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Vary Your Spinnerbait Retrieve for More Bass

May 11, 2022May 12, 2022 PracticalAngler No Comments

Thinking back to the days when I saw my first spinnerbait, I remember a lure with blades just like an in-line spinner but configured in a way to make it weedless.

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My first reaction?

What an odd looking contraption…

I definitely had my doubts it would catch anything much less bass. After a little more research, I finally broke down, bought a couple and even caught a few bass on one my first time trying it. I was hooked for life 🙂

Initially I saw the spinnerbait as a lure that could be fished like an in-line spinner with a basic cast and retrieve approach. Little did I realize

Sun Low, Think Top, Sun High, Think Bottom

May 7, 2022May 12, 2022 PracticalAngler No Comments

As we ease from spring and into summer, my approach to presentations takes on a timing pattern throughout the day based on the phrase…

Sun Low, Think Top, Sun High, Think Bottom

One thing to keep in mind…

Depth control matters relative to the time of the day…

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Before I set out on an early morning trip to one of my favorite waters, I rig several rods with a variety of lures allowing me to

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Ten Tips To Become a Better Bank Angler

March 2, 2022March 4, 2022 PracticalAngler No Comments

Whether you are a dedicated bank angler or a boat owner that hits the bank a few times a season, there are a number of things you can do to up your bank fishing success.

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Here are ten tips to help you become a better bank angler:

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When Weedbeds + Baitfish = Ambushing Bass

February 28, 2022March 3, 2022 PracticalAngler No Comments

Actually this is a little bass fishing secret I employ in ponds and reservoirs with populations of schooling baitfish like shad (Southeastern & Western U.S.) or alewives (Eastern U.S.).

As either spring ramps up and summer starts to wind-down, schooling baitfish start to congregate in the main lake area and bass often do as well. The reason the bass are there? …

bass from submerged weeds

The presence of all that food…

Not to mention, to take advantage of ambush situations where

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Tube Baits: A Bass Fishing Lure For All Seasons

February 27, 2022March 3, 2022 PracticalAngler 1 Comment

One of the most productive lures used for bass fishing in all seasons are tube lures.

They work great and they are so easy to use that even a beginner can use them successfully.

practical tube fishing

One of the best things about using tubes is the fact they are so versatile. If you love to fish off of docks and banks or go out in a boat it doesn’t matter.

Why you ask?

Basically because you can use these fantastic “bass catching lures” anywhere.

This type of lure works so great they are sometimes referred to as one of the prime “killer bass fishing lures”.

Once you learn the different ways tube lures can be fished, you will be

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Important Knots For Bass Anglers

February 26, 2022March 3, 2022 PracticalAngler 1 Comment

Ever Feel Like You’re Missing That Special Fishing Knot?

How many times have you been out on a bass fishing trip facing a specific situation where a certain knot is required but couldn’t remember how to tie it?

I’m sure it has happened to each of us at some point and what happens?

We end up either running around asking everyone else how to tie the knot or improvise using a knot that is less than an ideal solution.

Even if you’ve been lucky enough to get your hands on a credit card size knot guide for your wallet, sometimes the little diagrams just don’t cut it!

fishing knots

Obviously the best way to avoid this situation is to re-learn how to

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Rapid Spring Warm-ups and Tough Bites

February 24, 2022March 3, 2022 PracticalAngler No Comments

For most bass anglers, warming trends in the spring provides much needed relief and even flat-out excitement after tough fishing conditions during the long winter months.

As the slow warming conditions of spring start to rev-up the bass’ metabolism, they typically start making their way to shallow water cover and structures and put on the feed bag. When the bass start the spring chomp, most of us start probing transition areas and the shallows with a variety of horizontal baits like lipless cranks, jerkbaits, square bills, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits. As long as the water temp increase remain steady, so does the springtime feeding ritual as the bass getting ready for the spawn.

We anglers get even more excited when Mother Nature really turns up the thermostat thinking the bass feed will go into hyper-drive. Trouble is the ultra rapid warm-up often triggers just the opposite and the bass bite almost comes to a screeching halt.

Tokyo rig for spring bass

When the bite turns tough,

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