TOP LURES FOR THE EARLY FALL TRANSITION

SEARCHBAIT STRATEGIES FOR DRASTIC CHANGES

What to throw for both species of bass while the atmosphere and all things underwater go seasonal changes.

FISHING ALGAE BLOOM LAKES

TROPHY LARGEMOUTHS FROM GREEN WATER

Green water shortcuts to finding and catching trophy bass. Algae bloom waters are my destination for big late summer largemouths.

SMALLMOUTH GRIND-OUTS

CRANKBAIT AND CHATTERBAIT PROGRAMS

Smallmouths on a tough summer bite - Triggering strikes with crankbaits and chatterbaits when nothing else goes.

DARK WATER SMALLMOUTHS

LEARNING THE DARK WATER SECRETS

Dark water lakes are the few remaining untapped Northwoods smallmouth fisheries. Giants thrive and hide in concealment beneath the surface, and few anglers are fishing for them.

INSIDE EDGE LARGEMOUTHS

PITCHING, FLIPPING, AND FROGGING FOR DOG DAYS GIANTS

Largemouths love edges, and the most desirable fish I catch during the dog days are at the inside edge.

FINDING RIP RAP ON FLOWAGES

CATCH GUARANTEED SMALLMOUTHS

With the local flowages down several feet, use this current drought and low water year as an opportunity to find future hot spots for when they're at full pool again.

NORTHERN WATER SNAKE PATTERNS

OVERLOOKED ON LARGEMOUTHS

As part of the lake's food chain to largemouth bass, the northern water snake are favorites of trophy largemouths.

FISH CATCHERS

BAITS THAT CONTINUE TO CATCH SMALLMOUTHS

Lures that keep catching smallmouths despite fishing pressure and lure conditioning negatively impacting them.

TOKYO RIGS FOR DEEP EDGE LARGEMOUTHS

TOKYO RIG INSIGHTS

No other soft bait rigging method catches more largemouths in July than a tokyo rig does.

BIG BASS. BACKWOODS LAKES

OFF THE GRID TROPHIES

Finding fisheries and tapping into trophies off the grid. What it’s like to fish extremely remote places anglers rarely pass through.

THE BEST LURES FOR SMALLMOUTHS DURING THE MAYFLY HATCH

FOR SURFACE AND SUB-SURFACE SMALLMOUTHS

Once you've recognized a hatch occurred overnight, you'll want to consider each of these ideas and lure options for the next early morning.

EDGE FISHING LARGEMOUTHS

FISHING THE LAKE'S LITTORAL ZONE

In July and August, edges are the epicenter of the fishery.

THE TOKYO RIG MASTER CLASS

FEATURING THE Z-MAN GREMLIN

How to effectively fish the Tokyo Rig in heavy weed cover for summertime largemouths.

TOP LURES AND TACTICS FOR EARLY SUMMER LARGEMOUTHS

BAITS TO THROW IN JUNE

From simple fish catchers to trophy largemouth tools.

THE BEST CHATTERBAIT TRAILERS

A LOOK AT TRAILER TYPES AND OPTIONS

Understanding the role of jig trailers and how they will influence all lure action and catch rates.

2026 FISHING ITINERARY

YOUR NORTHWOODS FISHING TRIP PLANNER

Plan your 2026 fishing trips based on this itinerary and outlook for each month.

THE BEST SPOTS YOU CAN FIND WITH SATELLITE IMAGERY

A HOW-TO WITH GOOGLE EARTH

How using Google Earth will help you find hundreds of new fishing spots.

THREATS TO NORTHERN SMALLMOUTH FISHERIES

(AND WHY ARE BIG SMALLMOUTHS BECOMING HARDER TO CATCH?)

An uncensored take on modern angling practices, fishing pressure, fisheries exploitation, less big fish to catch, lake management, and depleting resources.

FINDING TROPHY BASS LAKES

FINDING BIG FISH LAKES AND NEW FISHERIES

In an age of instant information at our fingertips, finding trophy fisheries demands deep research and time on the water.

THE BEST LAKE TYPES TO FISH BY SEASON

A MASTERCLASS ON LAKE SELECTION

The where's, when's, and why's behind my lake selection according to the season calendar.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WOOD TO SMALLMOUTHS

SEVERAL NORTHWOODS LAKES DEPEND ON WOOD HABITAT

Wood is important for lake life and smallmouth survival.

RIVER PATTERNS, SPRING THRU FALL

RIVER SMALLMOUTHS BY SEASON

Finding and catching smallmouths is dependent on their migrations.

CATCH SMALLMOUTHS QUICKLY

TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS ON SMALLMOUTHS

Strategies with search baits for a quick and efficient coverage of old and new water.

THE BEST Z-MAN COLORS FOR NORTHWOODS LAKES

TOP COLORS FOR SPECIES AND LAKE TYPES

Examining and opining on Z-Man’s ElaZtech colorways, and choosing the proper lure color for the fishery.

SMALLMOUTHS ON POINT

SHORTCUTS TO IMMEDIATE SUCCESS

Identifying the most obvious lake locations and fishing them for the most immediate success.

FLOODED OUT LARGEMOUTH

HIGH WATER FISHING

Examining drought and high water periods of northern Wisconsin lakes, and how largemouth bass benefit from high water periods and flooded cover.

BASS FUNNELS

THESE AREAS CONCENTRATE BASS

Look for compression areas on waters near you, where vulnerable largemouths lay in wait.

NORTHWOODS FINESSE

NEW AGE STRATEGY FOR PRESSURED SMALLMOUTHS

Trophy smallmouths aren’t biting like they once used to. Countering conditioning and fishing under pressure.

HUMP JUMPING BASS

LOCATING AND FINDING HIDDEN HUMPS

Few mid-lake structures hold larger, unexploited bass. Finding uncharted humps that haven’t yet been discovered can be bass nirvana.

LARGEMOUTH BASS AND BLUEGILL CONNECTIONS

THE BLUEGILL PATTERN

Understanding the predator and prey relationship of largemouth bass and bluegills, and making the connection to summertime fishing success.

RIVER MONSTERS

RIVER SMALLMOUTHS UP NORTH

Being on the right river, in the right place, at the right time, and fishing with the right strategies are necessary for catching river monsters.

KAYAK COMBAT SMALLMOUTHS

NORTHWOODS KAYAK FISHING

Enjoy fishing access to anywhere and anytime, with a kayak and some manpower. Battling with smallmouths on a level playing field, up close and personal.

TIPS FOR BIGGER SUMMER LARGEMOUTHS

SUMMER TROPHY HUNTING STRATEGIES

Insights and pro-tips for catching bigger largemouths this summer.

FAVORITE PLANT SPECIES

BETTER UNDERSTANDING AQUATIC VEGETATION

A showcase of common aquatic plant species I fish, and how they’ll hold my gamefish.

RIP RAP SMALLMOUTHS

FLOWAGE FISHING SMALLMOUTHS

Southern reservoir strategies meet northern impoundment smallmouth fisheries.

READING THE RIVER

CAPITALIZING ON CURRENT

Learning to read the river, and figuring out how its water levels and current flow impact fish, will dictate your smallmouth fishing success throughout the year.

SMALLMOUTH AUDIBLES

PLAN-A AND PLAN-B OPTIONS

Are smallmouths biting and behaving differently than what you planned for? When to call an audible on specific smallmouth fishing plays.

MY MONTHLY SMALLMOUTH PLANNER

CATCH SMALLMOUTHS ANYWHERE

Catching smallmouths spring, summer, and fall. My seasonal planner for catching smallmouths anywhere, anytime.

COLD FRONTS AND HOW THEY SHOULD IMPACT ALL DECISION MAKING

THE BEFORE AND AFTERS

Pre frontal vs. Post frontal - The effects of cold fronts and how to adjust our fishing in response to them.

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NORTHERN WISCONSIN BASS FISHING GUIDE SERVICE

Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures, LLC is Wisconsin's top trophy producing bass fishing guide service and bass fishing online informational resource. Located in Minocqua, Wisconsin, Andrew Ragas fishes the waters of Vilas, Oneida, Iron and Forest Counties exclusively for trophy bass, and looks forward to hosting you.

Get the Fishing Education of a Lifetime!

Big fish are our obsession. The waters surrounding the Minocqua lakeland region teem with world class bass fishing. The mission of this specialty guide service is to provide guided fishing trips and membership-based online fishing instruction with the objectives of educating & instructing how to catch big fish. For the last two decades, your host Andrew Ragas, has dedicated himself and invested thousands of hours to the pursuit of trophy smallmouth bass.

FISHING WISCONSIN'S INLAND WATERS

Our region of northern Wisconsin encompasses Iron, Vilas, Oneida and Forest Counties. This 4 county region is the Northwoods Bass fishing jurisdiction, and we have no need to ever travel elsewhere. There are hundreds of thousands of different lakes to pick and choose from on a daily basis.

EXPERIENCE THE BEST WISCONSIN FISHING


Bass are America's favorite sport fish. Every season, our customers catch and release big fish and their personal bests. Each day's fishing goal is to educate and instruct, as well as catch 20 inchers. Whether you are beginner, intermediate, or expert angler, I will help make your bass fishing dreams come true on the inland waters of Northern Wisconsin.

VIRTUAL GUIDE SERVICE

Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures, LLC offers fishing instruction and products for sale. Lake Maps, Consultations, and more!

Can’t join me on the water? Consider any of the following virtual guide services and available products.
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Preston Brown
February 11, 2022
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Couldn’t recommend Andrew’s services enough. He’s easily the top smallmouth fishing resource in the Northwoods region. My buddy and I booked a trip with him this past summer after being an avid follower of his newsletter and in-season fishing reports and using his tactics on our own vilas co adventures. Andrew was extremely accommodating, easy to communicate with throughout the pre-trip planning process, and worked to customize an option for us that maximized lakes we hadn’t fished before. Even in tough conditions, Andrew put us on +18” smallies. Great boat setup and excellent gear (especially if you’re a St Croix rods junkie). Whether you’re wanting to learn the area for the first time or new to the smallmouth game… or you’re an experienced angler looking for the “spot on spots” and unique insights, Andrew is your guy.
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Eric Engbretson
October 11, 2019
Facebookrecommends
Andrew Ragas (Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures) understands lake bio dynamics better than any other Wisconsin fishing guide I know. The reason he's able to reliably put his clients onto fish is because he truly understands the characteristics of both the lakes he fishes and the bass he targets. Make no mistake, bass have a myriad of preferences that are driven by dozens of factors and pressures. To know what bass are doing on any given day, you need to be very tuned into details. Andy is intimately aware of the slightest nuances happening below the surface. Talking to him or reading his newsletters is truly an education in fish behavior. His respect for fish is both refreshing and admirable.
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Tyler Reid
September 26, 2019
Facebookrecommends
I have been following Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures on Instagram for about a year, finally made a trip up here and was not disappointed... caught 3 fish over 20" and some other quality smallmouth, one was probably my PB. My girlfriend even got one over 20"... usually on a guided trip it never lives up to the expectation but this was the best smallmouth trip I've ever had and I am a die hard smallmouth fisherman! Thank you again Andrew!
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Peter Linn
September 6, 2019
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My friend and I were looking to learn some Vilas County lakes for smallmouth fishing around Labor Day weekend. Andrew offered us the option to split our time between an "action" lake and one with more trophy potential. On the action lake, we learned several key spots and learned some new techniques for rigging stick baits. I hooked an extremely fat specimen that was regarded as one of the largest he'd seen on that lake. We then went over to the trophy lake, and while the bite was understandably slower, we did hook into some large fish (which we were unable to land). We learned some new spots for the future there. Andrew put in extra time on the water for us and worked very hard the whole time. I would highly recommend his guiding service.
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Josh Chrenko
November 15, 2018
Facebookrecommends
I’ve never fished with Andrew, but he has been a wealth of knowledge for smallmouth fishing in Upper Wisconsin. His articles, social media, and personal advice have been very helpful in making my trips up to that area a success. As a fellow smallmouth fanatic, I can tell you that the guy is a top notch fisherman and knows what he’s talking about. He also seems like a great guy!
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Scott Anderson
August 11, 2018
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The half day I fished smb with Andrew, mother nature threw us a curve ball with a very tough bite early on, but the trip still turned out to be everything I was hoping it would be. That was due to Andrews’s relentless commitment in trying to find fish at many different spots …..he even had “spots on spots”. Eventually the weather became more favorable and Andrew was ready for it and had us on good fish right away. That hot bite happened as my trip time was ending but Andrew didn’t head off the lake, he had us stay until we took full advantage of it…class act!! What also made the trip priceless was Andrew’s vast bass fishing knowledge that he was very willingly to share, it helped on the day of the trip but also helped on my own in the future. This was my first fishing trip with Andrew, but it will not be my last as this will be a yearly outing for me …. Great trip, great guide, highly recommended …..
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Ron Bacza
July 25, 2018
Facebookrecommends
I fished with Andrew on a day where conditions were less than optimal. He decided at the onset of the trip to attack smaller area lakes due to a stiff Northeast wind. We got into fish within a few minutes. He was able to position the boat in a manner in which we fully covered the spots most likely holding fish. His Ranger is outfitted with top of the the line electronics. Many of the spots we fished were marked as way points from previous outings. I had the entire bow to myself as he operated the trolling motor from the back of the boat. If you want to learn different techniques, catch fish and have fun, I recommend a trip with Andrew. I will be booking again soon. Ron Bacza Naperville, IL
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James Lang
June 29, 2018
Facebookrecommends
I took a trip up to Vilas County to fish with Northwoods Bass Fishing Adventures. To say the fishing was spectacular would be an understatement. Andrew gives you the front of the boat and full access to his graphs. Customers always fish the water first. He freely shares his knowledge and is in constant communications with other guides and fishing buddies to stay up to the minute on conditions and patterns. Everything about his rig is spot on. It is comfortable and perfectly set up for the northwoods. The effort he puts in is astounding. We were on the water by 7:00am, fished three different lakes getting off the water at 9:00pm. What you will learn from Andrew will help you be a better fisherman. A day with him will make your trip to the northwoods a fisherman’s dream I will be back up this summer and have already booked another trip with Andrew. I still owe him a dinner. The restaurants were closed by the time we got back. BTW, the guy is a connoisseur of good rock music.!
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Barry Humiston
July 6, 2017
Facebookrecommends
Just a quick note to let anyone thinking of a trip with Andrew to book it now! ….he’s a top notch guide. I recently hired a very well-known guide and got to watch him fan cast for Smallies off the front of the boat while his guests fished over the areas he already covered. Not with Andrew, he puts his guests up front and is focused on getting you some action. Let me tell you….you will fish ALL day! He teaches, shares information, and leaves you at the end of the day a better fisherman.
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Mike Mcbride
July 5, 2017
Facebookrecommends
Andrew is willing and able to accommodate anglers of all skill-sets. Andrew has a wealth of knowledge to pass along to his customers and my parents had a great time fishing with him. I will continue to refer people to Andrew and him alone for Northwoods Bass fishing.

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