Stars & Bars Fishing

The Minimalist Fisherman: In the Field focuses on bass fishing tips and techniques that will help you catch more fish all throughout the Midwest. Everything we write about - we test. If it's good - we keep it. If it's not - we minimize it! This outing took place the fourth week of May. We caught largemouth bass and panfish while exploring a new, beautiful (and extremely clear!) body of water in Illinois. With 68° water we were probably still in a post-spawn period... and some males hanging around beds seems to point to that as well. MUCH better bite than 3 days ago, and less than a mile away from the previous lake! Link to The F4 Rig: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/the-f4-rig-flexible-finesse-fluke-fishing/ More Info: The F4 Rig: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/is-the-f4-rig-different-than-the-california-rig-for-bass-fishing/ Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #kayak #kayakfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Z-Man Hula Sticks: https://minimalistfishing.com/ZManHulaStickZ Wacky Hooks: https://minimalistfishing.com/VMCWackyHooks Dr. Juice: https://minimalistfishing.com/DrJuice Line: https://minimalistfishing.com/Invizx :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ The Minimalist Fisherman: In The Field (formerly Stars & Bars Fishing) is an in-the-field fishing vlog by AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. "If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period." :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ The BEST RIG for FISHING CHARA ALGAE in a Kayak ] 01:07 - [ 1. Conditions / The F4 Rig ] 02:56 - [ 2. F4 Rig QUALITY BASS ] 04:21 - [ 3. Important Wacky Rig Tip ] 05:21 - [ 4. F4 Rig - Another Quality Bass ] 07:00 - [ 5. F4 Rig - Strikes Again! ] 07:59 - [ 6. Chara Algae Underwater ] 09:55 - [ 7. Cottonwood Fluff ] 10:53 - [ 8. Big JUMP! ] 14:10 - [ 8. Summary of the Day ]

The Minimalist Fisherman: In the Field focuses on bass fishing tips and techniques that will help you catch more fish all throughout the Midwest. Everything we write about - we test. If it's good - we keep it. If it's not - we minimize it! This outing took place the fourth week of May. We caught largemouth bass and panfish while exploring a new, beautiful (and extremely clear!) body of water in Illinois. With 68° water we were probably still in a post-spawn period... and some males hanging around beds seems to point to that as well. MUCH better bite than 3 days ago, and less than a mile away from the previous lake! Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #kayak #kayakfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Megabass Pop-X: https://minimalistfishing.com/MegabassPopX Z-Man Slim SwimZ: https://minimalistfishing.com/SlimSwimZ Pro-V Jigs: https://minimalistfishing.com/Pro-VNedJig Line: https://minimalistfishing.com/Invizx :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ The Minimalist Fisherman: In The Field (formerly Stars & Bars Fishing) is an in-the-field fishing vlog by AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. "If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period." :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Illinois Topwater Bass Fishing in the Kayak ] 00:42 - [ 1. Conditions ] 01:56 - [ 2. More Topwater Strikes on the Pop-X ] 03:23 - [ 3. The Megabass Pop-X Up Close ] 08:12 - [ 4. Finding Remote Areas to Fish ] 09:58 - [ 5. Presentation Change: Go Subsurface! ] 11:08 - [ 6. Big Bass on the Slim SwimZ! ] 17:52 - [ 7. Beds in the Steep Chara Algae ] 21:36 - [ 8. Summary of the Day ]

The Minimalist Fisherman: In the Field focuses on bass fishing tips and techniques that will help you catch more fish all throughout the Midwest. Everything we write about - we test. If it's good - we keep it. If it's not - we minimize it! This outing took place the fourth week of May. We caught largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and discussed how to make the most of a post spawn, low-water situation. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #jonboat #tinyboat :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Megabass Pop-X: https://minimalistfishing.com/MegabassPopX Yum Dingers: https://minimalistfishing.com/YumDingers Ocho: https://minimalistfishing.com/StrikeKingOcho Braid: https://minimalistfishing.com/X9 Line: https://minimalistfishing.com/Invizx Wacky Hooks: https://minimalistfishing.com/VMCWackyHooks :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ The Minimalist Fisherman: In The Field (formerly Stars & Bars Fishing) is an in-the-field fishing vlog by AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. "If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period." :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Illinois Post Spawn Low-Water Bass Fishing ] 00:47 - [ 1. Conditions ] 02:16 - [ 2. Make the Most of the Day ] 05:17 - [ 3. Largemouth Bass on Dinger / Wacky ] 07:24 - [ 4. Smallmouth Bass on a Z-Man EZ Tube / Pro Bullet ] 11:24 - [ 5. Largemouth Bass on Dinger / Wacky ] 20:15 - [ 6. Summary of the Day ]

Taking Kids Fishing: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/fishing-with-kids-let-them-fail/ A while back I started a routine with my sons: once every week, one of them gets to pick something that we go do together. It can be a bike ride, a hike, or - maybe not surprisingly - a fishing trip. When they select the latter, I try to set them up with a presentation that catches fish, but one of the things you're always battling, is the 'ol attention span. You've fished with kids. You know. This is the struggle. The presentation we used in this video was simple - a bobber, a stickbait, and a wacky hook. We also made sure to use this presentation in the spring, when there was a lot of shallow activity. THIS IS IMPORTANT, because if there is TOO much WAITING for the kids... you'll jump straight to snack time. Fortunately in this video, my son shows how effective this is, catching 3 fish in less than 75 minutes, and all three were darn good fish! Try it out - and let me know how it goes! This outing took place the third week of May. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #takeakidfishing #fishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Yum Dinger: https://minimalistfishing.com/YumDingers Strike King Ocho: https://minimalistfishing.com/StrikeKingOcho Hooks: https://minimalistfishing.com/Fusion19WeedlessWacky Line: https://minimalistfishing.com/X9 Leader: https://minimalistfishing.com/Invizx :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Taking Young Kids Fishing for LUNKERS ] 00:25 - [ 1. Picking Your Stickbait ] 00:41 - [ 2. Conditions & Rig Summary ] 03:01 - [ 3. Making an Adjustment ] 03:21 - [ 4. Fish #1 & #2 ] 05:52 - [ 5. Fish Like Edges! & 3rd Fish ]

After a few weeks of suburban pond fishing, it was time to get out and away from the world a bit... there is a really nice little SFWA not too far from me, with a few little lakes that are not accessible by jon boat... but they looked PERFECT for the kayak. One of our 2023 goals was to find some new, remote areas to fish - and the search continues. Here, during the third week of May, we explored these new Illinois lakes and made contact with some good fish. Good enough that a return trip is not optional - it's mandatory! This outing took place the third week of May. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #kayakfishing #pitfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Yum Dingers: https://bit.ly/YumDingers Strike King Ocho: https://amzn.to/3MeygWF Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wacky: https://amzn.to/3x70IRx Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Kayak Fishing New Lakes in Illinois ] 00:08 - [ 1. Conditions ] 00:36 - [ 2. Water Clarity ] 01:31 - [ 3. Field Notes ] 02:43 - [ 4. Second Presentation ] 03:28 - [ 5. First Fish of the Day ] 05:12 - [ 6. Why Fish With O-Rings? ] 18:56 - [ 7. Biggest Fish of the Day ]

Suburban ponds are cool and all, but they get old fast. Screaming kids, chatty folks, barking dogs... it's all fine, but sometimes you just want to focus on the sounds of nature and catching some fish. One of our 2023 goals was to find some new, remote areas to fish - so it's time to get exploring. During the second week of May, I came across some old notes from last year. A fellow bank fisherman had mentioned a pond tucked way, way off the beaten path. After fishing it for a few minutes... I realized It wasn't just me and the bass... As the weather warms more, we'll head out to larger bodies of water. They're still a little cool... and besides... in these warm little ponds, the bite is DANG GOOD! This outing took place the second week of May. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #bankfishing #pondfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Strike Pro Humpback Wakebait Yum Dingers: https://bit.ly/YumDingers Strike King Ocho: https://amzn.to/3MeygWF Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wacky: https://amzn.to/3x70IRx Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Fishing at Snapping Turtle Pond ] 00:58 - [ 1. Conditions ] 03:05 - [ 2. Snapping Turtle #1 ] 05:19 - [ 3. Snapping Turtle #2 ] 05:48 - [ 4. Second Presentation ] 10:23 - [ 5. Biggest Fish of the Day ] 12:28 - [ 6. Third Presentation ]

The 2023 season has started - and it will be my last full season in the Land of Lincoln. The goal this year is to catch 400 bass - that might not seem like a lot to guides and full-time anglers, but to those of us that work two jobs while raising several boys and trying to be a good husband... well, it's a LOT. Still - you gotta do what you can with what you got! Hitting ponds and small city lakes early can be a lot of fun - these small bodies of water usually heat up and get active well before larger lakes in the state, and this means the bass will be shallow, allowing you to catch them from the bank. Here's a method that works... have fun with it. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #bankfishing #pondfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Strike King Ocho: https://amzn.to/3MeygWF Berkley Fusion19 Weedless Wacky: https://amzn.to/3x70IRx Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Midwest Pond Hoppin' ] 00:57 - [ 1. Conditions ] 02:10 - [ 2. Pros & Cons of Finesse Hooks ] 03:53 - [ 3. Should I Use an O-Ring with Stickbaits? ] 07:34 - [ 4. Let's Check Another Pond ] 13:32 - [ 5. Summary & Parking Lot Friends ]

Part 1: https://youtu.be/xghkEwZPi64 I love fishing creeks. 4 years ago when I started The Minimalist Fisherman, I had NO idea what I was missing - in terms of both bank fishing local lakes, and wading local creeks. As soon as I ventured out of my comfort zone, a whole world of opportunities seemed to spring up out of nowhere, which led to a LOT of really great memories. Here are a few I'd like to share with you... Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #F4Rig #creekfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Berkley Powerbait Minnow: https://amzn.to/41OoXld Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Berkley Minnow Fishing a Creek in 100° Heat (HOT!) ] 00:39 - [ 1. Conditions ] 03:48 - [ 2. Moving Up to Another Pocket ] 07:45 - [ 3. Forage Example ] 09:56 - [ 4. What Bit This Fish?! ]

I love fishing creeks. 4 years ago when I started The Minimalist Fisherman, I had NO idea what I was missing - in terms of both bank fishing local lakes, and wading local creeks. As soon as I ventured out of my comfort zone, a whole world of opportunities seemed to spring up out of nowhere, which led to a LOT of really great memories. Here are a few I'd like to share with you... time to sharpen up them jerkbait hooks! Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #rapala #creekfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Rapala RipStop: https://bit.ly/RipStopJerkbait Rebel Jointed Minnow: https://amzn.to/3nwhI32 Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Jerkbait Fishing a Creek in 100° Heat (HOT!) ] 00:33 - [ 1. Conditions ] 08:14 - [ 2. Snake & Switch to the RipStop ] 14:30 - [ 3. Summary & Next Steps ]

Overcast days can go one way or another... sometimes the topwater bite heats up... other days, it can be tough. On this warm Illinois morning, it was game on. It was So warm in fact... after a few hours I decided to take a little swim, much to the amusement of everyone walking around the shoreline... The F4 Rig came into play before the Booyah Pad Crasher Jr. took over, along with THE BEST STICKBAIT RIG FOR YOUNG FISHERMEN. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #frogfishing #booyah :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Lew's Mach II: https://amzn.to/3SEhuRL Booyah Pad Crasher Jr: https://amzn.to/40PhoK7 Zoom Zlinky: https://amzn.to/3LGuyVD (Mainline) Berkley X9 Braid: https://amzn.to/3Urhkia (Leader) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Suburban Topwater Fishing w/ Booyah Pad Crasher Jr. ] 00:27 - [ 1. Conditions & Rigs ] 04:01 - [ 2. Zoom Zlinky on the F4 Rig ] 10:28 - [ 3. Best Booyah Bass ] 11:12 - [ 4. Falling in the DISGUSTING Pond ]

Muckin' bass means bank fishing for largemouth using an F4 Rig. It's all good, even on a day like today when the bite is TOUGH. The F4 rig allows you to quickly switch from clackin' to silent, from Carolina to Texas - and a few other options in between. It's an effective, versatile rig when you want to try different things without needing to retie constantly. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #cabincreek #stickbait One of my FAVORITE Stickbaits: https://youtu.be/yIGMQxJl_2A :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Lew's Mach II: https://amzn.to/3SEhuRL Trokar EWG: https://bit.ly/31rLuaF YUM Dinger: https://bit.ly/YumDingerStickbait (Mainline) Berkley X9 Braid: https://amzn.to/3Urhkia (Leader) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Muckin' Bass with an F4 Rig (BANK FISHING LARGEMOUTH) ] 00:33 - [ 1. Conditions & Rigs ] 01:25 - [ 2. Terrible Bank Fishing Etiquette ] 03:39 - [ 3. F4 Rig Adjustments on the Fly ] 07:52 - [ 4. Reminders on Muckin' Bass Fishing ]

Creek fishing for bass. Wading. Kayaking. Carrying. All of it... it is GOOD, and even on a tough day after the rain when the water is high and rushing and carrying sediment so thick it looks like chocolate milk - you can still catch 'em. Here's a method that works. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #livetarget #creekfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Livetarget Frog Popper: https://amzn.to/3PjwS3P Gamakatsu Finesse Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3nUcsmb YUM Dinger: https://bit.ly/YumDingerStickbait Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/3NXFQ5M Berkley Lightning Rod: https://amzn.to/3YUSyZl Berkley Powerbait Smelt: https://amzn.to/41OoXld (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Popper Fishing a Muddy Creek (CHOCOLATE MILK!) after Rain ] 00:18 - [ 1. Conditions ] 01:02 - [ 2. The F4 Rig ] 01:35 - [ 3. The Pop 'n Drop Rig ] 06:12 - [ 4. Topwater Strike ] 09:54 - [ 5. Something is Wrong with my Reel ] 14:04 - [ 6. Reminders on High Water Creek Fishing ]

I'm still getting ready for spring. Been sharpening hooks all winter. Feeling sorry for myself... not productive... but soon... soon we shall all emerge from our icy prisons and venture forth, into the wilderness! Creek fishing bass & other gamefish in Illinois sounds like a good way to kick things off, and in these two videos, I'll show you one of the more productive ways that I like to break down a creek - whether I have fished it 100 times, or none. The baits can be swapped out - and at times, they MUST be swapped out - but the principles shown in these two videos remain unchanged. Work fast. Find fish-holding areas. Move on after making a mental note. Come back and "fish fish", slowly and precisely. ... getcha sum... Episode 1: https://youtu.be/vOeAnQ_iSAg Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #strikeking #creekfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Livetarget Frog Popper: https://amzn.to/3PjwS3P Gamakatsu Finesse Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3nUcsmb Strike King Ocho: https://bit.ly/StrikeKingOcho Rapala Husky Jerk: https://amzn.to/3YnNGdZ Strike King Ned Ochos: https://amzn.to/41Q8MVC Mustad Grip-Pin Jigs: https://amzn.to/3YnfH5G (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ How to Fish a Creek for Bass & Gamefish Part 2: Jigs & Tubes ] 02:21 - [ 1. Stopped by a Chunky Smallmouth ] 04:00 - [ 2. What We're Using: Gear Summary ] 06:42 - [ 3. Working a Mid-Creek Hole ] 10:20 - [ 4. Moving Up Past More Riffles... ] 10:40 - [ 5. A KEY Area - Never Pass These Up! ] 17:38 - [ 6. Check Your WEIGHT! ] 18:20 - [ 7. Adjusting to the Proper Weight ] 21:07 - [ 8. Consider Weedless Options ]

Creek fishing bass & other gamefish in Illinois changed my life. That's not hyperbole. Smallmouth bass were a rare gem that we experienced when we took our annual trip to Wisconsin - however - a few years back my oldest son wanted to go kayaking. In an effort to be safe, I found a small local creek and figured we could putter about in shallow water... but as we were puttering... I started to see fish... more and more of them. Carp. Suckers. Meh... whatever... but what are those skinnier ones? Perch maybe? Sauger? Finally, one swam in close... I could see the dark tail thump thump thumping... "That kinda looks like a smallmouth... it IS a smallmouth. SMALLMOUTH BASS - RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS?!" Well, nothing to get too excited about, right? After all, he's only a dink. I'd seen dink smallmouth in other bodies of water too. We kept paddling. After about a mile, we slowly floated up to a large rocky outcrop. I took a peek over my right shoulder, and there she was... another smallmouth... but BIG. She sauntered off into the deep, dark shadows. Out of sight - but not out of mind. The next day you better believe I was back in that very same creek, fishing pole in hand, and over the next few years I would spend loads of time trying to figure out the most effective way to fish this creek, and many others in the Land 'o Lincoln. I'm so glad that I did, and this is part 1 of my process. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. #bassfishing #rapala #creekfishing :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Livetarget Frog Popper: https://amzn.to/3PjwS3P Gamakatsu Finesse Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3nUcsmb Strike King Ocho: https://bit.ly/StrikeKingOcho Rapala Husky Jerk: https://amzn.to/3YnNGdZ Strike King Ned Ochos: https://amzn.to/41Q8MVC Mustad Grip-Pin Jigs: https://amzn.to/3YnfH5G (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ How to Fish a Creek for Bass & Gamefish Part 1: Search Baits ] 00:57 - [ 1. What We're Using: Gear Summary ] 02:30 - [ 2. Conditions ] 02:51 - [ 3. Log Jam ] 04:58 - [ 4. First Spot w/ Pop 'n Drop ] 15:36 - [ 5. Rapala Husky Jerk ] 29:30 - [ 6. BERTHA ] 31:55 - [ 7. Two Bass One Jerk ] 32:59 - [ 8. What's Next? ]

"Fishing" isn't called "catching" for a reason. Some days everything falls into place... other days... we have to get a bit more creative. The good news is that a LOT of presentations that will work on smallmouth bass, also work surprisingly well on largemouth bass. A well crafted "base box" - meaning a simple plano container filled with only the sauciest of nuggets - will grant you maximum versatility! On this outing, we went to a local creek with the intention of walking, casting, wading and hammering early season smallmouth bass (late May is still somewhat early some seasons here in Illinois). My son was extremely excited, but the creek was high and muddy after a recent rain. It was too dangerous to take him through the deeper areas... He didn't want to quit (atta boy), so we decided to adapt and overcome. A short drive later we were bank-fishing largemouth bass using the same presentations we had planned to use on smallmouth - and turned a frustrating situation into a great day. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Rapala Husky Jerk: https://amzn.to/3YnNGdZ Z-Man Slim Swimz: https://bit.ly/SlimSwimZ Strike King Ned Ochos: https://amzn.to/41Q8MVC Mustad Grip-Pin Jigs: https://amzn.to/3YnfH5G (Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period. :::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES::::: 00:00 - [ Fishing Largemouth Bass with Smallmouth Gear ] 01:53 - [ 1. Rig Rundown ] 03:58 - [ 2. Dangerous Water ] 05:48 - [ 3. New Location / Same Rigs ] 07:05 - [ 4. Release ] 09:32 - [ 5. Second Presentation ] 10:44 - [ 6. Release ] 11:20 - [ 7. Third Presentation ] 14:48 - [ 8. Release ] 15:28 - [ 9. Changeup ] 17:00 - [ 10. Release ]

Midwest fishing can start and stop at the drop of a hat. "Spring" for us is usually somewhere between late March and late May... but the fish don't care what "season" it is. They care about water temps, food location, and doin' the hibbidy-dibbidy. They move when they want to move. On this trip, I made my way to a lake that was still very cold even though it was later in May, and after traveling under the interstate, came across a cool little spot with an incoming stream (food source) and a rocky overhang that made a great platform for some afternoon fishing. The panfish bite was on fire. Nice little largemouth bass and green sunfish, bluegill and even a few crappie all absolutely destroyed the 4 presentations used in this video. Take a peek and let me know what you think. Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Kalin's Crappie Scrubs: https://amzn.to/3IultvR Bobby Garland Itty Bit Swim'R: https://amzn.to/3ly5Hsk Mule Jigs & Donkey Tails: https://youtu.be/n8iPCrYFbHs Strike King Bitsy Pond Minnow: https://amzn.to/3HYxklY (Mainline) Stren Monofilament: https://amzn.to/3jVtNNp :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/ Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period.

Fishing is never dull. You can always learn - even when the fish don't bite. Fortunately, they DID bite today, but I had to make a few adjustments and even leave the lake I was at for greener pastures. This doesn't always work. Sometimes largemouth bass still don't play nice... but I was reminded today that small lakes - even small lakes that are very close together geographically, and close in composition (bottom content and cover, algae status, etc.) can be in completely different phases. We had a very cold spring this year, that stretched much further than it had in recent memory. As a result, everything seemed pushed back surrounding the spawn - and this made things interesting. But again, we're here to learn. Today was a good day. Let's keep grinding. :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Grandebass Airtail Wiggler: https://amzn.to/3NZiA7D Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick: https://amzn.to/3MU9dWu Lazer Trokar EWG Worm Hook: https://bit.ly/TrokarEWG (Mainline) Berkley X5 Braid: https://bit.ly/X5Braid (Leader) Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots. :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/

Midwest Multi-Species Fishing - sounds like a good time to me! This year, the MOVING BAITS have been absolutely smoking, from chatterbaits to topwater - although my new favorite technique is by far a jerkbait. This is followed closely by another new favorite from last year: micro-swimbaits. One of my favorites can be seen here in depth: https://youtu.be/n8iPCrYFbHs Today, we hit the water with my only golden jerkbait... a no-name model from yesteryear that worked... well... it worked surprisingly well, landing a few bass and my PB Jerkbait Crappie. After I got frustrated with the jerkbait trebles picking up too much of the Illinois muck I was fishing through, I switched to a Kalin's Crappie Scrub. This little dude was paired with a 1/16 ounce Kalin's simple ballhead jig (which has a relatively short shank - which is important) and it was lights out for the panfish. Today was an extremely fun, productive round of fishing even though I was pretty limited on time! :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Lucky Craft USA Pointer 100 SP: https://amzn.to/3wNuH0G Kalin's Crappie Scrub: https://amzn.to/3IultvR Seaguar Invizx Fluorocarbon: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF Mitchell Pro Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/38PkMjk Let's get to grinding. Godspeed, Patriots. :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/

Largemouth Bass Fishing in Illinois typically starts to heat up when you begin noticing panfish and bass on their beds up shallow. Sometimes they will attack your bait... other times... not so much. Personally, I don't like to target bass on beds. I feel that bothering largemouth bass doing the deed is disruptive... although I do succumb to the temptation from time to time. I am human, after all. Around my lakes, not all of the fish do the same thing at the same time. You can sometimes develop patterns between lakes - however - it seems like Lake A could have bass that are done spawning, while Lake B has bass that are in the middle of spawning - and these lakes might be just a few miles away from one another, slightly different in size and depth, and yet - the fish will be at different stages. This will require further study, however, on this day I was able to land bass at Lake A using two unique presentations, and then hop over to Lake B, where I was able to target bass swimming out beyond the first drop off, behind the bedding bluegill. Overall, it was a great day, and here are a few of the items I used to make it happen: :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Rapala Skitter Pop: https://amzn.to/3P9aA4W Strike King Ocho Stickbait: https://bit.ly/StrikeKingOcho Berkley Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3x70IRx 20lb Fluorocarbon: https://bit.ly/BerkleyVanish Trokar EWG Hooks: https://bit.ly/TrokarEWG Grandebass Airtail Wiggler: https://amzn.to/3NZiA7D Let's get to grinding. Godspeed, Patriots. :::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER::::: https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/

Crappie fishing in Illinois is not always something that people think about when they're fishing the Midwest. However, if the bass aren't biting - take a look around and see if you can see any signs that tell you it might be time to switch gears and do a little bit of crappie fishing. On this afternoon I only had an hour to fish, and I started with a jerkbait. I was hunting Illinois largemouth... but... 30 minutes and zero fish later, I realized that I had been seeing panfish and crappie up in the super-shallow rip rap. Fortunately, I always have a Mule Jig with some Donkey Tails on me for just such an occasion. These are small swimbait style lures that have a bunch of cool little features that I talk about in this comprehensive review: https://youtu.be/n8iPCrYFbHs Long story shore, we took a tough day of fishing that could have ended poorly, and turned it into one heck of a (short and intense) afternoon! :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Lucky Craft USA Pointer 100 SP: https://amzn.to/3wNuH0G Mitchell Pro Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/38PkMjk Mule Fishing Supply Co: https://www.mulefishing.com/ Let's keep grinding. Godspeed, Patriots.

Largemouth Bass Fishing in Illinois comes with a fair amount of curveballs. Muck, for one thing, can foul trebles in clear water if you're bumping rocks. Unexpected algae blooms can pop up overnight - turning your crankbait pattern into a swimbait (or even topwater frog) pattern. Some ponds that LOOK great can be completely "turned off", while other nearby ponds of similar size can be active. Some might be prespawn, others postspawn. Some are hungry, some aren't. Some will bite, some won't. The moral of the story? Not every body of water will be doing the same thing at the same time - even if the are geographically close to one another and look similar. The same can be true of creek arms and different areas within the same massive body of water. This is something we'll explore more once we migrate from Illinois to Arkansas. So if you want to catch more bass... you have to be versatile! You have to be ready to make adjustments on the fly, and alter your plans so that you can catch more fish when others would simply say the 'ol standby throwaway line... "I guess the fish ain't biting today!" Lies. Get out there and MAKE 'em bite! :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Lucky Craft USA Pointer 100 SP: https://amzn.to/3wNuH0G Strike King Ocho Stickbait: https://bit.ly/StrikeKingOcho Berkley Fusion 19 Weedless Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3x70IRx Mitchell Pro Spinning Reel: https://amzn.to/38PkMjk Let's get to grinding. Godspeed, Patriots.

Largemouth Bass Fishing can be tough in cold conditions early in the fishing season - especially in Illinois. Some guys like to drag jigs... others like to pull a Carolina rig... but in my case, we have to navigate the rocks and the leftover MUCK. On smaller lakes, it can be difficult to develop any sort of pattern... but... can you develop a pattern on smaller lakes? Sure you can. Today we'll be fishing a certain KIND of lake with a certain kind of structure, with a jigworm, a chatterbait, and a jerkbait. I have never actually caught a largemouth bass on a jerkbait... but that ends today! I've had a Lucky Craft SK 80 (Stacey King) Jerkbait in Ghost Olive Green Shiner. Absolutely killer looking little bait. Nowadays I think I'll have to look into the Lucky Craft Pointers as this bait has been discontinued... but it finally produced a big 'ol chonk for me. The jigworm was a stout little combo - half of a Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick on a Mustad Grip Pin Jig. I love these jigs because they are a little more stout and don't bend as easily as lightwire hooks - some of which bent straight on mean 'ol Mr. Smalljaw last year and cost me a few quality fish. :::::GEAR LINKS::::: Mustad Grip Pin Jig: Lunkerhunt Lunker Sticks: Lucky Craft USA Pointer 100 SP: Z-Man CrossEyeZ Chatterbait: https://amzn.to/3yrCBzc Z-Man RaZor ShadZ: https://amzn.to/37qczl4 So let's get out there and fish some cold water, and see if we can put together a bit of an early season pattern that will help us put more fish in the boat! ... er... on the shore! Quick little update on the homefront as well in this one as we continue to work and save up so that we can sell, move south, get a boat and a slip and get to learning all about Bull Shoals, Arkansas. Let's get to grinding. Godspeed, Patriots.

Largemouth Bass Fishermen love chatterbaits. They are very popular in certain situations, and popular in the early spring. Here in Illinois I haven't had much luck bass fishing with them - but I've decided the best way to gain more confidence in this type of bait, is to put in some work. Monsterbass recently sent me a Z-Man CrozzEyeZ in Fire Craw, with some Z-Man Razor ShadZ for trailers. The combo pairs well together, but it is difficult to get the trailer on the chatterbait because of the stretchiness of the material. That said, once it is seated properly the two Z-Man products make for an effective little combo that should work well for Illinois bass fishing... Let's get to fishing, and I'll tell you a bit more about the goals here on this channel as we go. Illinois fishing for now... but soon... Arkansas... It's go time. Godspeed, Patriots.