E. F. Schumacher coined the phrase "small is beautiful" to refer to economics, but his saying lends itself well to ultra-finesse tactics for panfish. Today there are an array of Lilliputian ice…
Anyone who knows me understands that one of my true passions when it comes to the sport of muskie fishing is teaching the virtues of catch and release. While I have covered this topic up one side and…
Junction pools, those intersections where a feeder stream joins a larger creek or river, are often key fish locations, particularly during the winter months.
What is it about junction pools that…
Freezing cold weather may not be the ideal time to be crappie fishing in the minds of many people. Winter weather can be extremely harsh, but the die hare anglers of Lake of the Ozarks in central…
Out of all the different ways you can catch pike through the ice, jigging has to be one of my favorites. Jigging pike is simple and really requires a very basic set up. No bait, tip ups or fancy…
In spring, white bass seek tributaries of major reservoirs for spawning runs. It is during these spawning runs, when thousands of whites are concentrated in small streams, that most white bass are…
Unlike in summertime, water in the winter in deep lakes doesn’t always get colder as you fish deeper. Water is heaviest at 39.2º Fahrenheit and sinks. So if you can’t find fish in the colder upper…
A fishing logbook or logbook App on your phone will help improve your odds as a fisherman. Logging your trips won’t guarantee you success on every outing, but it will definitely increase your chances…
Bass, as you probably know, are cold-blooded creatures, meaning their body temperature is the same as that of their surroundings. As the water temperature drops, so does their metabolic level. The…
If you've ever hung a big landlocked striped bass on an artificial lure, you know it's a jarring experience. There's nothing tentative about the way a striper hits a surface plug, crankbait or jig…
Every serious crappie fisherman out there has his own thoughts on what works best and why. The majority of traditional ice fishermen you see braving the frozen lakes and ponds stick to live bait with…
Don’t be afraid to change baits when fishing slows down. Giving bass a new look is sometimes all it takes to put several of them in your boat.
Say, for example, you fish an area that is holding good…
