Bass

Yep, it's finally over! What you ask? Well, the raging (not really) debate over whether to use braid or fluorocarbon when swimming jigs, pitching grass, etc.

Sure, in certain situations, like punching dense vegetation with a super-heavy weight with a soft plastic you need to use braid, it's a no-brainer. But I'm talking about more of that semi-open water deal. Like fishing big beds of milfoil that exist in so many lakes and reservoirs throughout the country.

Casting the lure towards the vast green mat of milfoil, I cranked slowly on the handle of the baitcast reel, tensing instinctively. Somehow I just knew a strike was coming. Seconds later the mat of milfoil literally exploded as a seven pound largemouth nailed the soft lure shimmying in a v-wake across the surface.

It's getting to be that time of the year, late summer. Yep, talk of football and Mark Zona's beloved Chicago Bears predicted to be the worst team in the NFL this season. This according to USA Today.

Arizona fishing pro Josh Bertrand is never happier than when he’s staring at his graph, working a dropshot rig in water at least as deep as his Nitro boat is long. In a perfect world, he’d be looking at ‘em in 40, 50 or even 60 feet of water, because that’s when many of his peers start to get a little nervous and think about giving up. There can’t possibly be a bass that deep, can there?

Bass busters throughout the land love the springtime bite. When bass start getting active. Pursuing eats and getting ready to reproduce. Great fun is had by most anglers in the spring.

In my career as an outdoor journalist I’ve interviewed hundreds of professional anglers about dozens of subjects.  When the conversation turns to soft plastics, one topic consistently arises: color.

Have you ever asked the question, "How do I choose the right bass rod?" The simplest way to select a bass fishing rod is to match the rod's action with bait-specific techniques.

Timmy Horton hit the pro-bass scene with a bang back in 2000. The NITRO/Mercury pro took home the Angler of the Year title in his rookie campaign. Since then, Horton has been one of the top anglers fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, earned four Bassmaster victories and hosts Timmy Horton Outdoors.

1. A fishing trick to use in stained or muddy water or at night when bass can’t see as well is to use big

Call it “Survivor: Smallmouth Style.”