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Articles by Mark Modoski
Best Live-Bait Rigs for Fall Fishing
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS For fall muskies, a quick-strike sucker rig suspended on a balloon is the go-to. For finicky smallmouths, a rubber-band-rigged crayfish on a weightless hook delivers the most natural presentation. For big fall browns, a bottom-bouncing minnow rig on a barrel swivel keeps bait in the strike zone. Each rig is built for a specific species and condition.
The Best Ice Fishing Lures of 2026
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Every ice angler has their hot take when it comes to the debate over the best ice fishing lures. Whether you’re looking for the best ice fishing jig for walleye or the top lures for lake trout, you have plenty of great baits to choose from. But with so many jigs, spoons, soft-plastics, and lipless crankbaits out there, it’s no easy task deciding which lures will catch the most fish.
Pike & Muskie Fishing
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The 50 Best Fishing Spots in America
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS Everything in fishing changes. On the minutest level, that change can be as simple as fish suddenly turning off of green-pumpkin worms after they’d been hammering them for hours, or a slow bite suddenly going bonkers before a storm. In the grander scheme, what can also change is the overall quality of an entire fishery. Sometimes lakes or rivers that were hot for decades suddenly go cold. It can happen for any number of reasons.
The Best Ice-Fishing Road Trips in America
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a few good friends who make up your core ice-fishing crew. Thing is, you’re also probably hitting the same handful of lakes and ponds over and over. Your home game is dialed, no doubt, so maybe it’s time to take the team on the road. Planning a D.I.Y. getaway in the coldest months definitely comes with more logistics than a summer trip.
Frog Fishing for Bass: 16 Pro Tips
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Every topwater strike makes bass fishing more fun. But there’s something about topwater frog fishing—watching that almost comical-looking bait hop and sputter and then get suddenly obliterated—that takes fishing’s fun factor to another level. That’s a good enough reason to tie on a topwater frog—but it’s not the only reason.
Night Fishing 101
Nothing ruins a bass bite faster than a personal watercraft ripping by at 50 mph. And nothing puts rising trout down quicker than a flotilla of tubers kicking and splashing their way down the river. There’s only one sure way to find tranquility on the water in summer: night fishing. Big fish that hunker down on hot days often go on the prowl after sundown, because that’s when bait species that have been lying low begin to move.
The 50 Best New Fishing Spots in America
Everything in fishing changes. On the minutest level, that change can be as simple as fish suddenly turning off of green-pumpkin worms after they’d been hammering them for hours, or a slow bite suddenly going bonkers before a storm. In the grander scheme, what can also change is the overall quality of an entire fishery. Sometimes lakes or rivers that were hot for decades suddenly go cold. It can happen for any number of reasons.
The Best Ice Fishing Lures This Winter
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Every ice angler has their hot take when it comes to the debate over the best ice fishing lures. Whether you’re looking for the best ice fishing jig for walleye or the top lures for lake trout, you have plenty of great baits to choose from.
The 15 Most Expensive Swimbaits In the World
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS _We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › _ Although swimbaits have been around for nearly 40 years, it’s fair to say that their popularity has reached an all-time high. The trend should come as no surprise: Americans obsess over catching huge largemouths , and the anglers dedicated enough to cast and retrieve giant swimbaits all day are often rewarded with monster fish.
The 25 Best Topwater Bass Lures
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS For surface chuggers and poppers, the Rebel Pop-R is the standard everything else is measured against. For smallmouth on rocky shorelines and moving water, the Heddon Baby Torpedo is the proven choice. For anglers who need a versatile floating presentation, the Rapala Original Floating Minnow covers multiple species and retrieve styles. The right topwater depends on your water type and target species.
Four Potent Stinkbaits and When to Use Them
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS _We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › _ Whereas blue and flathead catfish prefer to feast on fresh baits, channel cats are suckers for stinkbaits. Nothing draws in these bottom feeders like some gag-worthy funk. So you’d think nailing channel cats would be as simple as putting a gob of the stuff on a hook and casting. But not all stinkbaits are created equal.
New Muskie Rods: 13 Fishing Omen
_We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › _ A relative newcomer to the tackle industry, 13 Fishing has made a big splash with its Concept reels and reasonably priced, high-quality rods. The new Omen line takes that innovation to the muskie market. The 8-foot, 7-inch heavy-action model I got my hands on made an impression right out of the tube. The reel seat has a rubber grip that makes palming super-comfortable.
Four Best Tackle Bags for Under $30
FIELD & STREAM NEWSLETTERS ALL F&S NEWSLETTERS _We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › _ Can a simple, inexpensive satchel hold the lures you need and stand up to hard use? We tested four to find out. The Test Storage Capacity: Quite simply, I packed as much gear in each bag as possible and judged whether I had enough lures and tools for a typical day of fishing.
The 25 Best Topwater Bass Lures
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more Companies have spawned seemingly every conceivable critter into a topwater bait—from frogs and rodents to flying mammals, birds, and even turtles.
Night Fishing: A Complete Species-by-Species Guide
Nothing ruins a bass bite faster than a personal watercraft ripping by at 50 mph. And nothing puts rising trout down quicker than a flotilla of tubers kicking and splashing their way down the river. There’s only one sure way to find tranquility on the water in summer: night fishing. Big fish that hunker down on hot days often go on the prowl after sundown, because that’s when bait species that have been lying low begin to move.
The 20 Best Ice Fishing Lures of 2024
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Every ice angler has their hot take when it comes to the debate over the best ice fishing lures. Whether you’re looking for the best ice fishing jig for walleye or the top lures for lake trout, you have plenty of great baits to choose from. But with so many jigs, spoons, soft-plastics, and lipless crankbaits out there, it’s no easy task deciding which lures will catch the most fish.
The Best Topwater Bass Lures Ever Created
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Companies have spawned seemingly every conceivable critter into a topwater bait—from frogs and rodents to flying mammals, birds, and even turtles.
4 Pro Tips for Using a Manual Ice Auger
Use proper form (see below) and you'll breeze through the ice. Field & Stream No gas or electric auger? That doesn’t mean you have to blow half of your day drilling holes. If you buy the right manual model and use the tricks I’ve learned from hand carving countless holes, you can spend more time fishing and less time catching your breath. 1. Get The Right Sized Ice Auger If you don’t need big holes, don’t kill yourself making them.
How to Catch Big Pike By Fishing Small Waters
Like me, you may have a handful of local waters known for pumping out small hammer-handle pike, but quite often there is a trophy fish swimming among the smaller specimens. You just have to be willing to sacrifice lots of hits to connect with any gators swimming in your favorite fishing hole. But seeing a 40-plus-inch northern pike shaking its head at the end of my line makes it all worthwhile. Three Keys to Identifying Local Big Pike Hotspots How do you know if your local spot holds big pike?
The 15 Most Expensive Swimbaits for Bass Fishing
The Roman Made Mother. Roman Made Although swimbaits have been around for nearly 40 years, it’s fair to say that their popularity has reached an all-time high. The trend should come as no surprise: Americans obsess over catching huge largemouths, and the anglers dedicated enough to cast and retrieve giant swimbaits all day are often rewarded with monster fish.
Mark Modoski Archives | Field & Stream
Featured by Mark Modoski By Mark Modoski Jan 25, 2021 By Mark Modoski Dec 18, 2020 By Mark Modoski Sep 18, 2019 By Mark Modoski Sep 11, 2019 By Mark Modoski Apr 25, 2019 By Mark Modoski Mar 18, 2019 By Mark Modoski Mar 11, 2019 By Mark Modoski Jan 24, 2019 By Mark Modoski Jan 18, 2019 By Mark Modoski Dec 6, 2018 Do Not Sell My Personal Information When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information.
Ice Fishing Tips For Bad Weather From 4 Top Outfitters
Cookie Settings Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Field & Stream may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Copyright © 2020 Field & Stream. A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
New Jersey | Top Ice Fishing Spots
New Jersey doesn’t jump out when you think of ice-fishing destinations. When I tell coworkers and other non-fishing friends that I go ice fishing in New Jersey, most of them are surprised. But, make no mistake, aside from exceptionally warm winters, the Garden State offers quality ice fishing every year, with a variety of species that rivals anywhere else in the country.
Frog Fishing: 15 Ways to Catch More Bass on Topwater Frog Lures
Fishing Freshwater Fishing Bass Fishing A nice largemouth falls for a frog lure. Shaye Baker SHARE We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Every topwater strike makes bass fishing more fun. But there’s something about topwater frog fishing—watching that almost comical-looking bait hop and sputter and then get suddenly obliterated—that takes fishing’s fun factor to another level.
The 50 Best New Fishing Spots in America
SHARE Everything in fishing changes. On the minutest level, that change can be as simple as fish suddenly turning off of green-pumpkin worms after they’d been hammering them for hours, or a slow bite suddenly going bonkers before a storm. In the grander scheme, what can also change is the overall quality of an entire fishery. Sometimes lakes or rivers that were hot for decades suddenly go cold. It can happen for any number of reasons.
How to Sneak an Epic Day of Fishing into Your Summer Family Vacation
Break away from the water slides and overpriced souvenir shops to hook up near these major tourist traps 2 hours ago Magic Kingdom, Disneyworld, Disney World, Orlando, Florida, USA Welcome to Disney.ImageBroker/Alamy Destination fishing trips can be hard to pull off when you have a family. Skipping town with the guys for even a few days is usually hung up by T‑ball games, soccer practice, and, of course, approval from your spouse. But that doesn’t mean you’re stuck fishing where you live.
10 Hottest New Baits from the Bassmaster Classic
Every July, all eyes fall on ICAST for a look at next year’s new tackle. While it’s certainly the biggest, collective launch of new product in the industry, it’s not the only one. It’s not even the first. The Outdoor Expo at the Bassmaster Classic, held in March on the Tennessee River, was the first opportunity for manufacturers to show off new gear.
Swimbaits for Bass: Build the Right Rig on Any Budget
There is an ever-growing cult of bass anglers out there willing to fish all day for one big bite. They don’t care about numbers. It’s all about hooking true hogs, and most of these fanatics are chucking massive swimbaits. These lures—which were originally intended for West Coast stripers—can measure 12 inches or more, and mimic prey such as trout and herring. Considering some of them weigh more than 10 ounces, you can’t just tie one on to your typical medium-action bass rod.
The 25 Best Topwater Lures Ever Created
Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Field & Stream may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Copyright © 2020 Field & Stream. A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
10 Great Fishing Tool and Accessory Upgrades
Cutting line, adjusting lures, removing hooks and cleaning fish are just a few tasks that require all sorts of fishing snips, pliers, and knives. What’s great is that over the years, tools have become stronger, lighter, more durable, and more functional than their predecessors, so you can do just as much, but carry less. However, with so many new tools flooding the market each year, it’s tough to know which ones are built to last and worth your hard-earned dollars.
Early Season Action: The Sucker Run
The Northeast is home to several species of sucker, all of which fall into a reviled category referred to as “rough” or “coarse” fish. Some anglers turn their noses up at this loosely classified group that also includes carp, bullheads, and chubs. But, many are aware of the hard-fighting reputation of just about every species in the bunch, and dedicate their time to catching them year after year. Anglers will encounter redhorse and hognose suckers, but are more likely to encounter white suckers.
The 20 Best New Fishing Lures and Baits for 2019
Are your tackle trays and fly boxes looking a little lean after last season? Even if they aren’t, you know you love loading up with the freshest ammo before the spring action is in full swing. Maybe you need a topwater with a tone your local largemouths haven’t heard yet. Perhaps you want a streamer that will turn the pig pike you know lives in that dark river hole. No matter what you chase, we’ve got you covered.
Fishing the Patomac River for Blue Cats
I’ve always been obsessed with catching big sh. I live for catching big sh. In fact, if I don’t have a legitimate shot at catching a 20- to 30-pound something every time I go out, I’d rather stay home. While my friends targeted trout on opening day, you’d find me in the tailwaters of the stream trying to catch carp. When we went for bass, I’d fish for catfish.
The Best New Fishing Gear and Tackle for 2019
The spring fishing season is right around the corner, and if you’ve spent the past few months trapped inside by freezing temps, that first day on the water can’t come soon enough. Until then, the next best fix is shopping for a bunch of cool stuff you may (or may not really) need for the warmer months ahead. That’s why we’ve rounded up 40 new gear items you’ll find on tackle-shop shelves right now.
The Northeast's Native Muskies
The Middle Allegheny River, Pennsylvania Every year, scores of 50-plus-inch fish are caught and released in the Allegheny, some pushing 40 pounds. This is where my muskie obsession began. The Middle Allegheny River begins at the outflow of the Kinzua Dam close to the town of Warren, Pennsylvania. The area is breathtakingly beautiful, with 37 miles of the river falling within the boundaries of the Allegheny National Forest.
The Cold-Weather Fishing Glove Torture Test
There’s constant chatter amongst devout cold-weather anglers on message boards regarding what gloves are warmest and driest while still providing the ability to cast, feel your line, and detect bites. The fact is that price doesn’t matter as much as you’d think, and a $15 bargain rack purchase may serve you better than the latest, greatest, and priciest five-finger offering. We decided to help save your hard-earned dollars by pushing the newest winter gloves to their limits.
4 Ice Fishing Gear Hacks to Help You Stick It Out and Catch More Fish
Ice fishing is work. Just to get a line wet, you’ve got to drill and scoop. Just to keep a line wet, you’ve got to clear ice from the guides. There are a ton of little things that can make a hard-water outing much more challenging than fishing on a sunny summer afternoon, so it should be no surprise that smart ice anglers have come up with a pile of gear hacks to make any day on a frozen lake a little easier, more comfortable, and a lot fishier.
Knee Deep - On The Water
My relationship with Lake Hopatcong began more than 20 years ago. While driving to one of my favorite ponds in Sussex County, I took a detour. Instead of following Route 15 North, I made my way to Nolan’s Point Road and finally to Dow’s Boat Rentals where I met Laurie Murphy, proprietor of Dow’s and arguably the most popular person on the lake. I purchased a couple dozen herring, rented a boat, and set out on what—at the time—seemed like a monstrosity of a lake.
The 20 Best Ice-Fishing Lures Ever
Every ice angler has a go-to lure they swear will out-fish anything. Whether you’re ice-fishing for panfish, walleye, bass, or trout, you have plenty of great baits to choose from. But with so many jigs, spoons, soft-plastics, and lipless crankbaits out there, it’s no easy task deciding which lures will catch the most fish. In order to pick the best ice-fishing lures available, we consulted two of the top ice guys around. Hard-water experts Craig Oyler and Ross Robertson ran down their favorites.
The 20 Best Ice-Fishing Lures Ever
Every ice angler has a go-to lure they swear will out-fish anything. Whether you're ice-fishing for panfish, walleye, bass, or trout, you have plenty of great baits to choose from. But with so many jigs, spoons, soft-plastics, and lipless crankbaits out there, it's no easy task deciding which lures will catch the most fish. In order to pick the best ice-fishing lures available, we consulted two of the top ice guys around. Hard-water experts Craig Oyler and Ross Robertson ran down their favorites.
The Best Ice-Fishing Road Trips in America
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a few good friends who make up your core ice-fishing crew. Thing is, you’re also probably hitting the same handful of lakes and ponds over and over. Your home game is dialed, no doubt, so maybe it’s time to take the team on the road. Planning a D.I.Y. getaway in the coldest months definitely comes with more logistics than a summer trip.
The Best Ice-Fishing Road Trips in America
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a few good friends who make up your core ice-fishing crew. Thing is, you’re also probably hitting the same handful of lakes and ponds over and over. Your home game is dialed, no doubt, so maybe it’s time to take the team on the road. Planning a D.I.Y. getaway in the coldest months definitely comes with more logistics than a summer trip.
10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Bass Fisherman
Bass fishermen love gear, so if your favorite angler already has a $50,000 boat, dozens of high-end rods, thousands upon thousands of lures, and basically seems to own everything they need, it can make holiday shopping a bit challenging. The trick is to find them something they haven’t seen yet. To help, we’ve combed through all the latest and greatest bass-fishing gear and picked out a few items that will surprise and put a smile on the face of that special bass fisherman this holiday.
10 Holiday Gift Ideas for Bass Fisherman
Cookie Settings Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Outdoor Life may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Copyright © 2021 Outdoor Life. A Bonnier Corporation Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
10 Travel Rods for Every Fishing Vacation
Whether you’re vacation plans are for Disney World or Rio de Janeiro, there’s always somewhere to fish, even though getting tackle to your destination can be a chore. Long, plastic airline tubes often aren’t large enough for your favorite rods and can cost a fortune in baggage fees to transport, and all too frequently they arrive damaged, no matter how carefully you pack. That’s why travel rods are almost always your best bet. But not all travel rods are created equal.
Land A Trophy Muskie This Fall
Every seasoned muskie angler lives for fall. After turnover, when water temps drop into the lower 50’s and 40’s, muskellunge begin to heavily feed in preparation for the long winter and ensuing spawn. Gorging on large baitfish like crappies, perch, ciscoes and herring, muskies will achieve their largest girths of the year, giving you a shot at a heavy, eye-popping fish. Despite the binging, fishing can be unpredictable.
10 Best New Swimbaits for 2018
Swimbaits hold a special place in the hearts of anglers. They’re big, they have a wide array of designs and they’re often intricately detailed. But above all, they’re main purpose is to catch the biggest fish in the lake. If you’re chasing double-digit, lunker largemouth, striped bass or esox, chances are you’ve thrown a few swimbaits. However, not all swimbaits are created equal, and some models are more successful at catching fishermen than fish.
Best New Rod and Reel Combos 2018
Anglers approach their game in a variety of ways. While some take great care to put together a rod and reel that can cost a mortgage payment, most are happy affordable gear that gets the job done. Other anglers want to take the guesswork out of pairing the perfect combo and let the manufacturers make the recommendation. Thankfully, there are a variety of combo options available to cover everyone from the novice to the avid angler.
Fishing Tips and Tactics from the Muskie Pros
Muskies are already the fish of 10,000 casts, so imagine how much cooler it would be if that hit on cast 9,999 came on a giant topwater lure. If you know when and where to fire a big propbait or walk-the-dog during the dog days of summer, scoring what is arguably the most impressive hit in freshwater fishing is easier than you think. It’s all about understanding which conditions put the odds in your favor, and that can vary from region to region.
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