Targeting Summertime Smallmouth in Clear Water

Smallmouth bass are known for their hard-fighting nature and can be a challenge to catch, especially in clear water reservoirs during the summer months. These fish can be found in a variety of habitats, including rocky shorelines, points, and drop-offs. Understanding their behavior and selecting the right techniques and lures can greatly increase your chances […]

Read More

Seven Ways to Fish Mangroves

Natural barriers, mangroves protect our shores and shelter 75 percent of Florida’s gamefish at some point in their lives. Jess McGlothlin Special delivery: Sign up for the free Salt Water Sportsman email newsletter. Subscribe to Salt Water Sportsman magazine for $19 for 1 year and receive 4 bonus digital issues. In the early mornings along Florida’s coasts, you can […]

Read More

Top Tips for Bridge Fishing

There’s a technique to placing bait without getting caught. Jason Stemple Special delivery: Sign up for the free Salt Water Sportsman email newsletter. Subscribe to Salt Water Sportsman magazine for $19 for 1 year and receive 4 bonus digital issues. Wherever you go, the basic equation is ­structure plus current equals fish. An easy solution is fishing a bridge. […]

Read More

Z-Man: Breaking Down a Bassmaster Classic Winner

2023 Bassmaster Classic champ Jeff Gustafson Photo by BASS Ladson, SC (April 5, 2023) – All three days of the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson stuck to his money method, catching every one of his tournament-winning smallmouth bass on one of two Z-Man baits—a 4-inch smelt-pattern Scented Jerk ShadZ and a more compact StreakZ™ 3.75. […]

Read More

An Entirely New Era of Braided Fishing Line Has Just Arrived

“Affordable Innovation” has always been the KastKing rallying cry. Now, enter Hammer Braid—a truly new version of braided fishing line.   Hammer Braid is colorfast, has nearly zero stretch, a higher knot strength, and better abrasion resistance than other brands on the market. It’s everything you want in a premium braided line and precise for any […]

Read More

WWBT PRO-AM – Lake Shasta Top-10 Baits

Lake Shasta tournament winner Alex Klein caught his fish on 3.3 and 3.8 Keitech Swing Impact Fat swimbaits in the gold flash minnow and smallmouth magic colors on ball heads. A dropshot rigged with a 4-inch Keitech Easy Shiner and a 1/4-ounce weight also produced keepers. DIFFERENCE MAKER: Klein fished all of his baits on 7-1 St. Croix Legend Tournament […]

Read More

Environmental Efforts Paying off for Z-Man® Fishing

Environmental Efforts Paying off for Z Man® Fishing Z-Man a leading tackle company’s environmental efforts conservation commitment moves toward carbon neutrality, zero waste and healthy fisheries Beyond an obsession for battling big fish, there’s one thing upon which anglers almost universally agree: Clean, healthy waterways and flourishing fish habitat lie at the heart of everything […]

Read More

Z-Man ‘Immortal’ HerculeZ: Toughest Swimbait Ever?

Z-Man ‘immortal’ HerculeZ exhibits astonishing action and toughness Ladson, SC (January 26, 2023) – Admittedly, bite force is a concept best understood by anglers whose fingers accidently slip into the mandibles of powerful gamefish. With an audible snap—not unlike an angry alligator maw—aquatic predators like snook, tarpon and striped bass can all crush baitfish (or […]

Read More

Baitfish Profiles: Shrimp

The wide-ranging game fish that hunt Sunshine State shallows feed on a huge variety of forage species, with baitfish making up a great deal of their diets. However, while predators display unique preferences as they pertain to shimmering baits from pilchard and herring to pinfish and pogy, few shallow-water targets will ever pass up a […]

Read More

Z-Man: Supertanker Smallmouths

Ladson, SC (December 19, 2022) – Luke Clausen has always known about the record-class smallmouth bass swimming within a few hours of his Spokane, Washington home. Not that the greater fishing community has for the past several decades paid much attention. Which is just fine with the longtime Z-Man pro, among the only anglers to […]

Read More

Strategies for Targeting Redfish in Cold Water

When you think of inshore fishing in Florida, it’s hard not to think of redfish. Known for their copper-bronze coloring and iconic spotted tail, redfish can be caught throughout Florida in coastal waters and estuaries year-round. They are, without a doubt, one of Florida’s more widespread inshore species and one of the most popular sport […]

Read More

Ned Kehde Reveals Winter Bass Tricks

A coldwater finesse Q&A with Ned Kehde, the Ned rig maestro Ladson, SC (December 6, 2022) – While you’re reading this, huddled around the warm glow of your computer screen, Ned Kehde is almost certainly on the water. So long as one of the dozen or so of his local community reservoirs near Kansas City remain […]

Read More

New Saltwater Lures

AFTCO Digger Jon Whittle AFTCO Digger Don’t be fooled. The AFTCO Digger looks like it should be trolled. That’s because trolling plugs with similar characteristics have caught plenty of wahoo, king mackerel and tuna over the years. But the Digger is definitely a casting plug, says AFTCO. Weighted specifically for long casts and sinking to […]

Read More