Bass

Ish Monroe has several pro fishing wins under his belt. He's known for pursuing big bass and going for the win every time he's competing. So, during the summer, what is Ish's go-to lure to start his day bassin'? A frog. Yep, simple and straight forward.

Summertime is fun time across most of the bass fishing world. Our favorite piscine foes are active and  we can fling and sling a variety of lures at them to tempt them to play with us.

The jig is up for Rapala pro Randall Tharp. Thought a nod to a verse from a Styx song might brighten your day. Now, let's focus on flippin's sticks instead. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Tharp, who is a former Forrest Wood Cup champ and now a winner on the Elite Series, is well known as a lover of the bass jig. Specifically the rubber-legged jig with a chunk of stuff on the back.

So, why such a love for the jig? Well, Tharp took a few moments to explain his affinity to this basic bait.

Largemouth bass sure can be tough to catch when they are in a funk.  Bassmaster Elite Pro, Josh Bertrand, turns to the ol'school Carolina-rig to trigger those wary bass into biting.

By Steve Pennaz

This past February, on a bitter cold morning better suited for hot coffee and a roaring fire, I met Elite BASS Pro Chad Grigsby at a just-opened Perkins to outline our plans for taping an episode of “Lake Commandos.”

What does Randy Howell always have at the ready on his boat when bass fishing? Sure, a Livingston Lures crankbait would be a good guess, but you're guaranteed to find a jig when Howell is starting to breakdown a fishery.

Mike Iaconelli loves his crankbaits. Especially during spring months. Whether it's pre-spawn, spawn or post-spawn, crankbaits are on the menu in the boat of the former Bassmaster Classic champion.

Iaconelli was heading to pick up his new family RV and took a few minutes to share his thoughts on spring and crankbaits.

With a name like Ish, ya just gotsta fish. In fact, Bass Pro Shops staffer Ish Monroe certainly does that. As a Bassmaster Elite Series pro and multiple title holder there and on the FLW Tour, Monroe knows a thing or two about bass fishing.

Ish took a few moments after an Elite Series event on his way to film a piece for Bass Pro Shops to share his three favorite techniques for catching bass in the spring.

If I had to choose just one lure for early spring bass it would be an old-fashioned soft plastic bait. They may lack the flash and popularity of other baits, but I believe nothing comes close to their ability to catch early spring bass.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Byron Velvick has dealt with physical injuries over the last few years. These setbacks have been severe enough to keep him from fishing competitively. Last year he suffered another injury that sidelined him for much of the season.