One of my favorite resolutions is to go out and fish four smallmouth waters that I've never fished before.
It's never too early to start keeping fishing records, advises Mike Baskett, a 2008 Bassmaster Classic qualifier.
Despite the drop shot's widespread popularity, it seems only a few anglers have seen the magic it can wield in ridiculously deep water.
Bass fishermen everywhere know how effective a jigging spoon can be in catching fish, but few, if any, have ever experienced the lure's explosive action quite the way Mark Stevenson has.
In truth, the Float-N-Fly technique is intricate to a high degree and carefully refined through years of testing. The result is a presentation that just may be the best ever devised for catching cold water bass.
Standard weedguards are designed to be fished on lines from 15-pound-test on up. When you use those same jigs with lighter line, or when you start fishing deeper, that weedguard becomes, in effect, a fishguard.
"When you see a shad separated from a school, you will see a little wake," explains Elite pro Brian Snowden. "The bass thinks the waking bait is an injured or separated baitfish. To a feeding bass, that's an easy meal."
As days grow shorter and air temperatures become more comfortable, the water temperature drops and baitfish get more active. Throw in a cool rain and substantial cold front and the game is on.
An understanding of the fall movements of bass and the proper approach to taking advantage of that predictability will pave the way to consistent success.