How to Keep Pressure on a Fish Without Snapping Light Line
A practical guide to using rod angle, drag, and body position to keep steady pressure on freshwater fish while protecting light line.
Read articleIndependent field notes
Hooked For The Weekend
Fishing tips, tackle talk, and stories about the ones that got away.
Caleb MercerHi I’m Caleb, a recreational angler who would rather spend a quiet morning by the water than just about anywhere else. I write about practical fishing techniques, dependable gear, and the lessons I’ve learned through years of tangled lines, missed strikes, and the occasional fish worth bragging about.
Recent articles
View archiveHow to Keep Minnows Alive on a Hot Bank-Fishing Day
Practical bait-management methods for shade, water temperature, crowding, and transport when access to fresh water is limited.
Read articleHow to Keep Cut Bait Firm on the Hook
Practical methods for preparing, chilling, salting, and hooking cut bait so it stays firm through casts, current, and repeated bites.
Read articleHow to Keep a Spinnerbait From Rolling on a Fast Retrieve
A practical guide to diagnosing and fixing spinnerbait roll by balancing blade resistance, head design, line angle, rod position, trailer choice, and retrieve speed.
Read articleHow to Keep a Fish Cool During a Long Walk Back to the Truck
Practical ways to keep a legal catch cold and in good condition when the walk back to the truck is long, hot, and short on shade.
Read articleHow to Handle a Fish When You Are Keeping Some and Releasing Others
A practical guide to quickly identifying, measuring, keeping, cooling, and releasing fish so your legal harvest stays fresh and released fish have the best possible chance to recover.
Read articleHow to Fish Safely During Summer Thunderstorms
A practical guide to recognizing thunderstorm danger, getting off the water early, and making safer decisions when summer weather changes fast.
Read articleHow to Fish From a Public Jetty Without Losing Tackle to the Rocks
A practical system for fishing rocky public jetties with fewer snags, covering position, rig choice, sinkers, leader length, casting angles, retrieve timing, and safe tackle recovery.
Read articleHow to Fish From a Bank During High Wind Without Losing Balance
Practical safety guidance for shore anglers fishing exposed banks in high wind, with advice on footing, clothing, casting, retreat routes, and managing loose gear.
Read articleHow to Fish for Catfish From a Rocky Bank Without Losing Every Rig
Practical ways to choose casting lanes, rig catfish tackle for rock, and retrieve bottom rigs with fewer snags from reservoir and river banks.
Read article