Saturday, January 24th, 2026
My Account

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Search
My Account
Saturday, January 24th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Main Menu
Menu
Subscribe to Outdoor News

Louie Stout

Thick mats, big bites: Punch your way through heavy vegetation for late-summer bass

Featured, Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

There’s no question that you can catch a lot of bass during the late summer months by fishing weedlines, docks, and rock piles.
But if you’re more into catching quality bass rather than numbers, consider Tom Noe’s approach. Noe is a big bass specialist from Watervaliet, Mich., in the southwest corner of the state. He’s a “puncher” who has chased big bass throughout the Upper Midwest, keying on the thickest and nastiest vegetation he can find.

Thick mats, big bites: Punch your way through heavy vegetation for late-summer bass Read More »

Understand the forage to become a better bass angler

Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Gear & Gadgets, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

If you’re like most bass anglers, you go to the lake, tie on favorite baits and head to spots where you’ve caught them before. If that doesn’t get you many bites, you switch baits and try another spot.
And another spot. That can work, but don’t overlook one of the biggest factors to dialing up more action; the bass dinner table.

Understand the forage to become a better bass angler Read More »

Breaking down the many black bass subspecies beyond largemouths and smallmouths

Featured, Featured, Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Ask most Outdoor News followers to name the different species of black bass and, most likely, you’ll hear largemouth and smallmouth.
Rightly so. Those are the primary species of bass we have in northern states. But if you examine bass across the country, you will learn there are actually nine species of black bass. Here is a rundown on each one.

Breaking down the many black bass subspecies beyond largemouths and smallmouths Read More »

Here’s how to work the remarkably weedless, deadly effective bladed jig

Featured, Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Gear & Gadgets, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

It was a blustery fall day with temperatures in the 40s and a slicing north wind that pushed water temperatures into the low 50s.
In my mind, it was perfect for a spinnerbait spun over the top of weeds in the shallow, southern Michigan lake. That’s been my go-to bait for early- and late-season bass fishing for the past two decades. But I’m an old guy, and neighbor kid Carter Grewett is a more forward thinker. He opted for a chatterbait, generically known as a bladed jig.

Here’s how to work the remarkably weedless, deadly effective bladed jig Read More »

Here’s how Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill won on bass fishing’s biggest stage

Featured, Fishing, Fishing, Gear & Gadgets, Home Page News, Illinois, Minnesota, National Fishing, National News, News, News /

Bass tournaments often are determined by who lands big bass and who loses them.
That is precisely how the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour was determined in late March on Lake Ray Roberts north of Ft. Worth, Texas. Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill landed an 8-pound, 1-ounce largemouth in the last two hours of the tournament while Illinois’ Trey McKinney lost a 7-pounder late in the day.

Here’s how Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill won on bass fishing’s biggest stage Read More »

Top strategies for catching bass in the shallows

Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Of course, we all know that bass numbers increase in the shallows during the spring. However, not all bass make the move from spring shallows to offshore areas during summer months.

Top strategies for catching bass in the shallows Read More »

Tips and tricks for mastering forward-facing sonar

Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Forward-facing sonar (FFS) can be a polarizing topic among anglers. Anglers who have embraced the new technology love it. Those who haven’t fear its potential negative effects on fish numbers.
In case you haven’t followed the latest craze in electronics, FFS is a transducer that mounts on the electric motor shaft or a standalone shaft. It sends information to a compatible sonar graph that displays fish swimming, suspended or near the bottom a great distance from the boat.

Tips and tricks for mastering forward-facing sonar Read More »

A look at some top tactics for bass in the grass

Featured, Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Up north, anglers refer to vegetation as weeds or weedbeds. Down south, and increasingly across the bass belt, anglers generically call all weedbeds “grass.” So for fun, let’s talk tactics for chasing “bass in the grass.”
For starters, show me a lake anywhere with grass, and I’ll bet my favorite $25 crankbaits that it’s loaded with bass.
That’s probably the case with just about all of the natural lakes across the northern region and a big reason why bass fishing has grown exponentially there.

A look at some top tactics for bass in the grass Read More »

The accessible Niagara River is an awesome angling opportunity

Featured, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Fishing, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin /

Sure you’ve heard of Niagara Falls – as a romantic destination or a place for death wishers to tumble from within barrels over the massive falls.
But what you probably didn’t know is that one of America’s best and diverse fisheries lie downstream of this national treasure. Especially during the early spring, when catching big smallmouth bass, trout and salmon, muskies, and walleyes are all possible – and during the same day!

The accessible Niagara River is an awesome angling opportunity Read More »

PLEASE READ

Accessing Your Full Subscription Just Got Easier. Introducing Single Sign On.

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Click Continue below.
  2. You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.
  3. Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!
  4. After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue.
  5. You’ll either:
    1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
    2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

One login. Every edition. Easy.

Let’s get you reading!

Continue...

PLEASE READ

 We’ve simplified things. Now you only need one password to access all your Outdoor News digital content.

Here’s how it works:

• Click Continue below.

• You’ll be taken to the OutdoorNews.com sign-in screen.

• Don’t have an account yet? Create one—it’s quick!

• After signing in, click the E-Edition Login button again. When the pop-up appears, just click Continue. You’ll either:

  1. Land on the e-edition selection screen (you’re in!)
  2. Be sent to a help page if we didn’t detect a subscription.

If you hit the help page, follow the directions so you don’t miss out on any of our great content.

Continue...

GET THE OUTDOOR NEWS DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Sign up for the Outdoor News Weekly Newsletter and get 6 months of FREE access to OutdoorNews.com – packed with hunting, fishing, and conservation news. No Catch.

This offer includes digital access only (not the printed edition)

Email Address(Required)
Password(Required)
Name
What outdoor activities interest you?(Required)

Help Shape the Future of OutdoorNews.com!

We know you love the outdoors—now we want to make OutdoorNews.com the ultimate destination for all things hunting, fishing, and conservation.

Take our brief 3 minute survey to share your thoughts, and help us build the best outdoor website on the planet. As a thank you, we’ll send you a special offer!

Together, we can make OutdoorNews.com even better.

Take the Survey

Introducing The Outdoor News Foundation

Donate Today

For a limited time, you can get full access to breaking news, all original Outdoor News stories and updates from the entire Great Lakes Region and beyond, the most up-to-date fishing & hunting reports, lake maps, photo & video galleries, the latest gear, wild game cooking tips and recipes, fishing & hunting tips from pros and experts, bonus web content and much, much more, all on your smartphone, tablet or desktop For just a buck per month!

Sign Up Now

Some restrictions apply. Not valid with other promotions. $1 per month for 6 months (you will be billed $6) and then your subscription will renew at standard subscription rates. For more information see Terms and Conditions. This offer only applies to OutdoorNews.com and not for any Outdoor News print subscriptions. Offer valid thru 3/31/23.

Already a subscriber to OutdoorNews.com? Click here to login.