None too Big

By Scott Bonnema

It impacted the water with more of a detonation than a splash. Once the mushroom cloud settled, I began cranking. The lure’s mass constricted the line like a tightrope. The pole bowed. No black bass could consume such a mammoth bait…

The lure’s blades flashed brilliantly and pounded like timpani. The retrieve continued; I was halfway in. Confidence was waning, though. It must be too large. But then, contained within a nanosecond, faith was restored. Somewhere, beyond the weedline, down the break, the freakish spinnerbait was waylaid. At first there was the feeling of emptiness in my hands, but that vacancy was soon replaced by a jolt, a waterskiing takeoff sort of dislodging. A good fall fish was on the line.
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New Tools: Timely and Applicable

By Scott Bonnema

The proverbial adage about “having the right tools for the job” couldn’t be more germane to fishing. And fortunately, we live in innovative and high-tech times where manufacturers strive to accommodate specific fishing needs.  

Each year, as winter cedes to spring, droves of new products arrive on the scene. Some revolutionize the way we fish, others improve the established, and a wanton few materialize just for the sake of materializing – reeling-in anglers only, not improving our craft.

2003 Ranger 521VX with 250HP Mercury XS