By Joe Bucher My first exposure to the minnow bait was back in the early 1960’s. I remember staring at my first minnow bait, a Rapala, for weeks in my grandfather’s general grocery store. He had a small fishing tackle department in this store, and I use to gawk at various lures on display… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher The extra short 6′ baitcasting rod made an underhand roll cast from a raised casting deck platform easy, sending my pearl colored jerk shad towards my weedy target only inches above the water surface. Purposely, I overshot the open water pocket so as not to spook any bass from the lure’s splash… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher No drag system out there today on any reel whether it’s baitcasting, spinning or any other style of big game reel can efficiently react to all the variables that present themselves on any given fishing outing. The perfect drag simply does not exist. Reel manufacturers do a great job overall of… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher One of the biggest keys to finding late spring/early summer walleyes on many lakes is the presence of perch; especially smaller young-of-the-year ones. Walleyes will key strongly on this perch forage throughout most of the season. Newly emerging weeds are amongst the strongest locations to find schools of small 3 to… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher I relate back to my days as a guide quite often in articles. Still to this day, it is my main foundation of musky memories and knowledge. Admittedly, I still rely on it a lot in my writing since it involved so many experiences over time. This past winter, someone in… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher Strong wave action washed across the expansive weed point as I launched a perfect cast that sent my single spin well beyond the emergent weed clump into a small pocket of open water. Simultaneously, I engaged my reel to match the splash entry of the lure, which made the black/orange combo dart… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher Ka Whoosh! For the third time on this particular hot, muggy, flat dog day afternoon I was startled by the gator-like eruption on the water’s surface way back in the thick impenetrable jungle of surface weeds. Only, this wasn’t central Florida – it was Ontario, Canada. So, this was no gator (alligator).… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher As my rodbent for the 15th time, I just had to give in. I couldn’t keep it a secret any longer. After all, this wasn’t some duel between two tournament combatants, this was father and son, enjoying an afternoon on the water.. My dad certainly was not a patient man to… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher I’ll never forget my first experience with tuning a crankbait.Again, it was back when I was still a teenager, with no money and few lures. This meant, every lure I had – had to work. And, if I had a good one, I had make sure I didn’t loose it, plus… Continue Reading
By Joe Bucher Weeds, whether in a bay, flat, bar, or mid lake hump, are one of the most productive forms of cover for nearly every big gamefish that swims in freshwater. Admittedly, much of my success with magnum muskies, big bass, and wallhangin’ walleyes have come from some form of weeds. This includes… Continue Reading