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Latest Minimalist Fishing Articles & Videos.
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Wisconsin Bass Fishing in Manitowish Waters: Patterns & Pivots
The loons were calling somewhere around the bend as Dad eased the boat away from the dock. The water was flat. Glass calm. Coffee was…
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Is The 80/20 Bass Fishing Rule False? Yes… Unless You Use It This Way…
It seemed like the rain would never stop. It had rained and rained and rained… not a cute little sprinkle. Buckets. So when the storms…
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Moving from Illinois to Arkansas
When you say it out loud – because it’s finally an upcoming event, no longer an idea – it sounds like someone else is speaking.…
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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.…
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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…
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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.…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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Most Popular Minimalist Fishing 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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Midwest Outdoors
AJ Hauser @ MWO.
Fishing Booker
AJ Hauser @ Fishing Booker.
AJ Hauser @ Narcissistland.
Minimalist Fishing Archive.
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 –…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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”)…
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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…