Bass Fishing
Off the shelf: Fishing ledges for more bass
During June and July, offshore ledges are the place to fish for schools of bass, and you can really mop up with crankbaits once you find them. […]
Bass Fishing
Bass Fishing
Patience is key for ledge-fishing bass
“Sometimes it’s simply a matter of being patient and being in the right place at the right time,” Murphy said. “On occasion, I’ll pull up on a place and not get a strike for 30 minutes, and I know that the bass and baitfish are there. […]
Bass Fishing
Shad not the only treats for ledge bass
While shad are the baitfish of choice for bass in many lakes, anglers should never forget about other forage species. […]
Bass Fishing
Best crankbait colors for fishing ledges
Murphy doesn’t get too complicated when selecting his crankbait colors, and he’s used his system for good results around the country. […]
Bass Fishing
Best Mississippi ledge-fishing lakes
Lake Pickwick is the most-recognizable Mississippi lake that offers top-notch ledge-fishing opportunities, but it’s not the only one, accomplished angler Ken Murphy said. […]
Bass Fishing
Lipstick on a frog
Double nickels, 55 — that’s the water temperature mark that Jackson angler Alfred Williams eagerly awaits each spring. […]
Bass Fishing
Kermit commandos
Pete Ponds spotted a flash and swirl that sent a school of small fry skittering across the top of the water. The Bassmaster Elite Series pro instantly sailed a Scumdog Walker Frog past the small fry and started working the lure back in a walk the dog pattern.
Just as it passed over the small fry, a bass crushed the lure and headed down toward deep water. Ponds dropped his rod tip, reeled in the slack and snapped the rod back, driving the Owner hooks deep into the jaws of the lunker bass and turning it toward the boat. […]
Bass Fishing
Get the drop
When bass respond to factors such as weather or fishing pressure by playing hard to get, anglers can often tempt those tough bites with a dropshot. The basic rig is pretty simple, and the action, well, there’s not much to it. […]
Bass Fishing
Liven up the ledges
As long as the fish remain on the ledge, it’s a safe bet that they’re still in the food mood — so it’s just a matter of keeping an easy meal there for them. […]
Bass Fishing
Color games
Ponds has a few basic colors of frogs he’ll throw, but he feels like the color is a preference more important to the angler when fishing pads or thick vegetation because bass usually strike at movement. […]
Bass Fishing
Pete Ponds’ basics for fishing with frogs
Basic equipment:
Rod: 7-foot, 10-inch heavy Boyd Duckett Rod in thick cover with braid or 7-foot, 3-inch medium heavy rod when fishing open water. […]
Bass Fishing
Shape shifting
When you mention frog fishing, the traditional hollow frog with skirt material for legs is the image most commonly conjured. This tried-and-true bait certainly merits its go-to status, but a little variety goes a long way when you’re trying to entice tough fish to bite or if you’re simply trying to extend a fading rally. […]