In-Fisherman

In-Fisherman is for the avid freshwater angler. Each issue provides detailed instructions and demonstrations on catching, cleaning, and eating your favorite species of fish, and reports on the latest scientific studies concerning fish and habitat conservation. This is the source for finding fishing hotspots, new tackle, effective equipment, and more!

The Hot Breath of Civilization • Precious cargo. A sandwich in the cooler, couple hard-boiled eggs, salt and pepper shakers in a plastic bag, plenty of ice, a can of Sam’s Diet Cola, a bottle of tapwater, the cooler pushed to the front of the boat to help hold the bow down. Setting alongside one gunnel is a pole and a bag of bait, the bait optional because I might catch it streamside. Finally, a wire-mesh fish basket—and my catbag with lead, hooks, floats, and a few other possibilities. Surely Thoreau would smile.

Bits & Pieces • Blending Fishery Science with Everyday Fishing

ADVENTURES • Feature Travel Tips from In-Fisherman Staff & Friends

STAFF Noteworthy & New • New and Unique Fishing Stuff, as Reviewed by the In-Fisherman Staff

Patterning BASS • The longer you fish, the more you come to realize that bass aren’t randomly scattered around a lake, river, or reservoir. Indeed, they can be highly selective of the habitats they choose from one day and one hour to the next. I’d learned that lesson as an angler, but it was hammered home during my career as a fishery biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Our crew was responsible for monitoring and managing several top-notch bass fisheries including Lake Seminole, Lake Walter F. George (more commonly known as Eufaula), and lesser-known Lake Blackshear on the Flint River.

› Clunn’s System for Summer Bass in Reservoirs

› Year of the Largemouth Bass

SMALLMOUTHS My Way • We laughed so hard we couldn’t breathe. Every cast produced a smallmouth. But that wasn’t the only cause for hilarity. When bass jumped, anglers in nearby boats swiveled around to look. Their expressions were priceless.

‘Eyes in the JUNGLE • Something moves through the edge of the jungle. Something big. Light beams down through the foliage, forming a patchwork quilt of shadow beneath. In the jungle, when big things move, everything big and small seeks the shadows.

DOG DAYS PRE-PEAKING MUSKIES • Muskie fishing peaks on most bodies of water in July. Fish that haven’t seen a bucktail or jerkbait since last fall slip into a lifestyle without fake food herky-jerking through their world. Suddenly, the attack’s on. Club outings, cash tournaments, muskie schools, weekend anglers, week-long vacationers, and anglers sneaking in an hour or two after work.

Crappies WHERE LIVE-SCANNING DOESN’T GO • I almost feel sorry for anglers a decade from now. The newest augmented-reality Boat Surround 5000 system that shows fish in bright colors will make guiding easier, and catching fish on our own even easier.

Side-Imaging Crappies

“ TRAINING” YOUR WAY TO BIG-RIVER CATFISH INS AND OUTS OF FISHING NAVIGATION STRUCTURES • Stan was a river rat on the upper Mississippi River. He was legendary for catching catfish in spring, summer, and fall. It didn’t matter if the river was high and wild, or so low sandbars were exposed, Stan caught catfish. Mostly channel cats, but he could catch flatheads when he was in the mood. If blue cats had been an option on that stretch of river, he would have caught them, too.

Marine Scene • Seeing at Night—with No Lights

Insider Visions AND VIEWS • Micro Seasons of the Salmon Run

Working with Skein

North with Doc • Doc Gets Blocked

In-Fisherman SOLUNAR CALENDAR