David Brown, Freelance Journalist Profile

Articles

5 Finesse Baits for Summertime Smallmouth

2 weeks ago | fieldandstream.com | David Brown

Plenty of hefty smallmouth bass fall for crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, and midsize swimbaits all along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. These more aggressive lures have their time and place, but when it comes to consistently catching bronzebacks, nothing beats finesse tactics. Bassmaster Elite pro, Jeff Gustafson, always has an array of finesse presentations ready to go when targeting big smallies.
How to Punch Weedbeds for Summer Bass

2 weeks ago | fieldandstream.com | David Brown

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›Anglers faced with the challenge of reaching summer bass sheltering beneath thick cover typically turn to punching—the act of driving a Texas-rigged soft-plastic bait through dense vegetation with a heavy weight. This technique may seem like a simple, brute-force tactic, but it’s more nuanced than many anglers think.
Foolproof Plan to Catch More Bass: Fishing the Riprap

1 month ago | gameandfishmag.com | David Brown

Blake Dyer calls March 7, 2024, his son Brock's birthdate, the biggest day of his life. Close second: September 28, 2019. That's when Dyer won the FLW Costa Series tournament on his beloved California Delta home waters. He did so by fishing what he considers one of the most dependable bass habitats. "Riprap was definitely the key to my success in that tournament. Especially on the Delta, it's something I'm always going to fish," says Dyer, who makes his home in Discovery Bay, Calif.
Boom Time for Bronzebacks: Smallmouth Bass in the Spring

2 months 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.
Electronic Stalking: How to Elevate Your Bass Fishing with FFS

Mar 2, 2025 | 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?
Tripletails Are Fun to Catch and Great on the Dinner Table

Feb 16, 2025 | 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.
How Long Do Deer Live?

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.
Where Do Deer Sleep?

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.
10 Best Places to Fish in Florida

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.
Delta Drawn: California Dreaming About Lunker Bass

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.