By Dave Wolak

A while back a reader asked why pro bass anglers don’t use nets in tournaments. To many, a net may seem the safest and surest way to get a money fish in the boat. But the use of nets is actually a huge debate, with many anglers and tournament directors split on the decision.

It comes down to categorizing the argument three ways: what’s best for the bass, for the angler, and for the excitement. Personally, I am for the use of nets in tournaments and recreational bass fishing. That’s because I believe proper care of the fish is of the utmost importance, and quite honestly, fish care can be lacking at times without the use of nets. So these are my “pro net” answers to the three facets of the argument.

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By Mark Hicks

Top-end specialty rods commonly fetch $100 or more. But you can get a hardworking bass stick for half that.

If you’ve balked at buying a flipping stick because it’s too technique-specific to justify the expense, it’s time to reconsider. We found four flipping rods that perform far better than their price tags might suggest. They may be the biggest bargains in bass fishing.

All four are 7-1⁄2 feet long and have a parabolic action, which is what you want for flipping. And the grip configuration on most lets you touch the blank with your fingers for increased sensitivity. Don’t let their extending handles put you off. Pricier models have one-piece blanks, but these are plenty sturdy for fighting big fish, and they shorten the rod a foot or so for easier transport. [ Read Full Post ]

These 20 fishing secrets will help you catch trout, bass, bluegills, cats, walleyes, and more—and have the time of your life—all season long.

When rivers heat up in late summer, smallmouths can get downright lazy. The same fish that charged fast-moving streamers and poppers earlier in the season often take to feeding at night, and if your river is loaded with late-summer shad or herring fry, getting bass to eat fur and feathers becomes even harder.

Delaware River smallmouth guide Joe Demalderis (cross​current​guide​service.com) gets around this by leaning on bugs tied with synthetic fur and fiber for the salt, such as a Mushmouth. Flies tied with Angel Hair or Puglisi Fiber retain more buoyancy and a wider profile when wet compared with flies using feathers, bucktail, and rabbit fur, which take on water and sink faster.

Demalderis casts those artificials on the outside of bait schools or in the deeper, slower runs summer smallmouths frequent, and lets them fall broadside with the current. Whereas a Zonker or Clouser would sink away quickly, these synthetic baitfish imitators flutter down slowly, presenting a more accurate representation of a dying baitfish—and an easier target for... [ Read Full Post ]

By Dave Wolak

Hey, are you planning on bass fishing next weekend? If you answered yes, then get ready for a day filled with some combination of the following: Wake-jumping jet skiers and water skiers. Nine guys, three cases of beer, and one life jacket piled into a jon boat that’s getting pulled over by the Water Sheriff. Some guy with the steering cable seemingly stuck in a right turn doing high-speed donuts by the ramp. Or my personal favorite; the music-blasting, mega-wake-making speedboat that comes standard with nine air bags, a retractable water balloon launcher, and the optional Rally Fun Pack. But I don’t let any of that stop me from getting on the lake. This is going to sound crazy, but because I fish heavily pressured waters a lot, I actually like when there are plenty of pleasure boats cruising around. If you can remember these three simple rules, you can use the traffic to help you score plenty of bass despite the army of holiday yahoos that are likely to plague your favorite lake next weekend.

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By Kirk Deeter

I've been fortunate enough to have fished with many professional athletes in recent years. You'd be surprised by how many actually gravitate to fly fishing as a release from the rigors of playing sports under bright lights for a living.

I'll be honest though—some are way better than others when they put on waders, and I think that has to do with the dynamics of their professions. Golfers, for example, are usually really good fly anglers. After all, one could argue that fly fishing and golf are kindred pastimes, both born in Scotland centuries ago. It's all about planning the next move, and adapting to the current situation. The way the wheels spin in golfers' and anglers' minds are very similar, so it's not surprising to know that Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Nick Price, and Davis Love III (among many others) are all avid anglers. [ Read Full Post ]

By Joe Cermele

I bumped into this short video over on Break.com. It's simply titled "How to Fish, FL Style." So take a look at tell me what's going on here, because I can't figure it out. Perhaps some of you from Florida partake in this FL-style fishing. Did this bass get trapped on a spawning bed when the lake level suddenly dropped? Also, If anyone can tell me why so many people that shoot videos with iPhones don't have the wherewithal to turn the phone horizontally while doing so, I'd be grateful, because it drives me mad. 

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