By Joe Bucher Ka Whoosh! For the third time on this particular hot, muggy, flat dog day afternoon I was startled by the gator-like eruption on the water’s surface way back in the thick impenetrable jungle of surface weeds. Only, this wasn’t central Florida – it was Ontario, Canada. So, this was no gator (alligator).… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher As my rodbent for the 15th time, I just had to give in. I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. After all, this wasn’t some duel between two tournament combatants, this was father and son, enjoying an afternoon on the water.. My dad certainly was not a patient man to… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher I’ll never forget my first experience with tuning a crankbait.Again, it was back when I was still a teenager, with no money and few lures. This meant, every lure I had – had to work. And, if I had a good one, I had make sure I didn’t loose it, plus… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher Weeds, whether in a bay, flat, bar, or mid lake hump, are one of the most productive forms of cover for nearly every big gamefish that swims in freshwater. Admittedly, much of my success with magnum muskies, big bass, and wallhangin’ walleyes have come from some form of weeds. This includes… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher World class muskies have been taken on nearly every style of lure over time. Bucktails, spinnerbaits, topwater plugs, jigs, crankbaits and livebait have all taken their share of big ones. And, just when it looks like one specific type is beginning to dominate, preferences can suddenly change on a dime tilting… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher As much print as crankbaits have commanded in articles, books, and other publications, very little material has been devoted to the sinking “count-down” style crankbait. In fact, few anglers own or even know how to effectively use these highly efficient deep water tools. Without the proper working knowledge of sinking count-down… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher The term “crankbait” was actually first developed by bass tournament anglers back in the late 1960’s, and generally it referred to any hard bodied lure that had a natural, built-in action when retrieved. Before that time, such lures were referred to as plugs, wobblers, vibrating lures, and divers. In fact, the… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher Basic casting proficiency is very underrated and highly overlooked. In other words, if you can’t cast accurately and effectively without getting snarls and backlashes, your success is sure to suffer. Compound this problem with constant weed foul-ups, tangled line around your lure, and the host of other basic things that limit… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher The Lipless Crankbait my #1 go-to bait in the early spring. I wouldn’t leave home without one. Check that – I wouldn’t leave home without a tackle box full of them. Nothing catches big bass for me in the early spring quite like a lipless crankbait. Perhaps it’s the tight wiggle… Continue Reading
By Ted Takasaki and Scott Richardson Most good walleye anglers get real excited when the first good ice of the year appears. The fish are aggressive and still willing to swim a fair distance for something to munch on. As a result, it pays to be aggressive in your tactics to catch them. New rattling… Continue Reading