-
2 weeks ago | 
gameandfishmag.com | David Brown
Brandon Palaniuk has fished the nation's top-rated smallmouth waters, from Pickwick Lake in the Deep South to Lake Champlain and the mighty St. Lawrence River in the Northeast. However, the two-time Bassmaster Elite Angler of the Year's personal-best smallie-a 7 3/4-pound beast-came from an Idaho reservoir. Sure, not all Western smallmouths are that big, but there are plenty of them, and if you do your homework and put in the water time, western fisheries can produce epic smallmouth bites.
-
2 months ago | 
gameandfishmag.com | David Brown
From the sidelines, one can hear all the hype around live sonar and view it merely as an electronic cast net. But that's really not the case. This spell-binding technology equips and enables anglers like nothing ever seen before. Yet, when it comes to catching fish, can any amount of electronic enlightenment really deliver "easy" consistently?
-
2 months ago | 
gameandfishmag.com | David Brown
On the way to his next snook spot, Capt. William Burbach spotted a crab trap buoy out of the corner of his eye. While passing the Styrofoam sphere off the starboard bow, Burbach caught a glimpse of a dark silhouette suspended just below the float. Instantly, he knew just what it was: a tripletail.
-
Jan 9, 2025 | 
fieldandstream.com | Scott Bestul |Dave Hurteau |Phil Bourjaily |David Brown
These days, with every deer hunter and his brother running trail cameras and able to keep tabs on specific bucks for years, we sometimes hear about 7-1/2, 8-1/2, or even 9-1/2-year-old or older whitetails finally wearing a tag after an epic campaign. But the truth is, most wild deer never come close to reaching those ages.
-
Jan 8, 2025 | 
fieldandstream.com | Dave Hurteau |Phil Bourjaily |David Brown |Scott Bestul
Where do deer sleep? Well, as every deer hunter who’s ever jumped a bedded buck knows, they don’t do a lot of sleeping. When deer lay down to take their rest, they may dose a little here and there, but their main job is to sit still and look for trouble. Still, a whole of people google “where do deer sleep?” and whether that’s you and you’re new to hunting or you’re a hardcore hunter looking to nail down specific buck beds for the coming fall, the answer is pretty much the same.
-
Jan 1, 2025 | 
fieldandstream.com | David Brown |Scott Bestul |Dave Hurteau |Phil Bourjaily
The biggest challenge of creating a list of the best places to fish in Florida is whittling the numerous options down to a manageable group. We’re not trying to summarize the entire state; rather, the goal here is to offer a representative sampling of Sunshine State delights. As with all lists, exclusion implies not disrespect, so save the hate mail. This roundup simply highlights some of Florida’s more notable destinations.
-
Aug 31, 2024 | 
gameandfishmag.com | David Brown
Ken Mah picked me up at Paradise Point Marina in Stockton, Calif., and told me to hurry up and load my gear because he needed to go punch someone. A retired Correctional Safety Fugitive Apprehension Team member, Mah's a capable guy, but really, he's not like that-unless you're a largemouth bass. About an hour later, the pro from Elk Grove, Calif., proved as much by hauling a 7-pounder through a bucketful of matted hydrilla.
-
Aug 24, 2024 | 
gameandfishmag.com | David Brown
Hardcore bass anglers who've fished Lake Champlain rave about it. Those who haven't need to get with the program. Discovered in 1609 by French explorer and cartographer Samuel de Champlain, this magnificent 514-square-mile fishery straddling the New York-Vermont border has thrilled tournament bass fishermen and casual anglers alike for years with its nearly equal numbers of big largemouths and smallmouths.
-
Aug 15, 2024 | 
nny360.com | David Brown
WADDINGTON — It was a case of quality over quantity, but Japanese superstar Taku Ito was just fine with the 5-bass limit of 26 pounds, 2 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. Ito, who won the 2021 St. Lawrence Elite event — also run out of Waddington — and claimed his second blue trophy June 30 at Smith Lake, heads into Day 2 with a 6-ounce margin over rookie Robert Gee.
-
Aug 12, 2024 | 
fieldandstream.com | David Brown
Nothing thrills like a topwater bite, and whether you're fishing during the early morning feed or prospecting a midday shade pocket, the right topwater bait often tempts the biggest fish. The question is: What is the right topwater bait? Knowing which lure to tie on for different conditions will go a long way toward watching more bass blow up on the surface. But even that is just half the battle.
