If you fish for suspended bass, you already know how important the jighead minnow has become. Over the last five years, and especially with the growth of forward-facing sonar, that little soft plastic minnow on a jighead has absolutely exploded. It’s simple, it looks natural, and it catches fish. But there’s one problem, everybody is throwing it! And after more than 30 years of professional fishing, I can tell you one thing for sure: bass get used to seeing the same thing over and over. That’s why I’m always looking for alternate presentations. Jerkbaits like the Berkley Stunna 112 and […]
I want to talk about one of my favorite ways to cover water, fish shallow cover, and make bass bite even when they’re not hungry: square billing. This isn’t some brand-new technique. Square bill crankbaits have been catching fish forever. I remember growing up in the ’80s watching guys throw baits from companies like Bagley and Rebel with those short, squared-off bills, and they caught the heck out of them! What makes a square bill so special is its ability to create a reaction strike. On those perfect cloudy, windy days, bass might chase almost anything. But most of our […]
August can be one of the hottest months of the year, but it can also produce some of the best bass fishing if you understand where the fish go. Every summer I remember three words: deeper, thicker, and current. Bass either move to deeper, cooler water, tuck under the thickest cover they can find, or position anywhere current brings oxygen and food. Whether you fish a tiny pond, a natural lake, a reservoir, or a river, those three clues will put you around more fish. Just as important, remember that conditions change across the country, so here are my favorite […]
July is here, and that means one thing to me, it’s summertime bass fishing! No matter where you live, the water temperatures are climbing, the days are long, and bass have settled into their true summer patterns. They’re no longer thinking about the spawn. Instead, they’re looking for deeper water, thicker cover, or current to stay comfortable while feeding. That’s why choosing the right bait this month is so important. In this month’s Top Baits, I’m breaking it down by region with two must-have baits for northern anglers, two for southern anglers, and one bonus bait that catches bass everywhere! […]
Let’s dive into one of the hottest new lure trends in bass fishing, the fuzzy ball bait. If you’ve spent any time around tackle shops, on social media, or out on the water lately, you’ve probably seen these strange-looking baits that resemble a sea urchin, a dog toy, or something from another planet. They look weird, but trust me, they catch fish. One bait that has really stood out for me is the new Berkley MaxScent ‘Moeba. Over the last year, I’ve spent a lot of time fishing it in tournaments, fun fishing, and filming content, and the results have […]
Let’s talk about one of my all-time favorite ways to catch bass, frog fishing! If you ask me what technique creates the most heart-pounding strikes in all of bass fishing, my answer is easy: a hollow-bodied frog. There is nothing like watching a giant bass explode through a mat of grass and completely annihilate your bait. The great thing about frog fishing is that it’s not just a summertime technique. As soon as water temperatures reach the mid-50s, a frog can become a player. From pre-spawn through late fall, a frog will help you catch fish in places where most […]
If you want to cover water, trigger reaction strikes, and catch bigger bass, we’re talking about one of the greatest lures ever created: the Chatterbait, also called a vibrating jig. Guys, this thing is the ultimate hybrid bait. Think about it, it’s part skirted jig, part spinnerbait, and part crankbait all rolled into one. You’ve got the skirt for profile, the blade for vibration and flash, and that deflection that makes fish lose their minds. But here’s the deal: most anglers only scratch the surface with this bait. They throw it out and wind it in. Today, I’m giving you […]
If you’ve been following this blog series, you already know how I like to break things down. Every month, I give you two baits for anglers in the Northern part of the country and two for anglers in the Southern part. May is no different, but before we get into the baits, let’s talk about the month itself. May is all about transition. Up north, it’s spring turning into the spawn. You’ve got fish coming in, fish on beds, and even some fish guarding fry. But down south, it’s a totally different deal. Those fish are mostly done spawning and […]
FINALLY—it’s April! This is one of my favorite months of the year to fish. No matter where you live, from the Canadian border all the way down to the Mexican border, bass fishing is flat-out on fire. Up north, you’ve got fish in that late pre-spawn moving toward beds, and some are just starting to spawn. Down south, it’s even crazier because you’ve got fish in all three phases: pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn. That means opportunity everywhere! And you know how we do it, I’m giving you two baits for the north, two for the south. Let’s get into it! […]
I’m back with a topic that gets a lot of anglers fired up, and honestly, a little intimidated too. We’re talking BIG glide baits. Not your 5-inch, 6-inch, even 8-inch swimbaits. I’m talking magnum stuff…10 to 12 inches. Yeah, those giant baits that make you stop and say, “Man, that thing’s huge!” But here’s the deal, guys, there are times when that oversized glide bait will absolutely outfish the smaller ones. Not a little bit. I’m talking visibly, noticeably better. So don’t let the size scare you. Let’s break down when and why you want to go big. First thing […]
This Site Made Possible By These Great Sponsors
Enter your email address below to subscribe to Mike Iaconelli’s newsletter. We’ll send you a verification link & how to download your FREE “Ike’s Top Baits” PDF!
