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 ways to stay busy while staying off screens. Obviously that’s a big part of what we do here. Develop real skills. Share them with the next generation. Fly fishing? That’s been on the to-do list, especially with the upcoming more to Arkansas & The White River region. So when Adrian Satué Paúles contacted me about a week ago to discuss his Fly Fishing Summer Camps, I was intrigued. Check out what he thinks below, and take a moment to check out: https://flyfishingcamps.com/
A Path Toward Mindfulness and Connection with Nature
Fly fishing is much more than a sport — it’s an experience that encourages calm, focus, and a deep connection with the natural world. Today’s young people, especially in the United States, grow up surrounded by screens, constant notifications, and a fast-paced lifestyle. Fly fishing offers the exact opposite: silence, presence, and mental clarity.
Watching the current, choosing the right fly, planning the perfect cast… each moment requires patience, analysis, and sustained attention. On the river, distractions disappear, and what remains is personal growth, resilience, and the satisfaction that comes from dedication and effort.
Environmental Values and Conservation Education
Fly fishing naturally teaches young people to understand and respect the environment. They learn to identify insects, observe trout behavior, recognize water cycles, and appreciate the importance of healthy rivers.
Along the way, they adopt essential environmental values such as catch-and-release practices, proper fish handling, river cleanups, and mindful observation of the ecosystem. These lessons help shape environmentally conscious young adults, something highly valued by American families seeking meaningful, character-building experiences for their children.
Shared days on the river also build genuine friendships and strong bonds that often last a lifetime.
The Origin of FlyFishingCamps
Understanding the educational power of this sport, we created FlyFishingCamps to offer international summer fly fishing camps and expeditions for young people. Our mission was clear: allow them to enjoy their passion for fly fishing and give them the opportunity to learn Spanish, a language of growing importance in the United States academically, socially, and professionally.
The response from the American market has grown rapidly. Over the past two years, FlyFishingCamps has evolved into an international program, welcoming more and more participants from the U.S. who seek a safe, meaningful, and transformative experience abroad.
Camps in a Truly Unique Setting
As a fishing guide, I always dreamed of a project that went beyond teaching a technique — something that could instill values, inspire conservation, and help build a more environmentally aware generation. Over time, I realized that summer camps were the perfect tool: an experience that positively shapes young people, sparks passion for the outdoors, and gives us, as educators, profound fulfillment.
This project is now in its sixth year, and in the last two years it has become especially popular among American families who appreciate Spain’s safety, cultural richness, and outstanding fly fishing opportunities.
Our programs take place in the Spanish Pyrenees, a stunning mountain region with crystal-clear rivers, breathtaking valleys, and the legendary zebra trout, one of the oldest trout populations in Europe. We offer two programs, each with separate age-based groups to ensure safety, appropriate dynamics, and an effective educational approach.
Summer Fly Fishing Camps (Ages 10–17)
With age-specific sessions
These 1-, 2-, or 3-week summer camps combine fly fishing, Spanish language learning, and multicultural living — a combination that has become especially appealing for American families.
Participants fly fish for trout in mountain rivers and lakes, live with both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking students (50/50), take Spanish lessons adapted to their level, participate in conservation projects, and are supervised by one guide for every four students. Private airport transfers from Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) are included.
This is a safe, engaging, and enriching experience designed for personal, cultural, and outdoor growth.
Fly Fishing Expedition (Ages 14–21)
With age-based groups
This 11-day expedition explores the most remote and pristine corners of the Pyrenees. It is a favorite among American teens and young adults who seek adventure, connection with nature, and personal development.
Participants fish in low-pressure, high-quality waters, discover untouched rivers and lakes in national parks such as Ordesa and Aigüestortes, and develop teamwork, resilience, and independence. They face real outdoor challenges under the guidance of expert instructors.
This is a powerful and transformative experience that stays with them for life.
Growing Popularity Among American Families
Every year, more families from the United States choose FlyFishingCamps because of our unique combination of high-quality fly fishing, strong educational values, safety and supervision, cultural and linguistic immersion, and a commitment to conservation.
The American market has become one of our strongest and most enthusiastic communities, with teens returning year after year and families recommending the program for its life-changing impact.
More Information
For full details, visit: https://flyfishingcamps.com/
We are always happy to assist American families looking for a safe, unique, and deeply enriching summer experience abroad.
– Adrian
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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 little realization I’d like to share with you…
I’ve recently discovered there’s something different about a rowboat. Not just in how it moves – but in how it makes YOU move. How it slows you down. How it connects you to the water by removing things like electric trolling motors & sonar screens.
It’s different.
It’s also one of the BEST ways to gain access to big, hidden largemouth bass in the thick – and I mean THICK – stuff. Rowboat fishing is a physical activity and it will challenge your body in a good way, and after fishing everything from kayaks to charters to modern bass fishing boats that cost more than a house… there’s something special about stripping it all back. Drifting quietly with nothing but the rhythm of your own hands. Pulling big, fat bass into the boat from areas that NOBODY else is fishing, because their trolling motor would get eaten alive… yeah man, never thought I’d say it but… I love rowboat fishin’!
Big Fat Hidden Largemouth Bass Taken While Rowboat Fishing
One presentation you absolutely for fishing thick stuff is The Crowbar Rig.
First, when it’s too dang thick to get around any other way! (I considered testing out a push-pole in here, but it was just too clunky and surprisingly expensive.)
That’s lookin’ a little… thicc…
Rowboat bass fishing shines on small to mid-sized lakes, but you could also use it to your advantage on bigger lakes with large, choked-out bays. It’s also great if you simply want to enjoy a more peaceful approach. You’ll see things you would’ve missed. Bass cruising the edge of a sunken log. A pike darting around the cabbage. Panfish suspending beneath the reflection of an overhanging tree.
Thick-cover water like this rewards patience, stealth, and presence – and this method of fishing forces you to pay attention to what’s in front of you.
Rowboat Fatty – never woulda caught her without my little dingy!Another rowboat bass with some sort of deformity or sickness. 18″ long and way under 2 pounds – something was wrong with this one… not sure what…
Eat
– A –
Sammich
I’m not saying dump your electronics forever – but consider shoving off with nothing but a rod or two, a couple of oars and a small box of confidence baits. Fish slower. Enjoy the environment you’re in, get into the areas other guys aren’t exploring – and soak it up. It’s a different way to fish, and a different way to experience the water… and it’s GOOD.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 up ahead.
But winter had finally released its grip on spring, and with the slight increase in warmth, life had to be stirring beneath the surface of the water. Clouds or not, I had to check. Within 55 minutes, the ramp came into view. I slammed the truck in park and walked over to the water to see how things looked…
Then the sky tore open.
Not a rumble. Not a flash. Not a drop of rain. Just a brutal, bone-deep crack of thunder following a streak of lightning so clearly visible it made the hair on the back of my neck stand straight up.
I didn’t launch the boat.
Instead, I cussed, got back in the truck, and drove all the way home. “What a flippin’ waste of two hours,” I mumbled… but about halfway through the drive, something changed. I went from sulking to planning. When you’re a father of five running two businesses, there aren’t many days you get to fish. So, my options were to be sad – or be flexible.
I opted for the latter. Dropped the boat, grabbed a different Base Box, a backpack, rigged two simple rods, and drove to a nearby group of small lakes with shoreline access. If I hadn’t… I never would have caught her…
Sometimes the best days begin with a little flexibility.
19″ of Pure Largemouth Attitude Exploding Topwater on a Crowbar.
In a nutshell, fishing flexibility means this: don’t force it.
The scenario above is true – you’ve experienced it yourself. We make plans to fish a certain lake, a certain way, for certain results. God laughs. Heartily. Then tells us otherwise. If we can pay attention to these signs – to our surroundings – we can usually make better decisions. Decisions that will make us safer, make us look smarter, and, in truth, help us catch more fish.
Rain? I’ll fish it. Clouds and even a bit of distant thunder? I’ll fish it. Lightning?
I’m out.
Don’t put yourself in a position where you are the tallest, most attractive thing on the lake – unless you’ve always dreamed of transitioning into a lightning rod.
“My pronouns are cooked / goose.”
Flexible Fishing Techniques
Leaving the canal was hard – not only because it meant I’d have to wait to explore an area I know holds big fish, but because I had to adjust how I would approach the fish at the next location. I had to pick somewhere I could take cover quickly, which meant staying on foot. This limited the rods I could carry, and so two bank fishing techniques got the early-spring nod:
1. Fling-a-Ding
I love throwing YUM Dingers around, but the problem with Flingin’ a Ding is that they have very little weight. They’re durable, cheap, and they catch fish – all good – but they look dead unless you impart some action into them. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest is to put your Dinger on a Reaction Tackle Weighted Wacky Jig.
Even in clear water, it seems like bass focus on the bait, not the weight. They’ll inhale your Frankenstein’d hot dog like it’s a gourmet offering! I’ll still opt for internal weights and super-light wacky hooks in pits with 500-foot visibility… but in semi-clear water like this, I don’t feel like I’m missing fish because of the exposed weight. Plus, the hooks are nasty, and the weight adds a pulse to the Dingers that is otherwise nonexistent. Very important. Very effective.
The color white (or in this case, a more subtle smoke / pearl laminate) is perfect for overcast days as it creates a soft glow in the water. At times, it’s the best thing you can throw.
Fling-a-Ding on Reaction Tackle Weighted Wacky Jigs
This setup was developed to pry big, mean bass from thick, heavy sludge. It’s a battering ram with a fishing license – like calling in an airstrike to deal with a raccoon problem. Brutal, yes – but effective.
The single hook delivers a much better hookup ratio than a frog hook – especially when you consider that the extra weight of the solid ElaZtech gets flung in the air less than a hollow-bodied frog. The legs give you the ability to buzz or pause. You can twitch, hop, skip, and everything in between. The fluoro is less visible and abrasion-resistant if you want to work around stumps and laydowns.
I could go on, but the bottom line is this: The Crowbar is an extremely versatile topwater presentation that I will leave tied on from the time the water hits 55° until the end of my season. Period.
It’s a flexible technique for the flexible fisherman.
Clear water? No problem. Buzz. Pause. Twitch. Brace for impact.
Crowbar Bass
Crowbar Bass
So yes, it can be frustrating… but if you focus on improving your flexibility – becoming a flexible fisherman – you’ll make better decisions, safer decisions, and make hay.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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°, things are waking up. The shoreline is riddled with the brittle brown stalks and faded reeds of last year’s growth. The chill in the air makes a jacket necessary, and as the wind picks up, it’s obvious why you’re the only one here. No matter – socializing isn’t on the agenda.
Even though the sun is up above the distant treeline, it’s fighting with the clouds, and your soggy fingers ache as you try to retie. A slight tug on a fresh Uni-Knot reassures you, confirming that the only connection between you and the fish is solid. It is – and so, the game resumes. Even though it’s early in the Midwest fishing season, it’s only a matter of time before your hard work pays off…
*tap*
The lightest tap. That’s all it takes to trigger years of vivid memories. In an instant, they all come flooding back – along with that familiar jolt of adrenaline that reminds you why we fish.
We’re off to the races…
My first largemouth bass of the season
Bank Fishing is a Special Thing
For many of us, this was where it all began.
For those of us in the Midwest, this is where each new season usually begins.
Small ponds start to warm a bit faster than lakes and canals here in Illinois (especially those with deep water) which means more bass activity, sooner. What’s a “small pond”? Anything 10 acres or less. If you have good shoreline access, these are also great places to knock the rust off. If your timing is right, you can get into a good mess of fish. Not to mention, fishing during the afternoon early in the season can be the most productive window – no need to get up before the sun – you’ll get icicles on your bits.
I tried several presentations this year: jerkbaits, chatterbaits, swimbaits, a bevy of ElaZtech plastics – but the Strike King Rage Craw turned out to be the most effective bait I threw, accounting for my first fish – along with the most fish – caught in April. Here’s a simple way to put it to work – and below, I’ll talk about pulling double duty with a single bait…
Minimalist. A Berkley Lightning Rod. Pflueger President XT. Reaction Tackle X8 Braid to a Seaguar Premier fluoro leader (abrasion resistant) to a 3/0 Gamakatsu Alpha Nano or Reaction Tackle EWG and a 1/4 oz bullet weight. With this, you can quickly cover ground and fish a single Rage Craw two ways:
1. The Rage Craw Vertical Approach
Cast it out. Let it sink without jiggles. Calm yourself. Watch the line. If you see it jump, reel down and set the hook! Bass will often snag it on the drop, and if they don’t, the flappies will get their attention. They will likely inspect your offering, and if they’re going to bite, it will usually be within a few “hops.” Slowly lift your rod tip, then drop it, allowing the bait to fall straight back down. Keep watching the line. Go ahead and jiggle it now, if you must – or go nuts and drag it along slowly for a few feet before you reel in to make another cast.
First Largemouth Bass of 2025 (1 week earlier) on the Vertical Approach
2. The Rage Craw Horizontal Approach
If you need to move faster and cover more water, or if you see positive signs and notice that the bass are a bit more active than you expected – there’s no need to switch baits – cast your craw, let it sink to the depth you think the fish are at, and begin a slow, steady retrieve. The flappies will paddle behind the swimming bait, and you’ll quickly realize that swimming is not only passable… but very effective.
Rage
Craw
Bass
I’m Sure You’re Asking…
“AJ… why in the world did you pair a $100 reel with a $40 rod?!”
Great question – it has a lot to do with where I fish these days. Between the canals and the shallow lakes that have to be paddled, knocking around in the brush, hauling my plastic kayak into the thick of it just to get a crack at unbothered bass… I beat my gear up a lot and feel much better about accidentally snapping a $40 rod than a $200 rod. These things are workhorses; good enough for this kind of fishing.
1 Bait 2 Ways = Faster Fishing, More Casts and More Bites
So get out there and get your flappies goin’. Remember that largemouth key in on vibration & noise, while smallmouth bass key in on sight & scent. Keep these things in mind as you start your season – and you’ll be off to a great start.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 kayak I decided to grab a spinning rod and quickly work a stickbait across the top of the muck that filled the narrow Midwest canal, right there at the launch.
However… upon closer inspection, it became apparent that the ruckus wasn’t coming from largemouth bass, but another fish… one with silvery-gold scales the size of quarters, massive girth, cold dead eyes and a mouth shaped like a… well… there is no pleasant comparison. Fill in the blank yourself.
Carp. Hundreds of ’em. Mating? Maybe. Eating for sure. Rolling around in the shallow water, kicking up silt and mud. Over the next few hours these freshwater whales would decide to keep me company (even though I didn’t ask for it) while I caught big bruiser bass after big bruiser bass.
It was minimalist fishing in the truest sense. I took one rod, one hook, and fished one kind of bait all day long with great success. The weather was favorable. The timing was perfect. And yeah… there may have been a bit of luck involved…
Midwest Canal Bass Fishing
Best Baits for Canal Bass
One thing that you have to keep in mind when it comes to canal fishing, is that these areas can often stretch hundreds of miles. They can be very wide or strikingly narrow, and you’ll find productive stretches (or “pools”) surrounded by dead water. In the summer when muck covers the surface, it becomes extremely difficult to see if your casts are landing in 2 feet… or 2 inches.
I just shared this in an article for Midwest Outdoors, but it bears repeating: the best way to avoid wasting time, is to explore the areas you plan to fish in the cold months when the algae is dead and you can see into the water. Make notes, then avoid dead water when the summer gunk fills back in.
Because canals are usually so shallow, I’ll lean on a good muck-resistant topwater, and a good weedless sinking stickbait 80% of the time. Remember the 80/20 Rule in Bass Fishing? It applies here as well.
Big fish will attack topwater baits. A favorite that I’ll use all season long is something I call The Crowbar. The Crowbar works in both clear water and heavy muck, and it can be used to pry big fish from the thick slop or snaggy bushes & branches overhanging the bank. Once the water gets above 50° I’ll start flingin’ it. In fact, just yesterday I landed my first Crowbar bass of the year on a super-windy day with 60° water temps. She dwarfed everything else I’d brought onto the shore so far this season!
The Crowbar getting it doneI’ll share the critical modifications in another post…
A good weedless, sinking stickbait is also a must, and that’s what worked so well in the video above. Now, in the past I’ve mentioned quite a few that I like, and at different times in different locations, one or the other will usually get the nod on some sort of a Texas Rig (weightless to weighted).
But in super-shallow areas, rigging up a traditional wacky can accentuate a horizontal fall. It’s excellent in canals. Some stickbaits are very salty and sink well on windy days, but they tear easily. I try to avoid using o-rings because while they can make your wacky rig more weedless, they lower your hookup ratio (fight me). Others are more durable but they float and have zero action. Adding weight can increase vibration, but also increases hangups and muck collection.
Fortunately the Strike King 3X Zero Worm merges several of the attributes I want when fishing canals. They are heavily salted so they sink without extra weight, and have “flavor.” They are also made of ElaZtech, so they are very durable and you can rig them without an o-ring and catch many, many fish on a single bait.
But, as with every bait, there are a few cons to the pros. While Zero Worms are heavily salted, that salt will begin to dissolve the minute you toss one into the water. So they do sink… for a while… once that salt is gone they float, and the leftover ElaZtech is very spongy, full of tiny little salt granule cavities.
The salt will also dissolve in the package if you squirt some scent in with ’em ahead of time. I made this mistake more than once before realizing what was going on…
There are a few new modifications I’ll be testing In The Field this season to see if we can reduce or eliminate these issues, but in certain situations like the ones below… the pros still outweigh the cons. I paired a Shimano Catana reel with a Bass Pro Graphite 6’6″ medium heavy spinning rod. Both are very inexpensive, and that rod is stout. I’ll also swap in a Lew’s Speed Spin or a Berkley Lightning Rod at times, and these are very budget-friendly as well. Throw on your favorite 8-strand braid (20 to 30 lb) and tie straight to a Berkley Fusion19 weedless wacky hook – boom – you’re in business.
If you pick the right color, you might also catch a surprise or two…
A nice little Illinois… trout?!
As our weather & water continue to heat up, we can expect a dramatic spike in the activity level of the bass. Shallow canals and ponds will warm up first. Don’t miss out!
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 is hand painted and has a wedge-style tail that gives the bait a natural movement in the water. The color schemes range from “hold over trout” to “Ghost Trout.” Of course, there are colors that imitate other species. But Western fishing has a way of outdoing itself every time. We target the heavy hitters, those freaks of nature, the trout-killing, dock monsters.
The Huddleston is a truly attractive swimbait
However, the Huddleston can be used across the country, even in regions that claim not to have huge bass. The Huddelston is a fantastic bait to isolate the big boys below. But aside from action and detail, does it catch fish? Is it worth buying heavy gear to fish baits like the Huddleston? In this post I’ll dive into the history of this bait as well as its applications and how to fish it. Big swimbaits are a great method for bass anglers to have ready to go when other baits (even finesse lures) won’t get the bite.
The Huddleston Deluxe Trout History
It is said that the Huddleston Deluxe has more double-digit fish to its name than any lure in history. Legendary trophy angler Butch Brown is living proof of this. Brown became widely known for his proclivity for hauling in giant southern trout eaters on SoCal lakes after popularizing the Huddelston for its effectiveness in drawing in larger specimens. Brown has fished all over California from Clearlake, Berryessa, and the California Delta to the southern regions such as lakes like Casitas in Southern California. The Huddleston deluxe, for a long while, was his weapon of choice, which changed the course of west coast swimbait fishing.
Huddleston Deluxe Action & Versatility
Designed for slower action, the Huddleston deluxe is built with a wedge-style tail that thumps along presenting fish with a life-like, subtle action. When the Huddleston was released, there weren’t many lures that had the same level of life-like detail nor the versatile and range of weight options. The 8″ Hud is a perfect profile of a trout that entices big fish. One advantage it has is its ability to slow crawl the bottom like a jig. This makes it a perfect cold-water lure for offshore bass. With a top hook, you can drag the Huddleston over rocks and gravel as the wedge tail thumps from side to side, giving a double-digit bass a large enough meal.
A big meaty tail means a big meaty thump – even at the slowest of speeds
How to Fish the Huddleston
The Huddleston excels on lakes that stock trout. Heavier models like the ROF 12 and ROF 16 are designed to reach the bottom faster allowing you to creep along rocks. This technique is best used in cold water when bass are found closer to the bottom. Find rocky points, drop- offs, and flats with deep water access and drag the bait slowly along the bottom. Big bass will feed in these areas and slide back to deeper water during most of the day.
Each time the lure’s head rolls over a small rock, the tail will pulsate, providing just enough action for a lethargic, trophy fish to strike. You might wonder why a bass would eat a bait so large. The truth is that bass calculate the risk of chasing down prey in winter as they slow their metabolisms. If a prey item is too healthy or fast, a larger bass is unlikely to chase it. Most fish, especially largemouth bass, conserve energy and will refuse a meal, even if it wanders too close. They conserve calories by doing this. The bigger and slower the bait, the better chance that trophy fish will bite.
It’s a big bait for specific kinds under specific conditions
Fishing The Huddleston in Spring
Spring is a perfect time for big swimbait fishing. The Huddleston 68 Special is a six-inch model designed with the same tail found on the eight-inch model. This gives the lure more action and is perfect for fishing close to the surface, almost like a wake bait. The 68 is optimal around launch ramps and laydowns and anywhere rainbow trout are stocked. It’s a great lure for targeting average size bass. You’ll receive a number of bites from all different sizes. The lighter weight allows you to fish it fast while targeting bass in shallower water. Like the 8″, the 68 swims with a realistic action along the surface and fits perfectly into environments where rainbow trout are stocked.
The Huddleston Deluxe 8″ (top) vs. the Huddleston 68 (bottom) – a 6″ offering
Best Rod and Reel Setup
The Dobyns Fury Swimbait Rod is a good rod if you’re shopping on a budget. They come in a 7’9″ medium heavy for smaller swimbaits and an 8’0″ model heavy power for heavy artillery. The Piscifun Alijoz 300 and 400 series casting reels are amazing budget reels that are comparable to the Shimano Tranx. If you’re thinking of leveling up, the Megabass Leviathan Alpha Extra Heavy Swimbait rod is a go-to. The 20-24lb fluorocarbon line pairs well with the 8″ Huddleston deluxe ROF 12 and up. Some guys use braided line as their main line. This is fine, but you’ll need to fine-tune the adjustments on your reel to avoid backlash, as braided line has no stretch, and throwing a large bait can backlash easily.
How To Set the Hook on a Giant
When it comes to swimbait fishing, your hook set can mean the difference between a 10lb bass in the net or swimming off after shaking free. Many new anglers expect that with a giant bait comes a giant bite but that’s not always the case. Some bites come as a subtle thump. Others may feel like nothing at all such as your line going slack as you lose track of the weight of the lure. The latter bite means a bass hit the bait swimming toward you. In this case you need to reel in fast and swing back hard to get a good hook set. When slowly rolling the bait along the bottom, a bite may come in the form of a small thump. Your line may even jump with no feeling in the rod at all. Always remember to swing back hard with much of your body weight. The Hud has a large profile and a relatively small top hook which means your hook set is everything.
Just look at that big nasty
Final Thoughts
The Huddleston Rainbow Trout is a big bait for big bass. It has the most realistic appearance and tends to call out the biggest fish on the lake. You can swim the bait on the bottom, swim in around docks and boat launches and expect bites from trophy fish. Remember that this lure requires heavy gear to fish including a heavy power rod with a 300-400 series reel. If you live in a region where larger bass aren’t as abundant, the Hudd may be a good option as the double-digit monsters that are there likely haven’t seen a Hudd. Whereas in California, our trophy fish have seen countless big swim bait and glide bait presentations. If you’re new to swimbaits or thinking of getting into it, the Hud is a great place to start.
Note: This article was contributed 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 The Minimalist Fisherman, feel free to get in touch! -AJ
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Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
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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’. The mad dash to clean up all of the fishing equipment that was strewn about in different “I’ll do that later” piles has begun. We’re in full swing, baby!
Wait. Piles?? Shouldn’t a MINIMALIST Fisherman have very little gear??
Great question. I have less gear than ever before, but minimalist fishing is a system, not a destination. It’s the ongoing process of optimizing what you have. We test new gear of course, but only keep the best of the best and discard the rest. This keeps us lean. It keeps us efficient. It keeps us deadly.
While I can’t wait for some big fat heifer largemouth, right now, my sights are set on bronzebacks. When you consider all of the differences between these distinct fish, they’re more like distant cousins than brothers, and my goal today is to lay out the groundwork for targeting Midwest smallmouth effectively in the spring.
Let’s get some.
Pit bass caught from the jon boat on a simple must-have jig setup
Before we can catch the fish – we have to find the fish.
As I mentioned above, areas that can be insanely productive one day can be completely void of life the next. Smallmouth bass are not afraid to move – and they move a lot. If a system is unobstructed by dams or ultra-shallow riffles smallmouth have been known to move 50 miles or more. But what triggers that movement, and how can we use it to our advantage?
Well, it depends on the type of water we’re fishing.
I catch smallmouth bass in nearby strip pits, creeks and rivers. Here, they coexist with largemouth, but you won’t find smallmouth in our shallow lakes and ponds, especially if there is floating muck present. Largemouth simply dominate these areas. But in water with current (rivers & creeks) or rocky, boulder-filled pits that drop to depths of 40 feet or more, smallmouth can flourish. In fact they seem to do better than largemouth in areas with current, and in the pits, they will inhabit the deeper depths.
Rivers can produce big smallmouth all year long if you have the right tools
But they don’t just stay in one spot all year. They move.
I’ll give you an example… there is a creek by my house where I have landed some absolute bruisers. It empties directly into a large river. I’ll fish 3 miles up from the mouth of the creek and back, from ice out to late fall… but while reviewing my notes from the last 5 years, it seems I only catch BIG fish in May and June. Sure I can catch fish in the creek most of the year, but the BIG fish are only present for a brief period of time. WHY?
Late spring seems to be best… especially if there are bugs on the surface of the water (throw a popper)
I always assumed it had to do with spawning. I figured when it was “time to spawn” they would “move up into” the creeks and smaller rivers. When the water reached a certain temp, when the days were a certain length, etc. While spawning is definitely a factor, another aspect I completely ignored was the water table and the amount of current pushing through the larger river system as a whole.
When current increases and water levels rise, smallmouth will move to the source of that current. They’ll move up towards dams. Anglers will tell you the best time to fish a dam is when water is spilling over the top, bringing food and oxygenating the water below (especially during the heat of the summer). Dams are also one of the most dangerous and overfished areas on a river (they get fished all year long, and for good reason) so savvy anglers will find productive areas that hold less pressured fish downstream. Also note that the water above the dam has the poorest quality, with loads of silt and low oxygen levels.
Increased current also prompts smallmouth to leave the main river channel and move into backwaters, up into smaller connecting rivers or – you guessed it – creeks. As the water levels stabilize, remember to fish anywhere current comes into the main river. There will be fish there (maybe even within a half-mile range). Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s Al Lindner and Dan Lindner talking about smallmouth bass movement in a river system (jump to 7:23 for a summary of conditions).
Jump to 7:23 for a summary of conditions
In the spring, we get melting snow followed by rain. This means higher water and more current. We also see the water beginning to warm up. Word on the street is that the magic temps for smallmouth pre-spawn into the spawn are 55° to 65°. They prefer sand, gravel & rocks, and spawning depth will depend on the maximum depth and clarity of the water. In my super-clear strip pits, I’ve seen them on beds that had to be 20 if not 25+ feet deep. The creeks are obviously shallower than that, with much lower visibility – especially when the current is really moving.
The earliest smallmouth get their metabolism going is in the high 30s and into the low 40s. Some river bass guides actually consider this prime time for smallmouth. Fish deep water near flats where smallmouth can congregate waiting to come up and spawn. The theory is that during this stretch, every bass in the river is thinking the same thing as long as the weather remains stable: time to eat! Storms and dropping temps can shut the bite back down. As the water inches up into the 50s the bass can become scattered. The biggest fish will move up onto those same flats and spawn anywhere from 10 to 25-feet deep, and spawning will typically continue through 65°.
This is different than largemouth, who usually spawn when the water is 60° (with stable conditions) and begin to disperse around 70°. I do not prefer to target spawning bass, but if I see them I’ll usually cast to them and grab a quick pic before a careful release.
Combine all of these elements and it’s clear why my big bruiser smallmouth pay me a visit in the creek, but don’t overstay their welcome. This year, I want to find them sooner, stick with them longer as they move in and then out of the creeks and smaller rivers, and catch more and bigger bass.
A beauty caught less than a mile from the mouth of the creek in late June on a Pop ‘n Drop
As the weather continues to warm and the water levels recede, smallmouth will exit the creeks and backwaters and make their way back into the primary river in a system. They instinctively know when the water level is dropping. The amount of fluctuation that matters is different on every body of water. Remember, bass generally “move up” as waters rise, and “pull back” as it falls.
So, here’s how you can catch more of them…
Track Rain, Water Levels & Temps CONSTANTLY
The first thing we need to do – before we rig a rod – is track the conditions.
This can be done without leaving the house, although I’d suggest a hybrid approach. In this example, I’m going to be looking for data near The Fox River in Illinois, since it’s one of the initial places I’ll be exploring.
First, make a note on your calendar every time it rains
This process seems confusing, but it’s actually quite simple. As you begin to collect your own data (like rain times and local water temps) and compare it with the data provided on the sites listed above, you can start to paint a pretty good picture without leaving the comfort of home. One area that is a bit tricky for me, however, is the water temperature gauges…
You’ll notice my Illinois River water temp link goes to a “legacy” page, because I can’t figure out how to get the “modernized” page to actually display temperature data at all. I can’t find a temperature gauge for the Fox River which is why I’m looking at the Illinois River. Even though it’s significantly larger, they connect. My second link shows the Illinois River again, in a different location. While this is somewhat helpful, taking a thermometer out to collect real, site-specific data is the superior method.
Pay close attention to the gauges that show the historical and current height of a river as well, especially as a safety precaution.
When the water is high, it can be flat out dangerousThis pic (same stretch of creek) shows just how many jagged rocks were hidden by high water
Start tracking your own data now – and continue all year. Combine your data with whatever else is publicly available and plan your trips accordingly. You’ll be glad you did.
Go Catch Some Spring Smallmouth!
With our due diligence completed – it’s time to fish!
Let’s consider fishing two distinct types of smallmouth habitat. Water with current (creeks & rivers) and deep, clear pits. You’ll notice I didn’t link to any public gauges for the pits I discussed earlier. That’s because there aren’t any. I have to rely on my temperature notes from years past, and new measurements in the field.
As you consider these presentations remember that smallmouth bass rely more on sight and smell to feed. Largemouth rely more on vibration and sound. You’ll likely catch more largemouth bass in the early mornings, late evenings, or on overcast or rainy days. These are low light situations where largemouth are more likely to venture out from cover. Smallmouth can see better on bright, clear days. They are also (usually) more willing to travel a long distance to strike a lure, so periods of higher visibility (even later in the day when it’s slick calm) can be surprisingly productive.
This is one reason why schooled-up smallmouth can have such a violent reaction to extremely vibrant, unnatural colors like “clown” or pink or orange or everyone’s favorite: chartreuse. It’s also why you’ve probably noticed certain flats that are dead in the morning seem to come alive later in the day, especially if it’s sunny.
Largemouth and smallmouth are very different animals.
We’ll be keeping it simple but leaning on 3 specific, highly-productive presentations, with 1 alternate:
Pop ‘n Drop
Subsurface Search Bait
Dark Corner Custom Squarebill
Rebel 4″ Slow-Sinking Tracdown Minnow
Swimbait
Hula Grub
Fortunately for me, all of these presentations are already present in my Clear Water Base Box.
The Pop ‘n Drop is a smallmouth bass killer. It consists of a floating popper (like a Rapala Skitter Pop) with the rear treble removed and a 10-pound fluorocarbon dropper line attached in its place. Dropper length depends on the depth you plan to fish, but 18″ is a good starting point. Attach a lightweight wacky hook to the dropper line and add your favorite 3″ or 4″ stickbait. Ochos are almost too heavy, but Dingers are almost too light. I’ll use both at times. If your popper has no problem staying afloat, you can add a frog hook (or double hook) where the rear treble was removed.
If the water is above 55° I’ll make a long cast on braided line (which floats), and begin twitching my rod tip, causing the popper to spit water. The stickbait then pendulums, sinking slowly behind. If smallmouth are active, they will destroy your popper. If they are a little reserved, they will inspect, but opt for the stickbait. You’ll see your popper *BLOOP* backwards underwater – it’s like bobber fishing, except your bobber has hooks and you’re imparting action into it.
Cadence? Work it slow, then try it fast. At higher speeds it looks like the stickbait is chasing a meal, which can get nearby fish fired up!
Pop ‘n Drop
Bass candy
This is a great option in both clear and stained water, especially when searching for fish.
Subsurface Search Baits
As we move subsurface, I’m going one of two ways. In the creeks and rivers I’ll grab a moving bait that makes a bit more commotion, like a Sonic Side KO Squarebill in Matte Green Craw that runs 2 to 6-foot deep. If I notice any crayfish with blue in them (which we find along some of our shallow city lakes with lots of riprap) I’ll change to the Sonic Side KO Squarebill in Matte Blue Craw.
These look awesome and they’re customized by a company called Dark Corner Custom Crankbaits. The owner (Blake Paff) designed a few custom jerkbaits for me that will come into play later this year… oh, the stick? A 7-foot Lightning Rod paired with a Pflueger President XT baitcaster and 12-pound Reaction Tackle mono. Sweet. Not too expensive. Plus it provides a nice little rubber-band effect.
If I’m fishing a deep, clear borrow pit, I’ll swap this crankbait out for either a deep-diving jerkbait, or a slow-sinking jerkbait like the Rebel Tracdown Minnow. I’m not sure if they still make the 4″ version, but I have one, and this will help me get deeper and put my bait in front of fish down along the big boulders peppering the steep sloping bottom.
The Rebel Tracdown Minnow is a slow-sinking jerkbait
Next, we’ll grab a swimbait that will allow us to cover water and get down even deeper. Casting a swimbait out and letting it sink to the very bottom, they slowly reeling it back so it doesn’t rise up in the water column, can be a wildly productive technique.
The WildEye Swim Shad comes pre-rigged. Tie it on. Cast it out. Reel it back with a no-nonsense retrieve. Aside from paying very close attention to your depth, it’s a straightforward presentation.
Down & Dirty with a Hula Grub
Finally, I’ll want to take something with a bit of bulk that gets all the way down to the bottom and stays there. My friend Dan Brozowski at Midwest Outdoors told me about this little bait right before the end of last season. I used it to catch largemouth. Then smallmouth. They both love it. The twin-tail grub has a molded skirt attached to a solid body. Thread it onto a plain football head jig if you’re around rocks, or a slender shaky head jig if you want a more compact profile.
Rig this up on a spinning combo and go to work at multiple depths. Just remember if you’re fishing around a lot of rocks and current, consider upsizing your line, or fishing with braid to a quality 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Yes, you read that correctly.
If crayfish are present, smallmouth will absolutely destroy this bait, especially as the water continues to warm. Up until about 40° river bass are believed to be more “baitfish oriented,” but as temps climb the entire food chain starts to become more active. Around the mid-40s if crayfish are on the menu, smallmouth will take full advantage.
You should, too.
When do Big Smallmouth STAY in Creeks?
In some rivers & streams the local smallmouth bass are year-round residents.
This can even be the case in small creeks, if you fish a stretch that is many miles away from the connecting river. You can still contact bass in the bends and deep holes that likely attracted them earlier in the season. I’ve caught some fatties as late as October near where I live.
A big fat October smallmouth
This productive stretch was well over 6 miles from the mouth of the creek. It was also surrounded by several extremely shallow riffles that prevented the fish from completely leaving for the winter. In order to fish this area I had to hike miles and miles against the current in frigid water (this was before I owned waders, so I was in shorts, which was beyond stupid) while a nice, frosty drizzle gave me a good soak.
Again, I did find good bass, along with a bunch of No Trespassing signs… so… between that and the hypothermia, I won’t be going back. But if you have (legal) access to a stretch of creek that has similar attributes, bundle up and check it out. The bass I found will be year-round residents, unless they get uppity and jump those riffles next time the creek floods.
The Plan for Fishing Midwest Smallmouth Bass in the Spring
So that’s the plan. Is it perfect? Nah. But it’s better than anything I’ve ever come up with before. That’s the point. That’s the goal. Constant improvement isn’t a destination; it’s a process. While the 5 presentation options are very important, I am finally beginning to understand why the heavy-hitters at In-Fisherman, Midwest Outdoors, and other educational (not sensational) publications focus so much on finding the fish first & foremost.
It’s almost time for smallmouth fishing in the Midwest, and I can’t wait
It’s fun to play with new baits, but when it comes to fishing: if you can’t find ’em, you can’t catch ’em.
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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 scorching summers. At times those seasons will both make an appearance within a 48 hour period. Illinois in particular is known to “outsiders” for gang violence, corrupt governors and terrible drivers. That last one has earned us the nickname “FIBs.” Ask any Wisconsiner what that means next time you visit… chances are you’ll get them to burst into laughter…
Speaking of Wisconsin; what a beautiful state! Rich with natural resources, amazing scenery, warm people, cold beer, delicious diners and enough cheese to clog your arteries 10 times over. A little slice of Heaven on Earth.
When I was a kid I thought that you had to go to Wisconsin to catch smallmouth bass. I was also under the impression that largemouth bass were rare here in Illinois. Pike & muskie? Well, up Nort’ of course! Imagine my surprise a few years ago when a DNR officer mentioned we had pike right here at home. Good pike. In a marsh not far from where I live. “Pike?! In a shallow marsh? Seriously?? You’re messing with me…“
He wasn’t messing with me.
AJ Hauser with a nice Illinois pike measuring 28″
See what I mean? Every sub-region has a unique flavor and hidden gems. So exploring is important, and that’s great news, because for us anglers exploring new areas and new water can be incredibly rewarding. It can also crush your spirit, grind it into a fine powder and light it on fire… but that risk just adds to the excitement every time you load up to go fish.
I might fail today.
If that happens, I’ll feel bad for a while, pick myself up, dust myself off and try again tomorrow.
The results of that tenacity cannot be denied.
Right before the pike, this 20″ largemouth bass weighing 5.25 lbs joined me in the jon boat
So Illinois has given up some genuine chonks these last several years. For that I am so grateful. However, Wisconsin fishing – especially near Minocqua and along the Manitowish Chain ‘o Lakes – has always been a special thing for me and my family. We started fishing this area when my Grandpa Jerry bought a cabin along the channel between Stone Lake and Rest Lake (not far from Greer’s Pier) when I was just a wee lad.
A lot has changed since then, and over the years I’ve figured out the best baits for fishing the Manitowish Chain. Granted the word “best” is subjective, but when you consider the following fish, I think it’s fair to say that everything I’ve included should at least be in the conversation.
My best smallmouth bass on the chain (so far) was 20″ and 4 lbs – pretty good considering she was caught in the middle of summer (July)My wife with an absolute unit the year priorDad with a big, fat, Manitowish Chain smallmouth bass
We still vacation here every summer, and a few years back we stayed at a cabin on the bank of Wild Rice Lake for the first time. This lake sits at the far southeastern end of the chain, right next to the incoming river. I believe this is called Trout River – but I’m not sure about that. What I am sure about, is that Wild Rice Lake seems to have a fair amount of sediment in the water that I believe has something to do with that incoming river. The visibility isn’t bad, but it’s not as clear as some of the other lakes. It’s somewhat shallow (again, compared to the other lakes on the chain) with lots and lots of weeds, some underwater humps, and pockets that make it look like pike and muskie would absolutely flourish here.
We didn’t catch any notable pike or muskie during our visit – but we did see some locals pull up a few big fish! They’re in there… but we were plenty happy to discover a good handful of smallmouth and largemouth bass.
I’ve been cleaning up old video footage lately. It’s a great way to relive memories and learn even more about different bodies of water, but one thing keeps jumping out at me. My technique, my methods, my commentary – it was all unbelievably bad and cringy. Yikes. Wouldn’t it be better to hide these videos from the world? To delete them??
No.
I didn’t start The Minimalist Fisherman to look cool, I started it to learn more about fishing and share that info with my kids and readers, so we can all catch more & bigger fish. Hopefully along the way I meet a few guys & gals that fish for the same reasons we do. These old videos are actually pretty exciting, because they allow me to really see the genuine growth. They show progress. They show that this entire endeavor isn’t a waste of time – it’s a process, and being able to share that (even the stuff that might look bad) is a blessing.
Exploring new water near Copp’s Cabins on Wild Rice Lake, Wisconsin
Cleaning this footage also reminded me of an old project I need to revisit… customizing spoons. Spoon fishing is something that my brother and I have loved for a long, long time. You can see one of my first paint jobs getting tossed around for a bit near the weedy humps on Wild Rice Lake. Here was how I modified them:
I’m going to scroll back up now, and look at the fat fish from the beginning of this article. Consistent hard work pays off. It pays off in fishing of course, but it also pays off in every other aspect of life. Maybe not today, or tomorrow… or for 5 years… but if you set your sights on something and try again, and again, and again… improvement is inevitable.
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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 deep down below the frozen ice. If that’s you, God bless ya, but I am absolutely clawing at the walls, waiting to get out and start the season off the same way I always do: Bank Fishing. I can’t wait for the dew to soak my shoes, the sun to cook my goose (I’m not sure what that means) and the bass to gnaw on my thumb.
“My goose is cooked!”
But as I worked through some footage from last April, I almost felt like I was doing something wrong…
Is Bank Fishing OK?
I’m a Midwest Fisherman, and in April we typically see water temps anywhere from the 50’s to the low 70’s. These temps fluctuate based on depth, wind and weather, but the bass are going to spawn. You can see them clear as day from the bank. They’ll be on beds. Or around beds. They won’t all spawn at the same time, and this can be confusing to anglers. Myself included. What triggers that spawn? Is it the temperature? The length of the day? Something else? A combination? The “why” is a discussion for another time, but the “what are you two doing in there?!” is pretty obvious…
Some beds will have “fry guarders” hanging around, some will have big, fat, beautiful females. Because of this, bank fishing (or specifically “sight fishing”) can be extremely productive… but there is a conversation to be had about a big problem with bank fishing for bass on beds…
I saw you… but you saw me, too…
These bass are up shallow, doing the hibbidy-dibbidy or guarding the results of said dibbidy. Giggity. But you know they have to be getting pestered all day. They’re just too close to the bank, especially in areas with lots of foot traffic.
You can see them. They can see you. The tension builds. Slowly, carefully, you pitch a half ounce Texas Rig with some outer-space-looking plastic thing that breaks the surface of the water with the subtlety of a cannonball. On ANY OTHER DAY, that bass is going to bolt – especially in such shallow water! But not today… today that bass looks up, annoyed, rolls her eyes and slowly does what she knows she has to do… she saunters over and slurps up your ridiculous offering (not having thumbs means in the mouth it goes, like a toddler) and tries to remove it from the clearing… SNAP!!… “I DONE GOT HER GEWD!!“, you bellow. She rolls her eyes a second time, allowing yet another goober to hoist her onto the bank, snap a picture, and (hopefully) put her right back.
Yes, I am the goober in this story. Yes, it is an exaggeration, but do you see the problem? On any other day that fish is going to run (swim) or at the very least, develop an immediate case of lockjaw as soon as they become aware of your presence. Could be your shadow. Your footsteps. Your B.O. (hopefully not that). I’m really struggling with the ethical side of this equation.
But… (there’s always a “but”) they are SO HARD to ignore. I mean look at this fish – how am I supposed to quit you!?
Everyone needs a few more heifers in their life…
Are bank fishermen “better” than tournament anglers? Are tournament anglers “worse” because they target bedding bass, throw ’em in the livewell, take them miles and miles back to to ramp for an official weigh in… only to release them there, instead of taking them back home?
(Pro-Tip: always plan a trip to go fish around the ramp a week after any local tournament wraps up. You can thank me later.)
Surely us bank fishermen aren’t that bad… at least not as bad as them… after all, we put ’em right back and that’s better… right? Hard to say. I don’t think it’s a question of “better or worse,” those are just shades of gray.
On the flipside: bass eat bass. Are we protecting the newly hatched fry that can’t protect themselves? When you consider both males and females eat baby bass by the mouthful… maybe we’re actually filling the role of a bassy savior?!
Hmmm… check this out and let me know what you think. Then I have one final question for you…
Quick Sidenote: the best bank fishing equipment is pretty simple. Stickbaits, first & foremost. Getcha some Senkos or Ochos if you want to fish weightless. Go with Dingers if you need to save a few bucks, but plan to use weight to add some movement to the lifeless plastic. Bang StickZ are a good option if you want a stickbait that will last all day and float, but again, they are lifeless on their own.
Hooks? The Trokar Pro-V is a NASTY little bugger. You hook ’em on these and they stay hooked – plus you can use up to a 4/0 and still stay relatively low profile with the baits mentioned above. The Magworm and the Grip-Pin are great options for stretchy morsels you want to lock in place (a la Bang StickZ), but they will tear “regular” plastics, especially those loaded with salt. Reaction Tackle makes a nice little bread ‘n butter EWG that is a good combination of strength and thickness. It’s not super-chunky, but you probably won’t straighten it out. I discovered Reaction Tackle years ago ordering on Amazon and assumed they were a foreign company, but they’re actually headquartered just 2 hours away from me – right in Big Bend Wisconsin, USA. If you want to reload the tackle box they have some quantity discounts worth considering, plus you can get 15% off of your first order. I plan to get up there for a visit later this year (and hopefully a video) to talk more with Cody Dobberstein & Chad Hoover. Good dudes!
So GEAR is always fun to talk about… but back to the matter at hand. Is bank fishing for bedding bass ethical? Is it OK? We all know it’s fun… but are we doing something wrong, or are we just enjoying a natural (renewable) resource?
I’m curious to hear what you think.
Hey buddy…
See you soon?
Warmer weather will be here before we know it. I’ve moved from sharpening hooks to loading the backpack and planning with great excitement in anticipation of some big, fat, springtime bass. Bank fishing is without a doubt one of the greatest ways to spend the morning…
Question is… do we bother them in bed?
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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, canal fishing is associated with BIG BASS.
A big fat canal largemouth bass taken on a stickbait. See the wad of weeds & gunk still hanging on my rig in the background??
That wasn’t always the case though…
I Used to Avoid Canal Fishing
Completely. It wasn’t until the DNR stopped me (multiple times) as I was leaving other clean bodies of water. He commented on my little jon boat with the huge battery (again… multiple times) and asked “you ever get over to fish the canal? It would be perfect for the way you fish!“
Yes. True story. This happened multiple times. (Do not underestimate my ability to learn slowly.)
So fine. FINE. FINE! I’ll fish the stupid ditch! STOP ASKING!
I waited… and waited… and waited… I drove over it probably 25 more times, fishing other bodies of water. Then at the very tail end of 2023, finally took a reluctant trip to the canal… and landed a 3.5 pounder that also ended up on a Midwest Outdoors cover:
AJ with a Fat Canal Bass
MWO Jan ’24
Holy smokes. That’s a game changer. They can really live – and thrive – in this shallow water that, at times, barely seems to cover their back! It was decided right then and there; the following season I would dedicate a serious amount of time to canal fishing.
Here’s how it started…
Canal Fishing Equipment
This isn’t a sales pitch so I’ll keep it short and sweet. Most of the gear that I took with me lives in my Heavy Muck Base Box. This has been converted (minimized) to a Heavy Muck Kayak Base Box. We’ll talk about that in a future article – but the long and short of it is this:
You need a stout rod and the ability to cast a fair distance. The fish are living in shallow water, so while they can be aggressive, they can also be extremely spooky. I prefer to use a spinning combo when I’m sitting low in my little plastic kayak. A 6’9″ Bass Pro Bionic Blade with an Ugly Tuff spinning reel spooled with 30-pound Power Pro V2 braid works really well in these situations. The rod is rated as a medium-heavy (fast action) but it has a surprising amount of backbone. A 7-foot Berkley Lightning Rod is another great option that I use often for this kind of fishing. It’s a bit “slower,” but these are great workhorse rods that won’t break the bank. The Ugly Tuff (by Ugly Stik) is solid, but I did have to completely disassemble and grease it to fix a nasty squeak that developed after I dropped it in the water. Fluorocarbon leaders are not usually necessary, but when they are, 40-pound Seaguar Fluoro Premier gets the nod. I’ve tried their Blue Label and Gold Label, and like them at times, but in this situation Premier has the best mix of stretch, strength and abrasion resistance (for working around tree trunks or sporadic riprap) with a reasonably small diameter. Bit pricey, but man, Seaguar makes good stuff! (That said, I am really looking forward to testing out the Reaction Tackle fluoro that’s sitting on my desk at the moment…)
Start with a topwater. Always. If they won’t bite, go subsurface… but remember, subsurface here doesn’t mean a jerkbait or a crankbait. Ever. It might mean a weedless chatterbait or a weedless swim jig or a spinnerbait if you really have high confidence in something like that. But for me?
Stickbaits.
I caught more fat canal largemouth bass on stickbaits last season than all other baits combined. Sure, I caught some on tubes, I caught some on flukes, a few others on soft-plastic creature baits with all kinds of flappys on ’em… but day in and day out, whether the bite was on fire or extremely tough, some version of a stickbait was always the top producer. Often the setup was super-minimalist: Weightless Texas Rig. At times: Weightless Wacky Rig. Occasionally I would add weight, but with such shallow water, that only happened if I needed to punch through overhead cover or play with the rate of fall.
90% of the time a big chunk of plastic, rigged some sort of weightless, was plenty.
Now I will admit, occasionally a monster heifer (my big bass for the day) came on another presentation. Usually topwater. But most of the time both quantity and quality engulfed the stickbait.
This absolute heifer of a canal largemouth slammed a Z-Man GOAT Toad on top… well, on top of about… 9 inches of water… look at how beautiful this specimen is. Flawless.
Start there, and you’ll be well on your way.
Everyone needs a few more heifers in their life.
That needs to be a t-shirt…
Canal Kayak Fishing: Day 1
This video shows some of the events from my first return visit the following season. It also shows how to meet other anglers at the ramp, and how much fun that can be! If you meet a quality fisherman that is willing to trade information, this can be extremely valuable.
It was the beginning of a long learning process… one that continues to this day. Upcoming videos will show the progression in-depth:
Canal Fishing: Full Episode
Oh, and get this: the best fish of the day came out of a tube, after biting a tube…
Canal Fishing: Best Bass of Day 1
That’s canal fishing.
So, brothers, there is much more canal fishing goodness to cover, and this season I have no doubt there is even more for me to learn… but that’s part of the fun. That’s the good stuff. Figuring out the puzzle. Getting humbled. Figuring it out again. I’m so freaking ready to go. More videos covering canal fishing are on the way in the near future, but I just wanted to say if you haven’t given it a try… consider it.
Lol… heifers…
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 blower would start, it would run for maybe 5 minutes then the air coming out of the vents would cool, and stop. Shortly thereafter the cycle would repeat, but the interior temp continued to drop. This is not cool with a 6-month old and 4 other kiddos, not to mention a wife that “runs cold” to begin with…
The culprit?
A thick furnace filter.
Yes. I’m serious.
The filter I had purchased was restricting air flow so much, that the furnace couldn’t run for a long time without overheating and shutting down as a safety precaution. Thank God I didn’t burn the thing up! After an expensive explanation from our local HVAC tech (who was polite enough to not laugh in my face) he asked if I wanted to have the unit serviced. Sure! Well, this got me thinking… the seasons are about to change. I need to go through and service the ‘ol fishing gear, and get ready. In the not-too-distant future we’ll be able to get out and do a bit of casting. A bit of scoutin’. A bit of catchin’.
Hopefully.
This made me think about something else…
Let’s Catch Some Rainbow Pike!
As I worked through the Oil & Grease Process on my spinning reels and baitcasters, I started to think about some other areas that could benefit from spring cleaning. The video archive came to mind. See, I started taping my fishing trips about 7 or 8 years ago. I never wanted to “be a YouTuber,” but I did want to have footage that I could go back and review the day after a trip. Why?
Because I sucked at fishing when I picked it up again as an adult.
The process of taping, stepping away, then coming back to review my videos and written notes has been unbelievably important in my development as an angler. It has helped me put all of my kids on bigger fish than those I landed at their age. It has helped me set my wife up for success. So the people I love most in this world benefit… and so do I. That’s a win-win!
The only problem is that this archive is now about 20 terabytes and I have 4 big storage drives filled to the brim with fishing outings I had hoped to review, edit down and post – but there just isn’t enough time. Not to mention, the way I fished 6 years ago is completely different than the way I fish now.
Instead of going back through and editing all that footage, I plan to clean this up by cherry-picking different events that happened. Saving the best bits. Looking for the things I learned from, and the best family moments.
The following is a video that focuses on my son Finn when he was about 3 years old. He’s bigger now, and a few months back I posted this video from the summer where he landed a fat smallmouth bass. The difference is amazing. I can’t tell you how precious these older videos are, and to hear his little voice light up back then – and still to this day – it’s just a beautiful thing to behold.
Finn Fishing for Rainbow Pike
If you are a father, get that camera out, and let it run.
One day you’re going to find yourself where I was, just doing some spring cleaning, and you’ll come across events that seemed normal at the time. Boring. Routine. But they’re special.
It’ll kick you right in the feels.
And that’s GOOD.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 feel free to get in touch! -AJ
The 2 Best Seasons For Big Bass And How To Catch Them
Jason Kaefer and his big, fat bass.
Are you ready to catch the biggest bass of your life but don’t know where to start? Learning the many techniques and variety of fishing gear necessary to become a good bass angler can be difficult. But targeting giants is basic. It only comes down to a handful of lures and techniques and two seasons to focus on. Don’t get me wrong, you can find and catch big bass all year, but there are two periods when your chances are highest – when giants are easiest to catch.
Understanding Bass Behavior
When it comes to fooling the biggest fish on the lake, you better have a good presentation. Bass see countless lures and presentations, roaring boat engines and disruptive wakes, loud banging of boat hatches, and other fish being caught. They may even experience being caught a few times themselves. This learning process gradually develops into cautious behavior. They learn the movements of a jig or swim bait, knowing at some point as it reaches that dark shadow on the surface that it gradually pulls up and disappears.
Other bass learn to spot heavy lines or an out-of-place food source. Suppose they survive starvation over time and disease, larger predatory fish, stress-related illness, cold winters, drought, lampreys, river otters, osprey, eagles, hook-related injuries leading to infection, or end up on an angler’s wall. In that case, they become too smart to catch. But not impossible. The odds of surviving beyond incubation are stacked against them, much less growing to 15 lbs. So the ones who make it through nature’s filter system are unique.
Spring Pre-Spawn
Spring marks the beginning of bass migration from deep water to shallow water, which often occurs when water temperatures reach 60 degrees. Big bass will follow migration routes and “stage” on areas like main lake points. The purpose of this is to allow smaller males (bucks) to search for potential bedding sites for females. This is when bass fishing is at its best.
Big females are full of eggs, moody, and much easier to trick. It’s believed that their eyesight adjusts slowly as they rise closer to the surface. Anglers use a variety of lures this time of year including crankbaits and chatterbaits in red as this color pops out. It’s also the best time for double digits you only hear of during dock talk. One way to target these giants is to use big swim baits like the Huddleston Rainbow Trout and Savage Gear Line-thru rainbow trout.
Savage Gear Line-thru Rainbow Trout
Big swim baits and glide baits are good presentations for targeting giant fish. The best time to use them is typically when water temperatures reach 60 degrees. Target rocky points on the outside of inlets and backbays. Fish along rock walls and shorelines that lead to marinas. You can speed up your retrieve this time of year so that your swim bait follows the mid-water column. Giant largemouth will stage in these areas before heading to spawn, relating to wood, metal, and rock. Riff raff is a good place to find bass that are moving up shallow because they often hold crawdads and heat.
Gear to Use
When throwing big swimbaits, it’s all about good flexibility, strength, and stretch. An 8 ft Medium-heavy or Heavy power rod with a long, solid handle and good bend is best for 2-5 ounce swim baits. 20-30lb fluorocarbon will provide a better stretch and all of this combined when casting will allow you to fling your bait out without snapping your line or backlashing.
Heavy gear is a must.
Winter
Winter is the second best time to target the biggest fish on the lake. Many anglers put bass fishing on hold until spring, focusing on deer season and family. Others hate the cold weather. This leaves the lake empty – no boat traffic, loud music, or water skiers. You have the whole lake to yourself. It also gives the bass time to reset. The environment has gone silent after a year of the same lures whizzing past them and the noise of boats blasting above. It’s a perfect time to bass fish, as long as you can tolerate the cold weather! However, you need to understand bass behavior and where they go during this time.
Where Do Bass Go In Winter?
During winter, bass head for deeper water and sit on rocky bottoms. They may suspend or rise to shallower water on warm days. It’s useful to have a decent sonar to locate their position. Follow bait balls (if possible ) on your sonar. You can also look for pelicans and other diving birds along the shorelines, which is usually a good indicator. Big bass will hang along the sides of bait fish or below. Bigger bass often take the best locations during winter like steep slopes that create ambush points, drop-offs, and ledges. This makes it predictable when trying to locate them. You won’t get many bites in winter and it’s a grind. But that thump that follows a long day of no action will be well worth it.
How To Catch Big Bass In Winter
The key is to slow down in winter. Whether you’re fishing giant swimbaits, glide baits, or dragging a jig, fish as slowly as possible. Bass will slowly rise to the occasion by the allure of a slow twitch jerkbait or a swimbait crawled along the bottom. But only if it moves slowly enough.
Fish have an internal sense of calorie gains and depletion. They lose calories chasing down prey and may spend it all for nothing if that prey item gets away. Cold water bass also lack the motivation to move quickly as their bodies shut down in response to a slowing metabolism. Thus they don’t move, and they eat very little. This is why winter is such a good time to fish giant baits. It presents a meal packed with calories and moves slowly enough for a giant bass to catch it.
You can use the Huddleston 8″ trout swim bait and slowly swim it along the bottom. Maintaining contact with the bottom is key during this time – if you can feel the bottom, you’re in the strike zone. Remind yourself to slow down and even dead-stick it at times. A lethargic 8″ trout barely moving provides a perfect feeding opportunity for the largest fish and is worth the energy spent moving over to it.
Final Thoughts
Spring and winter are the two best seasons for bass fishing. You can easily put high numbers in the boat or target the biggest bass of your life. You can target them with giant swim baits and glide baits. But other notable lures include big jigs and spinner baits. Remember to fish slow and deep in winter and speed up in spring while targeting secondary points and shallow water cover and structure.
The author with yet another chunky specimen. Tight lines!
WARNING: Skipping gear maintenance is the fastest way to ruin a fishing trip.
(Don’t ask me why I know this…)
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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 Jocko Willink has been credited with the version above. I didn’t realize this even though I do quite a bit of design work for his company, Echelon Front. But It doesn’t matter where the phrase originated – what matters, is that it’s correct.
Let’s talk about taking care of your spinning reels.
A few simple tools, some quality fishing reel oil & grease, good lighting plus a clean workspace (with fake succulents?) and we’re ready to begin!
How Often Should You Lubricate Your Fishing Reel?
Great question. The answer is another question: how often do you use your spinning reel? Here in the Midwest I fish twice a week (three times if I’m lucky) from spring through fall. Roughly early April to Late October. 4 hours at a crack.
Under normal circumstances, a general oil & grease (as outlined below) at the beginning and end of the season is just fine, and keeps my reels functioning properly. Smooth. Better performance makes for more enjoyable fishing trips, and allows the focus to be on the conditions and the fish – not problems.
However, certain events trigger the need for a re-lube. Have you ever dropped your rod & reel into a creek? I love to get into the thick of it and fish in places where others fear to tread. However… I drop my stuff all the time…
Dropping my camera in the drink.
Fishing awesome places all alone.
I also used to allow my reel to hang under my arm or between my legs, in the water, while unhooking fish, not realizing that submerging a reel allows water carrying sediment, grit and grime to seep it’s way into the inner cavity, which can wreak havoc on the internals. Sometimes said havoc is wreaked quickly, sometimes it takes a while – but ultimately what you will end up with is a gritty, clunky feeling as you turn the handle… and your spinning reel will eventually seize up completely.
Not cool.
Always oil and grease your spinning reel after it has been submerged – or better yet, avoid submerging it.
If your reel has completely seized up, you will need to disassemble everything, clean everything, and apply new grease and oil. This article covers a good portion of that disassembly process.
Place a single drop (ok, maybe two) right at the edge of the handle knob. Some spinning reels have bearings here, others rely on (cheaper) plastic collars. No matter – it’s a moving part so dab it up before moving on.
Your spool rests on the spindle, usually on some combination of a star washer (or “external tooth” washer), a bearing or plastic collar, and a plastic washer. The drag cap (on top) holds the spool in place. Unscrewing the drag cap completely will release the spool, revealing the spindle, washers & bearings.
Since the spindle moves up and down when you crank the handle, add 2 to 3 drops of oil underneath the star washer, then turn the handle to work it in. I also like to pull the plastic washer on the spindle up, and add a drop of oil between these parts – especially on the bearing that rests on the star washer.
Lew’s Speed Spin spindle stack: star washer, bearing, metal and plastic washer
Note that when you remove the drag cap, your drag washers may fall out. These are usually alternating metal and felt washers, or carbon, or composite… so just remember to be careful when you lift off the spool. On my Lew’s Speed Spin (SS 40HS) you can see they are actually pinned in place.
Drag washer grease is different than reel grease. It is also common to find spinning reel grease that is different than baitcaster grease. How many different kinds of grease do you need?
That’s up to you.
Had I found felt washers that were dry, I would have had no problem putting a bit of my general reel grease on them (a little lube is better than no lube, amirite?) – or even a few drops of oil. But drag washer specific grease would be best – and as you can see, this thing is (sloppily) packed already. I considered wiping some out, but since the reel performed well this season, I just left it be.
Place a drop of oil on either side of the bail arm. Your reel may actually have grease inside this area, by the bail spring – but there is no need to disassemble at this time. Work the bail back and forth to get the oil in between this connection on the bail assembly.
The line roller lives on the bail. This is what your line actually comes across on the retrieve. Low friction here is obviously extremely important so that you do not compromise your line. Place a good drop on either side and try to work it in with your finger.
I have come across articles online where guys talk about adding grease to this area instead of oil. Some say they have had good results – I haven’t tried this. Some reels have bearings, others have plastic sleeves or collars – but whatever your model, there are most likely moving parts here.
Check to make sure whatever it is moves freely, then hit it with that oil.
Unscrew the handle itself by rotating it backwards while holding the bail assembly in place. Some models may have a long screw on the opposite side that you need to remove to free the handle. As you can see in my case all I had on the opposite side was a cap.
Either way, once the handle assembly is free, look for bearings within the body of the reel, and apply oil.
Now would also be a good time to look for areas on the handle itself that you couldn’t access when it was attached. A little oil here and there is never a bad idea.
6. Grease the Interior Gears & Guides (WARNING!)
Our final step might be a bit more complicated, depending on your reel. We need to open the guts by removing the body side plate. Some companies make this simple… I assumed this company would make it simple… and I assumed wrong…
Don’t panic bro – it’s not as scary as it looks.
Still, we got ‘er done, and I’ll show you how, but before you proceed…
Make sure to grab the schematic that goes with your reel so you have something to reference if a spring shoots across the room unexpectedly.
(Don’t ask me why I know this…)
The schematic for my Lew’s came in very handy when I was searching for hidden screws… [ View the Lew’s Speed Spin PDF ]
Then make sure you have good lighting, no holes in your workbench, and make slow, careful, deliberate movements.
You can do it. Let’s go.
Remove the rear cover trim piece. This is usually held in place with a single screw.
Rear cover trim screw
Pay attention to the length of every screw you remove during this process. It’s common to have several the same color, the same diameter… but different lengths. This can be a nightmare.
(Don’t ask me why I know this…)
Keep every piece you remove in order on your workbench. A systematic line from the first piece you remove to the last. This makes the reassembly process… not… full of swear words…
(Don’t ask me why I know this…)
The trim piece should come free with light prying. If not, slow down and look for hidden screws or tabs. Notice how mine hid one of the side plate screws?
… I am very very sneaky sir…
This is why I had to remove it first. Once it was free, I went to work on the side plate screws… but much to my dismay, said side plate would not lift free.
I had to remove the bail assembly.
A few pieces usually hold the bail assembly in place.
First, remove the spindle stack (star washer, bearing, metal and plastic washer) followed by the screw that holds the rotor nut retainer stationary. This is what locks the rotor (gold) nut in place. Loosen the rotor nut by twisting it clockwise – usually – all of the reels I have disassembled have reverse threads on this nut.
Never crank it super hard.
(Don’t ask me why I know this…)
This allowed me to remove the bail assembly, and see the body head cover, held in place with two small screws.
The body head cover keeps everything nice & neat & protected.
My last hidden screw was right there – below the body head cover. Once removed, the side plate was finally free.
… I fear you are underestimating the sneakiness sir…
Then, I had access to the guts.
It’s beautiful.
Notice my anti-reverse lever spring popped free? Yeah… but I caught it! That clean work area is key!
It’s time to apply the grease.
Hit the slider guide pin, and the oscillation and reduction gears after removing the primary drive gear. Don’t forget to apply grease on the lower portion of the pinion gear (which is dead center, surrounding the lower portion of the pinion itself).
I made ’em extra sloppy!
You don’t have to COAT the gears. You don’t want them to be swimming in grease, but do apply a nice dollop or two and work it in.
I may have used a bit too much… but I think we’re ok…
Carefully put everything back together in reverse order, make sure the bail opens and the gears sound smooth. Spend a minute working the bail and spinning the handle to distribute the grease and oil.
That’s it!
You have successfully complete Spinning Reel Oil & Grease Maintenance 101 (send me just $95 to receive your diploma). Now the only thing left to do it get ready to catch some bruisers!
Take care of your equipment, and your equipment will take care of you.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
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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 I love. It’s also a nice distraction.
A few weeks back, my younger brother passed away. My family is crushed (to say the least). November flew by. It was like being in a trance. Each day mushed together with the one before. I told our boys, the days leading up to the funeral will be a blur. It’s going to be a complete whirlwind, and after the dust settles we will find ourselves standing there, alone, 1 man down.
This has come to pass.
I have an archive of videos to edit. The surplus was something I considered deleting, just starting fresh this coming season, but now… now those videos are invaluable. Vaughn didn’t fish with me as much as I wanted, but he did fish with us from time to time.
Vaughn and his infamous tiger muskie on “the spoon,” a black perch Daredevle that he never took off.
This summer, the boat will seem a little light. Dad and I will continue to fish. We’ll have too much room. Won’t be bumping into anyone. Perhaps it’s time for my boys to join us more often? Probably. But even if they do, we’ll be standing there, fishing, 1 man down.
We would do anything for just one more trip.
Dad, Zach, AJ & Vaughn at Grandpa’s Place in Wisconsin
But we have to keep moving. It’s what Vaughn would have wanted, and though my heart is heavy, I rest my sadness at the feet of the cross. I pray he is with the Lord, and I take comfort in the fact that he is no longer suffering in this fallen world.
The days go on. We all take steps. We stay busy. We look ahead.
Still, every evening when the house is finally quiet, I find myself in the dark kitchen, staring at a digital picture frame that cycles through hundreds of family photos. Many include my brother. A few go by… there he is. A few more, there he is again. Holding Fish. Hugging kids. Smiling at my parents. Sitting by a fire. Laughing with me. Joking around with my wife…
… and I just stand there, broken & sobbing, 1 man down.
Love you brother. Godspeed.
Speaking of taking steps & moving ahead…
There was a new little toy that changed my fishing options last year – an ebike. Specifically, the Rattan Quercus. Odd name. Odd looking. You’re asking yourself… “how in the heck does a freaking BIKE help with FISHING?”
Great question.
Let me tell you…
The Rattan Quercus is a super-practical ebike that opens up a new bass fishing opportunity for anglers with limited time.
Where I live, there are several canals that run for hundreds of miles. I’ve fished many areas along the way in…
… my kayak and…
Kayak Largemouth Bass Fishing
… my jon boat.
Jon Boat Largemouth Bass Fishing
But canal access is somewhat limited when you consider how many fishable miles there are. It takes a long time to paddle long distances to explore new areas. However, with an ebike, I can rip through many unproductive miles quickly (even along paths that don’t allow motorized vehicles) stopping only when I come across a pool that looks fishy.
Find a place that looks good? Park the Rattan Quercus, pull out some gear from the satchel, fish it for a bit, then pack up, go and repeat the process. This is a great way to quickly find productive water from the bank!
Hop off. Fish it. Catch something? Stay. Don’t catch anything? Leave.
Repeat.
At the end of this season, I scheduled two different trips on the ebike. Let me tell you… I caught a few good fish on day one…
Enjoy a ride on the Rattan Quercus, park, fish, catch a few, repeat. My best on day one went 2 pounds.
But day two, that was when I found a killer little honey hole 10 miles from where I started, sporting crystal-clear water and good shoreline access, absolutely LOADED with unpressured bruisers!
A nice, fat 3-pounder. The first fish I caught on my second ebike fishing trip. That’s a good sign!
I recorded both days so that I could share them with you:
One of the things that we always need to do is find ways to make the most of our limited time. If bank fishing is something you love – look for tools that can help you move around faster and with less effort, like what I’ve outlined here.
If you do, you can enjoy more casts, more fish, and more fun.
Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!
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 involves some green pumpkin Big TRDs, complete with a pair of Z-Man Neko ShroomZ / Weights (one on either end) and a 3/0 Weedless Wacky Hook. This simple, bite-sized technique is a great presentation for lethargic largemouth sitting in the shade of the muck and duckweed that floats atop our warm Midwest water. I’ve landed more than a few after ripping up and down a nearby canal quietly on a Rattan Ebike looking for shady areas near patches of clear, sandy bottom where largemouth can patrol in and out of the overhead cover and eat as they see fit.
A fat Illinois largemouth bass on a HOT summer day!
I’ll write more about this method, the Rattan, and post a video soon. They have both performed above and beyond what I expected!
Much has changed in my camp these last several months. I have had the privilege of writing several articles for Midwest Outdoors (most in print, and a few have been published on their blog). I’ve partnered with a few new companies and have some interesting collaboration videos in the works. Most importantly, my wife and I welcomed Ava Joy into the world in early July:
Welcome, little one.
She is awesome, and her 4 older brothers are completely in love with her. We are too… even though she doesn’t let us sleep… yet…
Forgot about that part.
As my tribe expands, I am constantly reminded that time is limited. With 5 kids, how can a father make sure that everyone feels loved and appreciated and special (including the misses)? It’s a tall order! Just “putting a roof over their heads” or “putting dinner on the table” isn’t enough – that’s the bare minimum. It’s our responsibility as men. It’s expected. However, if that is all we ever do for our family… yikes…
We must strive to do more, and if we can’t do more in terms of quantity, we have to do more in terms of quality. Fortunately, if you’re a fisherman like me (and of course you are) you have a hobby that is built for memory making.
Shortly after Ava Joy was born, we left for our annual Hauser Pilgrimage to the Manitowish Chain ‘o Lakes. This trip is something that we save for all year long. It’s not cheap. We have to make sacrifices to make it happen, but it allows us to stay in a house on a lake with our boat rigged & ready to go in the morning, afternoon and evening. Between family meals, swimming and exploring – my father and I fish.
A LOT.
As my boys have grown, they’ve all taken an interest in “doing what Daddy is doing with Gompa.” And so, every child gets multiple solo outings with me and Dad, without their siblings, where they get our full attention. The result? Many, many memories… just like this one I caught on tape below…
Finn Fights a Fat Wisconsin Smallmouth Bass
When I started The Minimalist Fisherman, my goal was to get good enough to help my kids catch more fish. Sure, I also wanted to catch more myself – but I knew that if I was going to get them excited about going outside while their friends all sat around like vegetables staring at screens, I’d have to be able to put them on fish quickly, no matter the conditions.
Is it easy? No, of course not.
Does it always work out? Also no.
But you listen to those squeals of excitement in that video and tell me it’s not worth every bit of effort to help your child experience the joy of catching a bruiser of a bass all by themselves.
It is.
I share this with you today as a simple reminder: fishermen are blessed.
We are blessed by God’s great bounty. By nature. By the wind and the rain and the rise and fall of the sun on the water. The cool morning air and the rustle of the leaves along the shoreline in the evening. These experiences are often simply a byproduct of chasing the beasts swimming below the surface… but don’t take any of this for granted. You have a hobby that is built for memory making… so stay alert and soak it all in… enjoy it, but more importantly…
Share it.
Finn on the way to our first spot.After losing multiple fish, he persevered, and was rewarded with this 17″ smallmouth bass. That’s a beauty, but to a little lad like this, IT’S A GIANT! The release with Gompa. If we want to enjoy these fisheries, we have to take care of them and treat the lake and the inhabitants with respect. This fish will live to fight another day!
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
Get Articles & Videos First
Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!
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 as the sun tries so hard to poke her head out from behind the clouds sitting right above the trees across the way. Bright orange colors sit just behind, as the thunder slowly rolls in and sporadic flashes of lightning remind me – you’re not fishing today.
Hmmm…
Frustrating, but we live in a world where turbulence seems to be the norm… so small breaks (even breaks that Mother Nature forces us to take) are a blessing.
Soggy mornings like these are the perfect time to discuss simple improvements that anyone can make. Improvements that will help you catch more fish. I’m talking about The 80/20 Rule. No doubt you’ve heard about this ratio in some sense before –
“20% of the water holds 80% of the fish.” “20% of the fishermen catch 80% of the fish.” “20% of my tackle gets used 80% of the time.”
Some will even bump these numbers up to 90/10. You can pick whatever ratio you prefer, but today we’re going to apply this rule in a slightly different way…
Putting the 80/20 Rule to work In The FieldClick the banner to jump to Stars & Bars Fishing on YouTube.
Apply The 80/20 Rule to Every Base Box
Base-wha?
Base Box.
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Over the years I’ve made many adjustments that help keep my on-hand tackle lightweight, compact and versatile. Minimalist. A Base Box is a single Plano container, pre-loaded with presentations that I have confidence in for a specific kind of fishing. Things I absolutely need to have for certain conditions. They’re always ready to go, so when ‘ol Billy Bob calls and says “BROTHER, LET’S FISH!,” I grab the appropriate Base Box, the Terminal Tackle Base Box, throw ’em in my backpack and head out.
Fishing from the bank? Just take that backpack. Fishing from a friend’s boat? Just take that backpack. Fishing from your own boat? Just take that backpack!
This helps me keep the clutter away. It keeps my mind clear so the focus is on catching fish, not organizing tackle. We’ve covered the Heavy Muck Base Box for targeting largemouth bass in thick cover, as well as the Wisconsin Bass Base Box for targeting smallmouth bass and other gamefish near Minocqua.
This year I’m working on a Muck Kayak Base Box, a Clear / Creek Kayak Base Box, and some others, but today we’re talking about how applying The 80/20 Rule to my Clear Water Base Box helped me turn a slow day into a great one!
First largemouth bass of the 2024 season.
Spring Bass Fishing in the Midwest
Here’s how the day went…
I decided to start small. Small, shallow ponds and lakes can warm up faster than large, deep bodies of water. This can translate into more activity, and more bites. One such puddle nearby, affectionately dubbed Snapping Turtle Pond, is home to some big bass… and big snappers.
Watch your toes!
Not all bass spawn at the same time. Smaller, warmer lakes might be the earliest to see spawning activity. I don’t target spawners, but paying attention to the local calendar period will help you find active biters. For example, if a very small lake gets the postspawn blues, head to a larger lake and see if you can find prespawn fish looking to chow.
The afternoon bite can be best in the spring. Midday, when the water is warmest and the sun is high in the sky, it’s not uncommon to experience the fish “turning on,” which means you don’t have to be up and out before dawn.
Moving baits can work in cold water. I decided to start with a 3″ swimbait, and follow that up with a 4″ stickbait in a natural green pumpkin color. Here were some key items in my Clear Water Base Box:
I fished for 2 hours without a bite. Tossed the swimbait, then the stickbait (again both in natural colors). These are confidence techniques for me… and they came up blank.
The water was chocolate milk. Probably from all the recent rain and runoff. I even had a 12 pound fluorocarbon leader tied to my braid because I thought they were going to be able to see my line. Not the case… and actually, I don’t think they could see much of anything.
Fortunately I had already applied The 80/20 Rule to my gear. 80% of my equipment was focused on clear water techniques. Natural colors, natural patterns, natural movement, small or invisible line, and exposed hooks. (Think crankbaits, topwater poppers, lipless cranks and natural plastics on jigs.) However, 20% of my equipment was focused on the exact opposite… and thankfully, I had the high-vis low-snag option you see here:
“Here I come to save the daaaaaaaaaaaay…”
A Coppertreuse Hula Stick (soaked in Dr. Juice attractant to mask human scent) on a Texas Rig with a Mustad Light Wire Grip-Pin hook and a 1/16 ounce tungsten Nako bullet weight. This saved the day, because the conditions were not what I expected!
#2
#3
#4
On my very first cast with the high-vis presentation, I caught a fish. Same thing happened on the second cast! We ended up catching five fish (and missing one) this afternoon, with four of them being right at or over the 2 pound mark. All bites came within a 40 minute window on the wind-blown side of the pond.
I had almost given up. Even took a 30 minute break to map with my Deeper Pro+ Sonar to try to “salvage the awful day.” But it wasn’t awful. The answer wasn’t to quit – the answer was to adapt.
If you apply The 80/20 Rule to your tackle, you’ll be more prepared for anything that comes at you, without needing to carry around the entire tackle shop. Take a minute to review what you have on hand, and maybe make a few changes.
This can be the difference between a complete bust… or a great day of fishing!
Want to go even deeper with 80/20 fishing? Check this video out:
The Base Box Concept + The Best Way to Use The 80/20 Principle
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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It’s early morning here in the Midwest. A bitter chill hangs in the air. Frost has come. Snow will soon follow. The sun slowly creeps over the horizon and the blurry orange light it brings with causes eyes to squint. Refocus. Adjust. Small misty clouds become visible, as warm breath after warm breath condense on the frigid morning air…
Well… not MY breath…
John’s breath.
Who’s John?
My neighbor. Out for his morning run. Getting after it. “Wow… good for you, John…” I mumble, while looking out the window and indulging in another glorious slurp of piping-hot coffee before turning back to my desk… “Not really my thing… but… good for you…”
I have other plans this morning… it’s time to invest.
No, not in the traditional sense. We’re not dollar-cost-averaging, or looking into the latest crypto-craze. Not shopping for stocks or mutual funds – we’re investing in bass.
Big bass.
Some fellas ice fish, and that’s probably a lot of fun – but with 2 jobs, 4 sons and a lovely wife, I prefer to save up my “fishing credits” and cash them in throughout the warmer months. Winter in our house is a time of recuperation. Upkeep. Grandpa Hauser taught me long ago that instead of sitting on your hands, you better be sharpening hooks and oiling reels! Sound advice for sure, but prior to last season I learned a few powerful tips that helped me catch more fish. Bigger fish.
They’ve become recurring investments I make into my bass fishing season.
… and the best part?
They don’t cost a dime, and the returns are outstanding!
AJ Hauser with a 4 pound largemouth bass taken from a small, hidden – and yes, public – pond in Illinois discovered using these simple techniques.
Let’s jump in.
1. Pick Several New Bodies of Water to Visit Next Year
First and foremost – it’s time to select some new bodies of water to explore this coming season. Get comfortable with the DNR website in your state. If they list fishing locations, pick a few.
Where I live, the Department of Natural Resources offers I Fish Illinois, and while the site looks a bit antiquated, it’s absolutely loaded with information. On the main page you can select one of 5 regions, which quickly filters the links. From there, you can click to access data on county, acerage, ramp availability, boat restrictions, recreational opportunities and the fishing outlook for the year. You’ll also see a bit of history, the local contact information, fishing limits and yes – stocking information.
The I Fish Illinois website offers a ton of information, and it is a great place to invest some time this winter.
Last season, this tool helped me identify new water that looked good within 90 minutes (the maximum distance I was willing to travel one way for a day of fishing). When spring hit, I still fished all the old honeyholes, but also made a point to get out & explore these new locations. It was exciting, and having created a list in advance made it very easy.
My winter research led me to beautiful areas I didn’t even know existed.
2. Utilize the Eye in the Sky
The Googlebox is always watching… is that creepy? Yes. Is it useful?
Also yes.
Before heading out, explore new terrain from the comfort of home. Open Google Earth and plug in any new location you plan to visit. Look for visible cover, as well as points, pockets, islands & coves. If you’re considering winding water, you’ll be able to identify bends, jams, riffles, runs & pools. This gives you a leg up and will help you hit the ground running!
But wait, there’s more. While satellite images are great, treetops can hide all sorts of goodies down below. Switch over to Google Maps and look for little blue blobs. That’s water. Mark those. If you’re in a state park or SFWA, I strongly suggest you check if you’re able to hike and access these less-obvious bodies of water, either from the shore, or in a small kayak.
When used together, Google Earth and Google Maps can help you find hidden gems that would otherwise go unnoticed.
We’ve all experienced the increase in fishing pressure on many popular lakes that are easy-to-access. It’s great that more people are getting outdoors, but frustrating when “our lake” starts to get crowded. Investing a bit of time to find new, hidden areas can be very rewarding!
It’s likely the little body of water over yonder doesn’t see much fishing pressure…… but the fish are there.
3. Seek Out Blogs by Local Anglers
We all like to brag about our catch. Pictures and stories can be seen all over social media, but by themselves… pictures are not very helpful. Last season, I noticed several public blogs written by nearby fishermen. All I had to do to find them was add keywords like “blog” or “fishing report” or “fishing news” when searching for the name of the next new spot I planned to fish.
Then, I’d comb through the results. Some blogs were current, while others were digital artifacts from years ago – but all of them contained information. Many of the angling authors clearly used these blogs as a place to store notes for themselves – but didn’t mind sharing.
This allows us to play detective, piecing together clues and matching bits of information to the assumptions we’ve already made in our mind after viewing satellite images. Very useful.
This small backwater area was mentioned in a blog, hidden by shoreline overgrowth. After reading the post I pulled up the satellite images and sure enough – there was a “blue blob” I’d missed...… it ended up being a great place to drag the jon boat and spend the morning!
4. Look for Local Forums and Facebook Groups
As you prowl the web looking for blogs, you’ll likely come across local fishing forums, or perhaps a Facebook group or two. Join them. Contribute! These can also be rich with information.
One thing to keep in mind though: I mention them after blogs because they typically tend to be centered around larger bodies of water. Bodies of water with more fishing pressure and pleasure boaters. If you’re seeking remote areas, you may find a few breadcrumbs worth following, but I tend to use them to get a feel for the bite and current conditions – then use the tips above to find hard-to-reach areas where a kayak or jon boat can slip away from the crowds.
Larger lakes can be very productive. My jon boat can’t compete with speedy bass boats or forward facing sonar, but pre-trip scouting helps me avoid the crowds & fish alone in hidden areas.
5. Talk (and Listen) to People
The last tip is the only one that will require you to leave your cozy home: get out and talk to people! We all know boat ramp etiquette is a must. Casual conversation by the lake can be enjoyable & informative… but take it a step further. Keep your eyes & ears open at work, church, school functions, the grocery store – everywhere – and I bet you’ll pick up a few more fish.
For example, earlier this year several workers were applying new blacktop in front of our house. While driving through, I thanked them for stopping so I could pass, and one commented on the kayak hanging over the side of my truck. After a polite back and forth I offered up where I was going, and he returned the favor, sharing one of the places he liked to fish.
Mental note. Check.
Later that week I took a quick trip, and you better believe a bruiser of a bass hopped right into my kayak! (I’d be willing to bet the worker did just as well at the place I mentioned to him. Win-win.)
Thank you for the tip, Mr. Worker-Man.
Here’s one more quick example: Last season the DNR “carded me” 3 different times. Each time, we had a polite, pleasant conversation. During the last one he said:
“You know… I see you in this jon boat all the time, have you ever taken it into the canal? Lots of guys have good luck there and it’s really shallow with tons of stumps and laydowns. Seems like the perfect spot for the kind of fishing you do.”
He was right.
A few simple conversations put me on some nice fat largemouth that I had driven by hundreds of times – they’d been sitting right under my nose all along!
I ended my season fishing in an area I had never even been to before, and these fish (plus many more) came as a result of talking – and listening – to others.
So, Fellow Anglers – Invest!
There’s always something to do. Something we can improve. It might be our gear, our storage setup, or any number of tasks and upkeep, but if you long for warmer days in the Midwest don’t just sulk or sit on your hands.
Take some time to invest in future fishing returns – you’ll be glad you did!
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 websites that focus on fishing… but most are completely inactive – or worse – filled to the absolute brim with crappy, spammy content and ads out the wazoo.
If you search the Googles, you’ll find yourself bouncing back and forth between sites with (sometimes really good) bass fishing tips from 2003, then the next will have “The All-Time Worldwide Best Baits for Largemouth Bass – You Won’t Believe #7!!!” – and the article will quite literally list every single bass fishing technique in existence, surrounded by so many affiliate ads it’s completely unreadable.
Frustrating.
I couldn’t find other sites worth contacting… so, I decided to start contacting some of the bigger names we all know around these parts (even though I didn’t think they would be interested in what I could contribute… see Dunning-Kruger Effect). In December, a little before Christmas, as I was sulking about feeling sorry for myself, being depressed (as is my norm during the winter months) I decided to reach out to a writer over at Midwest Outdoors named Dan Brozowski. He penned an article on Fall’s In-Between Fish, and we struck up a conversation about possibly using some Yamamoto Hula Grubs in my beloved clear water pits this coming season.
Well, one thing led to another and I managed to land an email in Dave Csanda’s inbox, and if that name sounds familiar it’s probably because you recognize him from The Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. I sent him a few articles that have been published here, and he responded: “I read your stuff and would welcome your submissions. We need another article for January but the deadline is less than a week away…“
There it was.
An opening.
An opportunity.
Time to make hay.
A few days later I sent over an article with several pictures from the end of the season, along with tips for finding and catching bigger bass. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard that they had accepted the article. I was even more surprised when I received the January issue in the mail, and saw they had decided to use my picture for the cover of the Illinois section!
Midwest Outdoors: January 2024 Article by AJ Hauser: Winter Investments for Bigger Bass
Shortly after that, the article ended up in their monthly Midwest Outdoors Insider Newsletter. Sweet! I emailed Dan and Dave, along with Ann, Tina and Dena over at the MWO office to say thank you for the opportunity and for using some of my stuff – and with it, sent another article that got picked up and used for the March issue, along with the Iowa / Missouri cover:
Midwest Outdoors: March 2024 Article by AJ Hauser: Jerkin’ Cold-Water Bass
Jerkin’ Cold-Water Bass ended up on their website, then an article titled “Go Small or Go Home: The Advantages of Fishing Small Water” was printed in the April issue, and my 4th article is currently on deck for May.
Midwest Outdoors: April 2024 Article by AJ Hauser: Go Small or Go Home: The Advantages of Fishing Small Water
So, my friends, this is what I have been focusing on since December of last year. Holding a physical, printed article is something I have hoped for and worked towards since I started The Minimalist Fisherman in 2019. To see my picture alongside well known heavy-hitters and local hammers is just… it’s surreal.
When I was just a wee lad, my Dad had a box of In-Fisherman books that would come out at the beginning of every Manitowish fishing trip. They’d be sprawled across the bed, and I would hop up and flip through the pages written by Al, Ron and Jim Lindner, Dan Sura, Doug Stange, Steve Quinn, Larry Dahlberg, Ralph Manns and Dave Csanda. Dad and I didn’t didn’t talk much. We didn’t have to. He would tie spoons and jigs and plugs onto his many fishing poles while I looked at those books, and we both dreamed about catching big fish.
Fast forward 30 years.
To have a brief email discussion with one of these guys. To hold a printed article in my hands. To place something I wrote with pictures of my fish on the dining room table so my parents, wife and kids can see…
It means a lot.
I thank God for the opportunity, and I hope to continue sending articles and pictures that get put to use. Being in a position to help other anglers after so many have helped me is extremely rewarding!
But now… now, it’s time to get ready to get out into the field. My 2024 fishing season is only days away from starting. It will be cold. It will be wet. It will be rough… but it will feed my soul.
I’ll log all of it and share with you the changes I make, the techniques that work, and the fish I catch.
So brothers… here’s to 2024… let’s get bit!
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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 catch them on the right day) striking anything that crosses their path.
This is exhilarating.
A quick online search shows that the Post Spawn Period usually gets a bad rap… however, if you look just a bit further than the top 1, 2 & 3 results on the ‘ol Googlebox, you’ll find that many anglers seem to love fishing during this time.
What gives?!
Here’s a secret about fishing: if you find a guy that loves something, you can easily find another guy that hates that same thing!
This is a great truth of the universe.
It never fails.
If Guy A swears by BAIT X, you’ll quickly find another guy that swears BAIT X NEVER WORKS!
Guy A will tell you the XYZ Period is BEST, while Guy B swears the XYZ Period makes fishing IMPOSSIBLE!
Guy A LOVES bed fishing, Guy B says it WRECKS the fishery!
Pour Coca-Cola on their gills?! Fizz ’em before release?! No bananas in the boat?!
“I… whuh??”
You get the idea… but without a doubt, right after the spawn there is typically a period where bass need to recuperate. During this time the bite can slow dramatically. However, as largemouth begin to move to their summer haunts, they’ll begin to put on the feedbag… this can lead to some ridiculously fun days on the water… like this:
Illinois Topwater Fishing: Post SpawnClick the banner to jump to Stars & Bars Fishing on YouTube.
On top of that, in larger lakes and reservoirs it is possible to find areas where the fish are actually in different phases even though they are technically living in the same lake. They could be post spawn in the northern part of the lake, while still spawning in the southern part. They could be slamming moving baits in the north, while requiring a slooooowed doooooown approach in the south.
If that’s the case, you’ll want to tie on a few good “soaking baits.”
Test this on your lake this spring, and don’t forget to target transitional areas (like the first major point outside a spawning flat) in the reverse order the fish would have used them when they moved in to spawn. OH! Keep your eyes peeled for bluegill beds too… those honeycomb patterns along the bottom can mean an easy meal… and some nearby bass lurking in the shadows…
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!
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 fishing you could hope to experience… and at the exact same time… some of the most frustrating.
Just depends on the day…
… and… about 587 other factors…
So hey, no sweat right?! Let’s get into it!
Fishing the Midwest Post Spawn Period
It is difficult to pinpoint The Post Spawn Period with exact certainty. Many anglers believe there are 4 key elements that signify the fish are still Post Spawn, and not yet exhibiting Pre-Summer behavior. In Illinois (and other states in the Midwest) The Post Spawn Period is typically when you have water between 65° and 70°. Spawning has completed, and the females are no longer shallow – they’ve shuffled off to deeper waters (think deeper shelves, the ends of main lake or secondary points, or even suspending). The males however can still be found guarding the nests along the shoreline. This is true for both largemouth and smallmouth bass…
Leave them alone. They have a job to do and their old lady just ran out on ’em!
Finally, you’ll know if you’re not yet into the Pre-Summer Period when regular behaviors and feeding activity have yet to resume. The fish are still sluggish, tight-lipped, lock-jawed, lazy… and this will drive you freakin’ crazy!
I know y’all just did the hibbidy-dibbidy a bunch but DANG IT… do you really need 2 to 4 weeks to recuperate?!
Sometimes. Not always. Other factors have come into play in recent years as well, aside from temperature. Things like the length of the day, sun & moon cycles, barometric pressure and weather patterns – these are all given more weight than in yester-years.
If you notice some of the signals I’ve listed here when you are out on the water, there is a good chance you can figure out what kind of behavior you can expect (or not expect) from the bass you’re targeting. If you’re on a lake with both largemouth and smallmouth bass, you’ll probably be able to find areas with fish in several different moods.
But remember: even when the bite is TOUGH, there are things that we can and should be doing as anglers to capitalize on our time on the water!
How to Make the Most of an Illinois “Post-Spawn Fishing Trip”
First decent fish aboard the jon boat on a tough bite kinda day!
Even though fishing Post Spawn conditions can be tough, there are still things we can to do to make the most of our limited time on the water. Here are 4 tips that will help you make the most of the day:
1. Find NEW Fish-Holding Structure & Cover
It’s always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings. On days like the one in the video above (where the water was clear and low) I was able to see tires, pallets, standing timber and some distinct rocky ledges that I had never noticed before.
Adding waypoints during a tough day is an investment in future fishing trips for when the water – and the bite – return to normal. If you do this, you’ll be able to quickly remember and cast to these fish-holding spots that other anglers are unaware of.
2. Work on Your TECHNIQUE
Every cast is a chance to improve your accuracy. Every retrieve is an opportunity to improve your “feel” (your ability to feel what is above and below the water). Every breeze gives you an opportunity to work on your positioning & boat control. Every tap is a chance to perfect your hookset. Every battle is a joy, and a rep that builds your ability to play & net fish.
Every trip – good or bad – should be seen as an opportunity to build your skills.
During the one above, I started with a Megabass Pop-X. It’s one of my new favorites.
While using both presentations, I was deliberate in my actions, and I told myself that even if I didn’t catch anything, I was going to improve as an angler. (I also made a point to test a Z-Man EZ Tube on a Pro Bullet, which did result in one aggressive smallmouth bass.)
Not a giant – but on a tough post spawn day – I’ll take it!
Don’t lose sight of this and sleepwalk through the day. Stay present and do your reps.
3. Try LIVE BAIT
Live bait is always an option. It’s also something that I tend to forget when I am bass fishing in Illinois. When we’re targeting smallmouth bass up in Wisconsin, it’s a different story. Live bait like leeches and crawlers are automatic.
If you have live bait available… grab some and use it!
(I wish I had some with me during the trip above… next year I’ll try to think ahead a bit better…)
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4. Be GRATEFUL & Think Some Good THOUGHTS
Dude. You’re out in nature. Breathing the fresh air. Soaking up the sun. Sweating from your hard work. You’re doing something that others wish they were doing right now, but for one reason or another – they cant.
Never fall into feeling sorry for yourself.
That is WEAK.
Weak men are WORTHLESS.
It’s easy to slip into a pity-party when the bite is nonexistent. I’m guilty, too. But remember: weak men aren’t able to lead a family. Learn to make the most of the tough days on the water, because at some point you’ll have someone with you that needs to see what it means to push through adversity. To get kicked in the teeth and keep going. To take some “bad luck” and turn it around.
These lessons don’t just apply to fishing – they apply to life.
The young men in your life – and in my life – deserve a good example.
Don’t quit. When the going gets tough, there’s only one thing to do:
Keep casting.
One more Post Spawn Illinois largemouth on the 4″ Ocho.
Eventually, your luck will turn around – just like it did here:
2023 had some ups and downs for all of us, but overall, it was a great year. This project, The Minimalist Fisherman, continues to grow, and some new opportunities have surfaced in the last few months. If you’ve ever subscribed, shared a post, emailed me, or donated – thank you!
I appreciate the support, and we all want to wish you a prosperous 2024. God bless.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Hausers!
Get Articles & Videos First
Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!
Here’s a fun question: will Minimalist Fishing lead to your next personal best?
Yes.
Full stop.
Oh really??
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 on purpose. The emphasis is on getting better in every way – not becoming a collector.
The gear we use (think baits, rods, reels, boat, electronics…) is not as important as the know-how.
What good is any tool, without the knowledge to use it?
What good is any weapon, without the experience to wield it?
By focusing on the (dull!) education & theory surrounding fishing, instead of the (shiny object!) nifty new baits – we become better anglers. New tools are cool… they’re addictive and fun to buy… but they come second. Do not put the cart in front of the horse.
If you embrace Minimalist Fishing, you will probably start to enjoy learning, build a stronger foundation – and beat your PBs. I guarantee it, and I’ve seen it happen twice this year alone.
It ain’t rocket surgery… but it is an ongoing (extremely enjoyable) process. Sign up below and I’ll send you emails when new articles & videos post, so you can start to build a stronger foundation right alongside us – and hopefully, contribute to the conversation as well.
You’re Welcome in our Camp
Add your email below and we’ll keep you up to date on new articles, videos & events. Join us as we continue to work on becoming better anglers – and better men.
It’s never too late – or to early – to start.
My kids have all caught more & bigger fish than I had at their age… that alone is worth the time & effort. You can do the same for your family.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
Get Articles & Videos First
Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
Your support directly funds the creation of weekly articles and videos that promote the development of better anglers and better men. Our country (and our kids) need both. Please share this site, and consider a monthly, weekly, or one-time donation. You are helping us make a difference!
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 have had many discussions regarding everything from family to technique – and I’ve posted a few because I feel they are beneficial for you as well. For example:
Like Brother Ron R. says: “It’s not an EXPENSE it’s an INVESTMENT!”
Let’s look into a few other emails that I saved from Ron D where he shares some of his clever bass fishing bait modifications… this is all good stuff. Check it out:
AJ – as usual, your reply is intelligent and thought out. The Pop ShadZ and Hard Leg FrogZ are indeed great recommendations. However, I’m purely ultralight, so throwing around 4″ – 5″ baits is not part of my fishing ethos.
As mentioned, the FrogZ for not being a popper “pops” nicely when jerked correctly and makes splashes. However, if you need more splash, find a used plastic container (juice, pop bottle, take out container lid, etc), cut out a dime sized circle, heat a nail and punch a hole through. Voila! Any Z-man floating bait (even worms) is now a popper! Feeling particularly artsy-fartsy and creative? Take the plastic and try different shapes. Or heat it gently and press it into a rounded surface (I prefer the rounded head of a ball peen hammer) to make it more cupped. Maybe you and the kids can do this for arts and crafts day!! Feel free to try this and report back.
Ron D. Homemade Popper Modification. Clever.
As far as the Chatterbait goes… ya…it’s not a lie that thing likes pond muck. But it’s fine for going through weeds. Many people get the bulk of their hits after pulling it to unhook in the weeds…that change of pace/sound is what gets them apparently.
I think it’s “better” in dirty ponds/channels where muddy or stained water is present. The fish can’t see as well, so the added chatter is like having a swim jig deluxe model! LOL… but as you point out, the blades can be muck magnets if those conditions occur. To alleviate this, I’m using the smallest Chatterbait Micro, 1/8th ounce. I have it topped with a cut down Hula StickZ in “The Deal” color. As you can see in the photo, the blade is scarcely larger than my thumbnail.
The crappie sure did like it and the bass too! But as with any tool in the box, you need to use it correctly and appropriately.
A Better Fishing Scale?
Here is what I use… it’s a digital luggage scale. It’s accurate. It’s compact. It’s inexpensive. Maybe $10 plus $2 for a spring clamp?
I know that second tip was kind of random – but dang it – it’s clever! I just ordered a Digital Luggage Scale to use for weighing fish, and when it arrives I’ll test it on some different weights in the basement to see how accurate it really is.
As always, if you have every contacted me in any way – thank you. If you’ve ever shared gear or donated, thank you. My goal when I started this website was to meet some new friends that I could learn from, and discuss fishing with. Nobody has a lock on knowledge last I checked, and in every situation we can learn something.
Hopefully I’m able to share more as people contact me, and the rising tide will raise all ships.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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.
Contact Me if you want to contribute and send in your favorites!Subscribe and I’ll let you know when this page is updated.
Let’s have some fun – Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots!
Clinton Wilt Little Wonder: Vintage Fishing AdTed Williams Sears Spinning Reel Vintage Fishing AdStren Fishing Line Vintage Fishing AdLucky Strike Vintage Fishing AdHeddon Cobra Vintage Fishing AdBudweiser Picnic Vintage Fishing AdAbu Garcia Ambassadeur 5000 Vintage Fishing AdBerkley Cherrywood Rod Vintage Fishing AdFenwick HMG: You can’t catch ’em if you can’t feel ’em! Vintage Fishing AdSports Afield Covers Vintage Fishing Magazines
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Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots!
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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!
I mean 10 x 3 = 30… so this could get nuts…
That said, allow me to share My Top 3 Midwest Bank Fishing Baits… and explain why they made the cut.
Illinois has a lot of warm water areas where I tend to run into my good friend: Mr. Muck.
Mr. Muck is a pain. He stinks. He’s slimy. Everything he touches gets dirty. He makes it hard to fish baits with any sort of exposed hook.
Trebles?
Out of the question.
But my other friend, Mr. Largemouth… he freakin’ loves Mr. Muck.
Follows him around like a lost puppy, actually. Spends a lot of time with him. They’re two peas in a disgusting mucky pod.
Mr. Muck is visible. Mr. Largemouth is not… but I assure you, he’s nearby…
Knowing this, selecting a topwater presentation for fishing over and around the muck is a no-brainer. Obviously a lot of anglers would reach for a frog. This is not a bad choice by any means – but it can be somewhat limiting. Frogs are great for pads, muck, and heavy overhead cover – some can be walked in open water – but that can be tricky.
Personally, in these situations I like to fish a Z-Man Goat weightless on a standard KVD Mustad Grip-Pin EWG hook (not the 2X fine wire version). The 4/0 size usually get the nod. They penetrate the bait (and the fish) easily on the hookset, and they’re light – making it easy for the Goat to float. (Cool rhyme bro.)
The Z-Man Goat in green pumpkin is always a solid choice…… and “Hot Snakes” is a combination I like for water with really low visibility.
The versatility of this plastic is really what allows it to outperform the frog:
It can be skipped under overhangs, it can be worked over pads and muck like a frog, or you can cast & retrieve like a buzzbait.
When I’m working from the bank I’ll make a long cast and buzz it back to the outside edge of the muck, then start to work it like a frog, continuing to bring it all the way up to shore. If I come across bushes and laydowns, I won’t hesitate to skip it right into the thick of it. Hookups are rock solid with the single EWG, and even though I’m not using a heavy hook – I have yet to bend out a Mustad Grip-Pin to the point of losing a fish. However, when I notice they’re starting to bend, I swap them out immediately.
Overall, it’s a super versatile bait, and currently my first choice for topwater from the bank.
Big Illinois largemouth bass from the bank.
Bonus Tip: The Goat is even more effective for kayak fisherman. You can often position yourself better and skip in closer to shore under the best-looking cover without the bass feeling your footsteps and gettin’ spooked. Fire it shallow. If it doesn’t get mauled immediately, work the bait back with twitches or a straight buzzing retrieve.
Now that we’ve covered the top of the water column, it’s time to move to mid-depth. When you’re fishing from the bank, mid-depth might mean 2 feet deep, or 8 feet deep – it all depends where you’re fishing. Whatever “below the surface” is, that’s what we’re talkin’ about.
As much as I love to throw crankbaits and jerkbaits – neither is really an option when Mr. Muck is around. Jerkbaits in particular are a visual presentation, so they require a certain amount of water clarity to work at their best. But even if you’re fishing an area with muck and clear water (which is not uncommon) the trebles make these baits too sticky.
We need to select a lure that can be fished in both clear and dirty water. It needs to give off thump to help Mr. Largemouth find it – and it needs to be weedless enough that it can be worked around the thick stuff: muck, weeds, laydowns and otherwise.
That’s why my second must-have bait for Midwest bank fishin is a weedless swim jig.
I love casting a swim jig out and working it through the semi-clear paths in and around muck. Swim jigs are also great for running along laydowns and underwater tree trunks. The skirt adds bulk, too, which is nice when you want to get the attention of Mrs. Largemouth.
(She’s a pig. I mean, please don’t tell her I said this, but she’s WAY fatter than Mr. Largemouth.)
Pair your favorite swim jig with a Strike King Swim-N-Shiner, and don’t be afraid to work this presentation in both clear and dirty water!
A nice fat bass on a swim jig early in the season (sparse cover).
Finally, let’s talk about #3…
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Since we’ve hit topwater and mid-depth, it’s time to go deep… but wait… why select a bait that can ONLY be fished deep, when you can go with something that can work the entire water column?
When it comes to bass fishing from the bank, this is ‘ol faithful. She’ll never let you down, and if I had to select just ONE of these 3 baits for bank fishing the Midwest – this would be it!
Stickbaits resemble an easy meal and can be rigged every way you can think of…
You can throw a stickbait on an EWG (weightless) and twitch it over the top of the pads or muck. You can put ’em on a Texas Rig or a shaky head and fish deep. Cut one in half and make a Ned Rig (finesse jig worm), or put together a Carolina Rig and bomb it far from shore. A weightless stickbait with a weedless wacky hook works all over the country and can be thrown into heavy cover – or, if it’s clear water and the fish are spooky, go with a light wire wacky hook and hide your weight by creating a Neko Rig.
One of my favorite weedless hooks for grass & sparse cover.
The combinations are endless.
Is the stickbait the best bait in every situation?
No.
Is it a must-have item at all times for largemouth bass fishing?
In certain situations the Topwater Goat or the Mid-Depth Swim Jig will catch more fish – bigger fish – but the stickbait is a great option for both novice and pro anglers alike. You really never know what you’re going to catch…
Big fat Illinois largemouth bass on a stickbait below the reeds – right next to shore!
4. One More Important Bank Fishing Tip
Whenever you are making casts from the bank, be very aware of your surroundings! That’s good advice for casting in general, but this is especially the case when you are surrounded by trees, tall grass, bushes, other people, stray cats… anything you could get your bait snagged on.
Banks like this are snag city…
I mentioned avoiding treble hooks above. This is because my top 3 bank fishing baits need to be ultra-versatile. You can fish a weedless EWG hook anywhere, but that is not true for treble hooks. By fishing with “hidden hooks,” or weedless hooks, or even single hooks (if they must be exposed) you’ll have a better chance of avoiding snags behind or around you. If a treble even touches a leaf or a root or a reed when you draw back that pole right before launching your cast – you’re looking at a backlash.
Couldn’t you avoid backlashes altogether by fishing exclusively with spinning gear from the bank?
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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 you right there.
Brother… you should want to fish with your wife.
Otherwise you’re doing this whole marriage thing all wrong.
Weirdos. Bonding. Two peas in a deranged pod.
If you love fishing, and you love your family, you should want to share the things that are important to you. To enrich their lives. It should come naturally. If they reject your hobbies, so be it – but you should always present them with the opportunity to decide for themselves.
It’s an ongoing process, and yes, at times – it can be very frustrating for everyone.
Let me tell you how I screwed up recently so you can avoid my mistakes…
This year I learned a few new tips while fishing with my gal…
We fished Manitowish, Wisconsin for 2 weeks this year. It’s an annual event. A recurring pilgrimage of sorts where we connect with each other, with nature, and with the good Lord on a higher level. The yearly tradition started many moons ago when I was a little tike thanks to my Grandpa Jerry and his house on the channel.
Perfect.
It continues to this day, and my wife and children now share in this tradition with me. (Remember I said that sharing the things we love can enrich the lives of those around us? Prime example.)
We fish hard.
Multiple times every day. Different locations. Different depths. Different lakes. Different presentations.
This year things didn’t go so well for my wife the first week of the trip. 7 days of suck. It was rough. She couldn’t catch a keeper. She couldn’t catch anything, actually. Skunk after skunk, she insisted on using lipless crankbaits, even though they had produced zero bites between multiple outings. Why? Because she had caught some beefcakes on them in the past.
A beefy smallmouth bass from last year on a lipless crankbait. This year? No such luck.
One morning I couldn’t take it anymore – I was catching smallmouth bass left and right on a walking bait, and a trailing bobber rig – and I felt guilty.
Guilty!
“Here, give me that – we’re going to fix this problem. I can’t take it anymore.”
I yanked the pole out of her hands, pulled a Megabass Pop-X out of my backpack, tied a quick palomar knot and handed it back to her – right in the middle of the morning trip.
The Megabass Pop-X was one of my best topwaters this year – surely it would work well for her…
“What am I supposed to do with this??”
She asked. Clearly aggravated with me.
“Catch fish…”
I stated, matter-of-factly.
“… and when that trailing bobber drops, I want you to pick that pole up and reel in the next bonus fish.”
Boys… if you could have seen the daggers…
But daggers or not, it didn’t matter. I was being belligerent; primarily worried about how I felt watching her fish – which obviously backfired.
Herein lies tip #1…
Do Not FORCE New Fishing Presentations on your Wife
Jen had never used a popper before.
Ever.
She had zero confidence in it. This, coupled with the fact that she had already had a very frustrating week with hardly a bite, was a disaster. I tried to give her a few tips, but the frustration just kept mounting…
… up and up and up… until she snapped.
“You got this freakin’ thing on here and I don’t even know how to use it!! I HATE bobber fishing, I am NOT doing that either!!”
She just slumped down in the boat. Mad, but also defeated.
It was my fault.
Ouch.
That’s a fail.
I made everything worse, not better.
There are many different ways to introduce new fishing techniques. What work? Depends on the angler. Everyone is different. I find it is usually best to work with new baits “at the dock.” Before you’re mid-trip and frustrated. This allows people to get comfortable with something new (and maybe even catch a fish or two) instead of forcing them into an odd situation on the fly.
Also, trying to force them to use something they hate, like a bobber, is not a great idea. Even though technically – technically – this could result in more fish.
That’s not the only thing we need to take into consideration.
So what should I have done? Well, allow me to present tip #2…
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Accept the Techniques your Wife is Comfortable With and Find Fish Willing to Bite
Easier said than done?
Yes.
I like fishing in thick, deep weeds for a couple big reasons…
However… if I had turned my attention towards finding areas where the techniques she was comfortable fishing could have been more effective, that would have led to a better end result – even though it might still result in another skunk.
Jen is comfortable fishing swimbaits, wacky rigs and jig worms (in addition to lipless cranks). We were fishing over massive patches of cabbage, trying to cover a lot of water, and big smallies were crashing through, hammering our topwaters… but… when you look at the 3 presentations I just mentioned, does it really seem impossible to find an area on any given lake on any given day where at least 1 of these 3 have a pretty stinkin’ good chance of being effective?
Nah man… honestly… I could have found areas where swimbaits, wacky rigs and jig worms could have done well. That’s what I should have done, instead of forcing her to use something she had never used before in the area I wanted to keep fishing.
So after I apologized for being a jerk, that’s what we did… and here were the results…
Week 2: We Found New Areas to Fish
The search was on… and we found new areas where she could fish what she liked. Areas with sparse weed cover, mixed with wood piles and boulders. Rocky shoreline. Flats. Some in as little as 5 feet. We worked shallow to deep. She had more fun. She was comfortable. She persevered and kept working hard.
Guess what happened next?
Not only did she catch a bunch of fish… she also caught the biggest fish of the trip!
One fish…
… two fish…
… green fish…
… HUGE FISH!
The skunks from week one didn’t bother her – they bothered me. She was ready and willing to work hard and power through – and I had tunnel vision on a quick fix. My approach was wrong.
During that second week, I spent a LOT of time tying (and re-tying) rigs for my wife & kids. Made sure their rods were always ready to go. Made sure everyone always had a bait in the water. Familiar baits. Baits they had confidence in. Made sure I had the camera. Snagged pics. Captured video. Kept looking for new areas where they could be successful.
Yeah, it was hectic, even stressful – but it didn’t matter – because it’s my job as Dad.
It’s my job as Husband.
It’s your job, too.
Your job to make sure your family is set up for comfortable, successful fishing, so they can improve and deepen their love for the sport… and at the same time, for you as well.
When you look at it like that, all the extra work melts away.
If you are lucky enough to fish with your wife, the trip is not about YOU and what YOU would do – it’s about HER, and helping HER be successful.
Deep breath. Relax. You might not get to make as many casts. Might not get to fish the way you want. Maybe… you won’t even fish at all… GASP!
But it’s worth it.
Fishing is about more than just the fish. I am so blessed by the fact that my wife enjoys this activity. Hopefully you are in a similar situation – but make sure you don’t make the same mistake I did…
I promise you, when you see the victories and soak up the smiles… everything else melts away.
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