Author: Mike Iaconelli

The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Tackle

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<strong>The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Tackle</strong>

In previous columns, I’ve talked a lot about diving crankbaits. They are a great lure because they’ll catch fish that are hungry and they’ll also trigger bites from non-feeding fish. We discussed color, size and the importance of making your lures deflect off of something and change direction. That’s how you generate reaction strikes. In order to complete the circle, though, we need to discuss the proper rod, reel and line. Without that system in place, you can’t fully appreciate what a great lure a crankbait can be. Let’s start with the rod. Crankbait rods are very different than most […]

Top Five Power Fishing Lures for Early Winter Fishing

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<strong>Top Five Power Fishing Lures for Early Winter Fishing</strong>

For a lot of us around the country, it’s early winter right now. The leaves are off the trees, the mornings are cold, and water temperatures are down. That typically means that fish have left their fall patterns. They’re headed to or in their wintering holes, but they’re still feeding. That often means you can still catch them with power fishing techniques. I have five lures that fit the bill The first, without a doubt, is a suspending jerkbait like the Rapala Shadow Rap. I can’t think of a better bait for this time of year. It emulates a struggling […]

The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Fishing

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<strong>The Ultimate Guide to Crankbait Fishing</strong>

When I look back at some of my greatest successes in my tournament career, a lot of them are directly attributable to crankbaits. Why are they so good? The biggest reason is their ability to get bites from fish that are feeding as well as fish that are not actively feeding. Sure, a lot of baits will produce “hunger bites,” but the ability to trigger reaction bites puts them in a different class. So what are we talking about when we use the term crankbait? It’s a lure, made of wood, plastic or resin, that has a bill that helps […]

My Fall Bass Fishing Secret

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My Fall Bass Fishing Secret

One of the coolest ways to catch bass is with an Alabama Rig, also known as the “A Rig.” If you’re a fan of it like I am, you already know why it’s so good. The term that I often use is that it mesmerizes them. It really does. Out of the water, that contraption looks bulky and complicated, but in the water, it comes alive. It’s one of the best baits ever made to mimic a school of baitfish. The one downfall of the traditional Alabama Rig is the limited number of places where you can fish it. With […]

The Ultimate Spinnerbait Series – Retrieves and Tackle

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The Ultimate Spinnerbait Series – Retrieves and Tackle

In the first part of my Ultimate Spinnerbait Series, I outlined when and where I use different kinds of spinnerbaits. It’s one of the greatest categories of lures ever made, but if you don’t dial in the proper retrieve, having the right blade style, color and other components really doesn’t matter. The good news: with three basic retrieves, you can maximize your effectiveness. I tailor them to the different zones of the water column – top, middle and bottom – and by thinking of it that way, you can really improve your game. For the top of the water column, […]

The Ultimate Spinnerbait Series – Picking the Right Spinnerbait

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The Ultimate Spinnerbait Series – Picking the Right Spinnerbait

A spinnerbait is a very simple contraption – a combination of wire, a head, a hook, and some blades – but it’s one of the most effective lures ever created. Why is it so good and so universal? Because most lures appeal to only one of a fish’s senses, but the spinnerbait appeals to all five. In the water, it provides multiple reasons for bass to strike – flash, vibration and visual attraction. Bass are sight feeders; even in crystal clear water, a spinnerbait looks like a school of baitfish. Blade Type is your starting point when you pick a […]

The Beginner’s Guide to Rod Selection

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The Beginner’s Guide to Rod Selection

If you’re a guide or an experienced tournament fisherman, you might have five, 10, 20 or even 30 fishing rods already. But what about those of you who are just getting started? Maybe you’re a kid or someone who just wants to make a few casts in a neighborhood pond. Or perhaps you’re on a limited budget. You don’t need to have that many, but you do need to make sure that whatever you get is versatile. Before I dive into adult options, let me discuss rods for kids. This is really easy. For younger children, get a spinning or […]

How to Pick the Right Size and Color Jig

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How to Pick the Right Size and Color Jig

In a recent column I described the five categories of jigs that you need to be an effective bass angler, so now I’m going to build on that and refine my descriptions – because if you have the right jig but the wrong size or the wrong color, you won’t be as effective as possible. Let’s go from the smallest to the biggest, which means the first one is the micro jig, those super-small, itsy-bitsy tiny offerings that came from the Japanese market. I use them in anything from a 1/16 to a 3/16-ounce size. Why pick it? Well, forage […]

What Makes Fishing Fun for Beginners?

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What Makes Fishing Fun for Beginners?

Whether you’re trying to introduce someone new to fishing or you are a beginner yourself, the key to building a long-lasting love for the sport is to keep it fun. After all, that’s why we’re out there. This is particularly true when you’re trying to get kids involved. Fishing is an opportunity for them to build a lifelong passion through discipline and discovery. I’ve already written about the tackle you need to get kids started. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just some light rods, bobbers and tube jigs. That bobber makes it a very visual experience which […]

How to Pick a Jig for Year-Round Fishing

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How to Pick a Jig for Year-Round Fishing

I’m really excited about this series of videos and blogs because it gives me a chance to talk about one of the best lures ever created: The skirted jig. It’s a lure that can intimidate a lot of newcomers because it doesn’t necessarily look like anything natural and there are lots of different options on the market. That can be confusing. I can vividly remember when I was 17 or 18 years old and I started hearing about this lure category. I bought a few and had no idea how to fish them. In fact, the first few times I’m […]