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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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.
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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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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.
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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!
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.
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!
Please note: my wife did not secretly write this article… truthfully, she doesn’t really say anything about my fishing expenditures… because she benefits from them as well (see The Ultimate Minocqua Fishing Guide for proof).
She also knows that I love here – but I wouldn’t listen. She knew who I was before she married me. I knew who she was as well.
As it should be.
That said… we are still a team, and it would be irresponsible for me to just spend money willy-nilly. However, I did do something kinda goofy over the weekend… after making small monthly investments for well over a year now… I was finally able to… put a $1,600 trolling motor on a $200 fishing boat.
And no… it’s not paid in full… I’m still financing the balance over the next 12 months… so hopefully it doesn’t break before then! 😀
(Allow me to take a moment to say a big THANK YOU too all readers that make monthly contributions to The Minimalist Fisherman. You help to fuel this endeavor, and are so appreciated!)
The reason for the upgrade? Well… the Powerdrive has a feature that allows you to record a path as you travel it, then later, run that same path automatically. Hands free. Forward and backwards. As someone who fishes little lakes by himself with very limited time (*cough* 4 kids 2 jobs 1 happy wife *cough*) this will help me cover more water with my active presentations. I will be able to create paths based on the best looking structure I find while mapping the bottom with my Garmin Striker Vivid 9sv – another crucially important tool that helps me review the bottom after I get back from a trip, and learn more about a body of water, faster.
These tools cost a fair amount of money.
So how much is TOO MUCH when it comes to buying fishing equipment?
I’m reminded about a conversation I was having with Brother Ron D. As you may recall, Brother Ron D had some valuable insight on Fishing With Light Line that we discussed in an earlier post.
That was a great discussion – and we recently had another regarding the immense explosion in popularity, but substantial cost of Japanese plastic fishing baits. Specifically, Spinnuts, DoLive Beavers, Yamatanukis and the now infamous Cover Scat.
That conversation ties in perfectly with the discussion about my $1,600 trolling motor for the $200 jon boat… it’s all related… and it went a little something like this…
From Brother Ron D –
AJ, I am having a difficult time processing what has happened over the last few days. It has, somewhat, been a revelation. It has changed my perception of what a bait is…and how fish see them. I’m still trying to come to terms with this. Let me explain.
There was a bait I refused to buy. For a couple years now. I thought it was STUPID, expensive, not durable and also… STUPID. But a couple of things happened.
First, I discovered the Hayabusa Spin Muscle Hook I sent you. Truly exceptional in all regards. So that led me down the road of looking at some JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) baits, particularly those designed with the Free Rig or Jika in mind….a couple of my rigging mainstays.
I found a bait for this purpose. And the design is quite exceptional which leads to unique and outstanding action. This bait is called the OSP Dolive Beaver. It’s a craw style bait but the claws were created with the same science behind the movement of a dolphins tail. What it does is amazing. On the drop with the free rig, the claws flap in an incredible manner. But once the weight hits the bottom, the bait “stalls”, goes horizontal and floats down like a Senko. See this link:
DoLive Beaver in Action
As expected, this catches fish on the Free Rig!! First cast. Then second. You get the idea. I LOVE this bait. I HATE the cost and I HATE the durability. This seems to be the case for all JDM baits.
Which leads me to my current bait.
Given the success of the Beaver, I thought I’d try the STUPID bait I’d been avoiding. What bait, you ask? The Cover Scat… a.k.a. The Poop Bait. So I dutifully ordered a few colors of this obscenely expensive bait ($16 for 8 here). I got the smallest version, 2.5″ and rigged with a 2/0 hook.
As you know, both you and I have had a grinding year. Yes, the fish are here. But it’s a grind. My best outing this year (from shore at my test area) is 8. GRIND. So I throw this ridiculous, stupid, expensive, bait. A fish smashes it. And again. And again and again. Sometimes even before it hits bottom. And after only 2 hours, 15 fish. All decent. As expected, these are fragile. I went through 3-4 of these baits. On the flip side, the attention to detail is superb and the hook point guard on the top is genius! Texas rigged, the drop in the water is a shimmy (of sorts) like a wacky. But truly weedless. It casts a mile (heavier than 1/4oz with hook) and is dead simple to fish. Cast, allow bait to sink to bottom, twitch, twitch (or pop, pop) allow to sink again. Repeat. And it flat out catches fish!! On the twitch or pop, the bait spirals around erratically. It’s unique.
Personally, I see no reason to use a Senko or Wacky again, really. Sure they work. But better than this Poop?
Not for me.
And herein lies the issues in my brain. What is a fishing lure? What do fish see? Looking at this with our eyes it looks like S***! But to the fish, it was irresistible! They are fragile… sometimes as little as 2 fish had the bait tore up. And at roughly $2 per bait, that is no joke! This is why I love Z-Man man stuff… they last forever. But do you trade budget for fish catching? And do you start fishing more odd JDM baits that you’d normally ignore because they look stupid?
This is what’s banging around my head today. I think I may be at some crossroads or something… any insight?
-Ron D.
AJ’s Response –
Hey Brother Ron D… see, these are the emails I really enjoy. It’s a conundrum.
I checked out the DoLive – I had to watch that video on a loop for like 10 minutes straight. No joke. That thing looks bonkers in the water. The variation in that video makes me wonder what other baits behave like underwater on that Free Rig you mentioned. Just the variation in drop speed once that sinker hits the bottom could be a trigger. It probably is. You probably know this.
(I have yet to try a Free Rig, but fun fact, I’m taking your Spin Muscle Hooks + The Dredge out again tomorrow for round 3! Also fishing a light jig on 4lb test again – confidence going up in both.)
So we have that. And a doo-doo. You are throwing the doo-doo.
I have seen that thing but I’ll be honest I wrote it off. I suppose I might pay some money for some plastic doo-doo. Can’t believe I just said that… but yes, it has been a grind and fish be fish. Lol.
So the cost. I hear you. I went through a similar, less expensive situation this year – here was where I landed…
For a long time, I fished stickbaits wacky-style. Nothing revolutionary. Caught fish. Gained confidence – and then I started fishing these pits. They’re so clear. Massive visibility and spooky fish. A far cry from the mucky sludge I relearned to fish for largemouth bass in around here. The sludge where you can use straight braid and oversized hooks. Polar opposite. So I down-sized. Ok. Logical. Spinning gear, straight fluoro… I needed to be even sneakier. So, I downsized my hooks. A lot. Started using light wire wacky hooks. Small ones. No weed guard at all, because that just adds something extra. Unnatural. It started to work, but then I noticed I was losing a lot of fish. Way more than I was used to on wacky rigs, even the ones with thick weed guards. The little tiny wacky hooks weren’t getting a good bite on the fish, and they were popping free all the time. Hmmm… so I started to use o-rings. Always avoided them in the past – again, it’s just something extra on the bait. But I tried them – and not because I wanted to save plastics (their main selling point) but because I wanted the maximum amount of my tiny hook exposed. A little o-ring takes up much less space on the hook than a chunk of the plastic itself. But here was the issue – the hook in the single o-ring sat parallel to the stickbait. If you think about it, pulling that stickbait from the center would make a backwards “C” shape as the bait was yanked inside the mouth of the fish – straight up and down behind the tiny hook I was trying to bury. That is a surprising amount of plastic above and below the hook point itself.
“It’s fine, I’ll just keep using 1 o-ring for now – it’s just not worth it. They ain’t cheap.“
Next trip (this last spring) I set into something solid. BIG. I was in the kayak. I couldn’t see her, she was out from shore a bit – straight down, maybe 12 or 15 feet. Subtle strike, then when I set she doubled my spinning rod over. The drag screamed! It was a BIG fish.
*doink*
My stupid little hook popped right out of her mouth. I wasn’t horsing her. Wasn’t yanking all crazy – just lost her.
So why am I telling you this?
Because my hang up was what – a 10 or 20 cent piece of plastic? MAX? But in my mind, I was trying not to “waste anything,” and it cost me a big girl.
So my point is this – these days – if something works, I use it until it doesn’t. I don’t spend frivolously, but I do spend for quality. Case & point – I trust Invizx fluoro, especially in the smaller diameters. Tried it on a whim one time and noticed it snapped way less than Berkley Vanish or whatever else I was using back then. I just paid $28 for 200 yards of 6 lb test to spool up a new reel for a rod I’m building. That is a lot… but… I’ll feel better using it. How many times have we been on the water and said “I’d pay $100 for a goshdang bite right about now!!”
So… buy the poo. Embrace the poo. Throw the poo. Like a monkey.
Every time we go out we’re competing against nature, other anglers, our limited time – so if these baits can tip the scales in your favor and help you hit double digits – go for it man.
… and yes… I now use 2 o-rings per stickbait, overlapped, rig my tiny hook perpendicular instead of parallel to the plastic – and my hookup percentage has massively improved.
Too bad I lost that big girl but… I guess at least I saved $0.10…
-_-
Have a great night & keep me posted!
So… what do you think?
How much is “too much” money? The Poo is not cheap, but it helps Ron catch more fish. My Trolling Motor is not cheap, but it will allow me to make more casts when I am fishing by myself – and I guarantee that will translate to more fish in the boat.
So I guess as far as the cost “being worth it” goes… it’s all relative to the situation… right?
Hmmm… let me know what you think.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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WARNING: this post is strictly my OPINION. Read it with caution, especially if you are easily butthurt…
I’m about to smash your shibboleth.
You may have noticed in the past several years that professional anglers are taking over places like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. I’m not talking about Billy Bob that likes to fish his local tournaments – I’m talking about full-time anglers with all the fancy jerseys and wrapped vehicles and boats with sponsors plastered all over ’em…
“Rich guys.“ “Successful anglers.“ “Lucky ducks.“ “The ones that made it.“
They have 400 rods on deck and all the accoutrements: forward-facing sonar, 15 shallow water anchors, a 9,000 HP outboard and that paint job… I mean… those boats have more glitter than a pride parade.
[Parade image removed because yuk]
In the past, I certainly haven’t paid much attention to these things. These guys work really freakin’ hard. They’ve paid their dues. They fish all over the country, investing money in travel and taking time away from their families.
I’m not good enough to do what they do, but even if I was – that last part, being away from family, would make it really difficult… no… impossible… for me.
But all of this sacrifice, from the expense to the silly clothing to the hours and hours in the crap weather and tough conditions, that’s all offset by the massive paychecks… right?
If that’s the case… then why are these guys wasting so much time posting on social media?
Because Pro Fishermen aren’t making the BIG BUCKS.
Not all of them, anyway – but don’t take my word for it. Check out what a couple of veteran professional fisherman have to say about the state of the sport:
The Economics of Professional Bass Fishing
How Can New Guys Afford to Fish?
This begs the question…
What Drives Anglers to “Go Pro”?
Is it the potential fame? Certainly could be.
Sponsors? I guess.
Clout? Sure.
Whatever the reason, the original question keeps resurfacing: why are these guys, the cream of the crop, the ones that made it, wasting their time creating social media posts?
Because they have to.
Because they need more exposure.
Because a large social media following is worth more to advertisers than a major tournament win.
Full stop.
What’s the income potential for a YouTube video? Depends on the subject matter, the amount of time people watch it, all sorts of things – but it’s a fractional penny per view – a TINY percent of $0.01.
Is that worth their time?
NO.
Not if the checks are rolling in.
One thing I have learned from running a business that is a universal truth – is that once you find a product or service that is making good money, you need to redirect the majority of your limited time and effort into selling much more of that ONE SUCCESSFUL THING.
Multi-tasking will result in failure.
Trying to “supplement” a successful product with other products or services that are less profitable is a waste of time.
Trying to “fund” an unsuccessful business with a successful one is a great way to destroy both.
… these guys are not stupid. They’re not backwater hillbillies (my people) lacking teeth and common sense. So the the uncomfortable truth of the matter is this:
Sponsors care more about fickle social media impressions than they do about actual tournament victories.
Why else would professional anglers waste time creating CLICKBAIT content? That’s what it is. “I can’t believe I’m GIVING AWAY my SECRET for fishing this presentation!”
So you’re sharing the things that make you money, just to build likes and follows that don’t translate directly into dollars? It doesn’t make any sense!!
You would PROTECT your “secrets” until you retired, and then probably only pass them on to other anglers you cared about. Ones that were close, or family, or that you had a genuine interest in helping.
Do I watch the clickbait?
Sure, at times.
Have I learned a few things?
Sure, at times.
But I feel sorry for these guys.
After all they’ve sacrificed, these athletes that we’ve placed on a pedestal are reduced to ridiculousness:
“My Top 5 Baits (You Wont BELIEVE #4!)!!!“ “Angry Karen CALLS THE COPS (You Don’t OWN The WATER!)“ “Oh No?! I’ll Be DISQUALIFIED (EMOTIONAL!)!“ “The BANJO MINNOW Beats THIS BAIT Every Time (SURPRISING!)!“
It’s really sad. Pathetic, actually.
But… you gotta do what you gotta do… and if this is what they gotta do, then I respect the hard work at least… but at the same time… I pity them.
It begs the question:
Why do YOU fish??
I started this website 4 years ago after I came to the conclusion that I needed to get much better at putting my kids on more and bigger fish faster.
That was the driving force – to be good enough to help them properly cultivate a love for the sport early in life.
I’m sure you have a good reason as well…
Would you really want to take that reason and pervert it? Would you really risk taking something so pure, so fun, so valuable, such a gift from God – just to turn it into a JOB that sucks the life out of you?
No, nobody would if they knew this was what they had to do to pay the bills.
So… has the “influencer” taken center stage? Has the social media following become more important than the skill of a professional bass angler?
Time will tell.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
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Fishing in Illinois comes to a complete stop in the winter months. Well… usually. Some of you sadistic lunatics take to the ice – and that’s just crazy!
I kid, I kid…
As the temperatures drop and the smallmouth bass evacuate the little creeks for deeper holes located in the mighty rivers that surround us, it becomes difficult to keep your chin up. The little lakes that have been bustling with activity suddenly “turn off”, as if someone flipped a switch, making walking the bank completely unproductive.
These fish still have to eat of course… but not as much.
On a personal note, I’ve never liked winter. As someone that struggles with seasonal depression it actually insane to continue living in the cold frozen hellscape that is Illinois. The early sunsets, the icy roads, the cold wet slushy mess that surrounds us – it takes a toll on my mental state…
Many afternoons are spent daydreaming about warmer weather and wading or walking in LaSalle County fishing with simple, effective baits.
Here are a few tips to help you (and me) pass the winter doldrums productively!
1. Sharpen Your Hooks
Sharpen or replace those hooks, experiment with modifications to things like Inline Spinners.
My grandpa used to talk to me about this. I thought he was joking.
He wasn’t.
As you catch more and more fish, the barbs and points on hooks can bend just a bit, or dull. If you get into a catfish or a drum, they can literally destroy trebles!
Take this down time to sharpen or replace hooks, and get comfortable with repairing your tackle. Don’t be afraid to experiment and put bigger or smaller hooks on different lures, or replace trebles with single hooks like in the image above – just be prepared to test the action of your baits come spring.
(Sounds like a good “excuse” to get out, as if we need another one…)
It will make you a deadlier fisherman.
Lipless Crankbaits like this Strike King work – but they also take a beating!
In addition to dull hooks – all of your tools can get pretty beat up over the course of a season. Rods can break, pliers bend, the batteries die within scales or other digital tools, electronics get smudged up and the GoPro mount on your backpack will likely get destroyed.
Take some time this winter to work on fixing the things you know you’ll need next season.
While you’re at it, get rid of the tools that you didn’t use to make room for more useful items.
Win-win, and if you happen to have a broken rod that you’ve been waiting to fix – now is the perfect time to get to work!
If you do some snooping, you will discover a completely new world out there filled to the brim with DIY projects in the fishing arena. Take for example the repainted spoons shown above and below – not that long ago I came back from a Wisconsin fishing trip, only to discover the paint had been removed from some of my favorite spoons that came into contact with Z-Man ElaZtech baits.
I was not amused.
However, instead of crying over spilled milk, I took the negative and turned it into a positive by picking up some inexpensive supplies and completely changing the look of my favorite fishing spoons.
One of the greatest feelings in the world is the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing some form of self-improvement. Goals are important for this, because your goals are what gives you a way to measure your progress.
Be careful though, because a piece of paper with 500 items isn’t a prioritized set of goals – it is simply a wish list of things that can’t possibly all be achieved. This will not lead to a feeling of success – it will lead to the exact opposite. Despair, disappointment and a crushing sense of failure.
Selecting a few meaningful goals this winter will help you improve as an angler, and dare I say, a person as well.
Last year my goal was to catch 250 bass throughout the season. The year before that I had landed 193 bass, and the year before that… 9.
Yes 9. You read that correctly.
I destroyed my goal, catching a healthy 389 bass this season. This included my first few spotted bass and many smallmouth that were taken from small creeks nearby. Creeks that I never knew existed! Creeks I never would have found if I wasn’t working towards specific goals.
I was able to explore new waters, experiment with new baits, learn more about fish behavior and much more – all of which made me a better angler.
You can do the same – and I beg you to give it a try.
Goals for Next Year
This article wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share my goals with you for this coming year. I promise, I’ll practice what I preach!
Next year I am not interested in hitting a certain quantity of fish. I am however interested in finding new techniques to catch bass with more consistently here in Illinois.
I have a Jon Boat that needs a new depth finder. I want to learn to use ever single feature on the one I select and install.
This year I discovered many new areas to fish. Next year I want to find more new areas, and really learn more about the interesting spots I found this year that I didn’t completely dissect. I’ll use the techniques I laid out in this article on Fishing New Lakes in LaSalle County.
I have a gutted Tuffy in my back yard. That boat either needs to be fixed up so I can use it to fish bigger water nearby, or sent to the junkyard. I don’t want to do the latter… so I better get to work.
Make sure to check out the YouTubes to see how it goes!
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
I hope you have a happy, productive winter while you wait for better things to come this spring.
Keep that chin up my friend.
Tight lines.
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“Look at ‘er… she’s beautiful… but huge. So… where do I even begin?!”
A “big new lake” can mean a lot of different things to fishermen. For those of us that frequent small city lakes and bank fishing, a 75 acre lake can seem monstrous. To reservoir fishermen used to exploring depths of 60 feet or more for predators chasing suspended balls of baitfish, 75 acres is nothing – less than the size of a creek arm.
But no matter what kind of water you are used to fishing, exploring new water can be exciting – and intimidating. I spend much of my time in the winter setting goals and daydreaming about exploring new fishing holes in Illinois. Here are three simple tips that help me bypass the NEW LAKE JITTERS so I can get to work and avoid Analysis Paralysis.
New Water in Northern Illinois…
1. Start with what you know – but downsize.
Chatterbaits. Buzzbaits. Frogs. Big ‘Ol Cranks.
There is nothing wrong with working a new area with some sort of search bait. In fact, some of these are top producers here in the Land of Lincoln. However, if you’re looking to get your confidence up and start to learn more about the local biomass – downsizing and reducing the speed of your retrieve might be a strategic play.
Why?
Well, smaller fish of all species can attack a smaller offering. This can help you figure out what the local forage might be. When you are fishing in LaSalle County for example, you are likely to find all sorts of fish. Once you start to catch a few… you can adapt – selecting other colors or profiles that will mimic what you see or catch.
The other thing downsizing can do is quickly help to build your confidence, and the more confidence you have, the more effective you’ll be. Does throwing a 4″ Strike King Ocho really get the attention of the local lunkers? Probably not… although there is a chance if the local forage consists of small narrow-bodied minnows. This chunky boy came on a 4″ Ocho…
A Chunky Illinois Largemouth Bass just under 3 pounds on a Tiny Stickbait
However, while the big chunky boys are possible, bass in this range are far more likely:
Kayak Bass on a New Lake in Northern Illinois
You don’t have to start slow if you prefer working a searchbait (and who doesn’t?). Go ahead and try something like the Z-Man Slim SwimZ on a simple jighead, and select a weight that helps you get this little morsel to the depth you want to explore.
As you start to catch more and more, you’ll build confidence and begin seeing where they are setting up shop, how they are reacting to your bait(s), and what colors or retrieves work better to attract the bite.
Establish your baseline, we can improve from there one step at a time.
2. Pay close attention to your surroundings above & below the surface.
You can learn a lot about a body of water before you make your initial (downsized) bait selection and lob your first cast.
How?
First, peek into the depths – what color is the bottom? What is the composition? Do you see rocks and gravel covered in mung? Thick green muck over sunken mats of green gunk? Or clear water with high visibility and a barren, light-brown sandy bottom?
Water with high visibility challenges anglers and separates the men from the boys.
A good rule of thumb is to select a color that matches the color of the bottom. This isn’t always the best option, however it is usually a great place to start because the local forage will try to blend in with the bottom so… well, so they don’t get eaten.
The fish you seek may be opportunistic feeders, but they are also probably used to looking for food that isn’t standing out like a sore thumb. Start natural and experiment from there.
Next, look for life above the surface of the water. Are there areas of the lake where you can see herons pecking at baitfish? What are the baitfish? Color? Profile? When I’m fishing in Illinois I don’t see birds like loons or other divers that go after pods of baitfish like what I would see in Arkansas or Wisconsin, but there are plenty of telltale signs that show me where there is life.
Mr. Heron working a pocket filled with swimming food.
If birds are on top of the water looking down at baitfish in a specific spot on the lake – chances are hungry predators are looking up at them as well…
Go get ’em.
3. Break down the lake starting with the obvious (visible) structure.
Begin your search with this lovely little LaSalle County Fishing Tip and fish your bank first! Then, work out from there. Start to attack the banks that look best, or the visible structure that you can pick out from a distance. We’re looking for activity, we’re looking for bites, and fishing with smaller baits to see if we can get anything going.
Pay attention to any and all activity. Do you see baitfish? Activity above or below the water? Are you getting any taps or follows?
Look for things that you can pattern.
If you see baitfish around a certain kind of tree, or structure, or weed – look for more of that as you make your way through the lake. See if you can start to develop a pattern – because it may be a pattern for the day, or a pattern for this specific lake at this time of the year that will work for an extended period of time. Only testing will help you identify fruitful combinations.
Weed pockets. Deep holes. Boulders. Points. Certain kinds of tree cover. Inspect all of it.
As you attack elements that are visible above the water, remember that other fisherman have done the exact same thing.
If you cast to a great looking brush pile, others have as well. That fallen tree? She’s got obvious potential – just like that large point coming off the shoreline over there.
So attack, make many casts, stay alert, and look for clues that tell you what the best kind of structure is – then try to replicate that in other, less obvious areas. Areas that other anglers could miss… and if you don’t have the lake to yourself… make sure you pass over any hidden gems that you find for now, until you can come back without tipping anyone off…
Remember – patience is a virtue.
Between this and the other two tips mentioned above, you’ll be in a much better position to rapidly build your confidence and put those “New Lake Jitters” behind you.
Now get out there and get exploring! You’ll be glad you did.
Smallmouth bass taken from a brand new location this summer.
Tight lines my friends.
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LaSalle County fishing can yield some impressive results. Whether you are looking for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, panfish like green sunfish and bluegill, crappie or even sauger – chances are you can catch ’em in the Land of Lincoln!
From creeks to borrow pits – this tip will put more fish in the boat… er… on the shore.
We talk about a lot of these tips and techniques on the ‘ol YouTube channel (and you can check out several helpful videos by click on the link below). Today however, we’re going to talk about one critical mistake that many shoreline anglers make when they are fishing the banks of Illinois.
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Always SLOW DOWN and Fish YOUR Bank FIRST
Always – and I mean always – slow down, tread lightly, and fish your bank first.
Too often we make the mistake of clomping around, hurrying to our next spot or simply trying to beat some other shoreline angler to the next stretch of cover we’d like to fish. However, when we rush around we make two major mistakes:
We make noise. We make vibrations with our footsteps. We cast a shadow into the shallows. All of these spook nearby fish.
When we can reach the opposite shoreline we tend to focus on that – making long casts, and actually cutting productive fish-filled water in half.
Some of my best fish have come from super-shallow water near the bank I am standing on.
So the next time you’re headed to the lake – take a second to slow down. Think about how you can slowly (and I mean slowly) creep up to the bank near where you intend to fish. Before you even peer over the edge, softly drop a few casts right in the shallows while standing back 10 feet or so to see if you can catch some fish without spooking them off.
If you apply this technique on your next trip – whether you are fishing in LaSalle County or not – I guarantee you will catch more fish!
Tight lines.
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Catch More Fish Than Your Friends. Laugh At Their Tears.
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A Fishing Vlog: Things come up. Things go wrong. That’s life. If something is wrong in your world RIGHT NOW, I would ask you to stop. Breathe. Take a step back and look around.
Is this a disaster… or could this be an OPPORTUNITY?
Sometimes the blessings that we receive don’t look as perfect and polished on the surface as we would like…
Please let me know your thoughts!
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!
A Fishing Vlog: 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…
Please let me know your thoughts!
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 Fishing Vlog: Sometimes we want to fish… and then LIFE comes along and ruins our plans. So… what do we do when we just can’t get out? WE CAN DO THIS.
Please let me know your thoughts!
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!
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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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!
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!
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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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“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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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!
Today we’re going to go over a secret Ned Rig modification that I came across while puttering about on YouTube. The modification video was posted by Randy Blaukat, and his channel is simply called: Intuitive Angling With Randy Blaukat
Please make sure to give him a follow! I’ve enjoyed several of his videos since this one was suggested in my feed, and (if he gives me his approval) I’ll be sharing a handful of his helpful videos – and testing his techniques very soon!
A Secret Ned Rig Modification w/ Randy Blaukat
He starts off by saying that Z-Man products are not his favorite. I believe he is using a Z-Man Ned Jig in this video based on the light wire hook and the shape of the jighead, but the plastics he picks are where the magic happens.
The heavy salt in the Zlinky is key. By cutting the tail of the bait down to about 2 to 2.5 inches, Randy is able to rub the bait between his fingers and rough it up, bringing salt to the surface and creating a less shiny appearance.
Many anglers have told me that plastics can work better after they catch a few fish and start to get ripped up; they believe this is because it brings more salt & scent to the surface of the bait. This would be right in line with the modification.
Then, the tail is cut straight up to the hook with scissors, and the collar of the bait, near the jighead is trimmed flush. This gives the bait a unique look, and it also allows even more surface area to come into contact with the water and the mouth of the fish.
Finally, chartreuse or orange dye may be added to the tip of the tail, depending on the conditions. Check out Spike–It Dip-N-Glo for starters, to add scent and color.
Moving Forward
It’s amazing how such a small bait can be so effective. It’s also amazing just how many modifications there are for such a tiny delivery system. While Z-Man is famous for marketing the Ned Rig name, adding some sort of small jigworm to your arsenal will definitely help you land more bass – especially under tough conditions.
Pick the jig & plastic that look good to you – and get fishing.
Stacking up smallmouth bass on a Ned Rig in tough, hot conditions.
In fact, change is the only thing that’s consistent.
Two years ago when I started this website, my intent was to simply get better at fishing while reducing the amount of clutter I had accumulated. (Banjo Minnow, anyone?)
If you would have told me that certain changes to my behavior (which we have outlined in Thursday Night Fishing) would have resulted in a total increase of 10x in bass caught last season over the one before it – I wouldn’t have believed you.
Thankfully it happened.
Now, I find myself staring down a new challenge that I bet many of you can relate to. That is the challenge of facing new kinds of water.
To date all of my productive fishing has been done in lakes (both large and small) all throughout the Midwest, from Illinois to Wisconsin. It wasn’t that long ago we did a video focusing specifically on Illinois Fishing:
We followed this with a few videos on Fishing in Wisconsin:
Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Very productive… but now… no we’re looking south. We’re looking at property in Arkansas very seriously. We’re even looking at land and considering the possibility of buying a few acres and building over the next 2 years. This would mean spending most of my time fishing rivers, streams and reservoirs as opposed to my beloved natural lakes.
I’m sure some lakes are present, but when you look up Arkansas, you see things like Bull Shoals Reservoir, and The White River that flows beneath the dam – famous for year round trout fishing due to the cool, deep water flowing from Bull Shoals. You’ll see Norfork Lake, another man-made reservoir, and countless hiking trails and streams.
In one sense, this is like a dream come true. A guide I spoke with last week said they call Bull Shoals “The Lake of 5’s“, because you can catch a 5lb largemouth, smallmouth and spotted (“Kentucky”) bass all in the same day. There appears to be more water here than one person could ever cover in a lifetime – and this is only scratching the surface.
On the other hand… I have no idea how to fish for bass in deep water reservoirs, or streams or rivers. I have never targeted trout, or hiked a stream in search of panfish.
So while I am excited… I’m also a bit overwhelmed.
Fortunately, this has also pushed me to develop a few new behaviors that have been very productive – and also helped calm my nerves a bit. I started to spend some time every morning (literally 15 – 25 minutes) researching things like river and stream fishing. I started to dig deeper into the presentations that had worked to help me 10x my overall catch count last year, and this week I’m going to start to dig into seasonal movements of bass based on water temperatures in reservoirs.
I am also sharing all of my notes with you – absolutely free – so please take a look and share them with others if you like what you read:
So is this an exciting time? Absolutely. Is it also overwhelming? Absolutely.
You combine moving with building a home or buying land with re-learning everything you know about fishing and it can make your head spin. But even though all of these changes are uncomfortable, being uncomfortable is a great way to help force you to improve yourself.
So let’s do that.
If you find the notes I am sharing with you helpful, please share them with others. If you have questions let me know – and if you have suggestions from experience regarding ways that we can all improve, I would be most appreciative if you’d email me and share them.
The first bass from last season… let’s get that counter going again ASAP!
The advice that surrounds gaining confidence in a specific lure or presentation type is straightforward enough:
Use it.
Topwaters? Use ’em. Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
But sometimes… it’s just not that simple…
Or maybe… maybe it is simple, but we overthink and overcomplicate.
I did.
Sometimes it takes a certain event or limitation to force us away from the baits that we already have confidence in. “You can have my shaky head worm when you pry it from my cold dead fingers!” Not to mention, if we try to force a certain presentation into a situation where the conditions are not correct, frustration is just a few casts away.
Less than ideal fishing conditions…
… that seems like a great tagline for a new resort:
“1 of 5 stars. Would not recommend.”
Still, developing confidence in a new presentation is an important way to make progress and improve as an angler, which is something we should all be striving for.
Nice tubby smallmouth that came off a deep water hump.
So I’m going to echo what the others have already said:
If you want to gain confidence in a new presentation, you have to devote genuine time, energy and focus to it. Learn what it is meant to do, how it is meant to act, and the conditions under which it is most likely to work.
That’s been said time and time again, and it’s good advice as a baseline. But…
Does every presentation work “when it’s supposed to?”
No.
Does every presentation work out of the package without modifications?
Nuh-uh.
Does every presentation work on just the species it’s meant to target?
Of course not.
(Ever caught a big ‘ol channel cat on on a bass jig or a spinnerbait?)
Fat channel on a… jig??Bonus crappie on a… pike spoon??
If your goal is to gain confidence, strive to obtain the basic knowledge surrounding the presentation. Find the nuances that are considered best practice. Then when it comes time for you to tie-on and get on the water, try to make sure you are fishing in ideal practice conditions so you give yourself the absolute best chance of contacting fish. This will help you stay the course and avoid getting discouraged… which can lead to reaching into the ‘ol tacklebox for Mr. Shaky Head – or in my case Mr. Fluke – too soon…
‘Ol Faithful
2019 was the year that solidified my personal confidence in topwater baits. Specifically, soft-bodied poppers and toads (toads are like plastic buzzbaits that work around muck). I can’t take full credit for this success though, because it was born out of necessity. When I started to fish the pond, my go-to confidence baits wouldn’t work! I had to change. I was forced to change. I could either grow, catch nothing, or worse… give up…
The day I almost ruined fishing for my son…
We weren’t ready to give up… and man… looking back… I am so grateful for the challenge!
Let’s Get Better
If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that each and every time we take a trip, post an article or share a video, we try to get better. We try to minimize by discarding the gear and presentations that are simply being collected, and find ways we can improve and become better anglers.
Progress – in either area – will lead to happiness.
Making Progress = Happiness
I’m going to share some notes from an October fishing trip in Illinois. This trip helped me solidify my personal confidence in soft-body popper topwater lures, and there were several important takeaways that we can all benefit from:
Practice new presentations in the best possible conditions.
Talk with locals and share information.
Know your gear.
Minimize your gear.
Keep your chin up and persevere!
Practice New Presentations in the Best Possible Conditions
Watch the Weather & Plan for Success
If you want to get better with a topwater – start by practicing in traditional topwater conditions. Early morning, late evening, or overcast days can all be a great time to start chunkin’ topwaters – especially during the warmer months.
You’re Welcome in our Camp
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On this particular trip I decided to sneak out in the afternoon because the wind had whipped up something fierce after a morning storm, and I had a feeling this would push the forage around and activate the bass. My initial casts targeted the wind-blown bank which quickly proved to be the right choice, but I also made a mistake:
I took a popper style topwater on a choppy, windy day when I should have probably selected a toad or a buzzbait – something that would make a more consistent disturbance for the fish to track. It also happened to be the modified Pop Shad that we discussed previously with the cup removed so it could slide over muck better. As a result, I had to shake my rod a ton to create a disturbance that could actually get some attention – unorthodox yes, but it worked.
Take a little extra time to think ahead and make sure you do whatever you can to give your practice run the best possible chance of success. This can give you that extra push to stick it out instead of throwing in the towel.
Talk With Locals and Share Information
One of the things that I really miss now that we’re all under Coronavirus lock-down, is talking with other people on and around the water. Having brief, friendly discussions with other people is not only good for the soul – it’s also a really good way to gather information about a body of water (provided you take it all with a grain of salt).
On this trip I had a gentleman walk over to me to check out the first bass that I landed. He asked what I was using, and when I told him, he shared that he had seen guys catching fish in two particular areas using “some sort of brown crustacean looking thing with all these appendages“. This immediately gave me two spots to try some sort of plastic crayfish or hawg – which were baits that I had not had any success with on this body of water. Then he told me a story about how he “dulled up the finish” on some of his personal childhood baits using sandpaper per advice from his father, and that the reduce in flash increased his hookups. Worth considering!
I also asked him if he wanted to give the fish a kiss before we let her go and he said no… then we laughed – good times!
Want to give ‘er a kiss?
Later on, when I was leaving I spoke to a few guys about places where their family had some success earlier in the summer, and one guy mentioned how he taught a kid to fish that still thanks him to this day.
I miss the stories and the camaraderie. Not everyone is friendly, but the good sure outweighs the bad in my experience. The tips and tricks are a nice bonus.
Know Your Gear
As we work to become better minimalist fishermen, we’ll find that we start to carry less and less gear with us on trips. This is good, it makes things less confusing and more comfortable – however, it does add a new problem… when things break, we don’t have multiple backups. Actually in some cases, we won’t have any backups. This means that we need to learn more about the gear that we choose to use, and be able to fix it on the fly.
If you’re not comfortable taking your gear apart and fishing it in the field – get comfortable doing this, especially if you are carrying your gear and fishing from shore.
Fluorocarbon line is notorious for twisting up and jumping off the spool, causing nasty snarls even on spinning gear. This happened to me during this trip, and I needed to do a quick field strip on the fly. This reminded me how important even simple repairs can be. Without this knowledge I would have been done using that setup for the remainder of the day.
Fields strip… readyyyyyy GO!
Take care of your gear, and it will take care of you.
Minimize Your Gear
As you reduce and remove unused gear from your boxes and bags, you’ll notice it takes less and less time to “load up and go”. You’ll also find you are less impulsive in the tackle shop, and less anxious when working a presentation. You won’t be thinking about “what’s next”, you’ll be focused in hard, working the current presentation to the best of your ability.
This change has made a huge impact in my life and on my behaviors. In the past I would delay, need to rig up 23 presentations and have a plan broken out into 15 minute fishing windows before I would hit the water.
This caused me to skip many trips because I felt unprepared, like I didn’t have enough time. “You can’t catch a fish in 45 minutes, you need 6 hours to really work a body of water!“
That was wrong.
That was so wrong.
I lost so much time because of this… which is sad to think about.
These days, I have a minimized fishing bag, and I can grab a rod or two and hit the water in under 5 minutes. (We’ll talk more about what this looks like later on.) This topwater fishing trip was a prime example of that. My wife walked into my office and shook me and said “you need to get out of here and fish!“
In the past, this would not have been possible… but not anymore!
(Also yes, my lovely wife is awesome and I am so grateful she is supportive of my hobbies. I try to return the favor as much as I can.)
Keep Your Chin Up and Persevere!
Let’s get better.
Fishing isn’t inherently easy.
Sometimes everything goes right.
More often… it doesn’t.
Before this topwater fishing trip I had been out 4 other times. Once with my son when we got rained out (and also had the cops called on us), once with a neighbor at some strip pits, and twice to the pond. I caught zero fish on any of these trips.
One of the cool things about doing articles and videos is that I can cherry pick the days that were great, and quietly disregard the trips that were unsuccessful… surely… no other fishermen do this… right?!
HA! Of course they do. But that won’t really help us get better, and it sets unrealistic expectations.
Think about that. 4 trips in a row. Zero fish.
It would be easy to get negative, or to say things like “well the fish just weren’t biting!“, instead of taking ownership of my inexperience or poor decisions or lack of technique.
If you can relate… don’t get discouraged – just make sure you are learning or practicing something on the water each and every trip! Work presentations, practice casting, look for signs presented by nature. Keep notes in your journal on the conditions and things you saw, because even though getting skunked stings, if we focus on improving at every opportunity, none of it will be a waste of time.
Keep this in mind as well. Are you fishing pressured water?
GOOD.
I can think of no better way to force yourself to focus and improve your presentation selections and technique faster than pursuing fish that are on high alert. I used to want to avoid fishing pressure, but now see it as a positive. It’s like fishing on “Hard Mode!”
No matter what waters you fish, stick with it and you will be rewarded.
AJ with a topwater largemouth bass
Notes From The Field
The following journal entry is the summary of the windy day and the two fish that attacked my topwater. Remember, keeping a journal is very important for many reasons, and I share these with you to give you an example of the different items that I personally log:
October 21st – Pond Fishing in Illinois Weather: just pushing 68 when I left this afternoon at about 2:00 p.m., but very windy! I mean really blowing hard. It rained all morning up until about noon too. When I left it was bluebird skies and bright, very comfortable – again, aside from the wind. When I got to the pond I noticed that the fountains had been turned off, and the bathrooms were locked as well. I threw around my modified Z-Man Pop Shad (black and silver with some glitter) and started just to the left of the spot where I’ve caught a few fish, well down from the bridge, but pretty far to the right of the main deck. The wind was blowing straight into the shore I was on, so I was throwing the topwater way out, twitching it hard, then letting the wind carry it back in over the weeds and the submerged mats. I got my first fish on my 4th cast. I believe that this is because the fish was active and looking for the wind to carry in some food. I fished this same way for 30 minutes then went to the other side of the lake. I was able to slow down a bit and get a few casts in with the weightless Zoom Trick Worm, but only where it was really shallow – otherwise the wind was too bad. I had a local tell me that some guy “caught a lot of bass over by the bridge using a brown bait that looked like a crustacean with a lot of little appendages”. Maybe a hawg? Maybe a jig? Noted. I kept fishing topwater and caught my second fish by the first bench, about 40 feet off shore doing the same thing – but this time the wind was at my back (so I could cast really far). I could see a lot of underwater mats that I was casting to. Both fish were either right at or slightly over 2 lbs. Really a fun day. I think the wind got them worked up, and I’ve noticed that the muck on the top of the water changes and moves so much. I like to look for the real seedy looking light green stuff (possibly duckweed, not sure). In the summer that was what I caught my first nice fish through. Not the super thick snot. That said, I have missed a ton of fish in the super thick snot. I prefer a single hook over the dual-tipped kind that come on most frogs. This makes 3 fish I’ve caught on the Pop Shad, 2 on a fluke weightless, and 1 on a Strike King hollow belly frog with a little rattle in it. I have also missed a lot on that last bait, and several on the Sebile Pivot Frog in bright orange (I don’t like that color – ordered a black one because I think the bait could work, but we’ll see… also ordered more Pop Shads so that I can modify and use them more too). Overall I fished for about 2 hours and it was a lot of work but a ton of fun. Today was a day when I actually wish that I had the popping cup on the front of my bait – I had recently removed it to make it come over the muck and snot better. Today was all about ruckus and playing the wind – cool day!
Now Take This and Put In The Work
Keep on fishin’, my dudes and dudettes.
A few Illinois topwater bass.Click the banner to jump to The Minimalist Fisherman on YouTube.
Take these notes and digest them, then apply them to your next fishing trip. If you’re working a new presentation, use it under the best possible conditions. Talk with the locals the next time you’re out and see if you can share and gather new interesting information. Make sure you know your gear so you can fix it on the fly, and minimize in between trips so you can get up and go on a whim.
Finally – persevere.
Stick with it, and let me know if you have any success with a new presentation. I’d love to hear from you.
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!
