Reel Opinions

Few things will start a fight faster at a boat ramp than this sentence: “I’m eating these bass.” Suddenly, everyone becomes a biologist, a conservation officer, and a moral authority.... Read more...

Boat Ramp Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules Everyone Should Know (But Too Many Ignore)

Boat ramps are the last place on earth where patience goes to die. They’re loud, crowded, rushed, and full of people who all think they’re in a bigger hurry than... Read more...

Fishing Dogs: The Best Partner You Never Have to Argue With

Every angler knows the truth. Some fishing partners forget bait.Some talk too much.Some question your spots.Some bail early. And then there’s the fishing dog. They show up on time.They never... Read more...

Expensive Rods and Reels vs. Cheap Gear: What Actually Matters (and What’s Mostly Ego)

Walk into any tackle shop or scroll five minutes on fishing social media and you’ll see it. $600 rods.$800 reels.People talking about “sensitivity” like they’re tuning a Stradivarius instead of... Read more...

The Cost of Boat Ownership: Is It Really Worth It

Every angler dreams about it at some point. A boat in the driveway. Electronics glowing at dawn. Idling away from the ramp while everyone else waits their turn. Freedom, efficiency,... Read more...

Why Do So Many Anglers Fish Alone

If you spend enough time around boat ramps, you start to notice it. A surprising number of anglers launch alone. One truck. One boat. One person idling out at sunrise... Read more...

What Catches More Fish, Color or Movement?

Every angler has stood in front of a tackle wall frozen in indecision. Same bait. Same size. Same shape. Twenty-seven different colors. And the same question running through their head... Read more...

Why Dock Shooting Is the Most Underrated and Badass Technique in Fishing

Most fishing techniques look graceful on camera. Dock shooting does not. It looks violent. It looks awkward. It looks like something that should only work by accident. And yet, when... Read more...

The Trash Problem: Why Some Anglers Are Ruining the Waters They Love

Every angler knows the feeling. You pull up to a perfect stretch of bank, a quiet cove, a hidden creek, or a peaceful dock at sunrise, ready for a great... Read more...

What Really Happens to Fish After a Tournament?

The weigh-in is over. The crowd claps. Photos are taken. Social media lights up. The fish hit the water again and everyone assumes the story ends with a clean, heroic... Read more...

The Dark Side of Tournament Fishing: Cheating, Pressure, and Burnout

From the outside, tournament fishing looks like a dream. Big boats, big checks, big crowds, and even bigger fish. Social media shows the highlight reels. Sponsors show the trophies. Fans... Read more...

Are Forward Facing Sonars (FFS) Killing the Sport?

Not long ago, fishing was about reading the water, trusting your instincts, and accepting that some days the fish just would not cooperate. You learned the feel of your rod,... Read more...