DROP SHOT RIG By Ken Poor The Drop Shot Rig is a finesse fishing technique that became popular for fishing western impoundments with clear, deep water for largemouth bass. It is a relatively simple, but very effective, technique that can be used in a variety of situations and for many different species of fish, other…
CRANKBAITS AND COVER By Ken Poor To fish any lure effectively you need to put the lure in the bass’s strike zone and if they are holding in or close to cover that’s where your lure must be. Understandably many anglers are reluctant to fish a crankbait in or close to cover. They look…
BUCKTAILS AND FALL MUSKIE By Ken Poor In the northern woodlots, when the first touch of fall color starts to show, for the muskie fishermen, this signals the start of the trophy muskie season. On most northern lakes, shortly after Labor Day boat, traffic on the lakes dwindles, water temperatures begin to drop and muskies…
BASS PATTERNS AND THE STRIKE ZONE By Ken Poor Understanding the seasonal and daily movements of bass is part of the key to catching fish consistently and is called patterning. Patterning bass starts with knowing when and where the bass should be both seasonally and during different times of the day. After you develop a…
FINESSE TACTICS By Ken Poor Finesse fishing is for the most part, downsizing the lure or bait you are using and then fishing it very slow and precisely in the strike zone. Anytime you are faced with extreme seasonal weather conditions, finesse fishing should be your “go to tactic”. Certainly the hot weather during the…
CAROLINA RIG By Ken Poor The Carolina Rig is one of bass fishing’s oldest, most versatile techniques and is just as effective today as it was when it first became popular over fifty years ago. Fishermen, who have learned how to use it and understand its versatility, also know that variations of the Carolina Rig…
DOOR COUNTY TRIP REPORT DOOR COUNTY, WISCONSIN An old fishing hole revisited By Ken Poor The temperature in northern Illinois was hot and humid as I loaded the essential fishing gear into my boat, packed my duffle bag with sufficient cloths to last for a few days, and headed north to Door County, Wisconsin. After…
CLUBS AND TOURNAMENTS By Ken Poor Fishermen are, in general, a competitive group. Just about all fishing trips end with talk about who caught the biggest fish, the most fish or who had the big one on that got away. Ask any guy who has fished with his wife or girl friend and “allowed” her…
Muskies begin their spawn in late winter about the same time the ice begins to melt on the northern lakes. Ice-out normally occurs from mid-March to mid-April. The peak of the muskie spawn usually occurs from late March to early April and tapers off by mid-April. Areas where muskies spawn include heavy vegetation in the…
DOCK BASS TIPS By Ken Poor On many lakes docks have replaced logs, trees, stumps and brush as natural habitat for bass. To a largemouth bass, docks or piers are nothing more than a pile of wood that provides them a safe place to hide, a great feeding opportunity and protection from bright sun light.…