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!
“What was that?“, you think to yourself as you look over your shoulder, behind the kayak you’re pulling towards the water where the creek feeds into the river. “I don’t know anyone here…“
You see someone walking down to the gravel launch with an adult beverage in hand, wearing sunglasses and jean shorts. His orange shirt – completely tucked in – sports the ironed-on name of some greasy spoon he visited years ago. It’s faded… almost illegible. The trailers in the background all look similar, with their Jacktop range fences and patio furniture. Dreamcatchers, wind chimes and bug zappers hang like Christmas ornaments from the permanently extended awnings.
“What’s that?“, you holler back, not sure what to make of this fella.
“Are you heading out to fish?“, he asks again.
You lean over and plop the front end of your kayak down in the dingy river water as you turn around. “I am – never been here before. Been all over the roads nearby looking for access to the creek – it’s all private property. Saw on my map that if I launch here you can get in the creek with a short paddle against the river current.“
“Oh“, he cracks a slight smirk, “… you sure can… and they’re in there…“
You can see his eyes focus in and pause for a brief second on the GoPro you have mounted to your chest, then travel over to the pole on your kayak, scanning for the bait you plan to throw as he takes another deep swig off the bottle.
“Crankbaits? Got any chartreuse?“
“I do“, you reply, “and check this out – last week I was throwing this Rebel Teeny Wake-R in another creek and a 2-pound smallmouth absolutely hammered—“
“They get bigger than 2 pounds in here…“, he interrupts, “way bigger… got any tubes?“
“Not on me.“
“Hmmm.” He pauses for a second. You can tell he’s sizing you up, as if there is something that he wants to tell you… but… he’s not sure if you’re someone that needs to hear it. If you’re worthy. He takes another big swig off the beverage.
Finally he breaks the silence. “I tell you what, you head on up this creek here about half a mile, and when you get to the bridge – stop. There’s a nice deep hole there that the big females use, and if you crank that area then come back through with a plastic, there is a good chance you’ll see what I mean. Fish it deeper, slower, and play the current.“
He smirks again, well aware that he just saved you time and effort while putting you on fish.
“Oh man, thank you so much for the tip“, you exclaim as you crack a smile and extend your hand towards the stranger, telling him your name.
He pauses for a second, eyes wide as if he’s surprised. The simple gesture catches him off guard. In this season of “social distancing” something as small as a smile, a handshake or a high five now carries much more weight – and according to the media – more risk. He looks up, makes eye contact and smiles as he grabs your hand and shakes it vigorously – Covid be damned.
“Name’s Billy“, he responds, and for the next 15 minutes the two of you talk about fishing, how he comes down from the city to stay here and fish as much as possible, and how crazy the outside world is.
Creek Fishing in Illinois: An Amazing Little Spot LOADED with Smallmouth Bass
“This is God’s country“, Billy says finally. You can see in his face and hear in his voice how important this little area is to him. His little trailer, his little creek, and his beautiful smallmouth.
“It sure is“, you reply, “and I won’t tell a single soul about it.“
A slight breeze is blowing through the campground, rustling the leaves in the trees on this perfect August evening. Billy replies with one word:
“Good.”
The two of you part, and you hop in your kayak and paddle up the river while pushing the small red button on top of your GoPro to record the trip.
“I hope he really believes me…“, you mumble to yourself, as you turn left and begin to skim the shallow water and push up the creek.
“YOU COME ON BACK AND LET ME KNOW HOW YA DID WHEN YOU GET IN – I’M IN THE THIRD TRAILER ON THE RIGHT!“, Billy shouts from somewhere within the campground.
You hold your thumb high in the air, assuming he can see you – even though you can’t see him – then return to paddling.
Up ahead you can see the bridge Billy told you about. Chances are he was being honest with you… hopefully he knows you were being honest with him…
How Important Are Views?
My YouTube Channel is growing – but it is far from huge. In fact, with 2,275 subscribers at the time of writing, it’s not much more than a hobby. However… even noobs and hobbyists have standards!
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
One of the things that we see a lot of anglers on YouTube do is share their location. And why not? The viewers want to know where the “hot bite” is at any given moment, and the YouTubers want to share the information that is most likely to get they the most views.
… right?
This is why I don’t want to be a “traditional” YouTuber, as discussed in the first vlog we put out this year:
On the surface, there isn’t anything wrong with sharing info in and of itself. Sharing information is a good thing, that’s why we all do this. To learn & share tips, techniques, presentations & delivery methods – to get better, as is the mantra here.
However – it makes no sense to share spots.
Two reasons:
Sharing spots is not even a worthwhile endeavor for serious fishermen. Those spots aren’t always where the fish are at – meaning at times, they are worthless. If you want to get better, you need to learn HOW to find fish, then HOW to catch them. This is what sparked the creation of this site and the YouTube channel – my desire to get better at fishing for me and my family.
The other reason I keep my lips sealed is because I have extreme respect for the local anglers – especially on small bodies of water.
What impact could that have on a small fishery loved by locals?
What happens if I post a video after having a killer day on a 3 acre city lake that is fished by about 10 or 20 residents that live nearby. Nobody knows about it – which is great for them, because they can’t go to big lakes to fish, they don’t get much time, they have to do what they can with what they got – and what they got is 15 minutes before and after work at this pond I’m taping a video at.
Sharing this location could have a serious negative impact on the local fishermen that rely on this body of water. If 30,000 people decide to go visit “Smithville’s City Pond”, it won’t be long before said pond is completely fished out.
Bad for the fish. Bad for the fishermen. Bad for my conscience.
I want the locals to know that I respect them, I respect their areas, I respect their fish, and I want them to feel comfortable sharing both information and stories with me.
I am not a threat.
Creek Fishing in Illinois: Hunting Smallmouth Bass
Several weeks ago I found an area about 50 minutes from my home. I went out to fish it with a single rod and a kayak, selecting a presentation that had worked well on fish of all sizes, and I had an extremely challenging morning because the water was so clear.
But I caught fish.
The morning was spent exploring a new lake that was absolutely beautiful. A lake that I would have imagined only existed in other states – not right here in Illinois.
I spent the morning by myself. Talking to God. Mumbling at fish, and squawking at birds.
After 4 hours of fishing I decided to leave, then drove around the area and saw just two other men that had come down to fish different spots. Two men. All morning. That’s it. Both were elderly, and as I pulled away, grateful the morning had been spent exploring, I imagined what might happen if anyone were to shout about this location from the rooftops.
It might ruin this sacred fishing hole for them…
I am not a threat.
Creek Fishing in Illinois: Huge Smallmouth Bass at Dusk
So How Do We Find New Spots to Fish?
Great question:
EXPLORE.
Put in the work.
We have tools and information available to us that our grandfathers would have KILLED for. Open Google Earth and pull up your area. Look for water. Look for roads that pass over creeks. Look for shallow areas in the river where you can wade. Look for little lakes that are not known far and wide – then take some time to explore them yourself.
A big part of what makes this fun is finding new areas while you are alone, then catching fish in areas that nobody else knows about.
While this answer is simple, it isn’t always easy.
If you find that you don’t have time to explore for hours on end because of… well… life… take a deep breath and consider this simple technique that you can add into your own discovery routine:
Sometimes you will fail.
You’ll fail to find a good spot. Fail to find access. The “creek” you marked will be more of a ditch filled with field runoff. You’ll fail to catch fish in your limited window of time. The weather won’t cooperate or you’ll have other obligations that need your immediate attention.
That’s ok.
Without failure, victory wouldn’t be so sweet.
And man… the victories are so, so sweet.
CONCLUSION:
As you pull back to the gravel launch, you can see the locals sitting around their campfires. Their faces are blurred by the dancing shadows cast by the flame, and the friendly banter you could hear as you paddled up in the darkness has slowed completely to silence.
You can feel them observing you.
The outsider.
You are a threat to their oasis.
That’s fine… in time, they will come to know you. To recognize you. One day they will realize that you are not a threat.
But today is not that day.
In an attempt to quickly remove yourself from the prying eyes of the locals, you grab all of your gear in one arm and the front handle of the kayak in the other, then begin dragging the vessel up the hill next to the launch.
The hill – like the launch – is loaded with gravel, and the plastic kayak scraping along the ground throws the most obnoxious, nails-on-a-chalkboard sound deep into the night. If any of the locals weren’t aware of you before – they certainly are now.
“I gotta get outta here“, you mumble as you haphazardly throw the kayak in the back of your truck, slamming the tailgate and throwing your armload of gear in the back seat, further disrupting their campfires.
“So how’d ya do?!“
It’s Billy.
He’s walking across the dark gravel parking area with a fresh beverage in one hand, and a small bag in the other.
“Hey man! I was just going to come find you“, you fib. “I caught a few beautiful smallmouth in the area you told me about – no giants, but I can’t thank you enough for putting me on a few fish. I’d really like to come back.“
“Oh, you need to come back“, he says, “and I put a few baits together for when you do“.
He holds out the bag which is filled with small red-brown tubes, twister-tail grubs (chartreuse of course) and some other choice selections from his personal stash. Each bait is loaded up perfectly on the proper jig in the proper weight.
“I… holy cow man, thank you so much“, you sputter, not sure why this fellow decided to share not only his knowledge, but actual physical items to help you catch more fish.
His fish.
“Don’t mention it. I got a buddy named Chris that comes down all the time – brings his kids – his kids love to fish. He has the same truck as you. You come on back and you can park right in front of my place whenever you like.“
Maybe he’s grateful to have someone to talk to about fishing. Maybe he’s grateful to meet someone that wasn’t afraid to shake his hand. Maybe he’s come to realize that you won’t do anything to harm the fishery.
“It’s beautiful here. This is God’s country“, he says again, with a serious look on his face.
“I agree“, you reply, “and like I said before… I won’t tell a single soul about it.“
He smirks, then reaches out to shake your hand one last time.
As you pull away from the campground, you find yourself dreaming about catching more smallmouth. Bigger smallmouth. Meaner smallmouth. Topwater smallmouth. Crankbait smallmouth…
What a perfect gem of a spot you’ve discovered.
You gently place the bag of baits up on the dashboard and look ahead down the dusty dirt country road. The corn is high, which means there is a good chance the deer will be active. You decide to take it slow… and besides, a leisurely ride home will allow you to unwind, to replay the events of the day, and to plan your next step…
… but you already know exactly what you’ll be doing after work tomorrow…
“See you soon, Billy.“
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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!
Nothing wrong with a little suburban angling. SOMEBODY has to catch those liberal subdivision largemouth, after all. Do what you can with what you got!
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!
Well, this video shows some of the highlights from Monday Morning Bites. Remember: each week we catch fish and make fart jokes, so if that sounds like something you’re into (and let’s be honest… it’s something you’re into) make sure to SUBSCRIBE and SAY HELLO!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
A Fishing Vlog: Practical Fishing Advice for Real People
Let’s talk a bit about our goals. Do you want to become a professional fisherman? Do you want to become a professional Youtuber?
… are you sure?…
Here are my thoughts on that subject, along with a bit more about where the whole Minimalist Fisherman idea came from. I think you’ll agree, it’s a practical approach to real-world fishing.
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!
The Solunar Calendar provides a window into the activity of wildlife. If you’d like to learn more about how you can use this tool to your advantage, make sure to read our article on The Solunar Method & History.
Solunar calendars can provide you with a nice baseline for potential animal activity, but you must also take into account local weather conditions leading up to (and during) your outing. If you’re fishing, it’s also a good idea to monitor barometric pressure and research the current local forage. Use all of the tools available to you to maximize your time on the water!
I’ll usually take a peek at the Solunar Calendar before I head out to tape some Monday Morning Bites – but I’ll be honest… even if it’s not an “excellent” day – I still go out and try to make my own luck! Check this out:
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Tight lines!
(OH! Before you go make sure to check out In-Fisherman’s Solunar Calendar Tool. It’s free and fantastic if you’re wondering what the current solunar calendar looks like in your area.)
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Don’t ever use this fishing line… I lost 3 of 4 fish. Was I a bit “underpowered”? Yes… HOWEVER… I’ve pulled big bass out of here using 6 pound monofilament and 8 pound fluorocarbon many, many times. 10 pound test is MORE than I usually use.
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!
If you are reading this, chances are you are interested in building a YouTube channel. At the time of writing, I currently have 2,184 subscribers. Not a ton by any means, but enough that I’ve started to get some good quality comments and feedback from people that watch on a regular basis. Traffic on this website has increased month over month as well.
It doesn’t seem like much, but there is more going on every month… a slow burn.
My goal is to get over 10,000 subscribers.
Why?
Because I’d like to help people. I’d like to have a group of people to discuss fishing with on a regular basis. I’d like to keep getting better. I’d like to feel obligated to continue putting videos out for this small handful of people that expect them on certain days – this will help me publish consistently. It will help me to continue doing my reps.
Would I like to be a “Full Time YouTuber”?
No.
Would I like to be a professional angler?
No.
Why?
Because both of those professions would be absolutely loaded with stress.
Regarding YouTube, I don’t want to be tempted to create clickbait because I need 500,000 views a month so that I can pay my mortgage. Regarding professional fishing, I don’t want to be away from my family for months and months at a time while I pay big bucks for the opportunity to compete. Plus… I’m just not good enough to compete, yet.
Right now, making videos is really enjoyable. Right now, fishing is really enjoyable.
So I’m happy. But I need progress – I have to keep moving and getting better to maintain that happiness.
So where do we go from here?
Great question – I’m so glad that you asked…
It’s everything I listed above, but I’d also like people to be engaged. I’d like to know that people are getting something valuable from my videos. I’d like to make some new friends, find new locations and learn things I don’t know from a group of viewers. I’d like to get more comments, connect with more good people, and have more quality discussions.
In order to accomplish this, I need people to subscribe.
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
… but it’s an expensive hobby, making videos…
One of the ways you can (slightly) offset the cost, is by allowing ads before and during your YouTube videos.
But I don’t.
This is because my goal is to get people to watch my videos, find something valuable to take away, comment & subscribe. Boom boom boom boom.
With that in mind, it makes sense for my small channel to leave ads off. I would rather have people get straight to the meat and potatoes, to connect with me, as opposed to making $15 a month on ads redirecting them to other websites.
The return on these ads is not worth the cost – based on my personal goals.
Leaving them on would be short-sighted.
Update on YouTube Ads: 2021
They’re back on.
Is it because my channel grew to the number I was looking to hit?!
No…
It’s because I was on a very small channel the other day, and I noticed that YouTube was running ads on a video… even though the channel was not large enough to get monetized. (Being monetized means you have 1,000 subscribers and your channel received over 4,000 valid hours of watch time in the last 12 months, YouTube then reviews your channel and allows you to get paid for the ads running on your videos. You become “monetized”. If you have not hit these numbers, you will not get paid.)
So wait a second – YouTube is running ads now regardless?!
I’m not 100% sure. On videos like this one where I’ve turned monetization off, I’m not sure if YouTube will decide to show ads anyway on their own and just not pay me – or – if I can actually specify no ads on this video since my channel is approved and monetized.
Either way, there is now a chance that ads will show whether I have them turned on or not.
This means 2 things:
YouTube users are going to be even more conditioned to ads than they were before, because they will be on even more videos.
If ads are running even if I turn them off like they are on the smaller channels, I’m going to lose some subscribers that click away to other websites… and not even get my 15 bucks a month unless I turn ads on…
Therefore, in 2021 – there is no cost / return analysis that needs to go into the decision of turning ads on or off. I may as well turn them on because if I don’t, they may decide to do it on their own. (And even if they are not doing this now, they could always change the terms in the future – they own the platform, after all…)
At this time, YouTube will place ads on all videos, but will not share profits with small creators.
So… ads are back on… even though it made sense to turn them off so I could focus on my goals more effectively.
Making the Most of YouTube Ads
For small creators like me, the default payout value for ads revenue is $100. When you hit this threshold, YouTube will send you a check for either that amount – of that amount less their 45% cut.
Ouch.
YouTube Ad Revenue
So what am I going to do with that $55?
Not much.
Therefore, instead of asking them to send me a check every $100, I have it set to send a check when I hit $500.
When I get that check it should be substantial enough that I can do something with the money. Buy a new rod & reel combo, a new camera accessory, a new batch of baits, something worthwhile.
This also allows me to focus on a new goal. For a while. Because I’m not going to hit that anytime soon.
I still want to do all of the things I mentioned earlier (help people, meet people, learn more, get better), but now, I also want to make a decent amount of money on ads so that I can reinvest that small amount of profit into growing this site and the channel even more.
I still have no desire to be a full-time professional YouTuber… but this does give me something to strive for.
And hey… if I grow this large enough… maybe one day I’ll increase that payout amount so high that I can get a new boat?
Time will tell.
Until then, good luck & tight lines!
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!
A few weeks ago I was able to get out and fish a few times. I went fishing with a buddy (looking for carp and catfish which is usually pretty consistent) and we caught 1 fish. Later, I went out by myself and caught a few dinks. After that I took two short afternoon trips and caught nothing.
Nothing.
Zero.
As a full-time website developer and consultant, I don’t get a ton of time to fish. In fact, I get very little – and it is very important to maintain the following mentality:
You have to do what you can, with what you got.
Well, when “what I got” is spent getting skunked… it makes it hard to keep going.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? Do you relate? Do you ever feel like you should just quit?
DON’T QUIT. DO NOT QUIT.
Losers quit. You are not a loser.
You are NOT a loser.
Alright then – how do we deal with defeat? How do we deal with getting knocked down? Skunked? Defeated?
Adopt the mentality that you are doing reps, and remind yourself that these reps are important.
They matter.
Why?
When a person starts to work out, they lift light weights as much as they can. If you check back in on that person in a month – two months – three months – the weight they were lifting 90 days ago, and the amount of times they can lift that weight will have changed. They will now be able to lift significantly more weight then they could when they started.
This is assuming they stayed honest and consistent.
These are (literal) reps.
When a person starts to fix their nutrition, they start to log calories and pay attention to the foods that they lift to their mouth. They may start to plan their meals and adjust the groceries they put in their home. Then in time, their meals change. More veggies and fruits start to show up on the plate, lean meats and quality proteins, with fewer chips and Twinkies. Over time these meals become significantly more beneficial, as little improvements are made piece by piece.
These are reps.
When a person starts to build a business, they begin by defining a service or product. Once they have something to sell, they must look for customers. They need to look for people that would benefit from the value they are bringing to the table – and they need to contact them. One at a time. Rejection follows. Often. (Yes, I am speaking from experience.) But eventually that business owner will find their first customer, and if they make sure they are happy and repeat the process of contacting more people, they will find their next customer. In time, this compounds and their business may become significantly more profitable than when they started.
These are reps.
All of these things are worth doing, and all of them come with rejection, failure and hardship.
Nothing worth doing is easy.
If you want to become a better fisherman (and I know you do), then you need to accept the fact that you will get skunked. You will not catch fish some days, you will lose expensive baits, your plans will fall apart, you will be disappointed, and things won’t always go your way.
But this make the days when they DO go your way so much sweeter.
We talked about the value of hard work on a recent episode of Monday Morning Bites:
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
So keep going. You never know when it’s going to completely turn around. Adopt the mentality that you need to push forward no matter what.
Remind yourself that you are doing reps.
You are working on casting accuracy, bait selection, finding new spots, exploring, getting exercise and fresh air…
There is so much to be grateful for even when you are not catching fish.
On a personal note, when it comes to building this site and the associated YouTube channel, I have to remind myself of these same things. Progress leads to happiness, but happiness and progress don’t always come easy.
My videos don’t get much traffic, but I’m doing reps and working on getting better at editing them. My email marketing is lacking, but I’m doing reps and getting better at creating campaigns for my subscribers. My Google Ads are tough to pay for to promote this site, but I’m doing reps and getting better at managing them. My articles don’t always get picked up by the search engines, but I’m doing reps to try to become a better writer.
With all of these things, I would rather struggle towards something worthwhile than simply exist. If we don’t keep our line in the water – and if we do nothing – then we can expect nothing as the result.
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!
You grumble as you shuffle-step over to the coffee pot to get a bit of java.
“Morning bud“, he replies.
It’s just now 6:00 am, but Dad has been awake since 4:30. There is a crisp breeze coming through the windows. It’s refreshing, but a good reminder to bundle up a bit… it’s going to be chilly on the lake, even though the sun is finally poking up over the pine trees.
The surface is calm.
Glass calm.
Well… aside from the occasional strike as a panfish or smallmouth snaps a bug off the top of the water.
Even though Dad gave up coffee some time ago, he graciously prepared a pot so that you could enjoy a cup before the two of you hit the water to begin your annual “exploration phase”. It’s the first day here in Wisconsin after yesterdays 7 hour drive up from the cesspool known as Illinois, and you need to knock the dust off and get out on the lake.
“So, what are you thinking we start with this morning?“, you ask as you noisily slurp the piping hot liquid while sucking in air, attempting to avoid burning your tongue (unsuccessfully)… even though you already know what his answer will be…
“Deep weed edges“, he replies. “I grabbed half a pound of leeches before the bait shop closed yesterday, so we might as well use them. Dan said that fishing has been tough this year due to the heat… these leeches aren’t going to last long, and after this batch he’s saving what he can get his hands on for the guides.“
You quickly look up from your coffee.
“No more leeches after this batch? That could make things… interesting… I mean leeches have been our most productive method for years now.“
“Yup. I grabbed a few crawlers though, so we’re good.“
This is good, however… crawlers are challenging to use. Panfish magnets. While they may usually perform better than plastic, the amount of time you have to spend re-rigging fresh bait on your jigs makes it almost a wash.
“I think I’ll opt for plastics“, you say out loud as you consider your options. Putting worms back on a jig every 2 or 3 casts does not appeal to you at the moment, especially considering your first cup of coffee isn’t even gone yet.
“Suit yourself – let’s get out there.“
The two of you grab your gear and head towards stairs that lead from the back deck down to the water where the Smoker Craft is tied up. She’s still covered, which means the interior will be free from dew. With a few quick movements you pull the cover off, toss your poles & tackle in the back, and Dad fires up the 90 HP Merc.
One shot is all it takes.
The 2-stroke motor vibrates back and forth, filling the air with that familiar smell of gas & oil as you as you idle next to the dock looking at the depth finder, mentally charting a path.
Without saying a word, you push the front end of the boat away from the dock and out into the channel, while Dad kicks the motor into gear.
The sun is a bit higher now, but as you look out ahead you can see that there is a rolling fog rising and moving across the still-calm water.
It’s beautiful.
As you putter out of the channel and into the deeper water, you realize something else…
It’s finally time.
It’s here.
After 50 weeks of waiting in Illinois – the two of you will fish Wisconsin again, just as you have in years past.
Dad drops the throttle and the motor pushes you back into your seat, and as the boat gets on plane your excitement builds at the thought of setting into a monster smallmouth, pike, or even a good walleye.
It’s been too long… and it’s time to get to work.
The Manitowish Chain O Lakes near Minocqua, Wisconsin
I’ve been visiting the Manitowish Chain O Lakes ever since I was a boy. My grandfather bought a little green house in the channel between Rest and Stone Lake, and we would visit for several weeks every year because… well… Grandpa didn’t charge us rent.
Grandpa’s Wisconsin House – Years Later
That meant it was a vacation we could afford.
When I was a wee lad, I only had the patience to fish from the dock. There were visible weeds and a ton of perch, bluegill and pumpkinseed ready and willing to smack a crawler. Fat rock bass as well. All were aggressive and more than enough to keep my extremely short attention span entertained before our daily dip in the lake.
Dad’s all business and I’m in my goofy walleye hat & 90’s t-shirt… tucked in of course… lookin’ good, dude!
As I got older though, I wanted to catch bigger fish… like what Dad was catching… but it would be some 20+ years before I would really develop the patience and knowledge necessary to complete this task.
Manitowish Lake Smallmouth (Wisconsin)
My family became extremely attached to the chain, and we continued to visit until I left for college. Grandpa sold his house around this time as the market was primed. He made a tidy sum, but as the years passed, we would look back at all of the photos and talk about what we would give for “just one more visit“.
Me, Dad & Zach fishing in “the green aluminum boat”… add another brother? Great idea!
Well, 7 or 8 years later, the family tradition was brought back like a phoenix from the ashes, and it continues to this day.
Wisconsin Walleye
Shortly after we started going back to the chain, I actually proposed to my wife in a boat on Island Lake.
For some reason she said yes… and she’s been exploring the chain with me every summer since – even continuing to fish while pregnant.
Speaking of exploration, the chain itself is awesome, and it’s made up of a series of 10 lakes. If you are like me, you’ll appreciate the beautiful mix of both complexity and accessibility. Lots of structure both shallow and deep, lots of fish-holding areas, and lots to explore.
Lakes include (in no particular order) Rest Lake (809 acres), Stone Lake (139 acres), Fawn Lake (74 acres), Clear Lake (555 acres), Spider Lake (272 acres), Island Lake (1023 acres), Manitowish Lake (496 acres), Little Star Lake (245 acres), Wild Rice Lake (379 acres), and Alder Lake (274 acres).
Common species include musky, pike, smallmouth & largemouth bass, walleye, perch, bluegill, rock bass, crappie and more.
Largemouth Bass Wisconsin Dock Fishing
The chain is located in Manitowish Waters in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. While it is indeed known for its fishing, the Little Bohemia Lodge on Little Star Lake is where John Dillinger had his famous shootout (naturally, the movie Public Enemies was filmed there).
The lakes are fed by the Manitowish River, which drains into the Chippewa River basin and ultimately the Upper Mississippi River.
Fishing the Lakes this Year:
I am writing this article less than 24 hours after returning home from the Manitowish Chain O Lakes for the year, and it is very fresh in all of our minds. The fishing this year was TOUGH, but also EXTREMELY REWARDING. My wife caught some great fish, as did several of my sons – and of course… Dad landed the biggest fish.
There’s so much more to say… but for now, let me leave you with this: if you get the chance to fish this chain, do so. Take care of it. Clean it. Don’t bring invasive species in on your boat, or in your livewell. Release fish that don’t fall within the slot limit, or that are too big to put on the table. Allow those big boys and girls back into the fishery to breed, so that our children may enjoy this special place like we do.
Leave it nicer than you found it… and maybe I’ll see you on the water.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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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!
After two awful fishing trips, a rainy afternoon went from fun to outstanding – even though we got poured on… AGAIN. When it comes to anything you are passionate about, anything worth doing – never quit! We can’t appreciate the victories without the losses. This afternoon the Mule Jigs & Donkey Tails were on fire again. They have helped me catch largemouth, smallmouth, green sunfish, pumpkinseed and drum.
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!
The Solunar Calendar provides a window into the activity of wildlife. If you’d like to learn more about how you can use this tool to your advantage, make sure to read our article on The Solunar Method & History.
Solunar calendars can provide you with a nice baseline for potential animal activity, but you must also take into account local weather conditions leading up to (and during) your outing. If you’re fishing, it’s also a good idea to monitor barometric pressure. Use all of the tools available to you to maximize your time on the water!
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Tight lines!
(OH! Before you go make sure to check out In-Fisherman’s Solunar Calendar Tool. It’s free and fantastic if you’re wondering what the current solunar calendar looks like in your area.)
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!
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!
Sometimes the weather cooperates. Sometimes… it doesn’t… but that’s no reason to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. Let the other sit home and sulk – we got bass to catch!
THE HUNT FOR 250: Bass Count for the Season: 26
CONDITIONS: Location: Northern Illinois Time of Year: 3rd Week of May – Afternoon Weather: Overcast & Drizzling Air Temperature: 61°F
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“Mornings are so peaceful in spring“, you think to yourself and the first rays of sunlight begin to trickle through your office curtains. A slight, cool breeze slips through the screen on your window as you sip your steaming black coffee.
Delicious.
The house is quiet. Kids are asleep. So is the misses. Slowly you turn back to the book you are devouring.
The wisdom contained within seems to jump off the pages as you scan the old drawings and think of a time when books were the primary source of information – not the internet. Grandpa told you that there were advantages to these “tomes”, and after reading this far, you can certainly see his point.
Something about the noise of the pages as they turn and the actual weight of the book in your hands seems to activate more of your senses and pull you into the material in a way that the small back-lit screen of your phone could never achieve.
Slowly, carefully you turn another yellowed page, completely mindful of even the slightest sound as the old paper crinkles and folds within your weathered hand –
… flap flap flap HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK! HONK!
A majestic goose flies overhead, absolutely shattering the peaceful morning that you were savoring just seconds before. In Illinois, these hissing, bulbous, noisy, flying poop-machines are excellent at making their presence all too known.
“DADDYYYY!!!!!!!”
The children…
They rise.
“Well now it’s a party“, you chuckle to yourself, placing the book upside down on your desk. You missed them last night as they slept, time for morning hugs and then you’ll (attempt to) return to the book later. Maybe after the kids eat and go outside to play. Maybe after work…
WORK!
“Oh shoot, I need to get through all of this work so I can FISH!“, you quickly open your inbox to take a peek at the situation.
Your heart sinks…
“DADDDDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!!??? I’M UUUPPPP!!!”
78 Unread Messages.
“Well… maybe I’ll fish tomorrow. There’s no way I’ll be able to help with the kids, get all my work done, get the boat cleaned up and ready to go, get my poles rigged, grab gas & bait, call Bill and Tim and see if they want to go, launch the boat… or have enough time to make any progress locating and catching fish.“
“I’ll go tomorrow.”
There it is.
The kiss of death.
Chances are, you won’t go tomorrow. Chances are, something else will pop up. Chances are, you’ll come to the same conclusion: “I’ll go tomorrow.”
It completely takes the wind out of your sails… but maybe it doesn’t have to be this way.
How to (actually) go fishing “tomorrow”
I’ll be honest with you – work is very important, as is faith, and family comes first in all instances. If you are a mother or father, your obligation is to your husband or wife and children first and foremost – but that doesn’t mean we need to completely deny ourselves the opportunity to fish…
Even if you are busy. Even if you are self-employed. Even if your family needs a lot from you – it can work.
Fishing from shore is the answer. It’s the real-world solution that many of us have (mistakenly) turned away from in favor of “my big boat on my big lake or my big river fishing with big baits for the big boys!”
This type of fishing takes big time – and on a weekly basis, chances are we don’t have that. What we do have, is 45 minutes to stop on the way to a job site, 60 minutes after work if we’re able to cut out early before we make it home for dinner, 90 minutes in the evening after we’ve helped with the dishes (see what I did there, ladies?) to fish that small city lake with the playground next to it that the kids can use.
We all have limited time… but we still have time.
Do you want to cut into that time dunking your boat and getting electronics working and poles rigged as you float around by the launch? By the time you’re done I’ve caught 4 fish and I’m just carrying a backpack and a single rod.
There is a time and place for boat fishing – and it is awesome – but if you are ready to realistically catch more fish every week, embrace bank fishing and carefully apply your time.
Do what you can with what you’ve got.
You will make more casts and catch more fish – I promise you.
The Advantages of Fishing From Shore
Fishing from shore is the easiest way to get up and go if you have limited fishing time.
It can make fishing trips less stressful, requiring less research & planning.
Fishing from shore also requires less gear. No need to worry about a spare for the trailer. Life jackets. An emergency paddle. Did I charge the batteries? Do we have gas? Will the motor start? Do the lights on the trailer work? Do I have all of my rods, bait and tackle? It also means you won’t slip and fall on your butt on the slippery boat ramp first thing in the morning… not that I’ve ever donethat… several times…
It allows you to fish smaller bodies of water, either because of motor-restrictions or lack of access. This means more options, plus the chance to find fish that are not heavily pressured.
Fishing from shore allows you to fish at any speed without worrying about boat control. You can fish fast. You can fish slow. You can work an area over once you contact fish, and you can focus on making accurate casts because if there are fish here – they are right in front of you. Simply focus on catching fish.
If you tread lightly, you have a chance to catch bass that are using the absolute shallowest shoreline, backed into inches of water. You can make long parallel casts with the bank, which can put your bait(s) in the strike zone longer. If you see a fish, cast well past him and bring your bait up slowly and naturally so you don’t spook ’em.
WARNING: be mindful that you are not clomping along or you will spook shallow bass and see them jet out from shore before you get a chance to cast to them! Tread lightly, and don’t forget to stand back at first and fish your OWN BANK before launching a bait across narrow areas. Don’t walk right up to the edge and start bombing away – be deliberate with your positioning and movements – you’ll catch more fish.
If you do some searching for honey holes, you can potentially find areas of complete solitude. While fishing city lakes can be fun and rewarding, in my humble opinion it is much better to fish surrounded by the sounds of nature as opposed to fishing while Bill mows his lawn and Timmy weed-whacks the entire ditch in front of his house. If you are fishing a city lake, you can look for areas that are hard to get into and find fish that are not hammered by every bank fisherman working the obvious spots.
Get away from electronics. Enjoy “fishing the old fashioned way“.
Trust me – it’s fun.
Bonus: fishing from shore is also good exercise and a way to burn extra calories. Let’s be real here… if we’re frying up fish and having a few brewskies, this doesn’t hurt!
The Disadvantages of Fishing from Shore
Nothing is magic. There are always pros and cons in every situation… so here are a few to consider.
If the fish are deep and far out from shore – which is an issue with large shallow flats – you may not have access to them.
If the shoreline weed growth is too thick, you may have very limited presentation options. It may also be extremely difficult to fish the outside weed edge, and fish will often hold here waiting to ambush prey.
You can only fish as far as you can hike, bike or walk.
You can only take what you can carry.
If the bugs are thick, you will get chewed up. If spiders, snakes and other animals are present (and they probably are) keep your wits about you.
If you get hurt or twist an ankle or cut yourself out in the thick of it, you have to be able to take care of yourself. Don’t put yourself in a position you can’t get out of if you have an accident.
Trust me – it will happen.
So… which will you choose?
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
I think so… but I don’t think that’s the right question to be asking.
It’s not really a question of “which is better?“, it’s more of a question of “what do I have time for?” Life is busy. Running a business, working long hours, supporting a family and being a good spouse – these are massive responsibilities!
There is a time and a place for fishing from a boat, a time and a place for fishing from a kayak, or wading a creek.
There is also a time and place from fishing from the bank.
Add fishing from shore to your repertoire. You will find yourself making more casts, testing more presentations, learning more about your area and catching more fish.
It sure worked for me…
My PB Largemouth (so far) – Caught from Shore
Tight lines!
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For some, the smallmouth bass is a common occurrence. For me, the smallmouth bass was a special catch – a rarity, something that was only available in a very limited window when we would vacation in Wisconsin.
No doubt, they grow ’em big up there…
But someone mentioned “smallmouth” in a discussion about local fishing the other day and I just assumed they misspoke. Largemouth, boy. Largemouth is what we got here in Illinois.
Well… maybe not… this year we’re going to look for these powerful little bruisers, and this trip is the first clue that may help put together the pieces of that puzzle.
THE HUNT FOR 250: Bass Count for the Season: 24
CONDITIONS: Location: Northern Illinois Time of Year: 2nd Week of May – Late Morning Weather: Calm & Bluebird Skies Air Temperature: 60°F
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The smallmouth bass… the farts… this video is pure poetry in motion.
In fact, this is probably the greatest video I have ever created.
Actually… in truth, what we have established here is that my wife is a saint, and my father is very patient – but they didn’t kick me out of the boat because I put them on fish!
Enjoy. And if you want to complain about anything… I mean YOU clicked on a video with “FARTING” in the title… what did you expect?
NOTE: I’m looking for new ponds, pits and creeks to fish in Illinois. If you are located in the Midwest and you have any suggestions, or if you’d like to fish some spots with me, please send me an email and let’s set something up! That’s the whole reason I do this: to make new friends, get better for my family, and find new spots to fish.
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Let’s get better (and check our pants).
Tight lines.
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!
Although taste and smell are often lumped together, these senses perform distinctly different roles – especially in fish. Fish nostrils (called nares) bring water into contact with olfactory organs. Trout and catfish have highly developed olfactory organs with many folds, while largemouth bass have less developed organs.
Bass use smell as a social sense, giving and receiving cues to and from other bass.
For example, spawning cues seem to be perceived through the sense of smell. Bass also seem to react to the smells given off by wounded or distressed bass. They may also smell wounded baitfish.
If this seems incredible to you… it is!
During the 1970s, the topic of scent became very controversial. Scent attractants started to become popular, and honestly, little controlled research has occurred (almost none if you discount the studies conducted by the scent attractant manufacturers).
These days, scents are everywhere. They are pretty much expected, actually, and manufacturers work hard to try new smells that catch bass… but also, bass fishermen. You’ll find everything from garlic to coffee to amino acids (which may be more associated with taste then smell) on your bait packages.
So the million dollar question is: do scents attract bass?
Probably, but only at a short range. In order for a bass to smell something it has to pass very close by, or they will have to move in and examine it. If you are using a technique like deadsticking, there is a chance that smell may become extremely important. In these situations bass are often in a negative mood and they need to really inspect your offerings. Inactive bass in cold water may also be coaxed into biting if scent is present.
I personally believe there is one other extremely important aspect to scents on your fishing baits…
They can mask your smell.
You want to stay hidden. You don’t want the fish you are targeting to see, smell or hear you. Just like you want to mask your smell or stay downwind of your prey if you are hunting, heavy scent on your plastics can mask the foreign smell of you – the human. The predator. The outsider.
It surely isn’t magic, but scent is just another tool in your toolbox.
Use it wisely.
Tight lines!
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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!
As an angler, what’s one of the best ways that you can spend a free morning or afternoon?
Yup.
Looking for little largemouth honey holes!
Sounds crazy – but bear with me – the more “spots” you have to fish, the more options you’ll have in your repertoire when the need arises. When you only have 45 minutes to fish (like we did in this video) and you’re headed out of town, you won’t be able to launch the boat, you won’t be able to load the kayak – heck, you won’t be able to hike the trail. The only thing you will have time to do is grab your bag, grab a pole that’s already rigged up, and hit a local largemouth honey hole for some fast casts and shoreline fishing.
We’re going to talk more about this concept throughout the year, but on busy weeks this strategy has allowed me to still get out and catch fish.
250 is still a long way off… and we have a lot more work to do. It’s time to get after it. Let’s go!
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
THE HUNT FOR 250: Bass Count for the Season: 22
CONDITIONS: Location: Northern Illinois Time of Year: 2nd Week of May – Afternoon Weather: Clear & Calm Air Temperature: 56°F
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!
The Solunar Calendar provides a window into the activity of wildlife. If you’d like to learn more about how you can use this tool to your advantage, make sure to read our article on The Solunar Method & History.
Solunar calendars can provide you with a nice baseline for potential animal activity, but you must also take into account local weather conditions leading up to (and during) your outing. If you’re fishing, it’s also a good idea to monitor barometric pressure. Use all of the tools available to you to maximize your time on the water!
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.Solunar Calendar for June 2021 Illinois Bass Fishing
Tight lines!
(OH! Before you go make sure to check out In-Fisherman’s Solunar Calendar Tool. It’s free and fantastic if you’re wondering what the current solunar calendar looks like in your area.)
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!
