Bushwhack Blog

Fishing tips, gear guides, and stories from the water

RSS Feed
Night Fishing for Bass in July: The Black-and-Blue Playbook for Pressured Summer Lakes
Lure FishingBass FishingAdvanced TechniquesMoon PhaseLargemouth BassSummer Fishing

Night Fishing for Bass in July: The Black-and-Blue Playbook for Pressured Summer Lakes

Night fishing for bass in July is a different animal than the May or June version. The water is 85F+, the daytime crowd has cooked the bite, and the fish that fed in three feet of water a month ago are now living on the edges of dock lights and the lips of brushpiles. Here's the playbook.

July 11, 2026 12 min read
Read
Forward-Facing Sonar for Weekend Anglers: A No-Pressure Setup Guide
Fishing GearBass FishingFish FindersFishing ElectronicsBeginner GuidesLargemouth Bass

Forward-Facing Sonar for Weekend Anglers: A No-Pressure Setup Guide

Forward-facing sonar isn't just for tournament pros. Here's how to dial in LiveScope, Mega Live, or ActiveTarget for a normal Saturday on the water: gain at 65 percent, range at 40 feet, and the three baits that don't require a sponsorship.

July 9, 2026 10 min read
Read
Best Rubber Mesh Landing Net for Bass and Boat Fishing (2026)
Fishing GearBass FishingKayak FishingLargemouth BassConservationBoat Fishing

Best Rubber Mesh Landing Net for Bass and Boat Fishing (2026)

The best rubber mesh landing net for bass and boat fishing in 2026. Five knotless rubber nets with big hoops and long handles, all verified in stock, ranked for catch-and-release.

July 8, 2026 10 min read
Read
Best Digital Fishing Scales for 2026 (Bluetooth & Tournament-Ready)
Fishing LogFishing GearBass FishingKayak FishingFishing Electronics

Best Digital Fishing Scales for 2026 (Bluetooth & Tournament-Ready)

The best digital fishing scales for 2026, from $14 floating hook scales to Bluetooth tournament models that log every catch to your phone. Real Amazon picks tested for accuracy.

July 7, 2026 10 min read
Read
Summer River Smallmouth Bass: Fishing Current, Boulders, and Eddies When Lakes Get Hot
Bass FishingFishing TechniquesWater ReadingSmallmouth BassRiver FishingSummer FishingWade Fishing

Summer River Smallmouth Bass: Fishing Current, Boulders, and Eddies When Lakes Get Hot

Lake bass go catatonic in August. Summer river smallmouth bass do the opposite: they pile into oxygenated current behind boulders and feed all day. Here's how to wade, read seams, and pick between a tube, a Ned, and topwater.

July 6, 2026 11 min read
Read
Chatterbait vs Swim Jig for Summer Grass: Which One to Tie On and When
Fishing GearLure FishingBass FishingFishing TechniquesLargemouth BassSummer Fishing

Chatterbait vs Swim Jig for Summer Grass: Which One to Tie On and When

Stop fence-sitting on chatterbait vs swim jig for summer grass. Here is the honest rundown of when each one wins, what trailer to bolt on, and the gear that actually keeps fish pinned around hydrilla and milfoil.

June 30, 2026 11 min read
Read
Best Tungsten Drop Shot & Worm Weights for Bass (2026)
Fishing GearBass FishingFinesse FishingRiggingLargemouth BassSummer Fishing

Best Tungsten Drop Shot & Worm Weights for Bass (2026)

Tungsten is denser, smaller, and far more sensitive than lead. Here are the best tungsten drop shot and worm weights for bass in 2026, sorted by rig and cover type so you buy the right shape instead of a tackle drawer full of the wrong one.

June 26, 2026 9 min read
Read
Bass Fishing July 4 Weekend: Why They Stop Biting (And 4 Spots That Still Produce)
Fishing TipsBass FishingLocation StrategyWater ReadingLargemouth BassSummer Fishing

Bass Fishing July 4 Weekend: Why They Stop Biting (And 4 Spots That Still Produce)

Bass fishing July 4 weekend feels broken: jet skis at 9 a.m., wakeboard boats at 10, and the bite dies. But four spot types absorb the chaos better than the rest, and a tight pre-7 a.m. window still puts fish in the boat. Here's the game plan for the Saturday holiday in 2026.

June 26, 2026 11 min read
Read
Why the Bass Stopped Biting at 9 AM: Reading the Summer Daily Window
Seasonal FishingBass FishingFishing TechniquesWater ReadingLargemouth BassSummer Fishing

Why the Bass Stopped Biting at 9 AM: Reading the Summer Daily Window

The bass stopped biting at 9 AM, but they didn't quit. A diagnostic guide to why the morning bite dies, the biology behind the shutdown, and the four mid-day patterns that still produce bass through August.

June 25, 2026 11 min read
Read
Best Soft Jerkbait for Bass 2026: Super Fluke vs Caffeine Shad vs Jerk ShadZ
Fishing GearLure FishingBass FishingRiggingSummer Fishing

Best Soft Jerkbait for Bass 2026: Super Fluke vs Caffeine Shad vs Jerk ShadZ

I judged the three soft jerkbaits I actually keep tied on against each other to find the best soft jerkbait for bass in 2026: the Zoom Super Fluke, Strike King Caffeine Shad, and Z-Man Jerk ShadZ. Durability, fall rate, side-to-side dart, and which one to throw for summer schoolers versus a sub-surface walk-the-dog.

June 25, 2026 8 min read
Read