How to Fish a Creek for Bass & Gamefish Part 1: Search Baits

Creek fishing bass & other gamefish in Illinois changed my life.

That's not hyperbole.

Smallmouth bass were a rare gem that we experienced when we took our annual trip to Wisconsin - however - a few years back my oldest son wanted to go kayaking. In an effort to be safe, I found a small local creek and figured we could putter about in shallow water... but as we were puttering... I started to see fish... more and more of them.

Carp. Suckers. Meh... whatever... but what are those skinnier ones? Perch maybe? Sauger?

Finally, one swam in close... I could see the dark tail thump thump thumping...

"That kinda looks like a smallmouth... it IS a smallmouth. SMALLMOUTH BASS - RIGHT HERE IN ILLINOIS?!"

Well, nothing to get too excited about, right? After all, he's only a dink. I'd seen dink smallmouth in other bodies of water too. We kept paddling. After about a mile, we slowly floated up to a large rocky outcrop. I took a peek over my right shoulder, and there she was... another smallmouth... but BIG.

She sauntered off into the deep, dark shadows. Out of sight - but not out of mind.

The next day you better believe I was back in that very same creek, fishing pole in hand, and over the next few years I would spend loads of time trying to figure out the most effective way to fish this creek, and many others in the Land 'o Lincoln.

I'm so glad that I did, and this is part 1 of my process.

Take a peek and let me know what you think.
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.

#bassfishing #rapala #creekfishing

:::::GEAR LINKS:::::
Livetarget Frog Popper: https://amzn.to/3PjwS3P
Gamakatsu Finesse Wacky Hooks: https://amzn.to/3nUcsmb
Strike King Ocho: https://bit.ly/StrikeKingOcho
Rapala Husky Jerk: https://amzn.to/3YnNGdZ
Strike King Ned Ochos: https://amzn.to/41Q8MVC
Mustad Grip-Pin Jigs: https://amzn.to/3YnfH5G
(Mainline) Seaguar Invizx: https://amzn.to/3uV3TvF

:::::VIEW THE FULL FISHING SEASON IN ORDER:::::
https://theminimalistfisherman.com/stars-bars-fishing/

Stars & Bars Fishing is an in-the-field fishing vlog for AJ Hauser, who owns and operates The Minimalist Fisherman. The presentations we review and explain on the website (https://theminimalistfisherman.com) and on The Minimalist Fisherman YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMinimalistFisherman) are put to use here. If I'm not catching fish with it - I'm not writing about it. Period.

:::::VIDEO CHAPTERS / FIELD NOTES:::::
00:00 - [ How to Fish a Creek for Bass & Gamefish Part 1: Search Baits ]
00:57 - [ 1. What We're Using: Gear Summary ]
02:30 - [ 2. Conditions ]
02:51 - [ 3. Log Jam ]
04:58 - [ 4. First Spot w/ Pop 'n Drop ]
15:36 - [ 5. Rapala Husky Jerk ]
29:30 - [ 6. BERTHA ]
31:55 - [ 7. Two Bass One Jerk ]
32:59 - [ 8. What's Next? ]