Fishing Resources
The Tyler's Reel Fishing blog is your unfair advantage on the water. Every article delivers hard-earned tactics, gear that actually performs, and real fishing knowledge broken down so you can use it on your next trip. Beginner or seasoned angler, there's no fluff here — just the stuff that gets fish in the boat!
How to Fish a Ned Rig: Bass Fishing Masterclass
The Ned rig flat-out catches fish when the conditions are right. Here's exactly where and when to throw it, how to rig it, the gear, and the one tip that makes or breaks it.
Does Worm Size Matter for Bass? Big vs. Small Worm Test
Does your worm size actually matter to the fish? I ran a two-day, as-controlled-as-possible test — a 4-inch stick bait against a 10-inch Zeus worm — and the bass gave a clear answer: small worms get the numbers, big worms get the giants. Here's the full breakdown, the nuance, and when to throw each.
October Bass Fishing Lures: Best Baits for Fall Bass
Don't put the rod down after a tough summer — October is one of the best months of the year, and it comes down to one word: access. Bass move shallow and feed up before winter. Here are the four categories of lures that produce all month: shad reaction baits to cover water, bugs and craws for shallow cover, topwater that works even cold, and deep baits for late-month fish.
Bass Fishing Rod Arsenal: Every Rod I Use & Why (2026)
Thirty-some rods later, here's the exact arsenal I actually reach for — from bank combos to finesse spinning to a dedicated deep-crank stick. I break down the length, power, and action of every rod I fish and what I throw on each, so you can build a lineup that fits your water and skip the ones you don't need.
Paddle Tail Swimbait Masterclass: How to Fish It for Bass
The soft paddle-tail swimbait does the one thing nearly every gamefish is hunting for — it looks like a baitfish. Here's the complete masterclass: how to match size and color to the forage, rig it dead straight, pick the right hook and weight, and work the slow countdown retrieve that keeps it in the strike zone.
How to Fish a Shaky Head: Bass Fishing Masterclass
The shaky head puts the weight, hook, and worm in one package — and it just might out-fish a Texas rig. Here's the setup, the two head styles you actually need, the retrieve most anglers overthink, and a touring pro's honest take.
How to Fish a Neko Rig: Bass Fishing Masterclass
It looks like a wacky rig and fishes like one — but it isn't. Here's what actually makes a Neko rig a Neko, how to rig worms, flukes, and creature baits the right way, and how to fish it on the bottom for bites a wacky rig can't get.
How to Fish Offshore for Bass: Deep Water Masterclass
When it gets too hot or too cold, bass abandon the bank and follow the food offshore — and most anglers have no idea how to follow. Here's the complete deep-water masterclass: why they move, how deep to fish, reading your topographic map and sonar, and finding and catching them in the three places they live offshore — grass, rock, and wood.
How to Fish a Crankbait: Bass Fishing Masterclass
Two treble hooks, a plastic body, and a bill — but crankbaits have caught fish for generations. Here's the complete masterclass: how to read the build and diving depth, pick the right rod/reel/line, work all three retrieves (plus the lipless yo-yo), find the right water, and nail the lightest hookset in fishing.
Free Rig Bass Fishing Masterclass: Free Rig vs Texas Rig
It's like a Texas rig and a Carolina rig had a baby — the free rig combines casting accuracy, bottom-probing precision, and water-covering ability in one setup. Here's the complete masterclass: how to rig it, the flat finesse baits that shine, the sensitive gear it demands, and my honest verdict on whether it replaces the Texas rig.
How to Fish a Jerkbait: Bass Fishing Masterclass
The jerkbait is one of the oldest lures in the book — and it doesn't just catch bass. But if you're not fishing it the way it was designed, you're leaving fish on the table. Here's the complete masterclass, A to Z: the gear that maximizes it, where to throw it, the retrieve that gives it its name, how to set the hook, and how to dial in color, type, and season.
How to Fish an Alabama Rig: Umbrella Rig Masterclass
The chandelier, the umbrella rig, the Alabama rig — banned from the tours within two years for being too effective. It's no cast-and-crank miracle, though. Here's the complete masterclass: the specialized gear, how to rig it legally with dummies, rate of fall, and the retrieve that keeps it in the strike zone.
How to Fish a Chatterbait: Bass Fishing Masterclass
The chatterbait is a simple lure — but for a lot of anglers, catching fish on the vibrating jig doesn't come easy. Here's the complete masterclass, A to Z: what it is, the trailer it can't work without, the gear, colors, locations, the retrieves that control depth, and how to feel the bite and set the hook.
How to Fish a Texas Rig: Bass Fishing Masterclass
Of all the techniques in bass fishing, the Texas rig might be the best — because anybody, anywhere can rig one up and catch a bass. Here's the complete masterclass: the one hook you really need, how to think about weight and rate of fall, when to peg, and the four most versatile soft plastics with a retrieve for each.
How to Fish a Football Jig: Bass Fishing Masterclass
The football jig is the best deep-water jig there is — a big-presence lure built to drag across rock and pull the biggest bass in the lake off the bottom. I break it down A to Z: what it mimics, why the head is shaped the way it is, the 3/4-ounce sweet spot, where to throw it (and where not to), and the light-wire hookset that keeps giants pinned.
Damiki Rig & Jighead Minnow Masterclass (Mid-Strolling)
One lure, a dozen names — mid-strolling, hover rig, Damiki rig, moping. It's one of the simplest, deadliest baitfish techniques going, and it works with or without forward-facing sonar. Here's the complete masterclass: the saltless plastic, the 90-degree jighead, the spinning setup, and the "Jell-O hand" retrieve.