Catchin' Fish Every Week!

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Fall Bass Fishing in Illinois | Fat Largemouth in a Jon Boat

Fall Bass Fishing in Illinois can be off the charts fun. Fat largemouth bass are cruising, and even though they might be a bit lethargic... they know that it's time to feed heavily to prepare for the cold, cold Midwest winter. This is my least favorite time of the year... but leading UP to this time... it can be lights out. On this morning I took the jon boat out to a lake not far from my house and worked the shoreline for about 3 hours total. It was close to November but still October, I think. While I did catch 4 or 5 largemouth bass total... it was a slow morning. Crankbaits that had worked previously came up short. Topwater was not happening. Even larger worms rigged wacky were not getting the attention they usually did... but then I downsized and started working a simple 5" jigworm tied straight to my mainline. This bruiser made the morning, and after a quick net + photo, she was released back to the depths to fight another day. It's freezing as I write this, and I can't wait for the snow and ice that covers the lakes to thaw so we can get back to work... This too shall pass. | https://TheMinimalistFisherman.com

2 years ago 100 views 6 comments

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Catching a Pack of Smallmouth Bass Under our Boat (Awesome Wisconsin Fishing!)

Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Minocqua Wisconsin. Dang! It don't get much better than that! This smallmouth fishing tip (the trailing "bonus leech" under a bobber) is a nifty little trick that will put more fish in your boat... or livewell... and Wisconsin fishing with family? EVEN BETTER! On this morning my Dad and I had started bright and early throwing leeches on hair jigs. We also wanted to use a trick that a guide had shown us a few days earlier and put a third rod out with a slip bobber and a simple ballhead jig (with a leech on that as well) trailing far behind the boat. We would just pick it up if we saw the bobber drop, and the hope was that we might snag a "bonus" walleye or two for dinner. We worked our jigs all through some thick weeds anywhere from 8 to 15 feet deep, not really seeing a definitive edge, with the wind constantly pushing us here and there. It was a comfortable, cool breeze. Crisp. We soon found ourselves floating over a big sandy flat that came up shallow. The water was crystal clear, and we could pick out several sunken logs scattered throughout the sparse vegetation below. Then all of the sudden we noticed that a HUGE ball of tiny baitfish that had moved into the shadow of our boat... and a sizable group of smallmouth was following right behind 'em. They acted like sharks. As you can see when I noticed them I became silent, dropped my jig in the mass of bait, and almost instantly got bit by one of the SMALLER fish. A much larger smallmouth tried to take the jig from the fish I was fighting, and Dad tossed his jig in to try to get her attention as well, but no luck - and then to make matters worse, my small bass popped free and my leech fell off the jig during the fight. CRAP! I remembered the bobber floating behind the boat and reeled it in as fast as I could so the "bonus" leech would float right through the ball of bait... and fortunately this gal decided to inspect it... and inspect it... and inspect it again... until finally, she couldn't take it and pulled the bobber under. Tons of fun on the Manitowish Chain o Lakes. | https://theminimalistfisherman.com/

2 years ago 198 views 2 comments

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Minocqua Wisconsin Leech Walleye Fishing

Minocqua Wisconsin is a beautiful place to fish for walleye! Walleye are some of the best fighting - and best tasting - fish that you'll find anywhere you fish for things that swim. This walleye fishing tip is a nifty little trick that will put more fish in your boat... or livewell... and Wisconsin fishing with family? EVEN BETTER! On this afternoon we were simply floating leeches on jigs, suspended beneath slip bobbers to pick up a few extra fish. Pike, walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass - tons of fun on the Manitowish Chain o Lakes. | https://TheMinimalistFisherman.com

2 years ago 147 views

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Minocqua Wisconsin Leech Pike

Northern Wisconsin is a beautiful place to fish for pike! Northern pike are some of the best fighting - and best tasting - fish that you'll find anywhere you fish for things that swim. This pike fishing tip is a nifty little trick that will put more fish in your boat... or livewell... and Wisconsin fishing with family? EVEN BETTER! On this afternoon we were simply floating leeches on jigs, suspended beneath slip bobbers to pick up a few extra fish. Walleye, smallmouth bass, rock bass - and yes, even this pike that my son had a ton of fun catching. | https://TheMinimalistFisherman.com

2 years ago 37 views