The month of November and December seem to be a blur. As I wrote my last article, I prepared for the first firearms season here in Illinois. As a bowhunter, you always want to have your first giant on the ground before the orange army hits the woods. It seems after firearms season it becomes harder to get those mature bucks on their feet during daylight. 

We spent most of the year preparing food plots and trying to provide our herd with more groceries during the summer and winter. We have been planting clovers for the last couple of years, and this year was the first time we had a pretty good stand of clover. The does have been hitting the plot all summer and fall and the bucks would come by a few times a week during the night to get their belly’s full. 

The biggest problem I had this year was mature bucks in daylight. I would see them on many occasions in the middle of the night on camera, but the days I would sit I would only see the younger does and bucks. There weren’t many days I didn’t see a handful of deer, so I know our clover has helped hold a few more deer than in the past.

We are just everyday Joes and have made plenty of mistakes along the way, but the only way to learn is to do your research and start planting. It definitely takes some trial and error, but it gives you another dimension to hunting. Every one of us are true conservationists, and in reality we want our herd to be healthy and happy and if we harvest a deer so be it but if not we will be back at again next year. 

Even though we still have some time left in the season, we are starting our plan for 2025. We are planning to do a little frost seeding to fill in some holes on our plot and then we have a ¼ section we are going to reclaim from set aside and see if we can get some corn or beans in. The one thing we are missing is some good old carbohydrates for the deer in the colder months. We noticed when the temperature dropped, our deer seemed to have moved over to the bean and corn fields. When the temperature warmed, they would be back on the clover plot. So, we know we have to create a cold weather food source and our plan is to plant some beans. We have a planter we bought several years ago that has never been used. This year we plan on changing that.

We have learned that you can’t just plant and let it go. Yes, I know we shouldn’t have even thought that way, but you know sometimes you skip a few steps and regret it. Not this year. We have tested our ph levels, ordered our lime and some fertilizer to add to our clover plot. One thing that made a huge difference last year was that we used IMOX on the clover plot to get rid of the grasses and it really did a nice job of eliminating unwanted grasses and allowed our clover to take over much better than in past years. So hopefully with a little lime, fertilizer, and some IMOX in the summer we should have more food for them this year.

Over the last few months, I was worried that the EHD had hit our area hard. The reports of deer being found all along the Illinois River were outrageous. One duck club on the river had 27 dead deer in its impoundments. I had several others say it was hard to even be on the river in September because the smell was so bad. Everything was looking very bleak going into season. I knew we have lost a few just by running into the smells while on the property. It’s heartbreaking to run into that smell when you have done everything in your power to keep them healthy. 

One thing about EHD and other deer diseases, I feel like we could prevent the outbreaks. For instance, sheep are very susceptible to EHD, and they are giving medicine. If they have medicine that they give cows, sheep and or any other animal to help prevent these diseases then I feel like it should be added to feed, and we should be able to give it to our deer to help them fight disease. 

The one major factor why this will probably never happen is the insurance companies. They don’t want any more deer roaming around running into cars because it costs them so much money. I think we should be able to feed our deer the necessary nutrients and antibiotics to keep them disease free. No way would any normal person have the money to fight the insurance companies, but I sure wish we could convince our DNR to change the rules and let us feed the deer and develop a feed that can keep them from being devasted by disease. It seems like a simple answer but yet here we are just waiting each year to see how affected our deer herd is. 

I was excited about firearms season because my daughter and son were planning to join. The first day of firearms season my daughter and I enjoyed a morning in the blind. It doesn’t seem to matter if we see deer we just enjoy being with each other in the outdoors. Opening day was as slow as I have ever experienced. We saw nothing until we walked out and then we saw a very small yearling we called baby. I am sure one of the dead deer on our property is her mom. She is not much bigger than a dog and she has been hanging out by our food plot by herself since mid-September. She finally teamed up with another yearling and they have kept me entertained most of the season. 

Day two was much the same. I saw a few more deer but nothing older than 1 ½ years old. At this point, I have been hunting hard since early November and I could tell I was starting to get burned out. It seems to happen to me every year around this time. I think it’s my ADHD in me that can only handle so many hours in the woods before I need a little break. As the weekend went on, it was much of the same. A few small deer but nothing mature. At the end of the weekend, we had not fired a shot. Probably the first time I can remember that no one even lifted their gun. One thing I thought was unique is I only heard 4 shots all weekend. Usually, I hear four shots by 8am on Friday. 

After the first weekend was over, I was anxious to see what the harvest numbers were. When the numbers came out that we harvested more in 2024 than in 2023. It really makes no sense to me. I have talked to many people over the last few weeks, and they all said the same thing. Very little shots, only seeing small deer but yet numbers were up. I guess it was just our part of the county that seemed to be slow. 

  I took the following Thanksgiving weekend off from deer hunting and just spent some time with my wife and family. On Saturday, I did decide to get Lucy out for a round of duck hunting. She hadn’t been in several weeks and we had a few ducks on our ditch so my buddy Craig, Tim, and I and our dogs Wrigley, Duke, and Lucy decided to try our luck. We arrived at the club early on Saturday morning and decided to wait until daybreak to head down the ditch and jump a few birds. Then we sat down to see if they come back over the next couple of hours. 

We didn’t have to walk very far, and the ditch lit up with gadwalls. I pulled up on one and someone smoked it. I went to the next and pulled the trigger and boy did I whiff. Luckily Tim and Craig dropped four, so the dogs got to get a little work in. I learned that I have a few things to work on with Lucy. She is a great retriever for a one-year-old, but she has some work to do on crossing water and continuing to follow my commands. I actually think my yard has created a little problem because it isn’t big enough and she was stopping too soon and, of course, my e-collar wasn’t working so it was a challenge to get them on the birds, but once they calmed down and used their nose she was just fine. It didn’t help that she had a month’s layoff, but she got the job done anyways.

We were surprised at the number of ducks we had on our ditch. It has been at least five or six years since we have had that many. Of course, it is the first time in several years we actually have some ice in late November. When everything freezes up and you have a ditch that is supplied with spring water, it sure can make for some up-close fast action. We have now hunted the ditch a few times and we kill a few birds every time. Nothing spectacular but hey I would much rather duck hunt than deer hunt anyways.

We have some big plans for our duck grounds this next year. We are going to work with our neighbors to get our duck grounds and ditches back to the way they once were so we can start getting some corn planted in the grounds. It’s been 20 years since we have had corn in the impoundment, and I am dead set now that I have some ownership to get it back to the glory days where we can at least get a few good shoots out of. It sure would be a lot easier to get this all done if I was rich. I am sure you all can relate. Great ideas just need capital. 

The second season of firearms was much of the same. Thursday came and it was -9 degrees real feel when I was heading to the woods. I thought the temperatures would have them on their feet and I would be waiting. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I saw a few young deer but nothing of any age or size. I really don’t need a bunch of deer meat this year so if it’s not a mature deer I am not even considering it this year. I hunted on Thursday and Friday and then decided my time was better spent duck hunting. During the firearms portion of the deer season we didn’t harvest a deer. Hard to believe considering when I was a kid on Friday morning of opening day there was always a few hanging in the barn. Not in 2024 so all the big lueys will have a chance to get bigger if they don’t make a mistake during the later part of bow season. 

Now we start trapping and getting some predators out of our area along with some beavers. Our trail cams this year have had coyotes on them all year long and we need to get that under control before the babies are born next spring. We also have another problem we haven’t had in a couple of years and that is my most hated animal the beaver. These things cause me more problems than any other animal on this earth. After having trappers in our area for a couple of years we have really gotten the numbers down and for the last couple of summers we haven’t been tearing out beaver dams. Well, as soon as we blocked our water for the duck grounds they returned. Time to get my license secured and start chasing some beavers. It is hard to believe but over a three-year period we have taken over 40 beavers off one little ditch. I believe the reason for so many making our place home is the springs we have feeding our ditches. During the summer these ditches run nice and cool and as soon as mom kicks last year’s babies out they start making there way to our area. I am sure it is because of the nice fresh cold water being fed into the ditch every day. Hopefully we can get a few out of there again this year and not have to worry about tearing out beaver dams all summer long. Not much I hate worse than tearing out a beaver dam in waders when it’s 80 degrees. Trust me you will cuss them like no other and they have cost me many of sets of waders as well. 

It looks like 2025 will be a year of many changes. Hopefully everyone has had a great 2024 and looking forward to an even better 2025. Let’s make 2025 one to remember.

Until next month. May your sunrises and sunsets be magical!

The Pig Pen

A call came in from a close buddy saying the ramp was open. South winds and a little rain had eating the ice off the lake several days sooner than I had expected. I had been caught with my pants down, still changing the line on reels and building leaders for the upcoming spring ice out muskie season. Most of my baits had been checked and the hooks replaced and sharpened with new split rings. I have learned that the ice out season can come as early as the first of February, so I always start working on the season in January during the long cold nights after returning home from goose hunting. 

My buddy said he was headed down after church.  He wanted to know if I wanted to climb in his boat. The answer was a sound, “yes,” after he explained there were still patches of ice on the lake and my big glass Targa would be of no use to us if we had to break some ice. I had a couple hours to get a few baits and rods ready before I had to meet him at the ramp. The choices of baits were easy, big rubber and big glide baits were on the menu for this afternoon.  I grabbed a couple of newly re-lined Johnny Morris wide spool reels and two 7’6’’ Bass Pro Shops muskie angler rods.  My choice of leaders was 9’’ solid spring steel leaders that I make myself along with a couple of 100 lb. fluorocarbon in case the water was extremely clear. I grabbed one clear box and started filling it with baits. Oh, crap. I almost forgot the order I had gotten in from Rollin and Helens Muskie Shop I had received a few days prior. There were a few new baits I was wanting to give a toss. 

Time for launch was nearing, so I grabbed my 100-mph suit, put the liner in the jacket, toe warmers in the boots, and tossed it all in the Tundra. On my way to the ramp, the truck was being moved around a little from the strong southeast winds.  With ramp in sight, I thought to myself, “I hope he has enough trolling motor to keeps us fishing in this wind.” I was not really thrilled about spending the afternoon being spun around the lake like a top on a tabletop, but in the back of my head, I knew my buddy was also a perfectionist and his equipment would be up for the task at hand. 

I turned down the road towards the ramp and I could see he was already unstrapping the boat. There was no one in sight, so the open water was ours. The Mercury sprang to life after a couple of cranks and we were off with both of our eyes glued to the electronics looking for that exact area where the Pig Pen had been set up for that day. 

What is a pig pen you ask? Well, a Pig Pen is a spot where the wind, water temperature, and clarity have made the conditions perfect for the large gizzard shad schools to congregate. These large schools of 6 to 8-inch shad are perfect hunting grounds to bring the pre-spawn female muskies in from all areas of the lake and concentrate them in a small area I call the Pig Pen. A pen of hungry muskies eating, preparing to eat, or just finished eating. You can sit on these areas for a long time because the fish are moving in or out of the schools.  Every cast you make has the potential of contacting a fresh fish looking for an easy meal.  So, that explains the pen part of the equation, and we all know what a Pig is, a big fat pre-spawn muskie, the fish that have haunted our dreams since the boats have wintered. We contacted a large school of shad not far from the ramp. The ball looked good but did not have the large arches near it meaning the muskies were not there. Opting not to fire cast at any shad balls until we contacted big fish near or in them, we pushed on. Not far from the last ball was another.  This one was much deeper with good arches on it. We dropped in the Minn Kota and started to launch baits at different angles at the school. The wind had picked up, and boat control was getting tough. Without a follow or any hits, we moved on. 

The 3rd school we contacted was tucked in on the back side of a point so we could position the boat out of the wind but still hit the bait ball. Within seconds of our baits hitting the water, we had a follow and then another.  Slow and deep they came, one after another.  No takers.  They just slipped back into the darkness without much interest in our baits. The dark day was turning darker, and the cold was freezing the water in the guides as the afternoon grew later. My buddy knew of one last place he had contacted large schools of shad the spring before, so we pulled the electric and made for one last spot.  

As luck had it, the shad were on the spot as well as the muskies.  The wind was perfect and blowing into a little cove.  We were low on battery power, so we set up upwind letting mother nature move us along. It was not long before I had a tap on the large plastic, kind of like a light walleye hit, but firm. I reeled back and set the hook.  Immediately, the fish ran for deep water so hard it spun the small aluminum boat around 90 degrees. We were deep in the cove, so boat control was tough. The fish ran hard, and I yelled, “get me the hell out of this cove so I can fight the Bi…!” Before he could make the hard turn, the fish was gone. Damn. I never caught up to her. I don’t think I got the hooks buried. The combination of wind, slack line, and a bad choice of rod action cost me a fish. The 7’6’’ medium heavy action rod had not been stiff enough to bury the hooks in her tough jaw bone. 

The ride back home was full of questions. I walked in the door and immediately looked at the weather on my laptop. The really cold stuff was not going to be back in the area until tomorrow night. I ran back outside and plugged in my Targa. The LED lights sprang to life like Christmas tree lights on a cold December night.  All systems were charging. I went back in the house, removed the layers of clothing, and headed to my basement lair where I had several new rods fresh in from Bass Pro Shops. My eyes were straining in the dim light to make out the small writing on the rods.  Back upstairs, I bolted for my cheaters, fumbling through the new rods until I grabbed one that was a broomstick, 9‘ heavy action the small print said. This rod was a piece of lumber and just what the doctor had ordered. I unwrapped it and mounted the Johnny Morris wide spool reel, and set to work making a couple of leaders just a little longer, considering the size of the fish and the slack line often encountered when fishing rubber deep.

The rest of the night was spent tossing and turning, reliving the previous day’s events. Was that fish still there? If it wasn’t, were there bigger ones on the same school of shad? I awoke twice and rechecked the weather, reassuring myself there was a window that I could get my boat in and have another go at it. 

Around 9 am, the weather had finally gotten above freezing. The boat was on the Tundra, and I was just loading my thermos with hot coffee when the phone rang. It was my buddy who had been in the office all morning moving appointments trying to free up a couple of hours to get back on the water. He had succeeded and was headed to the ramp. I was happy to hear this because the fish had been in an area without much wiggle room and another hand would be a great help if one of us hooked one of the pigs. 

We watched my new Hummingbird big screen for signs of life under the surface as we motored to our previous spot. On the way, we were getting discouraged because of the lack of life moving. We had not seen any shad moving. Had last night’s cold temps pushed them back on the bottom? With 100 yards to go to the spot I lost the fish, the new color screen lit up with all of the colors of the rainbow. Whoo hoo! The shad were here and so were the pigs. They were still penned up at the mouth of the cove.  

I immediately dropped in my Minn Kota and turned on the front electronics. We both double checked the split rings, drags and hooks before lobbing our first cast into the bait ball. I was using a knew bait, same style but new color. I had given the bait I had hooked on the fish on the day before to my buddy. The shad were about 10 feet deeper than yesterday, so we counted the baits down before each retrieve. About 10 minutes into the set, we had calmed down and were working the baits at the proper depths. I made a long cast out over the bow and counted the baits down to 12 before I raised the rod. I lifted the rod. There was no resistance from the bait. I dropped the tip and reeled the slack up, feeling weight, I reared back with everything I had, hitting the immovable object so hard I felt like I broke a rib. The object I had hooked was solid. It did not give an inch. Had I hooked a stump? Wait. There it was, a hard head shake meaning the new 4x hooks had found a soft spot. We immediately went into a controlled frenzy. Fish on……Get the net! I could not move her. She stayed deep. 

The heavy action rod bowed like the leaf spring on a jacked-up truck. I held on with everything I had, backing off the drag ever so slightly. I was not about to give her any slack this time. She stayed deep, always heading nose down on her runs until the heavy action of the rod made her level out. Slowly, I worked the fish, keeping steady pressure on her. It had been several minutes since I hooked her, but she was showing signs of tiring. Foot by foot, I recovered the line until she broke the surface 10 feet out facing away from the boat. I yelled, “she is not ready yet.” “Wait until she is turned toward the boat.”  “I want her face first into the net.” “Don’t you miss this fish buddy!” The heavy action of the rod forced her to turn and head our way. Into the water the big Fraible net went as she swam towards us head first into the net. “Holy sh..,” I yelled, as she rolled in the net still in the water. All I could see of the big bait was a small piece of tail hanging out of her mouth. “Damn, she ate that one,” I exclaimed. She remained calm as I went to work on removing the hooks from her. Twice, she slammed her mouth shut sending the jaw spreader flying almost out of the net. You cannot believe the power these big fish have. 

Hooks out, I struggled to hoist her out of the water for a picture. We put her back into the water quickly making sure she was good to go after such a hard fight. Her large tail seemed to be waving goodbye at us as she sunk back into the depths she came from. She was a true giant, I never got a girth measurement on her as the hook removal took some time and I wanted no extra stress put on her. A stare into two buddies’ eyes after an event like that cannot be explained in words. It took teamwork to land that fish. It was as much as a victory for my buddy as it was for me. It will forever be burned into my brain with the other memories from the PIG PEN until the ice once again leaves the lake and the hogs put on the feed bag!

I will, once again, be taking a limited number of clients out looking for these big girls. If you want a crack at one of them, you better call or e-mail me soon as trips are limited. You can reach me at 309-267-8309 by phone or by e-mail at trolling@mtco.com. I will also be doing seminars at the Bass Pro Shops in Bolingbrook, Illinois at the Spring Classic in February. 

SEE ‘YA ON THE WATER!

Snow Days and Show Days

Happy 2025 ANGLERS!!! Let this year be the year where you set some goals and fish different structures, water columns, and bait options. Lake Shelbyville has had temporary ice at times earlier this year so be sure to check in with someone before you come. Call a friend, dress warm, use light weight jigs and come catch some SLABS on Lake Shelbyville. The structure bite is very good, and the open water is even better so play the weather and come catch some winter time and winter pattern crappie. Also, this is the start of the “fishing show season” and I will discuss a couple to consider attending.

First, I hope each and every one reading this takes a few minutes and try to come up with some goals to widen your fishing technique arsenal. I am going to mention a couple to consider and why/when to use that technique. Casting to crappie is something I do on each guide trip and clients fall in love with bite when crappie chases down that bait. Casting allows you to stay away from the schools and the structure without the fish knowing you are there. As the crappie begins to hold in massive schools on structure you can literally be fishing over a school of 250 or more crappie. 

If the fish are holding above the structure and you can tie up a double rig you can really activate that school and many times catch two at a time. Next, while fishing the 6–10-foot water column I recommend everyone doing some set cork fishing. When fishing “pole timber” in that 6–10-foot water typically active fish will be holding around 3-4 feet below the surface. When you see some timber at the surface of the water, pitch your cork past it and work it back slowly and pause it close to the tree. Active fish in colder water take longer to commit at times and using that cork to keep your bait suspended in the strike zone is what it takes some days. “Strolling your bait” is the last technique I will recommend and why to use it. 

When fishing a hot contour that has a good amount of either natural or artificial structure, leave your bait in the water between structures and catch those fish in that transition water. Many times, crappie holding away from structure are the more active and aggressive fish. Simply hold your rod tip to the degree that drags your line and be ready for a very bite. Also, by leaving your bait in the water you will catch fish that followed you pulled off of that structure. If you bring your bait out of the water between your structures many times you will have pulled it away from a crappie you could have had a good chance to catch. 

Lastly, please consider changing up water columns, baits, and techniques faster each trip if the bite is not what you are happy with. Good luck out there to everyone with your goals for this season. I hope to reach mine!!!

Snow days are perfect for show days and the first one of the year, I hope everyone gets a chance to visit the ‘Let’s Go Fishing Show’ in Collinsville, Illinois on January 3,4 and 5. Along with a ton of vendors and exhibits I will be giving two seminars that weekend. The first will be on Friday afternoon at 4:00pm in the Mississippian Room and the second is at 5:30pm on Saturday in the Marquette Room. I will be discussing crappie fishing tips and tricks and fielding questions from the crowd again. The second show is the Grizzly Jig Show in Caruthersville, Missouri on January 31st. thru February 2nd. This show is the BIGGEST CRAPPIE SHOW of the YEAR!!!! From seminars to pros to meet with everything specific to crappie!!! Attendance is always around the 10,000 person mark so please check it out if you have the time.

I am booking trips for the year 2025 and have about 12 days left in April and May combined so please book your trips early and ensure your days. I would like to take this time and thank each and every client, reader, follower and those who gave referrals to my guide business, England Expeditions Inc. This next season I will be fishing from my 2024 Falcon F205. It has the Garmin 8616, Garmin 1243, 2 Helix Humminbirds with Power Poles and Crappie Brakes all to fit your needs for any type of crappie fishing. Please keep those young adults fishing because they are our next generation to keep this sport going!!! To book a trip please visit www.englandexpeditions.com or 217-520-3653.

Tough Going!

The sport of Water-fowling is often tough on equipment and men!  If saving money and keeping your truck, boat, outboard, shotgun etc. in pristine or garage trophy condition is your goal, Duck Hunting is not your best choice of activities!  Myself – keeping equipment in good condition no matter the age and saving money are important but the lure of the hunt on the water often dictates some sacrifice on my part!  Luckily, some of my fellow compatriots let me tag along in their pursuit of the devils’ flock putting their equipment on the line in the process!  This was especially true on this cold December day with the water freezing to near lock down on the slough!

The early morning advance to our blind in JJ Sykes’s Roughneck Jon boat was difficult but with the assistance of one of the three parties hunting the lower end of Sanganois advancing before us and breaking the overnight freeze up of ice to forge a path, made the trip workable.  We would return the favor the following morning by being the ice breaker in the lead!  The large sheets of ice being broken and parted create a unique sound and feel to the four riders in the boat as the aluminum boat must bear the strain!    

Once arriving at our destination, the hole created in the decoy spread for approaching ducks was clear of ice thanks to the Ice Eater running all night to keep the hole open.  The steady to strong wind of the North/Northwest vintage was to our liking as the cold and wind may bring new ducks and with the open hole in our spread, a strong inclination to seek our spread for refuge!    

The anticipation for success this morning was quickly rewarded as the Ducks would decoy according to plan and with the crack shots exhibited by Dave Dickerson, JJ Sykes and Randy Grant most would not leave our set up!  This invitingly enticing hole was surrounded by buck brush, timber and of course ice making birds able to make the shore difficult to locate!   On one group of four, a mallard managed to escape the decoys after the volley and dropped in the timber but a quick follow up using the boat and walking reconnaissance, JJ and I located the bird thanks to the fine mark maintained by Dave and Randy from the blind!  

As the morning progressed, our success continued with a steady action of singles and doubles buying the ruse of our spread and succumbing to some good shooting by my blind mates.  Breakfast cooked by Mr. Dickerson, was scrumptious and the blind with the wall heater and two portable heaters kept us comfortable during the hunt.  

With me being the worst of eyesight of the bunch would be relegated to being advised when incoming birds approached.  Most of the birds who worked provided a steady and predictable ingress allowing for some good shooting resulting in “that’s the way to do it” results!  Although I shot at the birds and probably had success with a few, the others made sure no birds escaped if possible!  

Still smarting from my weeks earlier episode while deer hunting when my arrow shot a tree limb instead of the big ten pointer I was after; this duck trip relieved my sorrow for a while and reminded one of the beauty experienced in the outdoors and how lucky we are to enjoy its bounty!  Great calling, some good shooting and good blind mates made this hunt one for the books.  The Sanganois State Waterfowl area is quite unique in natural beauty and natural endowments coupled with the quality hunting offered.  Thanks to Doug Jollis and his crew for maintaining this facility for our Waterfowl hunting experiences!   

Thanks to Terry “Doc” Enloe for my lodging before the hunt and providing the Blind’s Ice Eater and fuel used to keep the ice at bay at the blind location.  My contribution was only as a storyteller, most of my recollections they had heard before but they endured again! This group provided an experience becoming less often as we grow older with this traditional and successful but tough “Duck Hunting” trip.

AR-10: MY DEER RIFLE

I grew up in a dream world.  My Dad and both of my grandfathers hunted and fished.  I learned from the very best.  I killed my first deer when I was 11 years old with a lever action Winchester Model 94 .30-.30.  That was my deer rifle until my senior year of High School.

To show how much times have changed since then, my dad won a Remington .30-06 at halftime of my homecoming football game from the Booster Club.  That night I inherited his .308 Remington pump.   Since then, .308 has been my cartridge of choice for everything from whitetails to mule deer to elk.

Until recently my favorite .308 was a Winchester Model 70 SA bolt action.  For a long list of reasons, a couple of years ago I assembled a Smith & Wesson AR-10, .308.  This would be my new deer rifle.

I had grown tired of media lies labeling this style of gun as a man killer.  They preached that AR stands for automatic rifle or assault rifle.  The ArmaLite Rifle style is no more than that.  A style of rifle.

My desire, both in print and on video, is to try to correctly educate those who are a bit less conservative than me.  I want to enlighten everyone reading this to give you more clarity and knowledge about AR platform rifles.

The .308 cartridge is ballistically the same regardless of the rifle that shoots it.  It is no more deadly coming out of a black, synthetic gun than from a wooden stock rifle.  .308 is .308, plain and simple.  The greatest danger is in the hands of the person holding it.

I topped my AR-10 with a VORTEX Crossfire 3-9 x 50 scope.  This combination has turned into a tack driver for me.  I love it.  I shoot Hornady American Whitetail 150gr Interlock ammo.

So, to further prove my point, even though Missouri allows 10 round magazines for deer hunting, since my Winchester only holds 5 shells, I loaded my AR with 5 rounds to keep everything equal.

As I climbed into my TIDEWE VisMaster blind on that mid-November afternoon I had high hopes.  This blind is an excellent choice since you can see though all four walls, but nothing can see into the blind from the outside.  Its camo pattern is perfect and there is more than enough room for two people to hunt and to film.  I highly recommend it; tidewe.com

I was excited to be in this spot again.  My Grandson Connor took a great 8-point buck here back in Youth Season.  I saw several deer here during a couple of bow hunts back in October.  I was not going to be too picky.  I had a point to drive home.

I had an antlerless only and an any deer permit, and I was ready to put some meat in the freezer.  I had taken a nice doe with my bow during the first week of November, and one more sure would not hurt.

It was a bit warmer than I would have liked.  This made it even more important to use my SCENT THIEF spray prior to every trip into the timber.  This product eliminates the deer’s ability to smell anything, including you.  scentthief.com.  The afternoon mid 40’s would fall into the high 30’s after dark.  I was hoping there would be late day movement.

At about 4:30 I saw deer coming right at me over the rise in the cut soybean field.  Through my binoculars I saw a very mature doe being followed by a pair of yearlings.  I immediately started both of my video cameras and turned on the red dot in my scope.  The doe crossed the ditch in front of me and started up the slight slope, moving right to left.

I checked the timber to pick my shot.  When she stepped into that spot, I sent ammo downrange.  A solid, double-lung hit at 70-yards, and I saw her drop after a short 40-yard run.

At that moment my AR-10 officially became my new deer rifle.  Regardless of popular…and less popular opinion, AR platform rifles are great for hunting. 

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Legislative Update

We are watching several bills that will probably come up in lame duck session.  Tentative lame duck session will be between the 2nd and 8th of January at noon.  The new legislature will be seated January 8th at noon.  This is an unusually long time for a lame duck session.  There is plenty of mischief that can be done.  Aside from our bills, which are listed below, my guess is they are going to try and do as much damage to President-Elect Trump’s agenda as possible.

HB5888 –  Lost and Stolen Firearms

HB5891 and SB3971  –  Safe Storage of Firearms

SB2633 “Karina’s Law” –  This is a push for gun confiscation by the police.

These bill numbers could change, so be careful about them.

Litigation Update

The ISRA lawsuit – Harrel v Raoul, has been combined with the National Shooting Sports Foundation – and is now known as Barnett v Raoul – and it’s currently before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. On December 5th, the Seventh Circuit ruled in favor of the State of Illinois and extended the stay that was issued by Federal District Court Judge Stephen McGlynn.

The stay will be in effect until the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals hears the case and makes a decision.  This means the PICA is still fully in effect and we are at the mercy of the Seventh Circuit.

Presently, we have not received a briefing schedule.  And while we hope to move this case along as quickly as possible, the reality is that it could be another year or so. But whatever the time frame – we will not stop working to advance our position, even if that means petitioning the Supreme Court of the United States.

Rest assured, the ISRA will not back down until our 2nd Amendment rights are restored in Illinois – no matter how much it costs or how much time it takes. We won’t back down.

Important Announcement – IGOLD

The 2025 IGOLD date has been moved to May 14, 2025.  This is due to a change in the legislative calendar.  I am looking forward to seeing you there.

A Bum Takes A Bullet To The Bum

  Rockford, Illinois   –   On November 25, Nathaniel Brooks, age 32, began beating, punching and slapping a sixty-year-old woman.  This was a domestic disturbance of some sort.  Despite warnings from an elderly gentleman in the house, Brooks would not stop physically assaulting the woman.  The older man retrieved his pistol and called 911.  As the assault continued, the elderly gentleman shot Brooks in the butt, putting a stop to his abuse.  Mr. Brooks is now residing in the Winnebago County jail, lucky that it was just his pride that took a hit that day.  I am sure when everyone has to stand when the judge enters the courtroom, Mr. Brooks will be more than happy to do so.

Sometimes The Bear Gets Even

In Virginia, a bear hunter drove his quarry up a tree.  Deciding to shoot the bear out of the tree, which he did, he ended up in a bit of a quandary.  His problem was he had stood too close to the tree and, when he shot the bear, the bear fell on him.  The hunter ended up in the hospital in serious, but stable, condition, but  I cannot imagine how he is going to explain this wild hunting story to his buddies.

Unconstitutional Gun Ban to Continue as 7th Circuit Extends Stay

On December 5th, 2024, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order extending the stay of Judge McGlynn’s decision finding the Illinois Gun Ban to be unconstitutional. The stay remains in place until the 7th Circuit can hear the case, which means that the unconstitutional gun ban continues to remain in effect.

While we are glad that Federal District Court Judge Stephen McGlynn’s stay would have expired on Sunday, December 8th, we are disappointed – but not surprised – that the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has extended that stay. Back in November, we were victorious when Judge McGlynn found the provisions of the Illinois ban on commonly owned firearms and accessories known as “PICA” to be unconstitutional. The State appealed immediately to the Seventh Circuit, so we also know that this battle is far from over.

When this unconstitutional bill was signed by Gov. Pritzker in January 2023, we promised to see the State of Illinois in Court – and we’ve held firm on that promise – and we won’t back down until our 2nd Amendment rights are restored in Illinois.

Pritzker Ban on Commonly Owned Firearms Found Unconstitutional

The ISRA is proud to announce that Federal District Judge Stephen McGlynn has found the provisions of the Illinois ban on commonly owned firearms and accessories known as “PICA” to be unconstitutional. Furthermore, the State of Illinois is prohibited from enforcing provisions of this unconstitutional law related to registration, possession, and purchases of commonly owned firearms and accessories after December 8th, 2024.

The Illinois State Rifle Association has been fighting against this ban since it’s introduction at the Illinois Statehouse. Our legislative team tried to warn lawmakers about the unconstitutionality of Pritzker’s scheme.  After the Governor put his signature on this affront to citizen’s rights, the ISRA partnered with the Second Amendment Foundation to file suit in Federal Court with a promise to see this through to the US Supreme Court if necessary. Today’s ruling affirms our legislative position and shows our dedication to fighting on behalf of the millions of law-abiding Illinois firearms owners.

Barring any further court action, the ISRA looks forward to restoration of 2nd Amendment rights to Illinois firearms owners just in time for the holidays and winter hunting seasons.

ISRA Offering Free Firearm Safety & Training Lessons to Lucas Kunce, Adam Kinzinger

The Illinois State Rifle Association – one of the oldest and most respected gun organizations in the United States, released the following statement:

“After learning about an incident yesterday in Missouri where TV Reporter Ryan Gamboa was accidentally shot during a campaign event in the backyard of a private residence due to U.S. Senate candidate Lucas Kunce (D-MO) and former Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) violating commonly known safety rules by firing at steel targets in close range with an AR-15 using inappropriate ammunition, the ISRA would like to offer a complimentary firearm and safety training class at our 5-star range in Kankakee, Illinois area – Kinzinger’s hometown.

We don’t often talk about our range and academy – and we should – because it’s one of the finest facilities anywhere in the country. Over the years, we’ve trained well over 50,000 people, including active-duty military and civilians; National Guard members; people starring in television shows and movies; and Olympic and Junior Olympic team members. Our range has also won numerous awards and certificates of recognition from the National Guard and other respected organizations.

In addition to teaching firearm safety and marksmanship skills, we also teach wound care and First Aid training – something that would have been very useful as they applied bandages to the wounded reporter. We’re glad he is ok and that his injuries were not serious.

Over the last several years, both Lucas Kunce and Adam Kinzinger have called for an “assault weapons” ban, but the irony is that on Tuesday – they were caught firing the exact same type of firearm they want eliminated from gun collections. This is hypocrisy at its finest.”

To join the ISRA or donate, please visit www.isra.org

The end of October and early November are for one thing. Chasing big deer during rut. When I was younger, I really didn’t care much for deer hunting. My passion is and always will be waterfowl. As the years have gone by there have been fewer ducks which makes it easier to sit in a deer stand.

For most of my hunting career, I only shotgun hunted. Pretty much every year all I cared about was putting one down so I could spend more time in deer camp. 

When I purchased the magazine eight years ago the one thing, I was excited about was having a little extra time to do some bow hunting.  So, I purchased a bow and began practicing until I felt comfortable in making an ethical harvest. Of course, over the first couple of years I didn’t have anything of any size that would come close to me. This kind of lit a fire under me to take deer hunting a little more serious. Now that I was spending more time in the woods, I was being way more selective. We only really eat one deer a year, so it really wasn’t a necessity to harvest one with a bow when shotgun season still to come. After all the club was down to shooting 25-50 ducks a season there wasn’t much reason to even attempt duck hunting after the first couple of weeks of the season. I started to study deer behavior more and learned many lessons over the first five years of bow hunting. 

We have transformed our property into not just a piece of land set aside but a place for deer to live and thrive. It has taken several years and many mistakes in food plots to get where we are today. This year we have a couple of acres of clover, and it has really made the difference with holding many small bucks and does. I have yet to figure out how to get the big boys living there but sooner or later we will figure out the right location for bedding and I am sure they will come. 

At the beginning of bow season, I wasn’t very excited to hit the woods. I had been hearing about EHD all along the river. With us being right off the river I figured it would hit us too. The biggest problem is that back in 2013 and 2014 it hit us hard. We found several nice deer dead along the creek and the only thing we saw that year was yearlings. By the spring of 2015 it was hard to even see a deer on the property. It took a good three to four years to get any amount of herd left and to be honest this year seemed to be back to the old days with many different young bucks, nice group of 3 ½ and 4 ½ year olds and a few bruisers as well. I put off bow hunting until the end of October. Our land is not a giant piece of property, so we try not to blow it out before the rut even begins. In years past I know we have done that exact thing. 

I decided it was time to go out at midday and grab some camera cards and see what deer were hanging around the area. I walked about 50 yards, and the smell of death hit me. This must have been only a few days old because you couldn’t even breathe air without gagging. I headed in the timber to one of my cameras and boom there is the smell again. I was really getting worried now. I wasn’t even by the creek, or the drainage ditch and I am smelling death in two places. I grabbed a couple of cards and headed back home to see what was going on.

I started going through the cards and there were several nice young bucks on camera and a couple of shooters. Well, that is up until around September 9th and the only deer I had on camera was a couple of yearlings hanging by my camera all day every day without a mom insight. I figure one of the death smells was their mother, but I am not tromping through the property to find out. This was kind of a sucker punch. After working so hard over the last several years to get our herd back here we go again with this dam disease. I was discouraged but the only way to really tell is to get out there and hunt. 

October 30th rolled around, and it was time to start spending some time in the deer stand. I didn’t have a lot of hope but hey I was going to be outdoors one way or the other so might as well get the party started. During my first sit I did see several does and even a small bachelor group of bucks. One was a four point; one was three and the other was a basket eight point. This at least let me know that it didn’t affect the younger deer like it may have the more mature deer. I have noticed when disease does hit our area it doesn’t seem to affect the one to four-year-olds the same. 

Over the next week I hunted most mornings. I saw deer but nothing mature. So, I just kept hoping old big Luey would step out one day but for the first week that just didn’t happen. I was not at all deterred, I was just happy to see deer fearing that our herd was decimated again. 

The first few weeks of November have been very different than usual. We have had highs in the 60’s with nights in the upper 40’s and even 50’s. That is just too warm for hunting season. I know a lot of people say if the deer are rutting then it doesn’t matter about the temperature. I totally disagree with that. If a deer has its winter coat it wouldn’t take long for them to get warm walking. Now considering the bucks are pestering the does like crazy this time of year you think that doe wants to get pushed all over the neighborhood. No, so what does she do, She lays down and what does he do, lays down with her.

I just was talking with someone yesterday who said his nephew had a giant buck that he had six times one day, so he was going back for an all day sit the next. As daylight came he could see there was a doe with a buck laying in the grass. He said the doe and buck never left a 100-yard area the whole day. He decided to go back in on him the next day and guess what another whole day those two never left the cover of grass. So, for 48 or more hours those two deer laid by each other. They didn’t breed but he was going to be there when she was ready. 

The rut activity in our area has been very slow. I have watched many young bucks go over to the does and bump them around a little. After two or three times they realized they were not ready and moved along. I have watched this for over a week thinking that any day now they will stop checking and start chasing and seeking. As of the 13th, that still hasn’t happened. It does look like we may get a little cooler this weekend so hopefully rut kicks off with a bang. 

After this weekend and a few days next week we will have shotgun season and when that happens it becomes very difficult to harvest those big mature bucks. They get big for a reason and it’s not because they are stupid. That is why a good extended rut is always great. In order for that to happen the conditions have to be perfect and so far, all of my shooters are staying nocturnal and showing up every three to four days. All I can hope is when I get back to the stand this weekend one of them makes a mistake. 

Another duck opener has come and gone. For the first time in four years, I was actually here in Illinois instead of chasing Missouri deer. My buddy Tim wanted to go just to get the dogs out and I was all for that. We decided on our game plan for opening day and away we went. 

It was actually a nice cool morning for the opener, and we had a little water in the duck grounds so we were hoping the woodies would show up in full force like in past years but that didn’t really happen. As daylight approached, we had a few ducks in the air. Nothing like it used to be but at least there were some flying around. Just after shooting time, we had a nice group of gadwall swing over and started to work the calls. After a few passes they decided to come into the decoys and we were lucky enough to drop three out of the group. Not a bad start to the morning at all. We sat for a few hours with a couple of birds coming by here and there. We were getting a little bored when a single woody came by, and we dropped it, About a half our later another came by and we dropped it as well. We hunted for three or so hours and finally decided to call it quits.

I did hunt the opening weekend on Sunday but didn’t fire a shot. I did get a call from a friend of mine Dwayne Atherton offering to take me hunting on the river. Well, I have never hunted the river and have always wanted to so I jumped at the chance. I loaded up Tuesday morning and went to the meeting spot. It was raining but we had a nice wind to go with it. We knew once the rain stopped, we would get a few shots at some ducks rolling down the river. 

The rain started to lighten up and as soon as it did there came a couple of mallards. They were on my end of the blind and when he said take him, we pulled up and I dropped the drake. He was dead and we proceeded to waste a box of shells to finally get him. The wind was heavy and pushing the shot quite aways. After sitting there for an hour or so watching big flocks of ducks fly on the west side of the river we had a few pintail break off a group. Dwayne started calling and they started making a few swings. I helped call a little and the next swing they were coming down the chute. As he said to take them, I pulled up and caught my dam gun on my jacket. By the time I shot they were 60 yards away. Luckily one of the other guys in the blind were able to get one. A couple of the guys with us had to get back to work so called it a day. I had so much fun doing something new. I have always wanted to experience hunting the river and I appreciate Dwayne giving me that opportunity. 

After finishing the hunt, I told Dwayne thank you and off I went. He called me later asking if I wanted to go the next day, but I was already planning to get back into deer hunting for another week. But, I know once this month’s magazines are done, who I will be calling. Hopefully I will get a few more ducks before the season ends.

Until next month. May your sunrises and sunsets be magical!

The Dark Waters of December

Boredom had set in so deep that a move to retrieve the television remote felt like I had run a 5k road race.  I hurt.  The years of breaking my back, pounding stones and running rough water had taken its toll on my body.  There was work to be done, but the mind somehow was not able to communicate it to my muscles. They say that when the mind is not stimulated, it grows weak. Well, right now, mine felt like a 90 lb. kid.  You know, the one that was in the old magazine ads getting sand kicked in his face on the beach.  

The goose season was slow. The warm weather up north had left the sky’s void of the large flocks of migrators. The locals were wary beyond belief. I watched them daily skirt the decoys with the precision of a laser guided saw.  In and out, they weaved like they were following the pattern a computer had plotted.  Yeah, a few screwed up now and then, just enough to keep you making the walk to the pit each time the weather changed in hopes of a cold front moving in.  

Just thinking about the last couple waterfowl seasons, was pushing me deeper into a state of depression. There was only one cure.  No, get your mind out of the gutter man.  The cure is not a who, but a what.  Long and slender with a look to kill for, she moves like a snake in the grass, mysterious, misunderstood, and highly prized.  She is the stuff men have dreamed of, even fought over.  She is the queen of her domain.  Rarely seen, she appears suddenly as a shadow then sulks back into the Dark waters of the December like some kind of lost soul. You never know when she will appear.  Your constant pleads are, more often than not, unanswered.  She ignores you, and often makes you look like a fool.  

The gifts you offer are expensive and often made by the hands of the most skilled craftsmen, yet she looks but does not accept.  There is no bribing her with shiny beads and trinkets.  If, and when, she decides to take your offerings, she does with such force your knees buckle.  The heart pounds like it wants nothing less than to jump from your chest.  I have seen this she devils reduce men to a pile of quivering flesh in a matter of just a few short seconds, yet they still pursue her even knowing that they will most likely be rejected.  Just the thought of holding her in your arms for a brief moment, smelling her intoxicating scent, and running your hands over her moist body keeps you focused and deliberate in your actions.  You will not be denied.  Day after day, the pursuit is relentless.  She moves, you counter.  She bobs, you weave.  It is as if you were made for each other, but yet she pays attention to you today and another person tomorrow.  Let’s dance you and I.  Stop this silly cat and mouse game.  Don’t you know I have given up a lot to be here.  I spent hours thinking of this moment.  This small window in time for a chance meeting.  I have seen you here before, teasing me, tempting me.

The temperature is falling.  It’s cold.  The kind of cold that numbs the mind.  We don’t have much time.   The light is fading.  Just then, a shadow appears.  It’s her.  She moves effortlessly towards me.  Quietly, she stalks her prey.  I would have not even noticed she was there except for the gentle wake that appeared behind her.  Was it really her, or was my mind making it up?  I paused.  The movement stopped 20 yards out.  Again, I moved ever so slowly.  My eyes strained, looking for any sign she was still there.  Patiently, I waited.  Another twitch, still no sign.   I did not want to push her into something she did not want.  She had to make up her own mind.  Was my offering good enough, or was I being teased again?  I started to move, very slow at first then picking up speed.  Ten yards left, it was now or never.  

A sharp snap of the rod tip sent the bait into a belly role.  Again, I snapped the rod, this time with a little more force.  Where was she?  Had she gone back to her lair?  Don’t push her.  Wait, wait.  She was killing me.  Had I lost her interest again?  What was she waiting for?  A foggy mist flew from the line as I made my last play.  Crack, crack.  I sent the bait into a frenzy, up, down, right, left.  The bait was doing things I don’t think she had seen before.  She showed herself 10 feet from the boat, crack, crack.  The bait jumped to the right, crack, crack.  Now to the left.  Come on you B@#$&@, eat it.  

With the force of a bulldozer, she laid waste to my bait.  Her mouth opened so wide I think I could have stepped into it with both feet.  This is the moment I had waited for.  Where was she?  I saw the hit, but felt no weight.  Had she missed it?  My mind raced.  I almost set the hook, but something made me wait.  The hit was so brutal there was no way she missed it.  That’s when I realized she had not missed it.  She is moving towards me.  Take up the slack.  Five quick turns of the reel was met with a force hard enough to send my reflex motion into action.  The line was moving to my right toward the back of the boat.  I immediately moved the rod tip to the left toward the bow.  My mind went blank.  Instinct had taken over.  I backset the hook so hard I felt the bow of the boat shudder.  The 4/00 hooks buried deep into the side of her upper jaw.  The hum of the braid broke the still air as she reached for the sky.  Try as she might, she could not get all of the way clear of the water.  What immense power she had.  She did not go wild like a small fish would have.  She, instead, drove deep down into the pad stems, using the dead stems as leverage to throw the hooks.  All I could do was hold on and hope my gear held.  Run after run she made, but the hooks stayed safely embedded in her jaw.  She made a last run under the boat still trying to dislodge the wooden bait she had so foolishly taken.  Fatigue had set in.  She came to the surface as if she knew I would not harm her.  I gently led her into the net, being careful not to spook her.  She was mine.  

The two of us sat motionless for a minute.  She did not fight me as I freed her from the hooks.  She just sat quietly trying to force water over her gills.  No photo was taken.  I lowered the hoop end of the net a little deeper into the dark water.  She left the same as she had appeared, back into the Dark Waters of December. 

With our Weather Patterns getting warmer every season you have to adapt to what mother nature gives. You can spend hours waiting for a northern flight that never happens, or Bucks that never show themselves in the daylight or worse another victim of EHD, or you can make use of the unfrozen lakes and chase your dinner or a mythical creature from the Dark Waters of December.

Merry Christmas and have a Great New Year!

LET’S GET VERTICAL

It is that time of year to get those long rods ready for action on Lake Shelbyville for the vertical jigging bite on and off structure!!! Isolated shallow timbers are going to be the structures that will hold your bigger class of fish throughout this start of the winter pattern. During this pattern, bait selection can be the difference maker and HAIR JIGS need to be FISHED daily!!! Fishing the “open water” is not only some of the most exciting fishing but during this time that is where you will find your biggest fish consistently.

When most people think about crappie fishing they typically think of dipping jigs down near a tree and catching fish. That is exactly how we are catching crappie right now on Lake Shelbyville. Traditionally crappie hold in water from 3-15 feet deep and are looking to feed up for the winter. Using a longer rod right now is beneficial for reaching out from the boat and not spooking any fish. Daily on my guide trips we are using 13-17 foot long rods by Power Crappie to keep our distance from the fish. While fishing shallow water expect those crappie to be holding high in the water column and expect them to be very aggressive. When dropping your bait in the water, be mindful of the impact your bait makes as it enters the water. The softer you can land your bait on the surface will give you more chances to fish a structure or an independent fish without being detected. Expect to find larger schools of crappie in the 10-15 foot water columns and expect to find bigger fish in the 3-10 foot water columns. Fishing an extended shoreline with timber littered throughout it is an ideal place to be able to cover multiple structures but also cover multiple water columns looking for the best depth to fish. Areas that have isolated structures are ideal places to find that bigger crappie holding alone. That solitary crappie can be caught more times than not but be cautious on how you fish that particular fish. As you approach that structure anticipate they’re being a big crappie on it and fish it very slowly and really try to avoid getting hung up and bumping that fish off the structure. More times than not this is where you will find your biggest “structure fish” of the day during this time.

Hair jigs are always one of the better baits as the water temperature drops for the winter. I fish the Dean Martin Custom Hair Jig collection and will switch between the 1/16th and 1/8th ounce sizes. For the past several years the “hair jig” bait option has been growing in popularity and the reason behind that is…THEY CATCH CRAPPIE!!! When fishing hair jigs I slow down the pace of my presentation allowing that hair to pulsate and drive those crappie crazy. Vertical jigging or corking shallow waters during this time are two techniques that can produce big numbers of crappie and even BIG crappie!!! Already this year the “NUCLEAR” hair jig by Dean Martin has produced several personal best crappie for my clients and it also helped me catch my Illinois personal best of 1.85lbs and just shy of 15 inches. The proof is in the REACTION that the crappie gives once they detect that bait around them. The goal of a 2lb crappie is in the sites  and during this pattern the hair jig will no doubt deliver!!!

The OPEN WATER is where the true GIANTS are holding. Using the Garmin Livescope to find those roaming crappie is exactly how we have been catching our biggest class of crappie. Searching the 3-13 foot water columns daily is where we have been finding those roaming crappie looking for their next meal. Dropping down on open water crappie and watching them nose up to the bait before the hit is a client favorite every time it happens. Open water fish can be caught from inches below the surface all the way down the mud on the bottom. Generally the active depth will be between two and seven feet below the surface where you are getting your most bites. As much as I advocate for BOAT FLIPPING CRAPPIE this is the time to have your nets out and ready!!! The odds of catching the biggest crappie of the year are the best right now so if you are looking for that one fish to put on the wall the time to fish is NOW!!!

In closing, I would like to thank all the readers, clients and other people I have met this year. This has been a tremendous year of fishing and we are looking forward to another great year of fishing next year. To book a trip please visit www.englandexpeditions.com or call 217-520-3653. “CATCHING MEMORIES ONE FISH AT A TIME”

My Top Five Spinnerbait Techniques

Not only do I make and sell spinnerbaits, but I use them more often than any other lure in my bag.  Many times, I have heard people say that spinnerbaits are an “Idiot Bait” meaning they are easy to use because all you have to do is cast and wind them in. Nothing could be farther from the truth, as there are many different ways that a fisherman can use this amazing lure. Spinnerbaits are one of the most versatile type of lures that a fisherman can utilize when fishing for bass. There are several different techniques and presentations that can be used when fishing a spinnerbait aside from the standard “Cast and Wind” previously mentioned. I will touch on five of my favorite techniques here.

“Slow Rolling” This presentation is probably the second most often used by fisherman. It is used when you want to fish the deeper ranges of water from 6 to 20 feet or deeper. Try to keep your lure as close to the bottom as possible and maintain a slow and steady retrieve so as to keep the blade(s) barely rotating while the lure is constantly moving at all times. Also try to bump the bottom occasionally or hit any structure encountered on the retrieve. This technique works best with a single Colorado blade lure, but can be used with tandems and double willows. 

“Waking or Bulging” This technique can be a bit difficult to master and is best used with a single large Indiana bladed lure around submerged timber, along riprap, near laydowns, above submerged vegetation or drop-offs, and near docks or any type of structure when bass are very actively feeding. To accomplish this, just cast the lure and then immediately reel it back just fast enough to create a bulge or wake on the surface of the water without actually breaking the top of the water with the lure.

“Jigging” This is a technique you will definitely want to try as it can be one of the most successful ways to use a spinnerbait you can use. It is very simple, and is done by pitching the spinnerbait to your desired target and then after settling to the bottom, just lift the rod tip 2 or 3 times and let the lure fall back down. Reel in any slack and repeat all the way through the strike zone. It is important to keep tension on the line as the lure falls, since most strikes are on the fall rather than the lift. This is best used in any situation where you might use a bass jig and want to change that presentation a bit!

“Yo-Yo-ing” This technique is similar to the jigging pattern except you are combining the slow roll and jigging together during the retrieve. After casting the lure and beginning your slow roll retrieve, periodically make a quick lift or jerk of the rod tip every 5 or 6 winds on the crank, stop reeling and let the spinnerbait “flutter” down towards the bottom. Try to maintain as little amount of slack as possible and stay in contact with the lure so you can feel the strike when it happens, usually on the fall. Continue this action randomly all the way back to the boat.

“Dragging” I have caught some of the biggest bass of my life while using this method. Simply work the spinnerbait much like you would a jig, plastic worm or lizard. Cast the lure and let it fall to the bottom and start reeling with your rod tip at about the 8 or 9 o’clock position and slowly raise the tip to the 12 o’clock position (straight up). Reel up your slack and repeat the action all the way through the strike zone. Again always maintain some tension on the line to remain in contact with the lure for detecting those subtle pick-ups and strikes.

Although the use of a spinnerbait is only limited by your imagination. These are but a few of the most effective ways I have found to use a spinnerbait, and have proven themselves for me time and time again. Give them a try and you may find that the biggest bass of your life could come with one of these techniques. There is much more to learn about using spinnerbaits such as colors, blade types and size, weights, etc and I will touch on those things in future articles, but in the meantime good luck, good fishing and hope to see you on the water somewhere!