Spring Bass Fishing: Effective Crankbait Tactics for Increased Catches

 Crash Reel Knocking flat-sided crankbaits off hard cover wakes up early-spring bass. Photograph by Jarren Vink   When the water opens up in March, bass fishe

Open Water Fishing Strategies for Early Spring

 Photograph by Barry & Cathy Beck You’re over drilling ice holes. You’ve tied enough flies to last a season. Your tackle has never been more organized. Ea

Florida Bass Fishing Tactics for Spring Success - Adapt to Your Local Waters

When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, it was about this time of year that I remember reading reports from the tournaments that had already kicked off in Florid

Striper Fishing: Optimizing Live Bait for Better Results

Bunker Bust A New York striper hooked in a bait pod. Photo by Bill Lindner In spring, coastal striped bass gorge on menhaden—a.k.a. bunker. In freshwater, lan

Maximize Your Smallmouth Bass Catches: 3 Bait Tweaks for Increased Hookups

 Taken Down A trophy bass from Lake of the Woods in Ontario. Photo by Bill Lindner Crawfish, baitfish, and hellgrammites in open water all avoid predators by

Mastering the Swim Shad: A Guide to Catching Fish

Photo by Travis Rathbone For generations, the white bucktail jig has been hailed as the most versatile lure ever. So effective is its ability to catch any fis

Grilled Rainbow Trout with Fingerling Potatoes & Spring Onion Crema | Ford Fry Recipe

Photo by Plamen Petkov Trout plus bacon is one of civilization’s greatest formulas; it always equals pleasure. In this recipe, Atlanta chef and angler Ford Fr

Grass Shrimp as Effective Bait for Panfish, Trout & Bass

Photo by Keith Sutton Common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, grass shrimp are go-to baits for catching a variety of inshore saltwater species. What many a

Expert Fishing Strategies: Land Trophy Fish in a Weekend

 Brownie Points A 5-plus-pounder is readied for its release in a New Jersey stream. Photograph by Nathaniel Welch How to Catch Monster:LargemouthSmallmouthWal

Land Trophy Largemouth Bass: Advanced Techniques & Tactics

 Take a Bow This 5-pounder was pulled from a small Minnesota lake. Photo by Bill Lindner Leave the little worms and crankbaits home, because a big postspawn l

Catching Trophy Smallmouth Bass: Techniques & Tactics

 Great Catch A Lake Superior smallie surrenders. Photos by Tom Martineau / The Raw Spirit For the biggest smallmouths, those over 5 pounds, the time is now. F

Popper Fishing: Lures & Tactics for Bass, Pike & More

 Light-Headed Just the sound of a foam popper hitting the water can trigger a strike. Photograph by Ralph Smith Largemouth Bass If you’re working a popper thr

Effective Bass Fishing in Flooded Brush: 4 Expert Tips

I’ve got a good friend that’s an exceptional offshore finesse bass angler. In fact, he’s so good that he rarely plays the typical shoreline game. But the other

Post-Spawn Bass Fishing: Targeting River Ledges for Big Catches

Photo by Joe Cermele This month, Pickwick Lake guide and pro angler Jimmy ­Mason (jimmy​mason​basspro.com) hits river-channel ledges to find huge schools of r

Green Bay Leech Invasion: What You Need to Know

So this is apparently been happening lately in the Green Bay area. Hey walleye guys, grab your dip nets and get over there...if you dare.    

Bass Fishing: Leveraging Shade for Increased Catches

How many times have you fished down a bank in the summer without a single bite, then you come across a lone log that just so happens to cast the perfect shadow

Smart Fishing Technology: Enhancing Your Experience

No matter how old you are, one of most enjoyable sights in fishing will always be a bobber getting jerked under. But why actually watch the bobber when your pho

Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Quetico Provincial Park

Editor’s Note: This post comes from a week-long paddle trip through Quetico Provincial Park. See full coverage of the adventure on our Facebook page #FSQuetico

Cane Pole Rigging: A Simple Line-Wrapping Technique

Cane-pole fishing is hardly a lazy pursuit, with all the fish-catching that typically accompanies an outing with the bamboo and bait. And, it’s not just for pa

Effective Frog Lures for Summer Bass Fishing: A Guide

 Photo by Bill Buckley There’s no finer sound than the poink of a plastic frog landing on a lily pad. The bass finning beneath must feel the same way, given t