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Big fish fishing tips

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3
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Fishing the hump

Fish the "humps" in the water! The fish love 'em. A hump is basically an underwater island and could be just below the surface to 10's of feet down. Look for a raised surface bottom from its surrounding depths and sharp drop-offs around the island forming the edges of the "island." Often they are made of rock and or sand and weeds and this mixture is inviting to the fish. They are a good resting place and a food source for big fish looking for bait fish staying out of open water. Throw in a marker buoy or anchor, but don't get caught in the rope!

Topics: Hump
5
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Landing a Big fish

If you hook a powerful, explosive musky, striper, or pike don’t bring it near the boat unless you’re prepared to land it. A still-green fish can do a lot of damage and cause you numerous problems if brought to boatside too quickly.

One thing greenhorns do a lot is to reel the fish in too close to the rod tip. Never have a fish any closer than the full length of the rod away. Reeling a big one within a few feet of the rod tip is just inviting trouble. It reduces line stretch, rod flex, and reaction time, giving the fish a better chance to make a last-ditch escape.

If your fish is going under the boat, don't fight 'em, either let them take some line or better yet steer them away by not pulling up out of the water, but to the side and turn their head. They cant swim down if you turn them, but watch out if your using anchors. I've lost plenty of fish on the anchor rope trying to be too gentle.

Watch my latest videos of people breaking rods trying to bring a fish out of water from directly below them rather then pulling from the side into them.

Topics: Landing fish,
11
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How to Win the Fight

When fighting a big fish from a boat resist the urge to constantly ‘chase’ the fish. Use the boat to gain line initially when the fish is making long runs but when it slows down try to keep the boat just close enough to maintain a 45 degree angle on the line. This puts maximum pressure on the fish which means you stand a better chance of catching your fish of a lifetime.

Topics: fish, line, reeling
12
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Mono or Braid

Mono or Braid? Braid offers amazing strength vs. diameter making it easy to put the heat on big fish with smaller tackle but in some situations you need the stretch of mono. For instance, when throwing baits with small treble hooks, mono is a must to absorb head shakes keeping the hooks stuck home.

Topics: mono, braid
12
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Use a loop knot for live bait

The next time you use livebait, try a loop knot. They allow your bait to swim freely adding more action to your bait. Big fish didn't get big by being dumb, try a loop knot and fool that monster you've been looking for.

Topics: knots, line, bait
20
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Small ponds can equal BIG fish

I live in an area that has lots and lots of water, from rivers, to 45,000 acre lakes, to small ponds, and everything in between. While it is easier to get onto a big lake and run to 15 different spots that may be miles from each other, sometimes the best catches come from the little 40 acre pond down the street. If you have a kayak or canoe, you may find you have the whole pond to yourself, and the fishing can be quite relaxing!

Next time you drive past "that small pond", stop and try a few casts - you may be surprised what you hook into!

Topics: Pond, Kayak, Small Pond
15
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Spring is here Start thinking about the pre-pre-spawn...

Well, the ice will all be gone in another month, and as soon as the lakes open up, you can expect to find me (along with a bunch of other guys) out on the water chasing down some late winter/early spring bass. As the temperatures hit 40-45 degrees, the bass will start to move around a little, and after a couple of warm days, you'll find them coming up on shallow flats to feed. Just make sure to look for shallow flats, near cover, and close to deeper water - a quick break into the depths usually holds more fish. Once the temps reach above 50 degrees, the fish will start to stay a little shallower, cruising around for a quick meal. 55-60 degrees and they're almost into spawn mode.

Slow-rolling spinnerbaits, jigs, carloina rigs, and big deep-diving crankbaits are great early spring baits. Once you start to see the vegetation returning, especially in water 7-10 feet deep and near a breakline, lipless crankbaits are almost unmatched, especially on warm days.

Remember, warm sunny days will draw the bass shallow, and once the weather stays warm, overcast days with a little breeze are the most productive. 3 days before to 10 days after th full moon seem to yield the most big fish, and remember to tune your lure size, color and action to look as natural as possible when the bass are inactive/sluggish.

Topics: Bass, Spring, Lures, Season, Jig, Crankbait, Spinnerbait
9
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Catch the big Northern Pike

Younger and smaller northern pike spend time in shallower water near reeds and lily pads and other cover. They eat bugs, frogs, minnows and other small food. Medium sized northern pike will usually be near the outskirts of these areas feeding on other small fish.

The really big pike eat walleye, chub, whitefish, and even trout, and they will hang out where they can ambush these fish. Places like rocky shoals, islands, and mouths of streams and rivers are great places to catch big northern pike.

Topics: northern pike, pike, big fish