Fishing Guides & Tips

Gear

Electronics and Fish Finders for Bass: What to Watch on the Screen

Learn what to watch on a fish finder for bass, including 2D sonar, side imaging, forward-facing sonar, key settings, and how to read fish and cover.

Gear

Reel Gear Ratios for Bass Fishing: When to Use 6:1 vs 8:1

The morning after a cold front hits, a lot of guys blame the fish for being finicky. And sure, bass get lockjaw sometimes. But more often than not, it ain’t…

Gear

Bass Fishing Rod Power and Action: What the Numbers Actually Mean

Understand bass fishing rod power and action, what the ratings mean, and how to match medium, medium-heavy, fast, and moderate rods to each technique.

Gear

Fluorocarbon vs Braid vs Monofilament: Which Line for Bass Fishing

Walk around any tackle shop, or scroll through fishing forums, and you'll find endless debates about which crankbait color is best, or what rod action you…

Seasonal

Fall Transition Bass Fishing: The Best Month of the Year

Most folks spend the summer trying to beat the heat, hoping for a decent bite in that low-oxygen deep water, or just praying for a cloud cover. Don't get me…

Seasonal

Deep Summer Ledge Fishing: Where the Bass Go When It Gets Hot

The dog days of summer hit different around here. When that August sun beats down on Pickwick, and the surface water starts pushing ninety degrees, most…

Seasonal

Early Spring Bass: Warming Water Triggers Before the Spawn

The first few truly warm days of late winter feel like a jolt, don't they? One morning it’s frosted windshields, the next you're running the boat with your…

Seasonal

Post-Spawn Bass: The Toughest Month Explained

The first month after the bass have spawned is, in my book, the toughest stretch of the year. You can talk about a bluebird day after a strong cold front in…

Conditions

Wind and Bass Fishing: When Whitecaps Work in Your Favor

The morning the whitecaps start rolling across the main lake can be one of the most frustrating days on the water for a lot of guys. They’ll either head for…

Conditions

Dirty Water Bass Fishing: Adapting to Mud and Stain

The morning after a big rain in west Tennessee often means two things: a cup of strong coffee at the Waffle House in Iuka and a whole lot of dirty water out…

Conditions

Low Water and Drought Conditions: Bass Fishing When Levels Drop

Find bass during low water and drought by tracking falling-lake movement, targeting remaining cover, and adjusting lures, line, and presentation.

Conditions

High Sun, Midday Bass: How to Catch When It Seems Impossible

High sun doesn't end the bass bite—it concentrates fish in shade, current, and deep structure. How to find and catch those fish through the afternoon.

Conditions

Bass Fishing in the Rain: Before, During, and After

The morning after a good soaking on Pickwick is one of my favorite times to be on the water. Most folks see rain as a reason to stay home, but a storm…

Technique

Small Water Bass: Farm Ponds, Oxbows, and Strip Pits

Some of the best bass fishing I've ever had wasn't on sprawling TVA impoundments or famous tournament lakes. Nope, it was tucked away in some forgotten farm…

Technique

Bass Fishing in Moving Water: Rivers, Creeks, and Tailwaters

The Mississippi River runs deep in the bones of west Tennessee. For a bass fisherman, it means dealing with current. Not just the river itself, but every…

Technique

Underspun Swimbait Jig: The Finesse Alternative to Alabama Rig

The morning after an Alabama Rig bite has completely fallen apart is always interesting. You see guys out there, still dragging that thing around, trying to…

Technique

Neko Rig Fishing: The Japanese Trick That Catches Pressured Bass

The morning after a big tournament on Pickwick is usually a ghost town. Everybody’s either slept in or they’ve gone somewhere else to find less pressured…

Technique

Tube Jig Bass Fishing: Smallmouth and Spotted Bass Staple

You hear a lot of talk these days about the latest, greatest lure. Every year some new plastic or hard bait comes out, and for a few months, it's all…

Technique

Big Worm Fishing: 10-Inch Worms and When They Win

The first thing most folks learn about bass fishing is that matching the hatch is key. You throw a little finesse worm when they’re finicky, a squarebill…

Technique

Buzzbait Fishing: Surface Bass on the Retrieve

There are certain baits you throw because you know they're going to get bites. Then there are baits you throw because you know they're going to get the…

Technique

Square Bill Crankbait Fishing: Shallow Cover Destruction

A lot of guys, when they pull up to a bank lined with laydowns, stumps, or some thick brush, they’ll grab a jig or a Texas rig. And sure, those baits catch…

Technique

Spinnerbait Fishing: How to Choose Blade Count, Color, and Speed

Choose the right spinnerbait blade count, color, and retrieve speed for water clarity, depth, and bass activity, including when to slow-roll the bait.

Technique

Shakey Head Jig: Finesse Bass Fishing Made Simple

The morning you realize every bass in the lake has suddenly become a genius is usually when the shakey head jig earns its keep. You’ve probably been there.…

Technique

Tokyo Rig Setup: Why It's Replacing the Texas Rig

Learn the Tokyo rig setup for bass, including hook, wire, and weight choices, why the bait stays elevated, and when it beats a traditional Texas rig.