Feed for content matching tag 'bass_fishing'

Fishing, Fellowship, and Family

scheels — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:15:00 GMT

Reno-Sparks Scheels Experts Chuck Kuennen and Jeff Clark

When is the last time you’ve gone fishing? Last week? Last year? When you were a kid?

It may not be easy to find time during a hectic summer, but fishing is more than throwing a hook into a lake and laying back. Fishing can be a sport that gets families outdoors and experiencing nature.

“It brings the whole family together,” said Scheels Fishing Expert, Chuck Kuennen. “My wife likes seeing us doing things together. She's not a fisherman, but she likes seeing me take my boy out. My boy will come home and say, ‘Come on, Dad let’s go throw for a couple hours!’ It’s great that I get that one-on-one time; he's got a couple more years of college, and it’s not going to happen anymore. You just treasure every minute of it.”

It seems as though these moments don’t happen enough these days. Summer has just begun—prime time for being with the family and friends. Plan an evening or early morning to go fishing with friends, family, or even by yourself, and enjoy the outdoors. As we know in the Midwest, summer doesn’t last forever, so enjoy it while you can!

Keeping children busy during the summer can be tough. Going to the pool, movies, or the park can become repetitive, but maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle is key. If your son or daughter has never gone fishing, at Scheels we carry great starter combinations to spark their interest!

“Borrow some gear from a friend, an uncle, or a grandfather,” said Jeff Clark, Scheels Fishing Expert. “Just go out and do it. The hardest part of fly fishing is just getting out and doing it.”

At Scheels, we can get you started with a nice rod and reel, and even string the reel for you. Whether you’re a pro or a newcomer to fishing, an Expert at Scheels will find the right equipment for you. Outfit your family, especially your children, so that you can have a pain-free experience while enjoying the water. Children can become easily frustrated with equipment that doesn’t work, which can take a toll on the parents as well. By buying the right equipment, you will have a much better time enjoying the outdoors!

“I want to make it about the customer,” said Kuennen. Scheels Experts will not only find you the right equipment, they want to hear how your fishing trip went, because more than likely they are just as geared up as you are.

“I have pride in what I do, and I do like to see them leave the store happy and know they're going to go have a good fishing trip.”

Still not sure if fishing is for you? It can be hard thinking of new activities on the weekends, but fishing is a sport that will get you outdoors and have time to relax with your friends and family. If you haven’t been fishing before, ask a friend that has, or even a Scheels Expert. They will be happy to give you advice, or if you’re really lucky, maybe they’d even take you out themselves!

Bass and Fly Fishing Technology: Through the Years

scheels — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:57:18 GMT

Jeff Clark spent the majority of his working life as a real estate professional. Chuck Kuennen spent the majority of his life in the business of air traffic control. They’ve had totally different lines of work in opposite parts of the country, but they’ve always chosen to spend their free time doing exactly the same thing: fishing.

Now retired, both men have decided to put their expertise to good use as Fishing Experts in the Reno/Sparks Scheels store. We caught up with Jeff and Chuck in April to talk about their passion for the sport on location in Reno. Their love for being out on the water or on the shore with a reel in hand is analogous; however, their preferred types of fishing differ.

Jeff became mesmerized with fly fishing when he was in Boy Scouts years ago and has been at it ever since. Bass fishing has always been Chuck’s favorite, although he’s picked up some on fly fishing since moving from Iowa to Reno to fish with his son.

Over their combined years on the water and experience as Fishing Experts at Scheels, Jeff and Chuck have seen and felt the waves of technology firsthand in the sport of fishing.

Scheels: How has bass fishing changed over the years, technologically, with rods and equipment?

Chuck: “Bass fishing has evolved, and it’s still evolving: the line, the rod technology, reel technology. You're just getting into rod-specific, lure-specific now. That’s our job, to figure out what customers need—get something that they're really going to enjoy and they will come back.”

Scheels: What new things have come out recently that have revolutionized fly fishing?

Jeff: “You're seeing a resurgence in bamboo rods—the materials and the rods are incredibly advanced, there's words you have to be a chemical engineer to repeat! They are using ceramics, plastics, and things different than what we were used to before.

Fly lines have also advanced. For years and years, we used silk lines, and then they came out with a flat polymer, then a dual taper—you've got fly lines for every type of fishing you can think of. The only one I haven't seen is ice fishing; I don't think they'll ever do a line for ice fishing. You've got them for bass fly lines, salt water fly lines, for every fish you can imagine.

Waders are another one, with the GORE-TEX and breathable membranes they have come up with; the day of the rubber wader is going away! There is no need to sit in freezing water and sweat inside a rubber suit.”

Scheels: Which type of fishing seems to be the most popular from a retail standpoint?

Jeff: “I think the biggest advance in fly fishing is that people are getting away from the notion that fly fishing is “elitist.” There was a time when you had to have a lot of money to get into fly fishing—it’s not that way anymore. You can get into it for a very reasonable expense. Every manufacturer puts together combination kits that can save you a lot of money on a rod, reel, and line. It’s becoming bigger, and bigger, and bigger—fly fishing is growing in leaps and bounds."

*Scheels: Would you say that GORE-TEX and other technologies are making fly fishing a more comfortable experience, but aren't necessarily changing the way people catch fish?

Jeff: “It does help you catch more fish in the simple standpoint that you can spend more time on the water. You're not sweating, and you’re not freezing. As long as you're layered properly, you're comfortable all day long—and they're durable too! Something that thin can put up with a lot of abuse. GORE-TEX has revolutionized the sports industry.”

Scheels: Are there any specific products that you're recommending that work especially well?

Chuck: “Yes, I've discovered that Rapala lures work on trout, they work on bass, they work in every form of water.”

Scheels: Do you take pride in being able to help customers when there's so much to choose from?

Chuck: “That is what it’s all about, I have pride in what I do and I do like to see them leave the store happy and know they're going to go have a good fishing trip. People go from here to Cabo San Lucas with their equipment, up to Alaska . . . they're going to the Bay Area, and they're fishing here in Reno, too. It’s satisfying, very satisfying.”

Spinnerbait Basics

scheels — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:05:47 GMT

by Pat Schlapper

Spinnerbaits have long been a staple in every bass fisherman’s tackle-box. Although these lures are one of the most versatile available to fishermen, it is important to have a basic understanding of them before tying one on.

The most critical—and most varied—part of these lures is the blades. There are several styles of blades commonly found on spinnerbaits. The first style of blade is the willow-leaf, which is long, slender, and comes to a point on both ends. These blades were designed to give off the most flash possible. For that reason, willow-leaf blades are most commonly used in clear water situations.

The second style of blade is the Colorado blade—a fatter type that comes to a point on only one end and is rounded on the other. Colorado blades give off the maximum amount of vibration, which is often desired in dirty water situations.

Lastly, we have the Indiana blade. Although not as common as the willow-leaf and Colorado, it does serve a purpose. The Indiana blade is an elongated version of the Colorado blade, and because the blade is elongated, it gives off significantly more flash than a Colorado while maintaining its vibration.

Many spinnerbaits will come with a “tandem” blade configuration that will utilize two different types of blades. Perhaps the most common type of tandem spinnerbaits utilizes a willow-leaf blade and a Colorado blade. Many fishermen desire this blade configuration because it gives them the best of both worlds—flash and vibration. \

In clear water situations, double willow-leaf blade configurations are standard. If the water is clear, bass rely more heavily on sight than vibration to locate and capture their prey. However, in darker water, bass will key in on vibration more than flash. In these situations, a double Colorado bladed spinnerbait will often be more productive.

The information we’ve touched on provides a few general rules of thumb for selecting the correct spinnerbait for the situation you may face. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and it is often beneficial to experiment with different blade styles and configurations until you find the one fish in your area prefer.

Springtime Bass Fishing

scheels — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:37:10 GMT

by Aaron Teal

About every bass fisherman in the upper Midwest, including me, has been chomping at the bit for fishing season to open... and now it finally has! To me, springtime fishing is a fun time of year to catch bass. Here are some things to try as soon as the season opens!

When I first look at a lake in the springtime, I try to figure out where the highest concentration of fish will be. Lakes with creeks, inlets, and culverts can hold some big fish. These are easy, fun structures to key in on during spring because of the current running through these spots due to high water levels. Furthermore, you’ll find a lot of bait fish flow in and out through these areas, making it a prime feeding ground for hungry pre-spawn bass. I also enjoy fishing flats with a lot of structure on them—these hold many bass in the springtime and even year-round.

When I’m fishing during this time of year, I usually cover as much water as I can, working areas fairly quickly. Remember to have a good pair of polarized glasses as you’re scanning for spawning beds, because where there's a bed, there's a fish.

I have a lot of confidence throwing in the springtime. For search baits, I primarily use seven different varieties depending on the conditions, such as All Terrain Tackle swim jigs; Rapala lipless and shallow diving square-billed crankbaits; small buzzbaits and spinnerbaits; and chatterbaits. When I need a big bite in the springtime, I throw a hard or soft swim bait.

Springtime provides great opportunities to get the fishing season off to a good start, so prepare yourself!. Good luck!

Aaron Teal is a Scheels-sponsored bass fisherman in Minnesota's 15-18 age division. Aaron lives with his family on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes near Richmond, Minn. For more tips and product demos, check out www.aaronteal.com.

Bass Fishing? Remember to Follow the Spawn

scheels — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:53:49 GMT

by Pat Schlapper

In early spring, bass have one thing on their mind—spawning. The spawn is an exciting, yet confusing phenomenon to follow. The actual mating process is the only thing that comes to mind for many people when they think about the annual ritual.

While catching fish from their beds is exciting, it’sonly one part of the spawning process. The spawn is often broken down into three stages: pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn.

The pre-spawn phase starts to take place almost immediately after ice out. Fish start to migrate from their wintering holes to the bays, creeks, and coves where they will eventually spawn. This is usually the most challenging and confusing time for fishermen. Since the fish are almost constantly on the move, it can be difficult to pinpoint exact locations where fish will school up.

On the other hand, when you find a school of fish, you can boat a lot of big fish in a short amount of time. If you know where fish spawn in the lake you’re fishing, you have a distinct advantage. Often times they will be on a main lake point, secondary point, or drop-off close to their spawning grounds.

Jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits, and swim jigs are effective search lures at this stage. Once you find a group of fish with a search lure, you can often slow down and work the area with jigs, senkos, and worms to catch the bigger females. If you find a spot where fish are loaded-up and seem to disappear overnight, don’t panic—they most likely have moved back into their spawning grounds to start the mating process.

Smaller male bass will move up first to prepare the spawning beds. They fan out a spot in the bottom where the female will eventually lay her eggs. When the water temperature is right, the bed is prepared, and the female is ready, she will swim to the bed and drop her eggs, which is often done in a very short window of time. The female may only be on the bed for a day or two; however, the male will stick around for quite some time.

Tubes, jigs, and lizards are effective at coaxing a bed-guarding fish to strike. To do this, simply cast beyond the bed, and slowly work the lure into it. Try to avoid casting directly on the bed, as it will spook the fish. Once the fish move off of their beds, they will work their way back out of their spawning areas. Often times they will return to the spots you caught them in the pre-spawn stage. These are the first areas I check once the beds are empty.

This spawn stage can be really fun, because fish are schooled up and can be very aggressive. Crankbaits, flukes, jigs, and 10-inch worms will often catch big fish at this stage. Main lake points, weed points, offshore humps, and ledges are key areas to be investigated during the post spawn.

Although the spawn can be confusing, it’s very rewarding. Once you put all the pieces together you can often effectively predict the movements of fish this time of year. Keep your lure in the water, and don’t get frustrated when the fish you caught yesterday are gone today. Instead, make the adjustments, and beat them at their own game.

Get prepared for summer bass fishing

scheels — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:00:23 GMT

by Aaron Teal

Don’t think that just because there is ice on the lake you can’t get prepared for bass fishing. In fact, this is when I start getting everything in line. This is where I figure out what I’m fishing, budgets, equipment, and researching lake maps, etc. Though you may be eager to get out on the lake, many things need to take place first.

I’m constantly online during the winter looking for any new edge I can get on my competition. Whether bait, lure, or other various products, I’m constantly looking for that extra edge I can get. One way to learn about various new products is the web; there are many different sites that offer new advantages to bass fishing. Also there are a lot of new products featured in Bass magazines and this is also a great source.

This is also a great time to lay out what tournaments you are going to be fishing if you are a tournament fisherman. Scheduling is very critical. Remember, when you are picking your tournaments, know what skill level you are at.

"I'm constantly online during the winter looking for any new edge I can get on my competition."

If you just want to have fun fishing tournaments without getting too competitive, it’s important to pick low-entry tournaments on lakes you are familiar with and have confidence fishing. If you are more serious, crave the competitive aspect of fishing, and have some time on your hands, a tour may be a good fit for you. Figuring out your schedule is a very important piece in the puzzle of preparation.

Once you figure out what lakes you are going to be fishing, why not start studying maps? It’s never too early to get those lake maps out and start figuring stuff out. One thing to always keep in mind is the time of year your tournament is on that body of water. For example, if the tournament is in July, then it’s important to figure out some good areas where the bass are going to be during that time of year. In July, depending on the lake, I’m usually keying in on deep water areas like points, humps, inside turns, etc. I can tell you right now that studying maps is critical. When I study a map, I’m looking for areas that play to my strengths as well as where I think the fish are going to stage during the scheduled time of year.

Just remember that it is never too early to prepare for fishing season.

Picking the right line for the job

scheels — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:53:56 GMT

by Aaron Teal

In my eyes, there are three primary types of freshwater fishing line -braid, fluorocarbon, and monofilament. Each plays a significant role in bass fishing and are equally important in my arsenal. There are some I use more than others, but I can honestly say that I use all three types of line.

There are important things to know about each type of line. For example, monofilament line floats, casts well, and has a lot of stretch. Therefore, mono is best used with topwaters, shallow-diving crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.

The next line is braid. This line is very abrasion-resistant and does not stretch. This allows for great hook-setting power, as well as wonderful sensitivity. Braid is primarily used with frogs, jigs, Texas rigs, swim jigs, and soft stick baits. It's especially great when you are fishing thick weeds. This is one of my favorite types of line and it's what I use most. However, one disadvantage with braid is that it's very visible in the water.

Last, but certainly not least, is fluorocarbon. In my eyes, fluorocarbon is the ultimate finesse line. You will see it on almost every one of my spinning rods, used with my football jig and deep, cranking set-ups. It is known for its low stretch, invisibility, sensitivity, and ability to sink. I have been very impressed with the innovation of this line over the past couple years. It has become a huge tool for me on the water.

One thing to keep in mind when selecting line is to factor in technique, weeds, water clarity, and size. Remember, line is extremely important. Making the right selection can make the difference in catching the fish of a lifetime.

Competitive bass fishing as a junior

scheels — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:42:37 GMT

by Aaron Teal

There are many different ways to get into competitive bass fishing at a young age. It is getting bigger and bigger every year and it is a great opportunity for someone who wants to learn and excel at the great sport of bass fishing.

One way is to join a nearby Jr. Bassmaster Club. For example, I fish for the Granite City Jr. Bassmasters out of the St. Cloud area. What happens is we fish our club tournaments on lakes in the surrounding areas once a month. You don’t even need a boat. Adults from the adult club take you out and you tell them the spots. It’s nice because you can learn a lot about baits and techniques from your boaters, and it’s alot of fun competing against kids your age.

By being in a Club you are also qualified to fish the state tournament, where you compete against all the juniors in the state. If you win state than you go to divisionals, and if you make it through divisionals, then you get to fish the national tournament where you weigh on the same stage as real professionals.

Another fun tour to do is the Fishers of Men Legacy Series. It’s a team tour and the rules are one member has to be over 18 and the other has to be under 18. This is a fun tour, and is very kid friendly. It can make for a great father-son tournament

If you really get into competitive bass fishing, then I would highly recommend entering the Silverado Pro-Am tour as an amateur when you turn 16. You learn so much from the pros you are paired with. You and the Pro are fishing as a team, so it’s a really fun tour.

That’s a little info on competitive bass fishing as a junior. It is a great way to learn and grow as an angler. It's a fun way to take it to the next level.

Aaron Teal is a Scheels-sponsored bass fisherman in Minnesota's 15-18 age division. In 2008, Teal had eight top ten finishes, including a pair of Jr. Bassmaster tournament titles. He was also runner-up for the Jr. Bassmaster ‘Angler of the Year' award. Aaron lives with his family on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes near Richmond, Minn. For more tips and product demos, check out www.aaronteal.com.

Fishing deep weedlines

scheels — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:14:24 GMT

by Aaron Teal

Deep weedlines? You may be wondering where those Lunker Bass go after the spawn. Well here’s an answer…those big females are tired from the spawn, and also all the fishing pressure from Bass fisherman beating the banks. Those bass need to get away… and deep. Outside weedlines are common destinations for them.

Many of these fish school up out on these deep weedlines during the summer season. This is an awesome opportunity to load the boat! Some areas I like to focus on when fishing deep weedlines is cuts or inside turns in the weed edge. Other areas I like to key in on are points and edges of flats. It is really important not to rush through these areas because once you catch one, there is often a bunch right nearby.

Here are some baits I use for these offshore areas…

Crankbaits: This is excellent search bait, and is an excellent searchbait, and is my go-to bait for finding schools of bass. What you want to do is cast parallel to the weedline; this enables the crank bait to stay in the strike zone longer. The crankbaits that I use are the Rapala DT series.

Jigs: This bait works great for working areas thoroughly, and catches a lot of fish. It is key to keep this bait in as close to contact with the bottom as possible. The jig I use is ½oz. All-Terrain Tackle’s Grassmaster weed jig, trailered with a craw chunk.
Texas Rigs: This is another great rig to penetrate those deep weed edges. I like to use Lake Fork Tackle’s 4-inch Craw Tube, also 8 to 10 inch worms.

Shaky Heads: I love this bait; its slow tantalizing fall triggers a lot of bites. I use a Berkley 5-inch power shaky worms, Texas rigged on a VMC shaky head. What you do with this bait is cast it, let it fall to the bottom, and just shake your rod tip very gently. This gives the worm a great action that bass can’t resist.

Deep weedlines are great places to find those giant bass. So stop beating those banks and give deep weedlines a try.

Grassmaster Weed Jig can go anywhere

scheels — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:46:22 GMT

by Aaron Teal

Like weeds? Hate weeds? This jig will make you LOVE weeds!

The Grassmaster Weed Jig was made by All Terrain Tackle a few years ago, and let me tell you this jig is magical. It has a bullet-shaped head so it glides through the weeds with ease, and is without a doubt my go-to bait when there are any weeds.

All Terrain Tackle makes jigs as heavy as 1½ oz so you can penetrate super heavy cover no problem. It also has an extra strong 6/0 Mustad hook so you can pull those Lunker bass out of that super heavy cover. The Brush guard is lower, and the line tie is basically surrounded which makes for even more weedless efficiency!

For weedlines and deep grass, I like a ½ oz size in most cases. This jig is one of my favorite baits for deep weeds, and has given me a lot of success in tournaments.

A new method that was discovered was skipping this bait under docks. The way the head is designed this bait skips great. I like a 3/8 or ¼ oz. size for this application. The Grassmaster Weed Jig comes in a wide variety of different colors sizes to match every condition.

The fact of the matter is simply that this jig can go anywhere and do anything. It is one of the hottest jigs on the market and has brought a lot of success in the bass world.

What makes soft stickbaits so amazing?

scheels — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:44:13 GMT

by Aaron Teal

These baits may not look that exciting in the package, but they deliver a very unique action that is nearly impossible for any bass to pass up. This bait is not hard to fish either. Just cast it out let it fall and slowly pull or twitch it along.

When this bait is Texas rigged, it has a slow gliding fall, and has a very unique wobble that is super deadly on bass that won’t really bite anything else. I use this bait Texas rigged around scattered weed clumps, pencil reeds, wood, and boat docks. This bait skips amazingly well and is my first choice when I am fishing boat docks.

Another way to rig this bait is wacky style. It is very easy to rig, just insert the hook through the middle of the bait. The wacky rig looks just like a struggling wounded baitfish in the water, and has a slow shimmying vertical fall that is just pure magic. I like this rig during the pre- and post-spawn periods on inside and outside weedlines, and also bays and flats. This technique also works great for bridge rip rap, and pilings.

The soft stick baits that I use are the Lake Fork Tackle 5in Zig Zag, and 5in Terrain Sticks made by All Terrain Tackle.These are some of the best stickbaits made and have given me much success in tournaments. I rig these baits on a 3/0 extra wide gap Gamakatsu hook. I use spinning equipment for this technique most of the time. I like a Shimano 6ft 6in medium power Cumara rod and a Shimano Sahara Reel. I like to use Spiderwire ultracast invisibraid for this because it has no stretch and is very limp for excellent castability.

This is an amazing bait. So give it a try sometime and experience it for yourself.

Having trouble catching bass on beds?

scheels — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:42:37 GMT

by Aaron Teal

The dropshot rig is a fairly new rig that was originally used to catch deep, finicky bass. It consists of a finesse hook tied eight to ten inches above a weight (special dropshot weight). Using this rig on bedding bass is a technique that has recently been discovered. Largemouth bass generally spawn in water temps from 60 to 65 degrees in the shallows so the sun can warm their eggs for hatching.

What you do with the rig is cast it about a foot past the bed, give slack line, and let the weight sink to the bottom. Now your bait is suspending right on top of the bed. Shake your rod tip gently with pauses, and do this repeatedly until the bass grabs it. What makes this rig so amazing in this situation is that you can literally keep your bait right in front of that fish’s mouth forever (Note: You always want your bait in the strike zone, so accurate casting is very important in this situation.)

For this tactic I like to use spinning equipment with Berkley 8-10 pound 100 percent Fluorocarbon. The reason I use Fluorocarbon is because it is invisible, and is also more sensitive, and does not have a lot of stretch. You can use any of your favorite plastics for this rig. Some baits I use are small finesse worms, and stick baits. I also like small beaver baits or tubes as well.

This is an awesome tactic to add to your arsenal and will help catch those bass that just won’t bite anything else.

www.aaronteal.com.

Bass Fishing is Almost Here! Are You Prepared?

scheels — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:44:11 GMT

by Aaron Teal

Bass season is just around the corner. Are you prepared? Here are some things that I do to get ready for fishing season.

Gear Checklist: It is very important to make sure your boat, rods, reels, line, tackle, etc. are ready, and up to date. What I do is make an inspection of everything and check, A: What needs to be fixed or replaced, B: What needs to be cleaned, and C: What else I need to get for the season. A gear checklist will keep you organized and save you a lot of stress before you make that first trip out on the water. When I have any fishing need, the first place I go is Scheels because of their great selection. However, most bait and tackle shops will also carry the items you need.

Another thing you can do is take an underwater camera, like an Aqua-Vu, out on the water to spots you have found on a map or GPS.

This scouting method is great for learning the new structure that you plan on fishing this season, and is an awesome tool to put in your arsenal. Also, the new LakeMaster 2009 Pro Maps series chip provides some fantastic maps that show just about every nook and cranny in a lake. It is a great way to find that "Magic Spot".

Being prepared is the essence to the start of a great fishing season, and scouting lakes is always a wise decision that can pay off huge dividends. So good luck and good fishing.

Spring Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing

scheels — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:51:37 GMT

by Aaron Teal

When I think of spring, the first thing that pops into my mind is pre-spawn bass fishing. It is a fun time of year with a lot of active fish. Many people ask, why are bass so active this time of year? The reason is that pre-spawn fish are moving from deep to shallow water, which forces them to feed on the move.

What I like to key in on during this period is flats with grass or sprouting weeds with current or deep water nearby. A great strategy for this approach is to rip a lipless crankbait through the weeds to get a reaction bite. It is really important to let the bait fall into the weeds and then sharply rip it through and out. The fish seem to react really well to this technique. The lipless crankbait I use for this strategy is the new Rapala Clackin’ Rap, and let me tell you that this bait is DEADLY! It has a very distinct and loud clicking sound, which really allows the fish to zero in on it. I like to use more natural colors in clear water and more bright/dark colors in stained to muddy water.

If the fish don’t want all that commotion on a certain day, then I throw an All Terrain Tackle Swim Jig trailered with a Lake Fork Tackle 4-inch Hyper Worm. The reason I use the swim jig is because it is much more subtle than a spinnerbait or a chatterbait, and sometimes fish just want that quiet approach. There are many different ways to fish a swim jig, you just have to let the fish tell you the way they want it.

One other thing to keep in mind during this period is that when the sun is out and bright, the bass will be a lot tighter. You might need to slow down your approach a little bit, and make repeated casts.

The pre-spawn period is very active, and can be a fun time of year.

Aaron Teal is a Scheels-sponsored bass fisherman in Minnesota’s 15-18 age division. In 2008, Teal had eight top ten finishes, including a pair of Jr. Bassmaster tournament titles. He was also runner-up for the Jr. Bassmaster ‘Angler of the Year’ award. Aaron lives with his family on the Horseshoe Chain of Lakes near Richmond, Minn.