Tackle and Gear

Steelhead demand smooth power and clean pressure during a wide, fast run. Your trolling rod must load deep, protect light hooks, and keep pressure steady through surges at the surface. I troll Lake Erie and the Great Lakes for summer steelhead, fall …

Lake Okeechobee is shallow, weedy, and full of bass that live in grass mats, reed heads, and eelgrass lanes. The lake rewards strong pattern fishing and clean presentations in cover. This guide shows the best bass lures for Lake Okeechobee and explai …

Catfish don’t play fair. Blues bulldog in current, channels nip soft then surge, and flatheads dig for timber the second steel touches bone. The right catfish rod turns that chaos into control—casting heavy sinkers clean, loading deep for …

Drift fishing covers water, finds active fish, and puts baits in front of cats that roam flats, ledges, and channel edges. You set speed. You control angle. You keep baits near bottom without hanging up. This guide shows you how to set up clean drift …

Plenty of catfish anglers swear by a beat-up carton of chicken livers, and there’s no denying they catch fish. But if you want to up your odds, boost your numbers, or stick a heavyweight blue, chicken liver isn’t always the best play. Do …

Your rig puts the bait in the strike zone. The right rig holds bottom, avoids snags, and helps hooks set clean. This guide shows the best catfish rigs with simple build lists, tie steps, and when to use each. Follow the steps, make small changes, and …

Clear water rewards precision and punishes noise. Steelhead see more. Steelhead spook easier. You must cut flash, downsize gear, and slow the pace. This guide lays out a clean plan for approach, rigging, lure and bait selection, speed control, and st …

Back trolling puts your lures or bait in front of moving steelhead and keeps them working in the strike zone. You point the bow upstream. You slow the boat below river speed. You guide each pass down a lane with purpose. This guide shows you how to r …

Plugging lets you place a lure in front of traveling steelhead and keep it there. You control speed, angle, and coverage. You read the rod tips, tune the plugs, and work each seam with intent. This article explains the full system with simple steps a …

Back bouncing puts natural bait in front of holding steelhead in deep, fast runs. You control the drift. You feel bottom. You guide the bait into the strike zone. This guide explains the method in depth so you can fish clean, precise, and confident. …

Bobber doggin’ blends the control of side-drifting with the clarity of float fishing. You let the weight tick bottom. You let the float pull the rig through the seam. You keep a low, steady line angle so the presentation travels at river speed. …

It’s been a long summer, and the Shack Nasties are getting to you. Cooler nights where you leave your bedroom windows open, dew on the grass in the morning, hardwood leaves beginning to change color, and maybe a few spurts of precipitation, all …