishing After a Storm)
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The jon boat was finally ready, loaded, and trailing behind me as I sped toward my favorite canal. It was the fourth week of April, and even though it was a little brisk at 65°, it was comfortable. The only thing that made me uncomfortable… was the clouds…
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Versatile Bank Fishing: 1 Bait 2 Ways for Largemouth Bass in Midwest Ponds
It’s early – but not too early – as you stand on the bank of the pond. To the novice, it looks empty. Calm. Still. Like nothing could possibly live beneath the dark surface… but you know better. The bright April days are slowly pushing the water past the chilly winter temps, and at 52°,…
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Canal Fishing for Big Bass (Simple Largemouth Bait)
*pop* *pop* *pop-pop* *POP* The rhythmic sound of what seemed like hundreds of topwater strikes made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up. I’d never heard so many bass eating all at the same time! Unbelievable. Today will be the topwater bite to end all topwater bites! Instead of launching the…
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Big Swimbaits. Big Bass.
Are you looking to up-size your swimbait artillery? The Huddleston Deluxe 8″ Rainbow Trout is a big bait that calls out the heaviest bruisers to play. It’s the most realistic trout imitator on the market (that is affordable). I couldn’t take my eyes off the immaculate detail when I first began fishing it. Each bait…
Popular Gear & Lure Articles
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The Ultimate Guide: Best Baits for Big Wisconsin Bass (Minocqua Fishing Tips & Tackle + AJ’s Base Box)
Good morning brothers. It’s chilly again, here in the Midwest. The days are shorter. The nights are colder. The daydreams are beginning to intensify. There is a picture frame that lives on our counter. One of the best investments I’ve ever made. It cycles through photos from trips we’ve taken, constantly reminding the kids about…
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Bruiser Bass in the Muck: A Mucky Muck Base Box for Fishing BIG Midwest Largemouth
Have you ever set up a Base Box? Good morning brothers. I’d like to share a few tips that have helped me minimize the pre-trip stress that comes from overthinking. You know what I’m talkin’ about: “welp, better take this, and this, and THIS, because they might bite that, or maybe this, so better grab…
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Top 8 Baits for Borrow Pits
Good afternoon brothers. Fishing starts Monday. I’m hitting the water rain or shine, enough waiting – tomorrow we’re headed to Southern Illinois for Prison Ministry. I am excited for both of these things. The other day we talked about Fishing Borrow Pits. What they are, where they come from, and how they can be repurposed:…
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Top 4 Stickbaits for Largemouth Bass (NOT a Senko!)
Stickbaits catch largemouth bass. Period. Article over! (Just kidding.) Stickbaits work… but… WHY? Why do bass attack a piece of cylindrical plastic that resembles a cigar? (Or if you’re 6, that “look like a doo-doo“.) Why do bass hang on? Carry them off? To put it simply, bass slurp them up because they resemble food.…
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Popular Bass Fishing Presentations for EVERY Feeding Strategy
Happy Friday, Patriots. Today, we’re talking fishing. Straight. No chaser. So buckle up, wipe off that booger-pickin’ finger and get to scrollin’! (Sorry… I’m already through an entire pot of coffee…) I REGRET NOTHING! LET’S TALK BASS FISHING! Last time we discussed The 4 Feeding Strategies of Largemouth Bass. We explained that Mr. Largemouth is…
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Top 5 Swim Jig Trailers / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
Even though we just took the time to list out the Top 10 Swim Jigs – the trailer that you pair with your selection is what will seal the deal. In dirty water with low visibility or in very thick cover, it might be best to go with a darker color and something with multiple,…
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Top 10 Swim Jigs / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
In the previous article we talked about when and where to use a swim jig. It’s a great way to get started and absorbing this basic knowledge will make you a better angler – but today we’re going to look at 10 rock-solid swim jig options for anglers of every skill level. (Looking for Swimbait…
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Top 5 Baits for Streams & Rivers / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
Over the past two weeks we’ve pulled together a plethora of information to explain the makeup of rivers & streams; how they change, how fish in these systems position themselves, where the food comes from – and all of this came from the note-gathering process as we prepare to explore new streams and rivers this…
More Fishing Articles
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Midwest Smallmouth Strategies (Early Spring Bass Fishing)
Good morning brothers. I’ve got the itch. No, not one that requires a cream or ointment or a salve… I got bass itches. (You should see the looks I get while scratching in public…) It’s March here in Illinois. We’ve had a few warm days, and when that happens, the creative juices get to flowin’.…
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Wisconsin Fishing: Wild Rice Lake by Copp’s Cabins
Good evening brothers. Let’s talk about Midwest Fishing. Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin… I’ve come to realize that every sub-region has it’s own unique flavor. The trick is figuring it out in your neck of the woods. Our region is known for it’s harsh winters and…
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Bank Fishing
Good morning brothers. Are you tired of the cold yet? Tired of the wind? The chapped lips? The dark dinners? Heart-attack shoveling? Split fingers? The icicles of death? (See Die Hard 2 for reference.) The SUCK? Golly man. I understand some of you masochists like to set up little tents and dangle the ‘ol worm…
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Canal Fishing
Good morning brothers. What comes to mind when you think of canal fishing? Is it slop? Ditch pickles? Mucky mayhem? Garbage fish? Hot sticky days surrounded by stagnant, stinky water? Disgusting old filth some wanker tossed from his truck as he drove over the bridge? Sure… sometimes that can be the case… but for me,…
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Spring Cleaning (Fishing for Rainbow Pike)
Good morning brothers. It’s still rather chilly here in the Land of Lincoln. Been very cold for quite a while actually. So much so that our heater couldn’t keep up last week. We had to have our furnace serviced when the weather was about -8°. It was very odd. I could hear it running, the…
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The 2 Best Seasons for Big Bass (and How To Catch Them)
Good evening brothers. The following article was sent to me by my friend Jason Kaefer over at Wild Outdoor. We’ve been talking for a while about sharing experiences and articles back and forth, which is a great idea. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats. If you would like to discuss contributing to TheMinimalistFisherman.com…
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How to Lubricate a Spinning Reel (Oil & Grease Step by Step Fishing Tutorial)
WARNING: Skipping gear maintenance is the fastest way to ruin a fishing trip. (Don’t ask me why I know this…) Good evening brothers. You’ve likely encountered some version of this quote: “Take care of your equipment and your equipment will take care of you.” I’ve heard it for years, from parents & grandparents, although recently…
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Ebike Fishing (Best Ebike for the Money)
Good morning brothers. It’s been a minute. As we close in on the (bitter, cold, dark) end of 2024, I find myself following the traditional year-end routine. Reviewing notes. Looking at stats. Checking to see what fishing goals were achieved, and dreaming about setting new goals for 2025. It’s a beautiful, never-ending cycle. One that…
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Fishing is Built for Memory Making
Good morning brothers! I hope that you have experienced the tightest of lines this season so far. We’re well into the “dog days” now in Illinois, and the bite has slowed to a crawl. You can still get ’em, but it requires a lot more patience and stealth. One method that has worked for me…
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Catch MORE BASS with The 80/20 Rule (not what you think…)
Good morning brothers. It’s raining here in the Midwest. Rained yesterday, too… and the day before that. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like it’s stopped raining this spring. At night the steady drip-drip-drip of droplets cascading off the gutters is calming. Peaceful. In the morning there’s splattering and pattering on the outer sill of the windows…
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2024: The Return… and Writing for Midwest Outdoors
Good morning brothers. I hope that all of you are having a great 2024! I’ve been quiet lately and wanted explain why… Last year, one of my big goals was to get a few articles published on different websites. Believe it or not… this was actually way more difficult than I anticipated. There are many…
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Illinois Topwater Bass Fishing (Post Spawn)
Good morning brothers. The Post Spawn Period, I have come to learn, is surprisingly unique. Bass can have an insane case of lockjaw, and at times they simply will not bite even when you can see them peppered throughout the shallows. This is frustrating. Bass can also be insanely active during this time (if you…
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Illinois Bass Fishing During Post Spawn (Tough Bite Tips)
Good morning brothers. Isn’t it amazing how much a body of water – or more importantly, the bite – can change from day to day? This can be true during any time of the year, but here in Illinois the months of April, May and June can offer up some of the best largemouth bass…
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How To Catch Your Next PB (Personal Best)
Good morning brothers. Here’s a fun question: will Minimalist Fishing lead to your next personal best? Yes. Full stop. Why Does Minimalist Fishing Leads to More PBs? The primary tenet of Minimalist Fishing is to constantly optimize. Optimize yourself, optimize your knowledge, optimize your experiences, and finally – optimize your gear. Gear is mentioned last…
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Ron D’s Bait Modifications: V1
Good morning brothers. Periodically readers will contact me to share tips, tricks, strategies – even send me physical gear and lures for use & review. This is really cool, because when someone takes the time (and pays for shipping) to share something they like – I take it very seriously. Brother Ron D and I…
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Vintage Fishing Ads: A Stroll Down Memory Lane
Good Morning Brothers! First & foremost, I own nothing on this page. It’s a collection of fishing ads plucked from social media sites, forums, plus extras that were emailed to me from readers. It’s just a fun trip down memory lane, so scroll on to check out some Vintage Fishing Ads from over the years.…
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Best Baits for Midwest Bank Fishing (Top 3 List)
Good morning brothers! Have you ever stopped to think about the baits you would pack to fish from the bank if you had to limit yourself to just your top 3? We could talk to 10 different anglers… and we’d probably get 10 different combinations! That said, allow me to share My Top 3 Midwest…
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Important Tips for Fishing With Your Wife
Good morning brothers. Have you ever fished with your wife? Yeah? So… how did that go?! Hold up: before we go down the all-too-common path of “my wife drives me nuts” and “my wife is such a nag” and “I love hiding from my wife while I’m fishing” memes… let me go ahead and stop…
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The New Jon Boat Battery: THANK YOU READERS!
Good morning brothers! I write today from the snow-covered Land of Lincoln. (Yes… already… ugh…) This year, I was able to avoid getting stranded in the ‘ol jon boat – this is largely because of your generosity! (Thank you very much!) I bought a new battery with your donations at the very beginning of the…
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How Much is TOO MUCH to Spend on Fishing Gear??
Good morning brothers. Please note: my wife did not secretly write this article… truthfully, she doesn’t really say anything about my fishing expenditures… because she benefits from them as well (see The Ultimate Minocqua Fishing Guide for proof). She also knows that I love here – but I wouldn’t listen. She knew who I was…
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2 Topwater Fishing Secrets: Dingers vs Frogs?!
Good morning brothers. Today, I’m going to let you in on a little secret for packing light and fishing mucky water. Well, 2 secrets actually… let’s jump right in. 1. The “belly” of your topwater lure is more important than the “back.” Do you know why this is? It’s because bass look up at your…
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The 5-Minute Jerkbait Guide for BIG BASS by Rick Vogelbacher
Good morning, brothers. Have you ever struggled to keep up with something? I have, and to be honest – I’m having a rough go of it lately… What do we do as fishermen when we get a free second? We fish. Fair enough. I’ve been fishing as much as possible lately. That means I haven’t…
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MONSTER BASS at Snapping Turtle Pond!
Good morning brothers. So, I have these hooks… and they are vicious looking little dudes… but, I haven’t been able to find a good use for them for years. Gear that sits like this, unused, needs to be tossed, round-filed – minimized. However, while rolling them back and forth in my hands, lightning struck. On…
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3-Second Fishing Rod Holder (Very Clever Product)
Good morning brothers! I am happy to report that my ridiculous nose-infection has dropped back down, from 100% swollen to about 12%. So, that means it’s back to work, and back to fishin’! In the following video I wanted to show you (and install) a very clever rod holder I just purchased. Earlier this year…
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2 WARNINGS for ALL FISHERMEN! (I’m in SEVERE PAIN right now…)
Good afternoon brothers. I almost didn’t make this video because… well… LOOK AT ME. I’m a grotesque mess, and this infection (or whatever it is) came as a direct result of not being careful while fishing shallow, WARM, bacteria-loaded mucky ponds. But I mean… how can you say no when the bass are there, and…
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Don’t Give Me Any Lip! (A Lipless Crankbait Story)
A few months back I received a “care package” from Ronald Richards, who I affectionately refer to as Brother Ron. That package contained about 20 lipless crankbaits – different sizes of the Bomber Ratl “RRR” A. It just blew me away. I asked him to tell me a bit more about why he loved these…
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Father & Son Bonding Through Fishing
Good morning brothers. It’s Monday, and there is a YouTubes I’d like to show you. First, a quick story: when I sat down at my computer to edit this video, that’s all it was supposed to be: a fishing video. With fish in it. And baits. And fishy stuff. And fishing tips. The end. But……
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The Snakebite Rig: A Weedless Heavy-Finesse Presentation for Bass Hiding in Tall Grass & Thick Vegetation
Good morning brothers. We’re at it again! It’s early and I’m sitting in the main room of the boathouse that rests on the shore of the Manitowish Chain O Lakes to begin this article, coffee in hand, thinking about all the different ways to approach the fishing these next two weeks. We had big storms…
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Kayak Fishing New Lakes in Illinois
Good morning brothers. One great thing about owning a small, lightweight kayak, is that you can carry it into a LOT of different places without breaking the bank… or breaking your back. It’s hard work, but since one of our main goals this year is to find new, remote areas to fish… hard work is…
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This is the Price of Smallmouth (A Fishing Story)
“This is brutal… I’m not sure how much more of this I can take…” The weight of the kayak had increased dramatically over the last several hours. Maybe it was because a gallon of water now sloshed within the cockpit, back and forth, with every ankle-threatening step along the loose gray rocks that continuously shifted…
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Is the F4 Rig Different than the California Rig for Bass Fishing?
Good morning brothers. I’ve been in the field a lot lately. Since this is my last full season in Illinois, one major goal is to catch over 400 bass – not dinks, mind you – but good fish. This works out to landing 70+ bass per month, every month, May through October. “But how is…
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Why are Professional Anglers Posting on Social Media SO MUCH?!
WARNING: this post is strictly my OPINION. Read it with caution, especially if you are easily butthurt… I’m about to smash your shibboleth. You may have noticed in the past several years that professional anglers are taking over places like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. I’m not talking about Billy Bob that likes to fish his…
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Where You Choose to Fish Makes a Difference
Good morning brothers. It’s been a few days since we posted an article… but I assure you, the reason for the delay is good. I’ve been fishing. Oh Lord, have I been fishing… fishing with my boys, fishing by myself, fishing new areas, fishing in the kayak, huffing & puffing through the woods, falling through…
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Fishing with my Son
Good morning brothers. This past weekend I went fishing with my son for the first time. Not the first time ever, mind you, but the first time this year. Last season we only fished together a few times, and while editing some videos of us casting a blown out creek, I realized two things: Talk…
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How to Fish a Jerkbait: Part 1 – Jerkbait Gear Selection
Good morning brothers. A few minutes ago, my left pointer finger was impaled with the razor-sharp rear treble of a Rapala 08 Husky Jerk. Anytime I do anything… there’s always blood. I’m not even mad. We’re going to talk about jerkbaits today, and believe me – I’m the perfect guy to lead this presentation. Why?…
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Muckin’ Largemouth Bass from the Bank
Good morning, brothers. Muckin’ bass is something that many of us have experienced. It involves manually removing bass from… well… loads of muck. In 2019 when I started The Minimalist Fisherman, I had made the incorrect assumption that cover like this was simply unfishable. “Just look at all that nasty algae. No bass in there!…
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Best Way to Tie a Fluorocarbon Leader to Braid
Good morning brothers. I was sitting up last night tying rigs. We’ve had yet another cold snap here in Illinois, with nighttime temps dropping below 30 degrees. There is an upcoming prison ministry trip scheduled for Friday, so it looks like things have been postponed just a bit longer… no matter… this too shall pass.…
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How to Fish CHOCOLATE MILK (High Muddy Creeks & Rivers)
Good afternoon, brothers. Yesterday I was going over a trip from last June while working on a video for the fishing vlog. We had been getting rain off and on for about 72 – 48 hours – but nothing super heavy… so I thought I could go out and have another day of smallie bashin’……
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What are Borrow Pits and Can You Fish Them?
Good morning, brothers. I came across a video last night, where a YouTuber was complaining about the amount of people on their favorite local shoreline. It certainly does seem like fishing has increased in popularity. Unfortunately, fishing etiquette has not increased at a proportional rate. It’s not uncommon to have people, pets, or any number…
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Reader Feedback: Light Line Fishing Techniques w/ Brother Ron D
Good morning brothers! I hope all is well – the weather has gone from over 80 degrees to the low 30’s with snow in the last 48 hours here in Illinois… which has just destroyed my mood… No matter. Life goes on. I wanted to share a few tips with y’all that a good friend…
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Reader Feedback: Does Minimalist Fishing REALLY WORK?!
Good morning, brothers. I think it’s time to start a new thing… Every day I get emails from readers and subscribers that have become friends. I am blessed by these messages – they make my heart happy. Keep ’em comin! Some men want to talk about fishing alone – others share stories about their family,…
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WARNING: Read This Before Spooling Up with Braided Fishing Line!
Good morning, brothers. This is a warning. It’s also not as dramatic as that just sounded… These days… everything is a code red… but I want to warn you about a problem with fishing line. Specifically, spooling with braid. The Benefits of Braided Fishing Line Braided fishing line is strong, slippery, limp & easy to…
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Be a Good Person First. A Good Fisherman Second.
Sometimes the good Lord puts us where we’re supposed to be – not where we want to be. Good morning, brothers. I was sitting in the church pews with my boys this last weekend – all 4 of them – and their very patient mother. Sitting in church is a good thing. Even in a…
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How Much Fishing Line is Left on my Spool?
Good morning brothers. Have you ever wondered how much fishing line you have left on your spool? I’m not asking if you’ve wondered how much is sitting on the spool of your reel – I’m asking if you are looking for a way to tell how much fishing line you have left after spooling up?…
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Set Your Fishing Goals: The Plan for Midwest Bass Fishing & Beyond…
Tap… tap tap tap… tap tap tap TAPTAPTAPTAP… My leg is about to bounce right through this desk. I’m jittery. Sitting here in the office, cold wind blowing hard outside the window. Thinking about my mess. Thinking about shortcomings… but hopeful about changes that will materialize this fishing season. As you can see from these…
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What Affects the Strike Window of Largemouth Bass?
Good morning Brothers. Yesterday, I did a little bit of online shoppin’. Picked up 3 new jerkbaits in the exact same finish and size. Should be here in a few days, and I’m pretty excited – #8 Husky Jerk (two hooks, 3.125″) in Olive Ghost. Why am I telling you this? Well… because… buying 3…
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Largemouth Bass Strike Windows
Mornin’ Brothers. The days are getting longer. Have you noticed? I sure have… as someone who suffers from the “winter grumblies” (which is a cute way to describe “seasonal depression”) the extra sunlight sparks something in my soul. It’s as if a fire has been lit, and suddenly this feeling of opportunity takes over. “There’s…
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Prevent Fishing Injuries (3 Easy Steps)
Afternoon, Brothers. Fishing injuries are a real thing. You know this, but guys that don’t fish aggressively would hear that and think: “Dude how in the world do you injure yourself when you’re fishing?!” Well… it’s really not that hard… One misstep and KABOOM! You’re in the drink… But these injuries are easy to recognize,…
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