To request a bait review, ask a question or submit a correction, please write or email:
Attn: AJ Hauser
The Minimalist Fisherman
PO Box 844
Ottawa, Illinois 61350
Becoming a Better Fisherman
- Minimalist Fishing
- Getting Started with Pond Fishing (Again)
- Ned Rig ElaZtech Damage to Other Baits
- Catching Largemouth Bass with Flukes in Warm Weather
- Developing Confidence in Topwater Lures
- Wear Boots When You’re Fishing!
- Fishing New Kinds of Water
- Secret Ned Rig Modification
- Checking Water Temperature from Shore for Better Fishing
- The Farting Fisherman (Annoys Everyone in the Boat)
- The Advantages of Fishing From Shore
- Fishing the Manitowish Chain O Lakes by Minocqua, Wisconsin
- Should I Quit Fishing?
- Why I Turned YouTube Ads Off On My Channel (Update: Ads Are Back On… Here’s Why)
- Practical Fishing Advice for Real People | Vlog #1
- Do Real People Use Mono or Fluoro for Crankbaits? | Vlog #2
- Why I don’t Share my Location in YouTube Fishing Videos
- The Advantages of Multiple Fishing Bags | Vlog #3
- Don’t Have Time to Fish? DO THIS! | Vlog #4
- I Am Not a Threat… | Vlog #5
- Stressed Out? Don’t Nuke the Day! | Vlog #6
- LaSalle County Fishing: 1 Critical Tip to Catch MORE Fish!
- LaSalle County Fishing: Beating the “New Lake Jitters”
- DO THIS to Prepare for Illinois Fishing this Winter…
Fisherman Health & Wellness
- Fish for Bad Habits… Political Detox: Summary
- More time for Fishing… and then some? Political Detox: Week 1 Update
- Fishing or Flirting? Political Detox: Week 2 Update
- Set Aside Your Millstone. Political Detox: Week 3 Update
- The End is Here. Political Detox: Week 4 Update
- Political Detox: Completion, Aftermath… and Solutions
- How Do You Treat Fisherman’s Elbow? (Tennis Elbow) Pain Relief & Non-Surgical Recovery Plan
- What is Fisherman’s Elbow?
- 3 Easy Steps to Help Prevent Fishing Injuries
Fishing Advice, Gear & Techniques
Fishing Lure Reviews
- Ned Rig + Hula Stick
- VMC Weedless Wacky Hook + 4″ Strike King Perfect Plastic Ocho
- Sébile Pivot Frog vs. Strike King KVD Sexy Frog
- October Topwater Fishing w/ Z-Man Pop ShadZ
- The F4 Rig / Flexible Finesse Fluke Fishing
- Cabin Creek Bait Company Oval Sinkin’ Worms | Product Review & Field Test
- The Ultimate Jighead for ElaZtech Baits
- Donkey Tails & Mule Jigs by Mule Fishing Supply Co. | Product Review & Field Test
- The Pop ‘n Drop Rig | Topwater + Finesse Tactic for Bass
- Xcite Baits: Xtreme Stix Product Review
- Vicious Fishing: Pad Runner Hollow Body Frog Product Review
Fishing Photography
Fishing Product Reviews
- Ned Rig + Hula Stick
- VMC Weedless Wacky Hook + 4″ Strike King Perfect Plastic Ocho
- Sébile Pivot Frog vs. Strike King KVD Sexy Frog
- Ned Rig ElaZtech Damage to Other Baits
- October Topwater Fishing w/ Z-Man Pop ShadZ
- Cabin Creek Bait Company Oval Sinkin’ Worms | Product Review & Field Test
- Donkey Tails & Mule Jigs by Mule Fishing Supply Co. | Product Review & Field Test
- Xcite Baits: Xtreme Stix Product Review
- Vicious Fishing: Pad Runner Hollow Body Frog Product Review
- Seekway Water Shoes: Product Review
Fishing Projects
- Restoring the Old Jon Boat: Part 1 – Summary
- Restoring the Old Jon Boat: Part 2 – Using Aluminum Rivets
- How the Jon Boat is Holding Up
- Restoring the Old Jon Boat: Part 3 – Using Sealed Pop Rivets
- Painting Ruined Spoons with Walmart Supplies
- Build It Break It Fix It Fish It
- Subscriber Feedback: How To Paint Ruined Dardevle Spoons
- FIXED! Water Damaged GoPro w/ Media Mod | Repair All Models | How To Fix (Simple)
Fishing Rigs & Mods
Fishing Videos
Illinois Fishing Highlights: Best Bites & Baits
In The Field: Monday Morning Bites
- Tough Bite: Early Season Illinois Largemouth Bass | MMB Ep. 1
- Ned Rigs catch… WHAT IS THAT?! | MMB Ep. 2
- Vintage Daiwa HAMMERING Fish (Daiwa Magforce) | MMB Ep. 3
- Testing a Saucy Z-Man DieZel Minnow | MMB Ep. 4
- Chasin’ Bass in the Rain | MMB Ep. 5
- Field Testing Cabin Creek Baits [DAY 1] | MMB Ep. 6
- Cops & Testing Cabin Creek Baits [DAY 2] | MMB Ep. 7
- Zoom Zlinkys are Sick | MMB Ep. 8
- Looking for Little Largemouth Honey Holes | MMB Ep. 9
- Searching for Smallmouth Bass in Illinois | MMB Ep. 10
- Rainy Day Largemouth Bass Bank Fishing | MMB Ep. 11
- What Lurks Beneath the Interstate Creek? (Testing Mule Jigs + Donkey Tails) | MMB Ep. 12
- Turning Bad Fishing Around (Panfish Bonanza!) | MMB Ep. 13
- Monday Morning Hiatus | MMB Ep. 14
- Don’t Use This Fishing Line (LOST 3 OF 4!) | MMB Ep. 15
- Proper Equipment = Proper Fish (Quality Bites) | MMB Ep. 16
- Suburban Angling | MMB Ep. 17
- Testing Berkley X5 Braid | MMB Ep. 18
- Panfish & Sufix ProMix | MMB Ep. 19
- Creek Fishing 101 | MMB Ep. 20
- Learning More About Illinois Smallmouth | MMB Ep. 21
- Swimbait Fishing Creeks & Lakes | MMB Ep. 22
- Largemouth Bass Fishing Into the Evening | MMB Ep. 23
- Illinois Jon Boat Fishing for Largemouth Bass | MMB Ep. 24
- Catch More Fish by Fishing the Conditions | MMB Ep. 25
- EASY Plastic Worm Rig Will Help YOU Catch More Fish! | MMB Ep. 26
- Crappie Fishing Secret (DON’T SHARE!) Are You Missing EASY Fish? | MMB Ep. 27
- Fishing Everything by Minocqua Wisconsin with Kids | MMB Ep. 28
- Uncle Josh Wax Worms vs Nightcrawlers | MMB Ep. 29
- Minocqua Wisconsin Multi-Species Fishing Tips | MMB Ep. 30
- Northern Wisconsin Bass Fishing a Beautiful Spring Fed Lake | MMB Ep. 31
- Wisconsin Bass Fishing | MMB Ep. 32
- Wisconsin Bass Fishing for Timid Biters | MMB Ep. 33
- Fishing w/ Kalin’s Jigs in Wisconsin | Multi-Species & Minimalist (Simple Tips Catch EVERYTHING) | MMB Ep. 34
- Northern Wisconsin Summer Fishing Tips: Big Bass & Pike (Multi-Species Tactics Clear Minocqua Lakes) | MMB Ep. 35
In The Field: Thursday Night Fishing
- Two Nice Largemouth Bass on a Fluke in the Early Evening
- Afternoon Topwater Bass Bite!
- The Legend of Dinkasuarus Bass
- Quarantine Fishing (3 Nice Bass)
- Ripped Off Swim Jig Tails
- New Sitcom: 3 Bass & a Bullfrog
- Slowing Down for Cold Weather Bites
- Fishing Sure Beats Showering
- Testing a Damiki Air Frog with my Son
- The Big ‘ol Mystery Catfish
- Fishing Around Bass on Beds
- I Suck at Fishing
- Redemption
- Testing Don’s MinnerZ on Largemouth Bass
- Bigger Baits for Bigger Bass (Small Bass Too!)
- Get Better at Fishing – Learn Constantly
- Fishing a Strike King Lightning Shad for Panfish (PB Bass!)
- Dealing with Depression | 1 Step That Works
- Fishing with Kids: Hunting Largemouth Bass
- Bank Fishing Tips for Small City Lakes
- Fishing with Kids: Let them Fail
- Bank Fishing High Percentage Spots for Largemouth Bass
- Bass Fishing for Quantity vs Quality
- Fishing a Spray Painted Frog & Burnt Stickbait (Sebile Pivot Frog & Strike King Ocho)
- Catching Lots of Bass with Jig Worms (Simple Bass Fishing Technique)
- Testing a Rapala Scatter Rap on Bass
- Illinois Bass Fishing
- Fishing Tips | Minocqua Wisconsin Multi-Species
- Rob Friedley’s Guide Service Tip
- Family Fishing: Panfish, Toads, Frogs & Snails!?
- Dad Testing a Fishing Pole I Built Him
Learn to Fish for Largemouth Bass
- A Brief History of Bass Fishing in America / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- The Origins of Fishing Sonar / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Sports Afield Writer Jason Lucas / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Elwood “Buck” Perry & the Spoonplug / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Bill Binkelman & Fishing Facts Magazine / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Explosive Bass Fishing in the 60s & 70s / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- How the “Average Fisherman” Benefits from Professional Bass Tournaments / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- A Brief History of In-Fisherman
- Location of Largemouth Bass by Region / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Catch & Release Fishing / Learn to Fish Largemouth Bass
- Meet the Largemouth Bass: Mr. & Mrs. Generalist
- How Largemouth Bass Feed
- The Physical Makeup of Largemouth Bass
- The Ideal Body Shape of a Fish
- How do Largemouth Bass Grow?
- Largemouth Bass Food Preferences Over Time
- What is Countershading?
- Catch More Fish by Doing What Everyone ISN’T
- Prey Size for Largemouth Bass
- Prey Size for Largemouth Bass – Part 2
- Largemouth Bass Senses: Sight
- Can Largemouth Bass See Us On Shore?
- What Colors Can Largemouth Bass See?
- How Do Fish Eyes Work?
- How Do Largemouth Bass Hear?
- The Lateral Line of Largemouth Bass: What Bass Hear vs. What Bass FEEL
- How Do Largemouth Bass Smell?
- How Do Largemouth Bass Taste?
- How Do Largemouth Bass Feel?
- How Do Largemouth Bass Feed?
- The 4 Feeding Strategies of Largemouth Bass
- Popular Bass Fishing Presentations for EVERY Feeding Strategy
- Do Largemouth Bass School?
- Top 4 Stickbaits for Largemouth Bass (NOT a Senko!)
- 3 Tips for Locating More Largemouth Bass
- Largemouth Bass Activity Levels
- How To Fish Ultra-Clear Borrow Pits & Rock Quarry Lakes
- Largemouth Bass Vision: Horizontal vs Vertical
- Do Bass Prefer Vertical or Horizontal Presentations?
- Largemouth Bass Seasonal Movement (Calendar & Patterns)
- Largemouth Bass Strike Windows
- What Affects the Strike Window of Largemouth Bass?
Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- Differences in Natural Lakes & Reservoirs / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- The Prespawn Period (55°F to 65°F) / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- The Summer Period (Over 70°F) / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- Fall into Winter (70°F & Cooling) / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- Prespawn Reservoir Fishing Scenarios / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- Summer Reservoir Fishing Scenarios / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
- Fall Reservoir Fishing Scenarios / Learn to Fish Reservoirs
Learn to Fish Rivers & Streams
- What is a Channel and Where is it Located? / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- What is Current in a Body of Water? / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Cover & Current Breaks [Part 1] / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Cover & Current Breaks [Part 2] / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Preferred Temperature Ranges of Warmwater Gamefish / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Changing Temperatures in Rivers & Streams / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Food & Forage / Learning to Fish Rivers and Streams
- How Streams Change / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Fluctuating Water Levels / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Threats to Stream Habitat / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- The Rules of River Navigation / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Hazards & Locks / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- The International Scale of River Difficulty / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- Top 5 Baits for Streams & Rivers / Learning to Fish Rivers & Streams
- How to Check the Local Water Level in a Creek or River
- The Most Important Creek Fishing Tip for More Bass in the Fall
- Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tips from Matt Straw (In-Fisherman)
Learn to Fish with Swim Jigs
- What is a Swim Jig? / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- Top 10 Swim Jigs / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- Top 5 Swim Jig Trailers / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- 6 Swim Jig Strikes! / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- Custom Swim Jigs Made to Order / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- Pro Tips & Swim Jigs Strategies / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- 3 Killer Swim Jigs to Start With This Season / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- Key Features of a Quality Swim Jig / Get Better at Swim Jig Fishing
- The Complete Beginners Guide to Micro-Swimbaits | When, Where & How
Learn to Identify Baitfish
Learn to Identify the Black Basses
Short Fishing Videos
- Spinnerbait Bass in a Jon Boat #short
- Mann’s 1-Minus Crankbait Bass in a Jon Boat #short
- Bass Munitions Beaver Bait Largemouth Caught from Bank #short
- Z-Man Ned Rig TRD CrawZ #short
- Fat Bass Smacks my Whopper Plopper #short
- The Most Satisfying Hookset Ever #short
- Giant Carp on a Blue Fox Vibrax #short
- Smallmouth Bass Under a Float in Wisconsin #short
- Huge Bluegill Pees in our Boat #short
- Illinois Largemouth Bass Fishing w/ Charlie’s Worms (LaSalle County) #short
- LaSalle County Bass Fishing w/ Charlie’s Worms #short
- Minocqua Crappie Fishing #short
- Minocqua Wisconsin Leech Pike #short
- Minocqua Wisconsin Leech Walleye Fishing #short
- Catching a Pack of Smallmouth Bass Under our Boat (Awesome Wisconsin Fishing!) #short
- Fall Bass Fishing in Illinois | Fat Largemouth in a Jon Boat #short
- Surprise Double Up Big Largemouth Bass + Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Wisconsin #short
- The Sloppiest Largemouth Bass Attacked my Worm while Bank Fishing! #short
- Largemouth Bass Fishing a Mann’s 1-Minus under Algae Bloom #short
- Beautiful Smallmouth Bass Snatches Z-Man TRD MinnowZ (Awesome Wisconsin Fishing!) #short
- Largemouth Bass Fishing a YUM Dinger Stickbait on an Extremely Hot Morning (Bank Fishing) #short
- Cold Weather Largemouth Bass Fishing (Illinois Bank Fishing) #short
- Fishing Smallmouth Bass Deep & HAMMERING ’em on a Kalin’s Jig! (Awesome Wisconsin Fishing!) #short
- Blasting Rock Bass on a 7 Foot Heavy Fishing in Wisconsin #short
- Largemouth Bass Fishing | Grandebass Airtail Wiggler on a Texas Rig #short
- Largemouth Bass Fishing | Airtail Wiggler on a Texas Rig (Grandebass) #short
- Ever Fished the Pop ‘n Drop for Largemouth Bass? #short
- Giant Jerkbait Crappie Fishing from Shore! #short
- The Best (Unknown) Jerkbait!? Intense Fishing! #short
- Fishing a Kalin’s Crappie Scrub for Big Bluegill #short
Solunar Fishing Calendar
- Solunar Calendar Fishing in the Midwest
- April 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- May 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- June 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- July 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- August 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- September 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- October 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- November 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- December 2021 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- January 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- February 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- March 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar Illinois
- April 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar (Illinois Largemouth Bass Fishing)
- May 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar (Largemouth Bass Fishing in Illinois)
- June 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar (Illinois Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass Fishing)
- July 2022 Solunar Fishing Calendar (Midwest Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass Fishing)
The Fishing Archives
Website & Channel Updates
Weekly Fishing Motivation
- The Growth of an Angler
- The Simple Blessings of a Fisherman
- How to Get Better at Fishing
- Motivation is Worthless: Develop Your Drive
- YOU Start the Next Manly Tradition
- How to Get Out of a Fishing Slump in 4 Simple Steps
- Fishing Aimlessly. Living Aimlessly. Good or Bad?
- Fishing Slow? Tough Bite? Time to Scout!
- Make the Time: Faith, Family & Fishing
- Fishing Outside Your Comfort Zone
- The Most Important Creek Fishing Tip for More Bass in the Fall
- Dad Advice: Happiness Isn’t Acquired by Acquiring
- Christmas Break
- The Best Fishing Advice You’ll Read Today
- Tennessee Prison Ministry: Be Fishers of Men
- Listen to the Birds
- Set Your Fishing Goals: The Plan for Midwest Bass Fishing & Beyond…
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