Andrew Ragas splits time between the Chicago area and Wisconsin's Northwoods. Based in Minocqua, WI, he specializes in trophy bass fishing and offers guided trips from May thru October. While big bass is the passion, he dabbles in multi-species as well. He may be visited online at www.northwoodsbass.com
Horror stories about guided fishing trips and customer experiences run rampant through all social circles. Having been in the guiding profession now for 8 seasons, I’ve been subjected to many tales about fishing trip misfortunes. Almost every angler I host nowadays has a story to share, whether it’s good, bad, or entertaining.
Water flowed through a small spillway into the stream, sending a variety of fish species from the drainage lake above through its passage. I pitched a black and yellow marabou jig tipped with a leech into the spillway’s small tail-waters, letting the current do the rest of the work for me. Moments later, I
Hi everybody! Apologies for the lack of reports during the past month of fishing. All brief activity was relegated to Facebook page only. Throughout September things were consistent almost daily. Now into October, fishing conditions are changing on the fly! It’s difficult to stay abreast of what is happening now because the next day
Across northern states and Canadian provinces, and most notably in Wisconsin, the invasive rusty crayfish has significantly altered every native ecosystem it’s invaded. Negatively, lakes infested by them were quickly deforested, void of aquatic plant life. The whole food chain and fishery suffered as a result. Recruitment of certain fish species grew poor, with
Every fall season, there always seems to be a week or two of disruptive weather delaying fall turnover and the season’s entire progression. High pressure systems stall overhead, persisting and seemingly unwilling to relent, bringing with it bright sun, heat, and little wind. 60 degree water temperatures that should be cooling into the upper
Across many northern natural lakes and lowland flowages, some of the biggest bronzebacks available in the system can be found dwelling in weedy cover. They’ll utilize weeds for cover and habitat for cover and feeding opportunities more often than you think. These weed oriented smallmouths continue to be overlooked and under fished, with the