Member How-To

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Member How-To

Don’t give up on productive grass mats

During a late-spring trip to Grosse Savanne Lodge in southern Louisiana, Bernie Schultz was immediately intrigued by a massive mat of silver dollar-sized lily pads that covered one stretch of...

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A northern take on southern spotted bass

Spotted bass have long been known for their tempestuous demeanor. One moment they’ll be feeding aggressively. Then the next, they’ll be entranced in a zombie-like state of disinterest. Jeff “Gussy”...

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How to break down an area to fish

Belgian breakfast and paper-pencil games may not sound like common angling fodder, but pay attention to how Bassmaster Elite Series pros break down broad areas and you’ll understand the relevance...

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Predicting the unpredictable smallmouth

Smallmouth bass are rarely predictable — except during the prespawn. Their yearly spawning ritual is the culmination of rising water temperatures, a full moon arriving, and positioning in key areas...

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Elite tips for fishing roadbeds

If Robert Frost had been a serious bass angler, “The Road Not Taken” would have focused less on that yellow wood divergence and more on this simple principle: Don’t overlook...

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How to maximize angles while fishing offshore

Sometimes bass care just as much about where their dinner’s coming from as what’s actually in it. That’s the lesson that Mark Menendez has learned over a lifetime of fishing...

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Leveraging the crappie connection

Tyler Rivet literally owes his first career Elite title to a fish that was not eligible for tournament competition. The Louisiana pro was looking for what he calls “sac-a-lait” for...

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Junk fishing with a purpose

Nonmusical types may dismiss the notion of a “jam session” as the undisciplined indulgence of creative whim. Jazz greats like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane would have disagreed....

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Ignoring the “normal”

In 1955, James Dean worked that Rebel Without a Cause vibe like a boss, but Bassmaster Elite Series competition doesn’t leave as much room for such aimless defiance. That said,...

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Topwater smallmouth fishing mistakes

Keith Combs may be a Texan with a penchant for offshore cranking for big largemouth, but the broad-shouldered Bassmaster Elite Series pro also knows how to catch Northern smallmouth on...