Above Average Anglers
Major League Fishing
Major league fishing is exactly what is sounds like in the sense that it is the highest level of bass fishing. It was founded in 2011 by Boyd Duckett and Gary Klein and since then has hosted countless tournaments on extremely popular lakes around the country. Over the few years the MLF has been a thing it has grown exponentially and I believe that it will continue to do so. One huge benefit to hosting these tournaments at popular lakes around the country is these lakes are known for producing big bass; so the weight of all the fish caught can get pretty big. Another cool thing about the MLF is the Anglers that fish the tournaments range in all ages; which is different than other Major League Sports where physicality plays a huge role. The MLF is something where families can get together and root for their favorite anglers from the comfort of their own living room. This has not been a thing in the world of bass fishing until recently and it has done great things for the sport such as increase the number of people who bass fish in general.
If you want to hear about any extra tips or upcoming events you can do so here.
2020 Bass Pro Tour Schedule
2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage One – Lake Eufaula, AL. Feb 7, 2020 - Feb 12, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Two – Lake Okeechobee, FL. Feb 21, 2020 - Feb 26, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Three – Lake Fork, Emory, TX. Mar 13, 2020 - Mar 18, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Four – Jordan Lake, Falls Lake, Shearon Harris Reservoir, Raleigh, NC. Apr 3, 2020 - Apr 8, 2020.
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Five – Kissimmee Chain, FL. May 15, 2020 - May 20, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Six – Green Lake, Lake Winnebago, Lake Butte des Morts, Neenah, WI. Jun 5, 2020 - Jun 10, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Seven – St. Lawrence River, Ogdensburg, NY. Jun 26, 2020 - Jul 1, 2020
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2020 Bass Pro Tour Stage Eight – Lake Champlain, Burlington, VT. Jul 21, 2020 - Jul 26, 2020.
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Unfortunately MLF events are done until February 2020 when the Bass Pro Tour will take place. This tour is going to be very exciting and I full recommend keeping up with it because today there are multiple ways to do so including Live TV, Social Medias, Or even Youtube the day after for a recap.
This is my personal favorite Angler on the tour Jacob Wheeler. His very impressive career stats can be found here.
THE FUTURE OF FISHING
I think that it is safe to say with how much attention social media and youtube have brought to the fishing community it is only up from here. The MLF is a great way for anglers to have a goal of maybe making it there one day and becoming the best angler in the world. I am a huge fan of sport bass fishing and I will be keeping a close eye on the tour comping up in 2020.
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As for my followers I cannot thank you all enough. Every person that has read my blog posts or followed me on social media has made such a difference. I am a person who has been fishing my whole life and I am excited to continue fishing for the rest of my life. I plan on updating this blog once a month with a larger more informative post as opposed to posting once a week like I have been. I will continue to post on my social medias constantly so make sure to keep an eye out. I am proud to say that if you have made it this far you are truly an Above Average Angler.
MYSTERY TACKLE BOX UNBOXING
Come back next Monday and see the future of Major League Fishing
This months Mystery Tackle Box was my personal favorite box that I have ever received. Everything Inside I can see myself using in the near future and I even got a new bait I haven't tried. The first bait that I got was a 3/8 oz. Bucktail Chatter Bait. The next bait that I saw was the Baby Blue Strike King Rage Tail soft plastic crawfish. Then I got some Karls Amazing Baits red and black trick worms. The MTB also came with a full Carolina rig Kit; Including swivels, beads, and the weights too! I also got some Z man StreakZ Curly TailZ. Next was a Booyah One Knocker Crankbait that was red and black with a rattle trap inside. Last but not least I got a silver green and black jerkbait by Strike Pro. I am excited to get out there and try each and every one of these baits and If you watch the video below I'm sure you will be too!
This is a very accurate and in depth infographic I am a huge fan of. I think Tailored Tackle did a great job on not only showing which baits will get bit in specific times of the year, but also giving a quick tip on how to use each one. Knowing what time of year to throw certain baits can be crucial when it comes to matching the hatch. Matching the hatch is a fishing term that means try to use a bait that is similar what the bass are eating
The Texas rig with a salamander will also work very well in the pre spawn late spring because the bass will be protecting their beds. Salamanders are known for eating their eggs so they will be very aggressive on the salamander time of year.
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The only thing that I would say is don't think that these are the only baits that will work. These baits can all work all year round but they will just be more productive in certain times of the year.
Come back next Monday and see the future of Major League Fishing
Bank Fishing
Vs.
Boat Fishing
Vs.
Kayak FIshing
Which should I do?
Bank Fishing
Everyone who would consider themselves a bass angler more than likely started out bank fishing. Bank fishing is exactly what it sounds like because you are quite literally fishing from the bank. I personally love bank fishing because you can do it on almost any body of water and have some success; sometimes you may have to walk half way around the body of water but that is part of the fun! The best thing about bank fishing is probably being able to do it anywhere and not have to worry about a way to get your boat or kayak in the water. Some of the cons to bank fishing would be lack of tackle, limited by trees, and getting tics! These cons can differ depending on where you are fishing obviously but the one of those that sticks out the most would be the lack of tackle. If you are going to be bank fishing I fully recommend bringing a backpack at least 2 rods but no more than 4. Tie on a finesse bait and a moving bait so that you can be ready to throw either one the scenario calls for. Throw a few extra baits in the backpack but don't put too many things because keep in mind you will have to carry it with you while bank fishing.
I Caught this Hog bank fishing on a purple 1/8 Oz. Purple Buzz Bait
Boat Fishing
Bass fishing off of a boat is definitely the best way to fish most lakes around the world that have big bass. The idea behind fishing on the boat is not just the benefit of being able to go wherever you want on the lake; but it is also the idea of being able to change which angle you are approaching the bass from. If you are fishing a spot that is known for easy access bank fishing maybe try taking your boat there and fishing that same spot from the other direction. Something as simple as changing the direction the bait is going can make all the difference and that is one of the things I love about boat fishing. The other thing that I love is how accessible all of my fishing equipment is when I am boat fishing. I am able to change baits, reach my pliers, and weigh a fish all without having to reach more than a couple feet away. Another plus is that you are able to bring all of your tackle and as many rods as you can fit in the boat! This severely increases your chances of catching fish because you are able to have multiple different lures tied on to different poles at the same time. So if you are throwing a worm and you see a fish jump out of the water chasing shad; you are able to quickly put down the worm and pick up a rod that has something that resembles a shad for a higher chance at a hookup. Boat fishing is definitely the way to go if you are lucky enough to have access to a boat.
I Caught this one over the summer on my friends 17' BassTacker jon boat. I caught it on a simple trick worm.
Kayak Fishing
Kayak fishing is one of the styles of fishing that I am still new to myself. It can be tricky balancing and keeping yourself in the right spot while also trying to cast precisely when first starting out but don't give up because the best is yet to come! Kayaks are not exactly cheap but I was able to find an awesome deal at a Gander Outdoors near me. The exact kayak that I purchased was the 3 Waters Big Fish Kayak and I am extremely happy with my purchase. I am able to use the kayak in my neighborhood pond, large lakes, and I have even put it in the Chesapeake Bay at my grandmas beach house. Fishing off of a kayak is similar to fishing off of a boat in the sense that you are able to approach the fish from different angles. One plus side to the kayak is you are able to get into tight spots that a boat would not be able to reach; which is really good because more than likely that means people have not fished that area as much. Another cool feature is I put rod holders onto my kayak so I can have up to 4 rods with me at a time. There are multiple attachments you can put onto your kayak such as an anchor system, a depth finder, or even a trolling motor! Just like boat fishing, you are able to have everything you will need within arms reach. On top of that, while you are paddling around from spot to spot you are going to get a good workout. When it comes to kayaks I will say that the saying "you get what you pay for" rings very true. While you can catch fish in a cheap one, having a seat and feet paddles would make catching those fish a lot more enjoyable.
My friend caught this little guy in our neighborhood pond. We caught almost 20 bass together about that size in just an hour.
If you are interested in kayak fishing I would recommend watching this video here :) ------------>
Be Sure to check back next monday night when I give a list of the top 5 lakes in the country!
Fishing Subscription Boxes
This week I am going to talk about some different monthly fishing subscription boxes and the benefits of having them! I will also show you all what I got out of one that I purchased recently.
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The basic idea behind the subscription box is you are getting random baits that have a higher value than what you pay for the box.
So I first heard about subscription boxes from my dad actually. I remember getting a present on my birthday and it was a Lucky Tacklebox. Inside I found multiple different types of lures worth more than my dad had paid for the box! Some of the lures I had thrown before and some were new to me but I was excited to try the new ones out. After the 3 months of LTB that my dad bought me were up I decided to wait because I was seeing something new on the market.
After trying out Lucky Tackle Box I was already a fan of the subscription box. On top of that I was seeing all of my favorite Youtubers advertising the Mystery Tackle Box which was getting my attention. I used a code which allowed you to get first box for as low as $5 depending on which box you want. I decided to pay a little more and go with the advanced level box so that I would get more lures. Keep in mind there are discount codes on your first box!
So I ended up buying the mid level box and with the discount code I paid $15. I GOT ALOMST 40 DOLLARS WORTH OF LURES! I fully recommend giving Mystery Tacklebox a try if you are a person who likes good deals. If you are not a person who likes good deals, try it anyways because it is essentially free lures! Plus trying new baits that you will get out of the monthly box will get you out of your comfort zone and maybe even change your mind about your favorite lure. And if for some reason you are not happy with your purchase you can cancel the subscription at any time so you might as well take advantage of the first box deal!
Use the Code -- GS15 -- To get $15 OFF your first subscription!
This code is provided by my favorite fishing YouTuber Jon B.
THE MTB SLAM
The Mystery Tackle Box Slam is one of the biggest fishing challenges in the YouTube fishing Community. That doesn't mean that it is the hardest because it can definitely be completed with 3 things; time, luck, and patience.
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The idea behind the MTB slam is that you go fishing and you catch at least one fish on each of the baits provided in the box. You are allowed to combine two of the baits and kill two birds with one stone if the box provides for that! (For instance, if you were to get a jig and also get a creature bait in the same box you would be able to put the creature bait on the jig and knock off two baits with one fish caught) Sounds easy until you try it because not every bait works all the time! Either way it makes for a great youtube video to watch and also something fun to try on your own. You could even do what they do in the videos and challenge your friends to make it that much more interesting.
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I linked two great examples of the MTB Slam via youtube videos if you still have any questions.
Here are two bass I caught on a spinner bait from my Mystery Tackle Box!
I put a 3.25" chartreuse and electric blue swimbait on the back
In Conclusion
I am a big fan of subscription boxes in general and I fully recommend that you all try out one of them! If I could steer you in a direction I would say that I have been happier with the MTB in the past. But seriously don't think I am talking bad on the LTB because they both do the same thing; the point is you are getting more than you are paying for. Even if you can't afford to do the monthly payments it is definitely worth it to use the code to get a huge discount on your first box because you can cancel the subscription at any time.
3 baits that will catch you more bass in the winter time.
The Jerk Bait
The Jerk Bait is a bait that I know a lot of anglers out there forget to throw because there are so many options now a days. When it comes to winter fishing this is the first bait that I am going to be picking up because in my opinion this is the superior winter bass fishing lure. It is a lure that does not have a lot of action or attractive features; but that does not mean that fish are not attracted to it. It is as simple as the name says, you simply jerk the bait and let it sit still for a second and then jerk it again. There is a motion that you will get the hang of but once you do the bait looks like a dying baitfish frantically darting around in the water. My favorite jerk bait is the Rapala Husky Jerk in the Clown color. If you are interested you can find the exact jerk bait that I throw in the winter here.
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The Jig is the perfect bait for pitching into precise locations within structure. I am a huge fan of the Trashmaster Jig by Gamechanger Lures. I like the versatility of the jig because you can take a crawfish or another creature bait and fish the jig very slowly on the bottom; or you can put a swimbait on the back and retrieve the jig through the middle of the water column. Another plus to this bait is you are able to chose if you want your trailer to match the color of the skirt or if you want them to be different colors. This makes it easier to match the hatch going on.
The Jig
The Blade Bait
The blade bait is another bait that does not get enough love; just like the jerk bait it too is one that I only will use in the winter just because when the bite gets tough you have to go with what works. The blade bait is a popular bait for vertical jigging out of a boat but what most people don't know is you can swim it through the middle of the water column horizontally as well. The bait will wiggle side to side rapidly causing a ton of flashes in the water which is what causes a reaction strike out of the bass. The most popular colors are the silver and gold but you can find them in just about any color. The more shiny colors make it very similar to the other lure that looks almost identical known as the spoon. You will be able to tell a difference in the spoon and the blade bait just because the spoon moves much more subtle through the water.
WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID THROW THE JERK BAIT THIS WINTER =]
Be sure to check back next week when I do a live unboxing of a Mystery Tackle Box!
Today I will be covering how I got into bass fishing as a kid and some of the reasons you should start bass fishing if you don't already.
About Me
My name is Joseph Leonarkis and I am a 23 year old student at Longwood University majoring in communication and digital media. I have been fishing for as long as I can remember and my dad is the reason for that. I can remember getting up before elementary school and checking the fridge in the basement because my dad would always leave a box of worms for me; I would try and get in some fishing before school most mornings since we lived on the neighborhood pond. I have been lucky enough to go on a few deep sea fishing trips in my life with my family as well. I mostly just fished with my dad throughout my life until I came to college where I had to find new places to fish and new people to fish with. When I was younger and my dad and I would not catch a fish he would tell me," That's why its called fishing and not catching." This was a good thing for me to realize when I was younger because it helped me learn patience.
Why fish?
Fishing is a great way to spend time outside and have fun while doing it. I generally use fishing as a way to get some alone time outside and clear my head; it is a perfect thing to do on study breaks. It is also something that you can do throughout your whole life like golfing or tennis so it is a good hobby to pick up. Another upside to fishing is you have the option of fishing with friends or alone. I have met a lot of people while fishing and I have to say that I love the fishing community because the majority of anglers are extremely friendly and willing to pass along tips.
Fun FActs
I did not own a scale when I caught the fish above but it is safe to say it is my personal best bass (PB). I would guess between 7-8 pounds.
My grandmother owns a beach house on the Chesapeake Bay so we will occasionally catch and cook for her but other than that I do not kill the fish I catch.
I respect the Largemouth Bass as a sport fish and that is why I will never eat them.
The world record for a largemouth bass is 22 pounds and 5 ounces.
Next week I'll be revealing my top 5 favorite baits and also explain how to use them
My 5 Favorite Baits
1.The Texas Rig
If I had to only fish one bait for the rest of my life it would be the Texas Rig just because it is so versatile. There are all different colors, shapes, and sizes when it comes to soft plastics that you can use with a Texas Rig. I generally like to fish it slowly on the bottom with some kind of creature bait. Personally my favorite 3 baits to put on the Texas Rig are all products of Googan Baits. I prefer the Krackin' Craw, the Bandito Bug, or the Trench Hog in no particular order but feel free to put any kind of soft plastic on there. To buy some of these Googan Baits for yourself visit Karl's Bait and Tackle.
The next 4 baits are in no particular order I just had to make it known which was my clear cut favorite.
The Wacky Rig
The Wacky rig is not a bait that is always going to catch the biggest bass in the pond but it is a bait that is known for catching a lot. I will generally put a 5-6 inch worm on and slowly twitch it through the middle of the water column. There are a lot of different kinds of worms you can use but I find that the Gary Yamamoto Senko is the best option. However if you are looking for the cheaper alternative, I have had a ton of luck on the Yum Dinger as well.
Bluegill Squarebill Crankbait
The Bluegill Squarebill Crankbait is a beautiful lure to use because baby bluegill are highly targeted by Largemouth Bass. Everyone always says when you are wondering what you should fish the main goal is to "match the hatch" and considering bass love to eat bluegill; there are not a lot of times where this bait doesn't produce.
Soft Plastic Swimbait
The Swimbait is one of the baits that is new to my arsenal but I have learned quickly that it can catch a ton of fish. I have had a ton of luck on the Pearl Exoswim Swimbait combined with the Dirty Jigs Jig Head. The goal of this is to imitate a tiny injured bait fish and I try to achieve this goal by swimming it in the middle of the water column and twitching every now and then.
The Whopper Plopper
The Whopper Plopper is a new bait to the fishing community as far as older generations as concerned. The idea behind it is the bait swims across the top of the water while the tail spins and makes a noise that gets the fish angry and makes them interested. I personally love topwater fishing because the moment when the fish jumps out of the water to grab your bait (also known as the blow up) is one of the most suspenseful things in the world. You never know when its gonna happen, but when it does it is generally well worth the wait.
Be sure to check back next week when I go over the best baits to use during the Fall!
Best baits for fall fishing
Fall bass fishing is a very exciting time of year because the bass are very aggressive. Depending on the body of water you are fishing will depend on what the bass are going to be eating; but majority of the time they will be feeding on shad. Shad are migrating around this time of year and that means its time for the bass to eat as many as they can before the shad are gone and the winter is here! During the winter the bass will eat a lot less often so they fill up on shad before its too late. That is the main reason bass are super aggressive this time of year and since the bass are aggressive you are more likely to catch the bass on a wider variety of baits! Although they will be eating anything they will be aggressively seeking anything that resembles a shad.
The Spinner Bait
The Spinner Bait is a great bait for the fall time because of how closely it represents a shad! Another positive of this bait is you are able to fish it around the weeds or in open water while covering a lot of water at once. You could also put a soft plastic swimbait on the backside of the hook and really make it have the body shape of a shad too.
The Lipless Crankbait
The Lipless Crankbait is very similar to the Squarebill Crankbait that I had listed in my 5 favorite baits except it moves through the water at a much more random pattern because it doesn't have that bill to guide it. I know this bait will do well this time of year because it is gonna move through the water like an injured shad and that is what the bass will be aggressively seeking. I also like the red color alot because it may appear bloody to the bass and it is well known that the color red makes fish mad so we could also generate a angry reaction strike.
Want this Specific lipless crankbait? Buy it Here!
The Buzz Bait
The Buzz bait is extremely similar to the spinner bait in its presentation but the main difference is the Buzz bait is a topwater bait! This bait is also extremely good for covering water fast but this one is going to be used for targeting those bass that are hard to predict. The main goal is to cover as much water as possible to increase your chance of catching the bass! The blade on this topwater bait is going to make a loud noise that gets the attention of the fish and the presentation is going to make them go in for the kill.
FUN FACT: I caught my personal record bass on this bait.