Month: March 2019

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Collegiate Bass Fishing

Since I have been in high school I always knew I wanted to fish college bass tournaments. I have been competitively bass fishing since I was in middle school; I am currently the vice president of the UWW Bass Fishing Team. Bass fishing has always been a passion of mine. Competitive bass fishing is now one of the fastest growing club sports in college to this day. I have been lucky enough to fish bass tournament throughout my whole college experience along with qualifying for nationals my sophomore year. Fishing tournaments at the collegiate level takes persistence and skill.

When you fish competitively at the collegiate level you are going against anglers that know what they’re doing. If you’re considering fishing at the collegiate level it’s important to keep your bass fishing skills sharp. When it comes to fishing you are constantly learning, one is always a student of the game. When it comes to bass fishing, there is constant change taking place all the time. Adapting to fish behavior is a major component when it comes to competitive bass fishing.

Collegiate bass tournaments are run similar to the pro series bass tournaments, I will explain. The rules are as follows; typically you have a size limit to the bass that count ranging from 12-16″ depending on the lake. Bass species from largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted are all legal for weigh-ins. Normal tournaments are typically seven to eight hours long. Collegiate bass tournaments require artificial lures only, no live bait allowed. To win a collegiate bass tournament, you want the heaviest weight of five basses combined. These are just a few of the main rules and regulations of collegiate bass fishing. If you are thinking about getting serious with collegiate bass fishing, review the rules and regulations beforehand. Unfortunately, I have had to learn the hard way a few times while tournament fishing.

One of my favorite aspects of fishing at the collegiate level is the ability to utilize my skills and passion in a competitive manner. I tend to have a competitive nature that likes to compete with others at things I enjoy. Competitive bass fishing has been around since the 19th century and is expected to continue growing in years to come. I would highly recommend collegiate bass fishing to any high school graduate thinking about taking their bass fishing skills to the next level. You can learn some incredible things along with brushing up your skills alongside a variety of anglers. Collegiate bass fishing is a major highlight to my college experience I believe other young anglers should experience for themselves.

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Casting Brown Trout

Brown Trout Basics

Brown trout fishing has always been one of my favorite fish to target while casting. Brown trout have a reputation of being a difficult fish to catch but can also be the most rewarding. When targeting brown trout it’s important to keep in mind that these fish rely heavily on sight and smell. When fishing for any trout species downsizing tackle and lure presentations can make a huge difference. Trout can be extremely finicky to bite; therefore finesse fishing can be key to efficiently catching these specimens.

Crank baits

When it comes to catching these fish during the open water season, presentations may vary slightly. Brown trout can be an aggressive species that being said don’t shy away from larger lures. Once the ice melts, trout are on the prowl to stock back up for the summer months. Look to catch trout in local harbors early spring. One of my favorite ways to catch these fish casting is with flicker shad crank bait. This tight wobbling crank bait tends to drive the fish crazy and trout seem to crush them. I like to cast my crank baits on 14LB braid connected to 10LB fluorocarbon leader. Braid allows me to get my bait down to the fish and in the strike zone longer. I like to fish my crank baits with a slow retrieve close to the bottom. When fishing a crank bait its important to change up the retrieve by creating a “different” action to the bait.

Jigs

Another one of my favorite options for targeting open water trout is jigging. Jigging has proven to be one of the most effective techniques for consistently catching big browns. A jig acts as an extremely versatile tool during all seasons of the year, especially open water. I like to rig up a half ounce darter head lead jig tipped with a Berkley four inch pearl white gulp minnow. Trout fine the tantalizing action of this plastic to be irresistible most of the time. I will fish this bait on a similar rig as my crank baits, 14LB braid to a 10LB fluorocarbon leader. It’s also critical to use a long rod with a soft tip that can absorb the head shakes of these fish. Always remember proper fish handling skills when fishing brown trout.

 

 

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Spring Fishing Preparations

As the days start to get longer and the weather slowly starts to worm during late March and into April, it’s time to start preparing for the open water season. There is always that exciting feeling to get back on the boat and start casting again. Ever since I can remember I’ve always counted down the days to get back on the open water and catch fish. Around mid-April is usually the time when I get my boat out of storage and ready to go for the spring season. Being a competitive bass angler and fishing guide its critical to have my boat prepared and ready to go for the next outing. This is the time of year to start gearing up all of the open water rods along with replacing old line onto my spools.

Generally, I will spend a day fine-tuning all of my equipment and changing out reels to rods. A wise man once said the key to success is when preparation meets opportunity. I like to have all of my open water equipment rigged and ready to go a few weeks in advance to stay ahead of the game. Another important factor to consider when preparing for the open water season is tackle. Tackle is potentially the most important factor to fishing. It’s key to keep your tackle organized and sharp before hitting the water. After keeping tackle stored all winter in boxes and storage areas it’s not a bad idea to clean and throw out the old and in with the new. I like to separate my tackle boxes depending on both the style of bait and species of fish that I am after. One thing I will do is use tape to identify which box is for what. This allows me to quickly grab the box I need when I’m on the water and in a crunch for time.

It’s never a bad idea to look over your reels after a long winter as well. Dust and other particles tend to build up inside of the reels during the winter months affecting the potential of the reel. I like to oil my reel gears and clean the interior before spring use. Last but not least make sure you have the proper clothing for springtime fishing. As we all know spring fishing can present some unpredictable weather changes from rain to snow. I like to carry a rain jacket with me along with a pair of waterproof shoes just to be safe. Spring can present some of the best fishing opportunities of the year, being prepared can make all of the difference in the world when you make that first cast.

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Winter Lure Selections

Lure Basics

When it comes to ice fishing there are many different lures and rigs to choose from. Ice fishing presents opportunities in which a wide variety of lures can be utilized. Depending on the species of fish you after the type of lure you use may vary. Today there are thousands of options when it comes to fishing lures. There are baits from jigs, blade baits, crankbaits, spoons, etc to choose from. A lot of what determines the bait to use depends on what time of year it is. During the cold weather months from late fall to ice up fish become sluggish and unwilling to chase baits due to the colder water temps. Of course, all fish species are different during cold water temps, for example, a trout. Trout are a cold water fish therefor they become more aggressive during the cold water months. Fish like bass and bluegill prefer warmer water temperatures so they will be less likely to hit a fast-moving lure come winter.  Some of my favorite lure options for the cold water months consists of the following:

Blade Baits

Blade baits offer a quick yet slow-moving presentation to cold water fish depending on how you fish it. With a blade bait, you can catch multipe species of freshwater fish from brown trout to crappies. this diverse bait also allows you the option to fish in deep water. these baits are usually dense and have a fast sink rate to trigger sluggish fish into biting. Blade baits also offer a strong vibration in the water that seems to drive fish crazy especially in cold water. I like to fish this lure on 14LB braid connected to about three foot of 10LB fluorocarbon leader.

Spoons

Spoons are one of the most utilized baits during the cold water period and continue to catch fish in most cases. Spoons can be highly effective when the water gets cool due to its flash and subtle wiggle.  Spoons present an opportunity for cold water fish that is hard to resist. I like to fish a spoon on a medium action rod rigged with 14LB Berkly Nanofill braid connected to a two-way swivel leading to a 10LB leader. This set up allows me to fish the blade bait smoothy while the lighter line keeps my bait deeper and in the strike zone for a longer period of time.

Jigs

Finesse jigs are potentially the most popular jigs to use during the cold water months. Easy to use and consistent, jigs seem to catch fish in most situations. Jigs can be used from as small as a pencil eraser to as big as a foot depending on what your fishing for. A jig is also an extremely versatile lure and can be used during warm water temps as well for bass, trout etc. When it comes to ice fishing for panfish, jigs must be the most productive lure to use. I like to use 2LB line tied directly to a small tungsten jig tipped with a spike for winter panfish.

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Ice Fishing Late Season Panfish

When it comes to late season pan fish there are three key concepts to keep in mind, Location, location, location. Pan fish during the late winter ice months can be stacked up in large numbers in many northern lakes. It pays to put in the time to look for these fish during the late seasons. It’s not uncommon to pull up to a lake and see many people congregated into one area in pursuit of pan fish. You can expect to find a variety of bluegills, crappies and, sunfish stacked up in weedy flats of bays or in deeper water holes this time of year. Its important to ice fish with a flasher system this time of year to help coax picky fish into biting. A fish locator is critical when ice fishing, I rarely ice fish without one today. My typical set up when targeting late winter pan fish consist of a small arctic ice rod with as extremely soft tip for these light biters. Pan fish tend to bite extremely soft so its important to have a rod that can detect those subtle bites. When it comes to jigs and bait I prefer to use a tiny tungsten jig tipped with a spike. When it comes to bait there are many of different options to choose from. When pan fish are active you can catch them on most smaller sized baits you drop down to them. Other effective baits I have used in the past consist of small plastic imitating small invertebrates and worms. Pan fish this time of year will feed on freshwater plankton and insects. Matching the hatch is always an important element to remember when fishing. Late season pan fishing can offer some of the fastest action ice fishing you can experience. This is a good opportunity to introduce newcomers to the sport due to the easy going nature of catching pan fish through the ice. It is not uncommon to catch fifty to sixty fish a day on a good day when pan fish are cooperating. Not to mention the excellent table fair that pan fish offer, a dozen nice sized gills and crappie can make for a tremendous lunch for friends and family.

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Spring Fishing Tips

Typically around the end of March to April time frame, local lakes here in southern Wisconsin start to thaw out. As water temperatures slowly start to heat up the ice leaves the lakes, fish start there spring spawning patterns. This time of year you can expect to find fish returning to there nearby bays and flats that they have been spawning in for as long as they have been alive. Most fish this time of year are fairly dormant and inactive for the most part. It’s important to remember that fish this time of year require patience and some technique to catch due to cold water temps. Most fish in a small lake will congregate in similar areas to start their spawning rituals. Most fish like to locate shallow warm bays and muddy flats. When it comes to spawning fish you need to make sure it is the season before targeting that specific fish. Panfish are available to catch year round, unlike bass, walleye, pike, and musky. Be sure to check your local fishing regulations to get an accurate confirmation on fish seasons near you. Shortly after the water temperatures have warmed up you can look to find most bass and panfish species shallow. Bass will look for weedy soft bottoms where they can drop their eggs. Fish this time of year can be fickle when it comes to locating the correct spawning grounds. It is also important to consider the predators and competition aspects that fish go through during this period. Bigger fish such as northern pike and musky spawn before the panfish and bass. Northern pike will spawn before a musky, its common for water that contains both musky and pike for the first hatched pike to eat the musky fry. Always keep in mind fish spawning patterns and their usual sping movements in order to catch them this time of year. If you’re not familiar with a new body of water in search for spring fish. Always start by scouting shallow, weedy soft-bottomed bays or marinas to find a variety of panfish and bass. Always remember safe fish handling and selective harvest once the season opens in your neck of the woods.