by Steve Dolan
Bass Fishing If you've done any bass fishing, then you'll already
know that it's not as
simple as just putting a
line in the water and
waiting for them to
bite. One of the best
things about bass
fishing is that it
requires skill and
patience to be
successful. So it's
important to put as many
factors in your favor as
possible, so that you
have the best chance of
catching a bass. Let's
take a look at a few
tips for successful bass
fishing. As
Conditions Change so
Should Your Fishing
Tatics The weather
matters! In the cooler
weather, such as early
spring and fall, bass
are much more responsive
to top water lures.
They're also more likely
to be found in shallow
water, such as along the
shoreline where there
are overhanging trees.
When it gets hotter,
though, bass retreat to
deeper, cooler holes,
and you need a change of
strategy. Basically you
need to dredge the
bottom, and use
something like a plastic
worm to get the bass to
respond. Time of day
is also important, with
dawn and dusk the best
times to catch the
biggest bass. Look for
ambush spots where bass
might be lurking in wait
for baitfish. They like
to pounce on their prey,
and these bait fish are
most active early
morning or evening. This
method works best when
the water is warmer,
above 50 degrees
Fahrenheit, because a
lot of baitfish aren't
active in cooler
temperatures. Water
Quality Matters! The
quality of the water
you're fishing in makes
a difference to your
bass fishing tactics
too. In muddy water, for
example, bass use their
sonar to locate food. So
choose lures that
vibrate well and perhaps
make some noise. In
clear water, though,
bass are very cautious
and wary of anything
unusual. So you need
light lines, and lures
that closely resemble
local food sources.
Spinners can work, but
you may find a black
spinner blade will
reduce the flash and be
more successful. In
normal water quality,
with some algae and
plankton to filter out
sunlight, most types of
lures can be used. It's
often a good idea to set
up three outfits, using
a different lure for
each one, to see which
one is working the best.
For example, you could
use a deep diver on one,
a surface lure on the
next, and a plastic worm
on the third. What's
the Best Bait? A
large survey of bass
fishing enthusiasts
found that the plastic
worm was considered the
most effective lure by a
big margin, so when in
doubt, try a plastic
worm and see what
happens. It's also good
to talk to local
fishermen if you're not
familiar with the area,
and ask them what they
recommend. Most bass
fishing enthusiasts are
happy to find another
enthusiast to swap
stories with.
About the Author Steve Dolan is an avid fisherman who
loves to catch bass
Click on
Bass Fishing to find
top tips and tricks. For
general boat fishing try
Boat Fishing, Boat
Fishing Trips
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