Entries for 'bigmac21'

Byron Velvick didn’t invent swimbait fishing. Fabled California anglers like Dave Rush and Russ Meyer were the first to explore the allure of the big pieces of wood and soft plastic on spawning bass in Western waters.

Rewind to 35 years ago. I’d just moved to Tennessee and had never caught a smallmouth. From what I’d heard, these fish were supposed to be bad dudes, and I was dying to tie into them.

Diehard anglers, those true fish heads, are often accused of sideways thinking by non-fishing family and friends. But it usually has to do with their general outlook on life and the priorities they set, especially when it comes to a hot bite.

Hellgrammites (dobson fly larvae) are a favorite bait among stream fishermen. Simply hook the bait under the collar and weight it with a split shot or two.

Some structures that attract bass are clearly visible to the naked eye, and practically scream, “Fish me!” Points are a prime example.

Hunters call it patterning—they pour over photos and topo maps and spend countless hours scouting to identify travel routes of animals, on both daily and seasonal timelines.

Ohio bass pro Frank Scalish is a hard guy to interview. He’s a heck of a nice guy and a phenomenal angler, but he cranks out so many cool tactics that it’s hard to keep up.

Largemouth bite best when water temperatures are in the 60s and 70s. They're most active under dim - light conditions.

When the bite is right on tailwaters, usually during spring or fall, most drifting anglers will catch at least a few smallmouths, and some will even stumble across giants.

The silver dollar-size bluegill fins in place at the gravel fringe. Although its eye stares like that of a doll, its body quivers with a lively spark.