IN THIS ISSUE

 Shallow-Running Cranks For Weed-Relating Largemouth
BY TIM ALLARD
Weeds are one of the most important types of cover in largemouth bass fishing. Many anglers have become conditioned to toss Texas-rigged plastics, flipping jigs, topwater frogs and spinnerbaits around weeds because they’ll not foul easily on stalks and leaves. These lures will work well, but sometimes shallow-running crankbaits deliver better catches around weeds. If you’re not tossing crankbaits around weeds, you’re missing out on a big-fish producer. Here’s what you need to know about this presentation in shallow water scenarios.

WHY FISH THE WEEDS WITH CRANKS?
I’ll be the first to admit you’ll get hung up when working crankbaits in weeds. The odd hangup is worth it though because crankbaits deliver a presentation that weedless baits can’t deliver.

Blade Your Way To Mid-Summer ‘Eyes
by Ron Anlauf

“Riggers, jiggers, crankers,” and “bladers,” all nicknames for anglers who use a particular method in pursuit of the elusive walleye. The most successful fishermen have become adept at applying all of the aforementioned techniques. While all methods can produce all year long, they’re not always the most productive method for that particular moment. Being able to read the conditions and adjusting your presentation can keep you on the fish.
Good “bladers” have learned that one of the most consistent producers across the country has been a spinner and live bait combination. Spinners are designed to add flash and vibration to live bait like crawlers, leeches and minnows. Flash and vibration is delivered by a revolving blade at the front of the bait.

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Lake Michigan’s Sport Fishery Going Strong
BY JERRY PABST
Each year the Great Lakes Fishery Commission receives a report from the Lakes Committee on the status of the fishery in all five of the Great Lakes. The report results from the combined efforts of the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, and the state DNRs. We will focus here on the report as it concerns the Lake Michigan fishery.
While the report analyses 22 separate species of fish found in Lake Michigan, we will turn our attention only to those that are targeted by sport fishermen.

 

Is Live Bait Obsolete?
BY DARRELL TAYLOR
Living on Lake of the Ozarks in south central Missouri offers the advantage of immediate accessibility to fishable water and the opportunity to test new products on a timely basis.
Such was the case last year with Berkley’s new Gulp Alive, when I dropped a jig tipped with a Gulp Alive minnow alongside our dock. Before it reached the bottom a feisty crappie attacked it. On the second drop, a hungry eight-inch bluegill engulfed the jig. This process continued for the next 12 drops, failing to catch a fish on only two of the drops.

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