How to Find Late-Fall Crappie From a Public Bank
A bank-focused approach to finding late-fall crappie on Southern reservoirs and lakes, with accessible location clues, simple rigs, and a practical plan for covering water.
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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 Find Fish on a Tidal Flat With No Visible Structure
A practical approach to reading apparently featureless tidal flats by using water movement, subtle depth changes, bait, and tide stage to locate feeding fish.
Read articleHow to Find Fish on a Flat When There’s No Visible Cover
A practical approach to locating freshwater fish on seemingly featureless flats by identifying small depth changes, bottom transitions, wind effects, bait activity, and subtle current.
Read articleHow to Find Catfish in a Low, Clear River
A practical guide to locating catfish in low, clear Southern and Midwestern rivers by reading depth, current, cover, and summer feeding windows.
Read articleHow to Diagnose a Spinning Reel That Feels Rough Only Under Load
A practical troubleshooting process for identifying why a spinning reel feels rough only when it is under tension, helping anglers narrow the problem to the line roller, drag, bearings, gears, or spool system before servicing or replacing it.
Read articleHow to Decide Whether a Fish Is Worth Photographing Before Release
A practical framework for balancing a memorable photo with handling time, water temperature, fish condition, and help from a fishing partner.
Read articleHow to Decide Whether a Cold Front Has Ruined or Improved Your Fishing
Use temperature, wind, cloud cover, pressure trends, and fish behavior to decide whether to slow down, change depth, or leave after a cold front.
Read articleHow to Clean and Dispose of Bait Without Spreading Problems
Responsible bait handling, disposal, and equipment-cleaning steps that help anglers avoid moving invasive species, fish diseases, and unwanted organisms between waters.
Read articleHow to Choose Wading Boots for Mud, Rock, and Gravel
A practical guide to choosing wading boots by stream bottom, with advice on sole types, fit, support, drainage, studs, and maintenance.
Read articleHow to Choose Sunglasses for Sight-Fishing in Shallow Saltwater
A practical guide to selecting polarized sunglasses for spotting fish on Florida and Gulf Coast flats, including lens color, fit, glare control, eye protection, and changing-light limitations.
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