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
In my estimation, many northern Wisconsin trophy smallmouth fisheries peaked within the last decade. Reaping the rewards we did. While fishing those waters remain productive, big fish are not as prevalent in some systems like they once were. Harvest by meat hunters and death from old age are partially to blame. More boats and
The ideal smallmouth bass crankbait is a smaller, compact, realistic, and noisy representation of bottom-scurrying prey. In this case, it’s their favorite, the crayfish. In mid June as smallmouths conclude their spawn, crayfish also awaken. Power cranking with a shallow diving crankbait will score big numbers of feisty, hungry post-spawn fish that are cruising
Happy Father’s Day Weekend to you all. It’s middle of June and there’s not been a single bad day of fishing endured yet this 2022 season! Weather and conditions have been another story, however. Every day its something new or different happening – a new bite materializing every day. I feel my boat’s fishing
Water covers more than 80 percent of the earth’s surface, in oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds, ice caps, glaciers, and even underground aquifers. It is a limited renewable resource for its precipitation and evaporation cycle. Water always evaporates, moving to the atmosphere where it will help create the next incoming weather system. Jet streams will
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Admittedly, poorer fishing days outweigh the good days, and this happens more often than we’d like due to powers beyond our control. When faced with challenges and problems such as bass not being located where they’re supposed to, inactivity, or foul conditions, good anglers will
