Author
Hudson Reed
Hudson is a writer and content creator at Bushwhack. He grew up fishing the lakes and reservoirs of Utah and never stopped — bass are the obsession, but he'll throw a line at just about anything that swims. He fishes conventional gear and knows the difference between what works on a magazine cover and what actually puts fish in the boat. His writing leans on years of hands-on time on the water rather than recycled tips, and every post is built around the same question he asks of his own fishing days: did you learn something useful?
42 articles on Bushwhack
Articles by Hudson Reed
Best Kids Fishing Rod and Reel Combo for 2026: Dock Demon vs Ugly Stik GX2 vs PLUSINNO
The right first combo prevents tears. The wrong one ends the trip in ten minutes with a hook in a t-shirt and a kid who never wants to go back. Here's how the best kids fishing rod and reel combo options for 2026 (Dock Demon, Ugly Stik GX2, PLUSINNO) actually stack up.
Pike Fishing for Beginners: The Freshwater Predator Most Anglers Overlook
Northern pike are one of the most aggressive, hard-pulling freshwater fish you can target — and most beginner anglers walk right past them. Learn where to find pike, what gear you actually need, the best lures for beginners, and how to handle these toothy predators safely.
Best Braided Fishing Line for Bass and Inshore 2026: Power Pro vs Sufix 832 vs Daiwa J-Braid
The best braided fishing line for bass and inshore in 2026 isn't one brand. Power Pro is the workhorse. Sufix 832 is the abrasion king. Daiwa's new J-Braid Expedition X8E casts smoother than either. Here's which to put on which reel.
Best Baitcasting Rod Under $200 for Bass 2026: Fury vs Mojo vs Ike
The best baitcasting rod under $200 for bass in 2026 isn't a single answer. The Dobyns Fury, St. Croix Mojo Bass, and Abu Garcia Ike Signature all live in the sweet spot above the sub-$100 mush and below the $300 tax. Here's which one belongs on your deck.
How to Take Your Kids Fishing This Summer: A Parent's Practical Guide
Taking your kids fishing this summer doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. With the right location, simple gear, and realistic expectations, you can give your child a first fishing trip they'll actually want to repeat. Here's a parent-to-parent breakdown of everything you need to know — species to target, gear to buy, how long to stay, and how to keep it fun when the bites slow down.
2026 Fishing Regulation Changes Every Angler Should Know
Fishing regulations across the country shifted meaningfully for 2026 — from year-round catch-and-release bass seasons and new hook rules in Minnesota to barbless hook mandates on Wyoming's famous North Platte trout stretches. This guide breaks down why rules change, what categories of changes are sweeping the country this season, and exactly how to find your state's current rules before you hit the water.
Inshore Saltwater Fishing for Beginners: How to Target Redfish, Speckled Trout, and Flounder
New to inshore saltwater fishing? This deep-dive beginner's guide covers everything you need to start targeting redfish, speckled trout, and flounder — gear setup, best rigs, reading tides, and where to find fish.
Best Fishing Pliers Under $50 for 2026 (Aluminum vs Stainless, Saltwater-Ready)
Four of the best fishing pliers under $50 for 2026, ranked head-to-head. Aluminum vs stainless, tungsten carbide cutters, and which pair actually survives saltwater without seizing up by midsummer.
Kayak Fishing for Beginners: How to Get Started Without Spending a Fortune
Kayak fishing for beginners doesn't have to drain your bank account. Here's how to pick the right kayak, the gear you actually need, and the mistakes that'll cost you on day one.
Best Topwater Frog for Bass in 2026: SPRO Bronzeye vs Booyah Pad Crasher vs Lunkerhunt Prop
If you can only buy one frog this year, which one belongs in the box? A head-to-head of the SPRO Bronzeye, Booyah Pad Crasher, and Lunkerhunt Prop on the things that actually matter: body collapse, hook gap, and how they fish in slop. The best topwater frog for bass isn't always the one with the highest review count.
Catfish Fishing for Beginners: The Summer Bank Angler's Complete Guide
Channel catfish are the most beginner-friendly fish in freshwater — and summer is the best time to catch them from the bank. Here's everything you need: rigs, baits, timing, and spots that actually produce.
Best Tackle Storage Boxes for 2026: Plano EDGE vs Flambeau Tuff Tainer
The best tackle storage boxes for 2026 split into two clear winners. Plano EDGE 3700 is the waterproof, rust-resistant premium pick for terminal tackle and expensive lures. Flambeau Tuff Tainer with Zerust is the budget volume king at under seven dollars a box. Most bass anglers end up buying both.
Summer Bass Fishing: How to Follow the Fish as They Go Deep in June and July
When water temps climb into the 80s, bass don't disappear — they go deep. Here's how to find them on offshore structure, read the thermocline, and pick the right rigs for summer bass fishing in June and July.
Best Baitcasting Reels Under $200 for 2026: 5 Picks That Actually Cast
Late-spring is peak baitcaster-buying season for bass anglers stepping up from spinning gear. Here are five baitcasting reels under $200 worth your money for 2026, ranked by what they actually do best on the water.
Post-Spawn Panfish in May: The Family Fishing Season Is Just Getting Started
The spawn gets all the attention, but the post-spawn panfish bite in May and June is when bluegill, crappie, and yellow perch are most catchable, most abundant, and most fun to fish with the whole family. Here's where they go after the spawn and how to keep catching them.
Carp Fishing for Beginners: The US Guide to America's Most Underrated Sport Fish
Carp are in almost every lake, river, and reservoir in the US — they're massive, powerful, and almost nobody fishes for them. May is the best month to start, when spawning fish move into the shallows and sight-fishing becomes possible. Here's everything you need to know.
Night Fishing for Bass: The Beginner's Guide to Fishing After Dark in May and June
When summer heat pushes daytime bass deep and lethargic, night fishing unlocks a completely different game. Bass move shallow after dark, feed aggressively, and the competition thins out. Here's how to get started safely and catch fish on your first night out.
Topwater Bass Season Timing: The Temperature-Based Guide to Surface Fishing All Year
Topwater bass fishing isn't just a summer thing — it's a temperature game. Once you understand the water temp windows and which lures match each phase, you can throw surface baits from May through October and know exactly what to expect.
Best Summer Bass Lures for 2026: Topwater, Prop Baits, and Vibrating Jigs
The best summer bass lures for 2026 boil down to four picks across topwater, prop baits, and vibrating jigs. Here's what's new, what still dominates, and when to throw each one from June through September.
Walleye Opener Beginner Guide: How to Catch Fish on Opening Day in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
The walleye opener is a Midwest rite of passage — but for beginners, it can feel overwhelming. Here's exactly where to go, what to use, and when to be on the water so your first May opener is a success.
Fry-Guarding Bass in May: How to Target Post-Spawn Males Right Now
After the spawn wraps up, male bass don't disappear — they stay shallow protecting clouds of fry for 1–3 weeks. This is one of the most overlooked and most productive windows of the entire bass season. Here's how to find them and what to throw.
Spring Crappie Fishing Tips: Ice-Out to Spawn
Spring crappie fishing tips from ice-out through the spawn — learn the temperature windows, best locations, top lures, and proven techniques to put more slabs in the net this season.
Best Insulated Fish Bag for Kayak and Bank Fishing (2026)
The best insulated fish bag for kayak fishing fits your tank well, keeps fish cold for hours, and doubles as a walk-in bag for bank anglers. Here are 5 bags I'd actually buy in 2026 — from a $50 compact kayak bag to a $230 charter-grade beast.
Spring Striped Bass Migration: A Week-by-Week Location Guide
The spring striped bass migration is the East Coast's most reliable fishing event — if you know where to be and when. This calendar-based guide tracks stripers week by week from the Chesapeake to New England, with the right lures at every stop.
Glide Bait Bass Fishing: A Beginner's Guide
Glide bait bass fishing looks intimidating — big baits, specialty gear, steep price tags. But it doesn't have to be. Here's everything a beginner needs to know about starter sizes, simple gear setup, slow-retrieve technique, and why spring is the best time to throw one for a personal-best largemouth.
Best Ultralight Spinning Reel for Trout and Panfish Under $100 (2026)
The best ultralight spinning reel for trout and panfish under $100 balances featherweight feel with enough drag finesse to handle 2-lb tippet and 1/32-oz jigs. Five reels tested across five price tiers, from $35 to $85.
Inshore Saltwater Fishing: 3 Things to Do Differently in 2026
Inshore saltwater fishing tips 2026: reset your approach with tide-based positioning, forward-facing sonar on kayaks and skiffs, and catch logging that reveals repeatable patterns.
Bank Fishing Tips: Catch More Fish From Shore This Spring
You don't need a boat to have a great spring fishing season. This species-specific bank fishing guide covers the best tactics for bass, panfish, and trout from shore — including the casting angle change that can double your strikes overnight.
How to Find Bluegill Beds in Spring (And Fish the Pre-Spawn)
Spring bluegill fishing is about more than finding beds — the real trophy window opens before the spawn even starts. Here's a temperature-driven phase guide to where bluegill stage from ice-out through active bedding, so you can target the biggest fish of the year.
Spring Smallmouth Bass River Fishing: Ice-Out to Pre-Spawn
Spring smallmouth bass river fishing breaks down into three temperature-driven phases. Learn where fish hold and which lures work from ice-out in the low 40s all the way through pre-spawn staging at 55–65°F.
Best Portable Fish Finder for Kayak Fishing Under $300 (2026)
The best portable fish finder for kayak under $300 doesn't need to be complicated. Castable sonars and compact GPS units now give kayak anglers depth, structure, and mapping without drilling a single hole. Here are 5 picks that actually work from a yak.
Fluorocarbon vs. Monofilament vs. Braid: Which Line Wins?
Not sure which fishing line to use? This species- and technique-based guide breaks down when fluorocarbon vs monofilament vs braid wins — without brand bias.
Kayak Fishing Starter Guide: What to Know Before You Launch
This kayak fishing starter guide covers everything beginners need: hull selection, rigging for stability, electronics mounting including forward-facing sonar, safety gear, and how a fishing log helps you track productive drifts and anchor spots.
Live-Bait Jigging for Spring Walleye Along Channel Points
Master spring walleye fishing with live-bait jigging along channel points. Learn how to read current seams, dial in your jigging cadence, time your trip to the full moon, and log productive spots for next season.
Best Crappie and Panfish Soft Plastics for 2026
The right soft plastic can be the difference between a slow day and a cooler full of slabs. We break down the 5 best crappie and panfish soft plastics for 2026 — from the gold-standard Bobby Garland Baby Shad to the nearly indestructible Z-Man Micro TRD — with color picks by water clarity and rigging tips by species.
How to Read Water for Fishing Without Electronics
Learn how to read water for fishing using only visual cues — seams, current breaks, drop-offs, and shallow flats. A practical guide covering rivers and lakes for bass, trout, and walleye.
Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing: A Temperature-by-Temperature Field Guide
Pre-spawn bass fishing water temperature is the most important data point on the lake. Learn the four temperature windows, where bass stage, which lures to throw, and how to log your way to predicting the spawn on your home water.
Best Beginner Fishing Rod and Reel Combos for 2026: 5 Picks That Actually Work
The best beginner fishing rod and reel combo does one thing: gets you catching fish fast without wasting money on gear that doesn't fit your style or target species. Here are five combos that deliver in 2026.
Forward Facing Sonar for Beginners: Is LiveScope Worth It?
Forward facing sonar has changed bass fishing forever — but is it worth it for the weekend angler? We break down how it works, what it costs, and how long it takes to learn, so you can decide if LiveScope or Mega Live belongs on your boat.
Spring Wacky Rig Bass Fishing Guide: Setup, Techniques & Seasonal Timing
Master the wacky rig—the finesse technique that dominates spring bass fishing from pre-spawn through post-spawn. Learn setup, rigging variations, seasonal timing, and expert presentation tips to catch more bass when they're finicky.
5 Best Lure Patterns for Spring Bass Fishing (Proven Producers)
Spring bass fishing requires the right lure selection. Discover the 5 most productive lure patterns for pre-spawn, spawn, and post-spawn bass that consistently trigger strikes in cold to warming water.
Spring Spinner Fishing Preparation Checklist: Get Ready for the Best Season
Spring is prime spinner fishing season. Use this comprehensive checklist to prepare your gear, stock your tackle box, and maximize your success when fish start feeding aggressively.