Field Notes

Warm water in late fall: why the fish are still in the grass
The calendar says fall and the grass says summer. When the water is still in the mid-70s the fish have not moved yet, so fish the edge of the mat instead of chasing the fall pattern. Read more...
When to re-tie a fluorocarbon leader, and when to throw the whole line out
Fluorocarbon wears from the outside in, and the part that fails is the part you cannot see. Here is how to tell a scuffed coating from a weak line before it parts on the water. Read more...
Water temperature and when topwater actually starts working
The thermometer is the least useful part of the equation. Fish moving up is the real trigger, and the trend in the water matters more than the number on any given morning. Read more...
Texas rig setup: the hook gap decides more than the bait color
Most missed bites on a Texas rig are a hook gap problem, not a hookset problem. Match the gap to the bait, drive the hook out the side of a thick body, and let the bullet weight set the pace. Read more...
How to choose soft plastics for muddy water (and when to skip them)
In stained water go natural and darker, and let your lure do the movement. Here is the color shortlist we actually fish, and when to skip plastics altogether. Read more...