Fishing Tips & Guides

Fall Bank Fishing: How to Run Multiple Rods Without Missing a Bite
Fall Bank Fishing: How to Run Multiple Rods Without Missing a Bite
Build a fall bank fishing setup that covers more water with rod holders, bite alarms, and smart rigging for catfish, crappie, and carp. Read more...
Fall Pike Are Feeding Shallow — Here's How to Cash In
Fall Pike Are Feeding Shallow — Here's How to Cash In
Cooling water triggers aggressive shallow pike fishing in September. Here's where to look, what to throw, and the leader mistake to avoid. Read more...
Fall Crappie Schooling: How to Find and Catch Slabs in September
Fall Crappie Schooling: How to Find and Catch Slabs in September
Learn where fall crappie school up in September and how to catch them with the right jigs, floats, and line for a stacked cooler. Read more...
September Topwater Bass: Cashing In On the Dawn and Dusk Shad Blowups
September Topwater Bass: Cashing In On the Dawn and Dusk Shad Blowups
How to cash in on September's dawn and dusk topwater bass bite as shad school up shallow. Tips, lures, and gear for the fall blowup window. Read more...
Fall Walleye Are Moving Shallow — Here's How to Find Them at Dusk
Fall Walleye Are Moving Shallow — Here's How to Find Them at Dusk
Fall walleye push shallow onto rocky points at dusk in September. Here's how to find them and what to throw for a solid bite this weekend. Read more...
The September Shad Move: Chasing Fall Bass Into Shallow Water
The September Shad Move: Chasing Fall Bass Into Shallow Water
September bass are following baitfish shallow. Learn where to find the fall shad migration and which baits trigger the best reaction bites. Read more...
Light Up the Night: An End-of-Summer Gear Guide for After-Dark Fishing
Light Up the Night: An End-of-Summer Gear Guide for After-Dark Fishing
Late-summer night fishing tips for bass, catfish, crappie & walleye — plus the LED lights, hooks, and leaders that make it easier. Read more...
Wind-Blown Banks: The Late-August Pattern Most Anglers Ignore
Wind-Blown Banks: The Late-August Pattern Most Anglers Ignore
Late-August wind-blown banks hold active bass and walleye. Learn how to read them and which lures and gear actually work. Read more...
Beat the Storm: Bass Fishing Thunderstorm Fronts in August
Beat the Storm: Bass Fishing Thunderstorm Fronts in August
Learn how to fish bass before, during, and after August thunderstorms using barometric pressure changes to your advantage. Read more...
Dog Days Catfish: Simple Bank Rigs That Load Up the Cooler
Dog Days Catfish: Simple Bank Rigs That Load Up the Cooler
Beat the August heat with simple bank fishing rigs for catfish — circle hooks, peg floats, and gear tips for an easy, productive weekend. Read more...
Shad Breaks: How to Catch Bass Busting Baitfish in Late Summer
Shad Breaks: How to Catch Bass Busting Baitfish in Late Summer
Learn how to spot and catch bass busting shad schools in late August with the right swimbaits, chatterbaits, and gear. Read more...
Late-Summer Bass Gone Quiet? Try Finesse Soft Plastics
Late-Summer Bass Gone Quiet? Try Finesse Soft Plastics
Late-summer bass ignoring your usual baits? Learn Texas rig and wacky rig finesse tactics that trigger bites in clear, pressured August water. Read more...
August Walleye: Trolling Deep Structure When the Bite Goes Vertical
August Walleye: Trolling Deep Structure When the Bite Goes Vertical
August walleye tips: how to find deep structure, dial in trolling speed, and rig line and leaders for clear, deep-water fish. Read more...
Kayak Fishing in August: Stay Cool, Stay Dry, Stay on the Fish
Kayak Fishing in August: Stay Cool, Stay Dry, Stay on the Fish
Practical August kayak fishing tips: rod mounts, sun protection, dry storage, and solo landing net tricks for hot-weather trips. Read more...
River Smallmouth in August: Wading Tactics When the Water Gets Low and Clear
River Smallmouth in August: Wading Tactics When the Water Gets Low and Clear
August river smallmouth tactics: how to read current seams and gravel bars, plus finesse rigs and gear for low, clear-water wade fishing. Read more...
Late-Summer Bass Are on the Move: Working Points and Humps in August
Late-Summer Bass Are on the Move: Working Points and Humps in August
Late-summer bass moved off the bank. Learn how to find them on points and humps in August with the right baits and gear. Read more...
The Mid-Summer Line & Rig Check Every Angler Skips (And Shouldn't)
The Mid-Summer Line & Rig Check Every Angler Skips (And Shouldn't)
A quick mid-summer line and tackle check-up to keep your rigs strong through the rest of July fishing season. Read more...
Beat the Heat: Finding July Trout in Cold-Water Refuges
Beat the Heat: Finding July Trout in Cold-Water Refuges
Find summer trout in cold-water refuges with these July stream fishing tips, timing tricks, and gear picks for low, clear water. Read more...
Summer Pike on the Weed Edges: July Tactics That Work
Summer Pike on the Weed Edges: July Tactics That Work
July pike fishing tips: how to work weed edges with steel leaders, glide baits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits for summer freshwater pike. Read more...
Summer Bluegill Bonanza: Simple Slip Bobber Tactics for Nonstop July Action
Summer Bluegill Bonanza: Simple Slip Bobber Tactics for Nonstop July Action
Simple July slip bobber tactics for bluegill and panfish — where to find them, what gear works, and how to keep the bites coming. Read more...
Summer Catch-and-Release: Keeping Fish Healthy in Warm Water
Summer Catch-and-Release: Keeping Fish Healthy in Warm Water
Simple summer catch-and-release tips to keep fish healthy in warm water — hook choice, landing nets, and quick handling that make a difference. Read more...
Beat the July Heat: An Angler's Guide to Sun Protection Gear
Beat the July Heat: An Angler's Guide to Sun Protection Gear
Beat the July heat with our angler's guide to UPF sun protection gear, staying cool, and fishing smart through the hottest month. Read more...
Top 5 Lures for Pike Fishing (And How to Fish Each One)
Top 5 Lures for Pike Fishing (And How to Fish Each One)
Pike are aggressive, explosive, and one of the most exciting fish to target on lures. Here are the 5 best lure types for pike fishing and exactly how to get... Read more...
How to Read Water: Finding Fish in Any Conditions
How to Read Water: Finding Fish in Any Conditions
Knowing where to cast is half the battle. Learn how to read any body of water — rivers, lakes, and ponds — so you stop guessing and start catching. Read more...
Best Fishing Line for Bass: Braid vs. Mono vs. Fluorocarbon
Best Fishing Line for Bass: Braid vs. Mono vs. Fluorocarbon
Choosing the wrong fishing line for bass can cost you fish. Here's exactly which line to use — and when — so you never second-guess your spool again. Read more...
How to Spool a Fishing Reel the Right Way (No Tangles, No Frustration)
How to Spool a Fishing Reel the Right Way (No Tangles, No Frustration)
Tangled line ruining your fishing trips? Learn how to spool a fishing reel correctly — step by step — and the one tool that makes it almost impossible to mess... Read more...
How to Rig a Texas Rig: The Complete Guide for Bass Fishing
How to Rig a Texas Rig: The Complete Guide for Bass Fishing
The Texas rig is the most versatile setup in bass fishing. Learn how to rig it step by step, choose the right gear, and fish it effectively in any cover. Read more...
Top 5 Freshwater Lures for Bass Fishing
Top 5 Freshwater Lures for Bass Fishing
Not all lures are created equal. Whether you're chasing largemouth in the shallows or smallmouth along rocky banks, the right presentation makes all the difference. Here are the 5 freshwater... Read more...
The Right Lure for the Right Fish: A Practical Guide to Choosing Fishing Lures
The Right Lure for the Right Fish: A Practical Guide to Choosing Fishing Lures
Not sure which lure to grab? This guide breaks down the best fishing lures by species, season, and conditions — so you can stop guessing and start catching. Read more...
Braided vs. Mono vs. Fluorocarbon: Which Fishing Line Should You Use?
Braided vs. Mono vs. Fluorocarbon: Which Fishing Line Should You Use?
Not sure which fishing line to use? We break down braided, monofilament, and fluorocarbon line — the pros, cons, and exactly when to use each type — so you can... Read more...
The Nova Fishing & Outdoors Knot Cheat Sheet
The Nova Fishing & Outdoors Knot Cheat Sheet
Master the two most essential fishing knots with our quick-reference cheat sheet. Learn when to use the Palomar knot for maximum strength and the Improved Clinch knot for classic reliability. Read more...
Lure color cheat sheet infographic showing the best fishing lure colors for clear, stained, and muddy water conditions
The Nova Fishing & Outdoors Lure Color Cheat Sheet
If the fish can't see your lure (or it looks too strange), they simply won't bite. These basic tricks show you how to choose the right lure color for any... Read more...