Mike Mladenik With the exception of live bait plastics will put more bass in the boat than all other presentations combined. Most plastics are easy to rig and even novice anglers are able to catch fish after learning a few basic techniques. Over the years while guiding for both smallmouth and largemouth bass plastics have… Continue Reading
Author Archives: Editor
Pre-Spawn River Smallmouth
Mike Mladenik People will often ask me when the best time on the calendar to catch big pre-spawn smallmouth is. My answer is from ice out through the first six weeks of the season. While that may not be the answer they want to hear, it is impossible to put a… Continue Reading
Small Lakes In June Offer Action And Variety
Mike Mladenik While small lakes may not offer big fish, they can be your best bet for a big catch. By June, many anglers begin concentrating on large reservoirs and natural lakes. Scattered throughout the upper Midwest are countless small lakes with limited fishing pressure. These smaller lakes can see increased usage by mid-summer, but… Continue Reading
Spring Walleyes
Mike Mladenik To successfully catch spring river walleyes, anglers need to be aware of present conditions. Water temperature, prevailing weather, current, and water levels are all critical for both walleye location and presentations. Once you establish a pattern, don’t make the mistake of getting in a rut. Spring is known for changing conditions, and as… Continue Reading
Fall River Smallmouth
Mike Mladenik Being a full time guide, I spend at least 170 days per year fishing open water. Through the years, I have spent more time pursuing smallmouth bass than any other species. Like most bronzeback anglers, I feel any day on the water is a good day, but it’s even better when I catch… Continue Reading
Catching more Spring Fish!
by Captain Marty Papke It’s all about details fisherman and the more details the better fishing gets for all species. It’s also about the goals we each have as anglers to what we want to achieve this year on the water. Walleye, Northern Pike, Perch, Small and Largemouth Bass, Brown Trout, Rainbows to Salmon and… Continue Reading
Shoreline Brown Trout!
by Captain Marty Papke It’s not far away fisherman and longer, sunny warming days start the ice melting, ice flows still bobbing and soon a movement of Brown Trout on an adventure looking and seeking food to satisfy there big appetite after a winter of being in a transitional stage. Let’s examine areas, foods along… Continue Reading
Hooking Live Bait
by Chip Leer In simple mathematics, the sum is always greater than the parts. In fishing, a jig is just a jig and a minnow is just a minnow when they stand alone. However, if you put them together, they make a lethal combination for springtime walleyes across the Midwest. Like Puckett and Hrbek or… Continue Reading
Early Season Walleyes on Lac Vieux Desert
By Dave Lamoreaux The early season (opening day-Mid May) is the best time of year to catch numbers of Eyes on the ” Desert “. For the first couple weeks in May, the fish are usually in some part of their spawning ritual – pre-spawn, spawning, or post-spawn. For that reason, they tend to be… Continue Reading
Anchors – Fishing’s Forgotten Tool
By Captain Marty Papke Take a look in any angler’s boat and the one thing that you will almost always see is an anchor. Watch any angler fish and the one thing you will almost never see them use is that same anchor. It seems like, for most anglers, anchors are something that we have… Continue Reading