Top Four Baits for October Fishing

Top Four Baits for October Fishing

In this blog we’re diving into my top four baits for the month of October. Whether you’re up north where it’s full-blown fall or down south where the fish are still transitioning, I’ve got the tips you need to get those bass biting this month. So let’s break it down! Understanding October Fishing First off, let’s talk about what’s happening in October. Depending on where you live, it can either be early fall or full-on fall feed time. For those of you up north, like Virginia and beyond, October means fish are really starting to pack on the pounds before […]

Top Baits for July Fishing

Top Baits for July Fishing

Today we’re talking about my top four bass baits for the month of July. Now, it doesn’t matter if you’re fishing on the West Coast, the East Coast, up North, or down South, July means one thing: it’s hot and it’s summertime. So, these baits are perfect for summertime bass fishing. If you watch my videos, you know my rule for summertime bass fishing: deeper, thicker, and current. We’re going to cover four baits today that are perfect for those scenarios and ideal for the hot month of July. Let’s dive in! First up, we’re starting in the North, where […]

Top Four Lures for October

Top Four Lures for October

October is all about fall fishing patterns. As the water starts to cool down, the bait move shallow and the bass follow. Then when they’re done feeding up, they head back to their wintering areas. It’s a big transition, and if you use the right lures you can find and tempt quality fish the whole time. If you’ve read my previous “best baits” columns, you know that I like to pick two for the North, from Virginia up, and two for the South, from the Carolinas down. Don’t let that box you in. All four are good just about anywhere, […]

Top Five Baits for Winter Finesse Fishing

<strong>Top Five Baits for Winter Finesse Fishing</strong>

In my last column, I outlined five of my favorite power fishing lures for winter bass. There are times when power fishing is the deal and you can use baitcasting gear to force the bass to react. However, as the weather gets frigid, and water temperatures drop into the 40s or even the upper 30s, bass often become tight-lipped and lethargic. When that happens a spinning rod and light line can really change your day. Here are five of my favorite finesse options for those conditions. This first one probably isn’t much of a surprise if you’ve followed me over […]

Top Five Power Fishing Lures for Early Winter Fishing

<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 […]

How to Pick the Right Size and Color Jig

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 […]

Baits for Big Bass

Baits for Big Bass

If there’s one question I’m asked over and over it’s this one: “What baits do I recommend for big bass?” Most of the anglers don’t define what they mean by big so I’ll do it. I say that any bass in the 5-pound class or better is big. I know that where and when you’re fishing has a big impact on size but it general that’s a pretty good place to start. A 5-pound bass has some size to it but, at the same time, it’s doable in most waters. After that I group my big bass baits into three […]

Hard Cover vs. Soft Cover

Hard Cover vs. Soft Cover

This is really a continuation of my thoughts about fishing the moment. It’s about where the fish are on any given day or any given hour, and how to find them. In most waters that we fish, there’s hard cover and soft cover. Hard cover is stuff like docks, laydowns, rock, and concrete. In the video I want you to watch along with this blog — you can view it here — the bass were on laydowns. Soft cover is stuff like weeds and other kinds of vegetation. I fished that off and on but the bass weren’t relating to […]

The New Missile Mini Swim

The New Missile Mini Swim

Hey everyone out there, ICAST is underway. One of the new products we’re introducing is the new Missile Mini Swim. It’s the real deal, different from all the other swim jigs out there. We’ll start off by talking a little about size. Most swim jigs are big, with a big profile. The Mini Swim is just the opposite. That idea came from our Mini Flip. It’s a smaller flipping and pitching jig and it’s made all the difference in the world when we need something smaller and less intrusive. The Mini Swim will do the same thing for swim jigs. […]

The Greatest Bass Lure Ever Invented

The Greatest Bass Lure Ever Invented

What’s the greatest bass lure ever invented? That’s the one question I’m asked most often, and it’s a tough one considering all the lures that are out there. So, in order to answer that question I have to take the following factors into consideration: The lure has to be effective in all four seasons and all those times in between those seasons. The lure has to be effective in any water temperature. The lure has to be effective anywhere it’s fished — reservoirs, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.The lure has to be effective in any type of water conditions — […]