On February 4th ABA members hit Lake Degray for the Arkansas division season opener. Tournament champs Danny Goodwin, and his co-angler, Tabitha Lancaster found the bass holding in a creek off the main lake and stayed there all day. They threw everything in their tackle boxes at the bass but caught them on an umbrella rig.
Many anglers use underwater cameras to help them locate fish during the hardwater season. These tips will help you see further under the ice.
ABA members in the South Carolina division hit Lake Murry for the first tournament of the season. Philip Anderson took top prize using a shaky head jig he caught his limit. On the co-angler's side Chad Schroeder's 3 run and gun bass won hip top honors.
While visiting Wollaston lake in Northern Canada, Jim Sammons, Jeff Goudreau and Ken Whiting paddle, drag and slog their way up the Umpherville River to discover untouched pike, grayling and walleye fishing.
Chad Hoover connects with Steve Alexander of Private Water Fishing, and finds some amazing bass action in one of Private Water Fishing's top spots.
These tips for adjusting your settings and selecting a different modes will help you get the most out of your sonar unit.
Mariko's Manitoba adventure starts with a journey to Budd's Gunisao Lake Lodge and shortly after getting off the plane Mariko and her guide Dusty are already on fish.
To get the most out of your electronics it is a good idea to program your own presets. These tips will help you program the trail presets to update more often to get a more accurate reading.
To get the most out of your electronics you need to know how to understand the different settings. These tips will help you get the most from your flasher while ice fishing.
This is a handy gadget you can rent or own that allows you to scout the bottom of the lake for lost items and bring them back up to the surface.
NMEA 2000 is the networking system that connects all the devices and displays on a boat. Come check out the Maretron WSO100 at the Toronto International Boat Show and see the detailed weather information it can give you using the NMEA 2000 networking system.
An example of how easy it is to create a route using the Garmin GPSMAP 740. Come check it out in person at the Toronto International Boat Show.
A rookie mistake in the tournament world is trying to catch fish with baits that smell and taste like plastic. Using a quality gel scent like this one can mean the difference between losing and a paycheck.
The Alabama rig has become really popular lately, but most people don't realize that striped bass anglers have been using the rig for years before Paul Elias won that FLW tournament but with one important difference.
Jim Sammons targets big roosters with Brian Daily, owner of the luxurious and remote Encanta La Vida lodge on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.
Steve Alexander of Private Water Fishing in Texas 'shocks' one of the trophy bass lakes that he manages, and provides unique insight into how they manage lakes to grow trophy largemouth bass.
When it is cold and wet outside but you can't resist hitting the water learn the best ways to dress to stay warm and dry and enjoy the day on the water.
If you are a fan of walleye fishing then Gunisao Lake is the place to be! The walleye action was so hot Mariko couldn't even have a conversation with being interrupted.
Skipping a swimbait under docks and cover can really pay off when targeting bass.
Chris Coufal embeds a treble hook deep in his hand, which provided Chad Hoover with a great opportunity to demonstrate a fantastic and reliable hook removal technique.
Jim Sammons and Ed Howerton hit Lake El Salto on the hunt for monster largemouth bass.
Randy Blaukat introduces the new Megabass Vision 110 Magnum jerkbait, sharing tips and technique on Beaver Lake, Arkansas following his 4th place finish at the FLW tournament.
With the same strike-inducing profile, transforming lip, one-knocker system, and PopMax-inspired Hydrodynamic gills, the XPOD Jr. packs the punch of the original XPOD into a 3½ inch frame to increase your catch-rate on the water. The XPOD Jr. features seven distinct positions, which allow this versatile topwater plug to walk the dog, chug on the surface, or act as a shallow sub-surface swimbait.
With an ultra-compact design, the V-FLAT Power Bomb packs the extreme castability and big slow-rolling action of much larger, heavy-weight spinnerbaits. Unlike conventional 1/2 oz. spinnerbaits, more of the V-FLAT Power Bomb's total weight is concentrated in the V-FLAT head design. This concentration of weight translates into the kind of larger rolling-action that you are more used to seeing in
Introducing a completely new sensational bottom-tapping crankbait: X-DAD. Often referred to as "Uchida Craw" (Signal Crayfish) by the lure's creator, Yuki Ito, this craw-like suspending crankbait is designed to perform under tough conditions such as shad kills, where water temperatures drop precipitously low and result in massive die-offs and largely inactive bass.
A first-hand account of all the blue-knuckle action and a tribute to a great guy.
I've always said it is better to be "lucky" than "good", which was the case again yesterday afternoon, when my deadstick rod, perched across the top of a pail, with the tip hung over the hole, out-fished me at least two to one!
Lake Okeechobee—Randall Tharp caught a four-day bag of 101-pounds, 12-ounces to win the FLW tournament last week on Lake Okeechobee, testimony to that the big lake is back to historic proportions. Tharp was flippin’ the outside grass mats and mud tussocks with the best action coming in the middle of the day.
The fertile waters of Elk/Beaver Lake make for some of the best big bass water in the entire nation.
In this edition, Jeff tells the tale of the history of the legendary Kamloops Trout.
Quebec Quebec’s West is the Best (Wakefield's Kevin Kyer with a trophy Northern pike) While most angling attention around our Nation’s Capital focuses on the mighty Ottawa River; there are some fantastic angling opportunities available just north in la belle province. No matter what species you prefer to target, you can access a multitude of small lakes and rivers
Sun protection on the water It’s not a secret anymore - the sun’s UV rays can be harmful and for those who spend a lot of time angling – the sun can be deadly. Thankfully, many companies in the fishing industry have created products to help protect anglers from the sun and help you stay on the water longer while being more comfortable.Here are some su
When you're targeting bluegills, yellow perch, black crappies, walleyes, sauger and even whitefish sometimes - always, always, always consider separating your hook from the delivery agent!
Fly-fishing for smallmouth bass can be one of the greatest challenges in freshwater fishing, and can offer some of the greatest rewards.
Changes affecting spotted seatrout include: Redefining the areas where spotted seatrout are managed by splitting the state into four management zones instead of three; The recreational season will be open year-round statewide; Raising the recreational bag limit in Northeast Florida from five to six.
Changes affecting red drum include: The creation of three management zones for red drum instead of one statewide management area. The areas represent the northwest, northeast and southern sections of the state's waters; Increasing from one to two the number of red drum that a recreational fisherman can take per day in the Northeast and Northwest zones; Establishing a statewide vessel limit of eigh
The recreational harvest season for snook reopens Wednesday in Florida's Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. Anglers may keep one snook between 28 and 32 inches in length per day in the allowable harvest areas only.
Good crappie fishing is not an oxymoron in B.C.
If banning the Alabama rig is the solution, what is the problem?
Vaseux Lake is one of the most underrated bass fisheries in the province, and there's a good reason for that.
Right now, the fish have been near St Road 46 at Lee’s crossing, especially near the mouth of the Econolohatchi River (Econ for short) where it empties into the St. Johns River. The areas near the bridge have produced up to two dozen shad per angler, along with good catches of black crappie and even some striped bass. There have also been fish spread out near Mullet Lake.
I'll be guiding this season in the sunny South Okanagan, check out this article to find out more about the great fishing opportunities in the area.
2012 may be The Year of the Dragon in the Chinese calendar, but for bass anglers there is no question it is The Year of the Alabama Rig.
2012 is here and so is a new fishing season! In Eastern Canada, there are three way we can fish- through the ice in rivers or hop on a plan and fly south! In the next few weeks, I will be posting reports from the tribs and from the ice .If you are planning a fishing trip this year make sure to check back as I will be featuring Eastern Canadian fishing lodges ,&
The four day stretch of sailfish action of Florida’s East Coast will be remembered as one of the best stretches of sailfish action on record. Those numbers only reflect the fish caught in two tournaments. Exactly how many fish were caught and released by recreational anglers during the same time period is a number that will remain moot, as one of the best years of sailfish action off Florida goes
Since Florida is a large peninsular state running north and south, real winter is something a portion of northern Floridians experience in fractions. And though it’s nothing like winter in say, New Hampshire, the grass does turn brown and the ocean and Gulf temperatures drop below the acceptable heiney immersion rates.
One of the things I emphasize at my ice fishing seminars is the importance of running and gunning on the ice in the winter time.
Jeff Weltz drops some knowledge on steelhead flies, talking about some of the classic patterns that take these majestic fish.
In need of a good laugh?
While most Canadian sportfish slow down once the water gets cold, whitefish become more active than any other time of year.
This week Jeff offers us the greatest gift a fisherman can get, more time to go fishing!
Let's face it, most folks have never caught a ten-pound walleye, the size generally regarded in Walleyedom as the Holy Grail. Indeed, I know many highly-skilled, fulltime, FLW touring walleye pros who have never caught a double digit 'eye.
The clear waters of Salt Spring Island's St. Mary Lake harbour some of the best smallmouth action in Western Canada.
It's no secret that fishing and country music have a long-standing relationship, here's my top 20 country music fishing lyrics.
There's no bait that's accounted for more 10+ pound bass in the last ten years than swimbaits, and they catch the big ones here in Canada too.
Starting tomorrow, December 15, the recreational harvest of snook in Florida will close in all Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. Snook season will reopen in Atlantic state and federal waters on February 1, 2012.
Ice is finally starting to cover our lakes up here in Northwestern Ontario, but open water conditions still prevail in southern Ontario, especially in and around the Great Lakes. Combine that with an extended muskie season in many parts of the country, and anglers have one last chance to catch the fish of a lifetime.
Duck Lake near Creston, BC is a shallow, weedy largemouth paradise where big fish rumours and topwater action abound.
Kokanee salmon are one of the best eating fish there is, here's all you need to know to target them for yourself.
In this edition, Jeff recommends some of the greatest Western Canadian angling books of all-time for your Christmas list.
Now, there is nothing to stop everyday, from being a good hair day.
Offshore—The late season dolphin bite has been very consistent throughout the Florida Keys, with most of the fish being caught under 20-pounds, although there seem to be schoolies everywhere, although the most consistent action has been in 300 to 500 feet of water. Sailfish action has been very inconsistent, with most boats only getting one or two shots at the fish each day, and a lot of those opp
This is my gift to our readers, a written hint about items I own that have not only been a big hit present wise, but also have enhanced my outdoor experience. These are three items I wouldn’t want to live without, and whether you fish freshwater, inshore or offshore saltwater, you don’t want to either.
South of Nanaimo lies a strange-shaped, algae-filled, tannin-coloured bass lake that may just be the best smallmouth sanctuary in the west, if you don't mind treating them like largemouth.
In this edition of "Pros Weigh In" we get tips on finding steelhead from a tournament winning angler, and a Canadian fishing legend.
In this article I really break down fishing for winter smallies, covering everything from different techniques to finding fish to keeping warm while you're doing it.
The northernmost stretch of the Pend Oreille River, Seven Mile Dam, offers some of the best smallmouth water in the west.
Smallmouth expert Chad Keogh gives up all the details from a recent successful outing.
Changes are implemented starting February 1, 2012 and include removing the recreational seasonal closures, effectively opening seatrout to harvest year-round.
In this week's column, Jeff talks about some of the mystique behind the popular sportfish known as "the steelhead."
Russ Lane is a professional bass angler from Alabama with some great insights on how jigging can be like playing a video game.
The Fraser Valley Salmon Society's used tackle sale highlights November's events and may be your best chance to pick up quality gear at a bargain price.
Bass Pro Shops' "The Strike: Tournament Edition" is the best fishing video game you've never played yet.
After a two month season, the 2011 open recreational harvest season for gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico state waters (excluding Monroe County) will close Wednesday, Nov.16. The final day of harvesting is Tuesday, Nov. 15.
In this edition, we hear from Elite series pro Clark Reehm and Canadian fishing legend Big Jim McLaughlin as they offer their expertise on targeting bass with spoons.