Pete Robbins is a veteran writer who’s been covering the bass world from all angles with a discerning eye for more than a decade. His work has appeared in many publications, including Bassmaster, Field & Stream, and Western Bass. He blogs regularly at Yamamoto’s Inside Line and he’s covered more than a dozen Bassmaster Classics from the water. Robbins is also a well-traveled bass addict and glitterboat freak. He’s...

Hogs. Toads. Donkeys. Pigs. Whatever name you prefer, these are the fish you really want to catch. Quantity fills the freezer, but trophies earn the bragging rights. This series is dedicated to the pursuit of the true heavyweights across all species. The meat eaters. So set your drag and sharpen your hooks as we bust some common swimbait myths that are holding you back from nailing mammoth largemouths.
Bill Siemantel is a godfather of the giant...

Wind is one of fly fishing’s biggest challenges. Whether fishing fresh or saltwater, the breeze make casting difficult and at times impossible. With spring on its way in many parts of the country, fly anglers are eager to get outside, but howling spring winds cause many of them to compulsively check the forecast and wait for a calm day instead. After a long winter anticipating lakes and rivers thawing, there’s no reason to stay inside. Learning...

The ice at the lake edge is dark, slushy, and covered in standing water, as if the lake dug a moat around itself. Farther out, where I want to set my tip-ups for pre-spawn northerns, the ice integrity looks uniform and solid. I don’t see any obvious pressure ridges or widening holes that mark danger. On this late March morning the air remains chilly. I’m glad I’ve remembered the 2×4 wooden plank, about 7 feet long, which will act as a bridge...

Dirt, fish slime, blood, sweat, stink bait— chances are your fishing rod’s handle has all those things rubbed deep into the cork. Throw in hours of sun scorching, slamming in rod holders and beach spikes, occasional drops, or perhaps the teeth of a new puppy, and it’s easy to see why the cork is dried out, cracking, and chipped. Some anglers take pride in their handle’s battle-worn appearance and fish it until it crumbles in their hand like a...

Any self-respecting angler organizes and restocks his or her tackle or fly boxes on a regular—if not obsessive—basis. But for those of you with boats, when was the last time you took inventory of your onboard toolbox and spare parts? Too many of you haven’t dug in that box or compartment since the last time you were in some kind of trouble on the water. Don’t make that mistake again. This is a task that needs to happen often and long before you...