Bushwhack Blog

Fishing tips, gear guides, and stories from the water

RSS Feed
Best Vacuum Sealer for Fish Fillets (2026): What Survives Wet Fish
Fishing GearFreshwater FishingTrout FishingWalleyeFall Fishing

Best Vacuum Sealer for Fish Fillets (2026): What Survives Wet Fish

The best vacuum sealer for fish fillets isn't the one with the longest feature list. Five machines rated for wet fish, the pre-freeze trick that stops juice from breaking your seal, and the real storage limits on a fall limit of walleye or kokanee.

August 26, 2026 11 min read
Read
Best Insect Repellent for Fishing: Bug Protection That Won't Kill the Bite (2026)
Fishing GearFreshwater FishingSafetySummer Fishing

Best Insect Repellent for Fishing: Bug Protection That Won't Kill the Bite (2026)

Black flies and mosquitoes can end a July bite faster than a cold front. Here's the best insect repellent for fishing in 2026: which of DEET, picaridin, and permethrin-treated clothing actually protects you without melting your line, spooking fish, or tainting your bait, plus the Thermacell setup for the boat and bank.

July 29, 2026 10 min read
Read
Best Budget Kayak Fishing Paddle for 2026: 3 In-Stock Picks
Fishing GearFreshwater FishingKayak FishingBeginner Guides

Best Budget Kayak Fishing Paddle for 2026: 3 In-Stock Picks

The best budget kayak fishing paddle isn't about hook notches and rulers, it's about matching length to your boat's beam. Three in-stock picks from $33 to $76, sized for wide fishing hulls.

July 28, 2026 8 min read
Read
Best Water Temperature for Fish to Bite: A Multi-Species Chart
Fishing TipsSeasonal FishingWater ReadingFreshwater FishingData & PatternsWater Temperature

Best Water Temperature for Fish to Bite: A Multi-Species Chart

A scannable chart of the best water temperature for fish to bite across nine species, with every number either tied to a named agency source or flagged as the angler rule of thumb it is, plus how the fall cooldown rewrites the windows.

July 14, 2026 12 min read
Read
Where Do Crappie Go After the Spawn? A Summer Brush Pile Depth Guide
Fishing TechniquesFreshwater FishingJiggingCrappiePanfishFish FindersSummer Fishing

Where Do Crappie Go After the Spawn? A Summer Brush Pile Depth Guide

Where do crappie go after the spawn? They slide off shallow cover into 10-15 ft brush in late spring, drop to 15-20 ft midsummer, and suspend over deeper wood when surface temps push past 80. Here is the depth-by-depth playbook.

July 1, 2026 9 min read
Read
Best Line Counter Trolling Reels for 2026 (Walleye, Salmon & Lake Trout)
Fishing TipsFishing GearFreshwater FishingWalleyeMigrationBoat Fishing

Best Line Counter Trolling Reels for 2026 (Walleye, Salmon & Lake Trout)

A no-nonsense look at the best line counter trolling reels for 2026, sorted by budget and matched to walleye, salmon, and lake trout. Which Okuma earns the rod holder and which to skip.

June 29, 2026 9 min read
Read
Summer Muskie in the Cabbage: A Beginner's Guide to June and July
Regional GuideFishing TechniquesFreshwater FishingBeginner GuidesSummer FishingMuskie

Summer Muskie in the Cabbage: A Beginner's Guide to June and July

Summer muskie in the cabbage isn't a numbers game. It's a system: find green pondweed next to other structure, throw bucktails and topwaters, finish every cast with a figure-8, and own the release gear before you ever set a hook.

June 27, 2026 11 min read
Read
Best Fillet Knives 2026: Electric vs Manual (Tested Picks)
Fishing GearFreshwater FishingWalleyeCrappiePanfish

Best Fillet Knives 2026: Electric vs Manual (Tested Picks)

Choosing the best fillet knives in 2026 comes down to one honest question: electric vs manual. Here's when an electric knife earns its keep, when a manual blade wins, and four current picks worth buying.

June 16, 2026 8 min read
Read
Pike Fishing for Beginners: The Freshwater Predator Most Anglers Overlook
Fishing GearFishing TechniquesFreshwater FishingBeginner TipsBeginner Guides

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.

May 28, 2026 9 min read
Read
How to Take Your Kids Fishing This Summer: A Parent's Practical Guide
Fishing TipsFreshwater FishingBeginner TipsPanfishBeginner GuidesBluegill

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.

May 26, 2026 10 min read
Read